Commander

by Kim Faulks

  He was a beast of a man, that’s for sure. The scruffy beard did nothing to hide the chiseled jaw and massive swell of his chest. He was big. I’d seen bigger—but the longer I stared into those bottomless midnight eyes—the more I saw…something…

  “You expecting me to shift in front of you, Commander?”

  I flinched as my heart punched into my throat and fought the need to step backwards. “I’m sorry.I...”

  His lips curled into a grin. Sparks of amusement flared in his gaze. “Relax, just giving you a hard time…don’t look so petrified. I’m getting used to the long, hard stares, starting to enjoy it, actually.”

  I forced a smile. This man…these people, weren’t what I was expecting.

  “Oh, he’s telling the truth,” the redhead snarled, reaching up and punching him on the shoulder. “Can’t take him anywhere now without him looking for a damn camera.”

  The Guardian chuckled, shook his head. “Come inside, meet the others. We have a little time before the ceremony begins.”

  I followed him and the redheaded woman, with Alfie and Alpha at my side. This whole thing seemed surreal. These people weren’t the enemy…

  They were a pack.

  A family…not one in khaki, stinking of gunpowder and sweat.

  But a family of outcasts, just the same…like me.

  We stepped into controlled chaos. Women and children tore from one side of an overcrowded living room to a long dining room, some turned into the kitchen, others disappeared down a hall. Heavy footsteps pounded overhead like a heard of damn elephants, until a group of youngsters thundered down the stairs and charged through an open makeshift door.

  Out there, the real action was taking place. Smoke drifted into the house and the smell of roasting meat carried. Men and women crowded every inch of the yard, all the way to the surrounding trees. “Quite a gathering. A naming ceremony, is that correct?”

  Marcus turned his head, pride rode a deep breath as he nodded. “Yeah, one that’s been coming for a while.”

  A piercing squeal cut through the room. I winced and wrenched my gaze toward the sound as a young woman entered. Long black wings flapped in her arms, scales glinted, as the tiny Dragon in her hold arched her neck against the woman’s shoulder and let out a call that echoed through the house like a blast.

  A bundle of black and white fur nestled hard against her chest. A Wolf, quiet and timid, while the midnight beast raged around him.

  “Christ,” Marcus growled and took a step toward the young woman, until a blur of white cut from the hallway to my right. “Her voice goes right through my head.”

  “I’ve got her. It’s okay,” called Doc Angel, and reached for the black beast.

  I couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe. I was frozen as the midnight Dragon child whipped her tail through the air and turned to the woman closing in.

  “Quieten down, Miss. Or you’ll go straight back to bed,” the Doctor growled as she glared at the child.

  The tail dropped, falling softly against the young woman’s thigh as glistening black eyes settled on the Doctor. Her wings settled, and in an instant the beast quietened…more than quietened—the damn thing was almost docile.

  The Dragon child turned her head and leaned into her as Angel gripped the child and lifted.

  “Thank you,” the young woman muttered, and cut an exhausted glare toward me. “Too much excitement today, I think.”

  The Dragon child settled against the human woman, nuzzling her snout into the crease of the Doctor’s underarm, as Marcus cleared his throat. “Ladies, if you have a second, I’d like to introduce you to Commander Marks, and his second—”

  He stilled, turned toward us, and cut Alfie a glance. “I didn’t catch your name.”

  My Platoon Sergeant stuttered like an embarrassed school boy. “Alfie Tucker…Sergeant Tuck if you like.”

  “Sergeant Tuck,” the Guardian continued. “They’re here to crash the party.”

  Both woman eyed us suspiciously.

  “You and everyone else,” the Doctor muttered, brushing the beast’s glistening scales as it settled against her chest. A spark of defiance flared in her gaze. “We’ve met. Welcome Commander, Sergeant.” She nodded toward each of us. “How is Mr. Downing?”

  A nerve twitched at the corner of my eye. “Terror is much better. Miraculous, really…nine surgeries couldn’t mend that bone.”

  One corner of her mouth curled. I clenched my jaw and felt the heat rise. If she thought I was dropping the matter, then she was very much mistaken. I took a step, hating the way I towered over her. “I’m still waiting for your answer, Doctor. I want to know what you injected into my Marine.”

  She gave the hint of a smile, but there was no laughter in her gaze. “Not ready for discussions yet, Commander. But when I am, you’ll be the first to know.”

  Not ready for discussions? That was the third time she’d said those exact words in my presence. I dropped my gaze to her crisp white coat.

  “If you’ll excuse me, we’ve got a lot to do before the ceremony,” the Doc muttered, taking a step away.

  “I’ll help,” a familiar voice growled behind me.

  I glanced over my shoulder as X strode through the open door and headed for the two women. She reached for the little Wolf in the young woman’s arms and I was struck by how these three women were with each other.

  There was a sense of comfort and loyalty…of camaraderie. They had a story, I was sure of it, and I wanted to know it all—every battle—every scar. I wanted to know everything in this strange immortal world.

  Shifters slipped around the room behind us…others came and went. I searched their eyes, searched the hallway. “Will I be meeting the parents?”

  “I am the parent,” the young woman’s brows furrowed. “They’re mine…both of them.”

  I searched her eyes, her skin…her presence. I thought I was getting the hang of sensing who was ‘different’. Maybe I was wrong. “But they’re…and you’re?”

  “Human, yes…”

  I wrenched my head toward Alpha. “I apologize. I was under the impression that humans couldn’t—”

  “You were told correctly,” Doc Angel answered. “Although, our Joslyn here’s a little different. We’re not quite sure how, but we’re working on figuring that one out. But you’re right, normally, humans can’t carry young for a different species. And that’s what all immortals are. They might look similar, Commander, but, rest assured, they’re as different to us as we are to apes.”

  “Okay,” panicked thoughts raced through my mind.

  “And, while your head is spinning, let me add to the confusion. Joslyn gave birth to two babies…a Wolf and a Dragon, by two different fathers.”

  I wrenched my head up and stared at the babies. A Wolf and a Dragon? How the Hell is that even—

  “Two different eggs, two different placentas…although there was a little cross-over,” the Doc’s gaze dropped to the tiny Dragon in her arms. “We’re still not sure how that happened. But you are a stubborn one, aren’t you, Miss? Gotta leave your mark everywhere you go.”

  “We late?”

  I glanced over my shoulder as Ace headed toward us. He met my gaze, gave a nod, and then to the Sergeant at my side. “Commander, Platoon Sergeant.” He yanked his hand high and glanced at his watch. “Twenty minutes, not bad…not bad at all. I gave you ten, before you hightailed it outta here.”

  “Ten? Pfft”, Alpha cut in. “Slow down. He hasn’t met crazy yet, give the man some time.”

  “Time for what?”

  The feminine growl cut through the air behind me. I didn’t turn my head, didn’t meet her gaze. Cold bloomed inside me…cold, like dark earth, like a chilling whisper…don’t turn your head, don’t look…The hairs on my neck rose as the warning rang clear…leave now.

  Everyone stilled…even the Dragon child was silent, following the movement behind me with tiny, shimmering black eyes. Until Marcus slowly glanced behind me. “Xael.”
/>
  “We were just talking about you,” Alpha cut in and then chuckled, earning a panicked glare from Marcus.

  “Talking about me why?” Darkness moved into view…the woman was breathtaking.

  Midnight hair shone with the kind of gleam that looked almost blue, drawing my gaze over her face. Olive skin, dark eyes…like Marcus, only there was a difference.

  Both leaked power—both instilled fear…but if I had to choose…

  If I had to beg for mercy…

  I knew I’d find none with her.

  Dark hair sliced the air as she turned her head, seizing me in a stranglehold of fear. “Another human?” Her gaze slipped down my body and then up to my eyes. “What is this, a goddamn museum for mortals?”

  “This,” Alpha chuckled, “is the closest thing we have to a damn cavalry. Commander Marks, this is Xael Kane. Watch out for this one…she’s got one helluva stinger.”

  His smirk grew with a wink.

  “You know, one day,” she whispered, taking a step closer to the Marine, “I’m going to re-introduce you to that stinger.”

  The cockiness changed in the Marine. There was still the same smile—still the same chuckle—only now there was an edge, and I realized with blinding clarity this hard-nosed Marine was terrified of her—they were all terrified of her.

  I swiped my damp palm against my shirt and tried to still the shake. “Samson…Samson Marks, pleasure to meet you, Xael.”

  She glanced toward my hand and curled her lip, as though the mere thought of my touch revolted her.

  “Xael?” A male called, behind me and to the right. He moved into view, wiping his hands on a damp towel, glanced at me and then this chilling immortal. “Everything okay?”

  She never answered as he moved beside her. A careful brush of his fingers along her arm made her flinch. But the snarl was gone—the danger disappeared, sinking under the surface.

  He was just a kid, not unlike the many men under my command. He glanced at the uniform and then at my insignia. “Finn,” he punched out his hand and grasped mine. Eyes bright, brimming with hope and love. “Finn Goulding. This here’s my sister, Joslyn, and my beautiful niece and nephew.”

  The young man gushed, that’s the only way I could put it. His eyes shone with happiness, smile stretched just a little too wide, and the more he spoke, the more I liked him.

  He strangled my hand and pumped. “Nice to finally meet you. I’ve been nervous about it, if I’m honest.”

  “Nervous?”

  “You know. The military…the bad guys—I didn’t expect you to be so…normal.”

  I forced a smile. “I’m not a monster, son. Just a man.”

  The words turned to ash in my mouth.

  All the careful stares.

  All the suspicion and the confusion melted into one.

  To them I was the monster…the one who came to take what little safety they had in this cruel world.

  Kill them all…and burn the bodies when you’re done…The Major General’s command still rang inside my head. I turned to Alpha, his own uncle…his own kin—ready to destroy and leave no witness behind. And I would have—so help me God, I would’ve followed that order, if I hadn’t been shown the truth.

  I dropped Finn’s hand and caught the shake in my fingers. What the Hell was happening to me?

  You’re seeing the real picture, a voice in my head answered. And now you know.

  “Bastian,” Alpha growled. “How are you, brother?”

  I followed the Marine’s line of sight to the shadow that shifted at the edge of the trees. The male took a step, limping almost into the soft sunlight. His eyes shimmered and dulled, but it was the pasty gray tinge to his skin that stilled me. He cast a panicked glance across the others, lingering on his brothers more than anyone, until his gaze found mine.

  “This is Commander Mark…” Alpha started as Bastian shuffled backwards into the shadows and then turned away.

  One brow rose before the Marine growled, “What the Hell is wrong with him? The dude’s been strange for fucking days now.”

  “Have no idea,” Marcus murmured, staring at the spot where his brother had disappeared. “But I don’t like it, whatever it is.”

  Howls and yips echoed from the forest. Pines shuddered and shook as a line of warriors strode from the cover and invaded the grounds. They were greeted like family, hugs, slaps, smiles all round.

  I scanned the line of thick, barrel-chested warriors, and stopped in the middle, at what was easily the biggest man I’d ever seen.

  He was a moving mountain. Shorn head, a hard gaze, carrying the carcass of a full-grown elk across his shoulders like he had not a care in the world.

  His gaze went straight for Joslyn, then the baby in her arms, and the one in Doc’s, before he scanned the others and settled on me.

  “They’re back,” the young mother beamed and turned.

  She took a slow step, and then another, stepping through the makeshift door and then lunged toward the line of trees.

  We followed, spilling out of the house as the massive male strode into the arena and tossed the carcass to the ground. Joslyn leapt into the air and was caught with the most careful hands.

  “You didn’t burn it this time, I’m impressed,” she looked over her shoulder to the animal, as six other men moved in, yanking, heaving…towing the body away to be skinned, cleaned, and quartered.

  Just like they did at Soteria.

  I was beginning to understand this nomad way. The sacred way the Wolves called it. The way of the wild, of the earth—the way of spirit.

  Alpha moved in, keeping his voice low. “And that, Commander, is Joslyn’s mate, Zadoc.”

  The mammoth Guardian pulled her close with one hand and reached for the babe in her arms with the other. “No, I didn’t burn it. I wanted to, but he kept his cool.”

  “So, it’s working…it’s finally working?” Joslyn shook her head. “He’s finding his way back to us.”

  Zadoc’s lips curled into a smile. The answer was secret, special, and lay somewhere in the sparkle in his eyes.

  Marcus glanced at the kill and gave the mountain a playful shove. “Well done, brother. We’ll eat for days.”

  “It’s quiet out there,” Zadoc held his brother’s stare. “Too quiet.”

  “We’ve got the Wolves on patrol, and I’ll be out there watching,” Ace moved in and held his hand behind him. Ghost stepped in behind him, head high, scenting the air, then curled her lips in warning.

  She neared Marcus, and then Zadoc. Both watched her but remained utterly still.

  “She’s trying,” Ace’s voice turned small. “God knows she’s trying.”

  Marcus shook his head. “It’s going to take some time. But she’ll find her own way. She found it with you, so she’ll find it with us.”

  I watched them as she made her way to Joslyn. The young mother lowered her arm, allowing the young Berserker to sniff the child Wolf. They were so damn kind and gentle—here in the pack, compassion reigned.

  “The patrols,” I cut in. “They’re for the newly turned Vampires, right? The same ones who attacked here before?”

  All heads turned, but it was Marcus who spoke. “Yes, we don’t think there’re many left now. Not after Lucas, Eva, and her circle drove them from their home.”

  My mind was racing, trying to fit names with clans, and, if I was honest, I was still stuck on the Wolves—let alone anything else. “And the Queen’s brother was the one who turned them against her?”

  “The Queen’s brother was the one who created them in the first place.”

  A woman’s bitter snarl came from the side as she stepped into view.

  A male followed, dark hair, five o’clock shadow, and silver flames that shone in his eyes. Others followed close behind, but I couldn’t turn away from that glare. “I take it you’re the Commander?” He took a step closer and held out his hand. “Lucas Kane, this is Eva.”

  She turned her head and speared me with a pale
, milky stare. There was an absence, of life…of emotion.

  I’d been given all the information.

  I’d been told the truth.

  And yet, nothing could’ve prepared me for this.

  A Queen…a real Vampire Queen.

  Her forehead creased. Her lips moved. But the words were stolen by the sight of pointed fangs that rode over blood red lips…

  Blood…that’s right…they drink it…

  My gut tightened, acid rose, scalding the back of my throat. I’d seen the kind of wounds creatures like her left behind—but I’d never…never seen fangs this close.

  The world seemed to spin. Green became the sky. Blue the ground. Voices crowded in…so many voices…

  Hey there…

  Are you okay?

  Breathe, Commander…

  Just breathe.

  I yanked my collar…something popped—a damn button flew through the air to smack Xael in the middle of her forehead. Her lips curled. A growl echoed, dark, feral—ratcheting my pulse a little higher. Color faded, leaving me stranded in a graying world.

  My knees buckled.

  I hit the ground, and that’s where I stayed.

  3

  Samson

  “Jesus…did you have to do that?” Alpha barked above me. “Can’t you see he’s overwhelmed?”

  Hard hands gripped my arms. I brushed them away. “I’m fine,” a mumble was all I could find. “I’m fine, son. Just give me a moment.”

  I closed my eyes, anchored by the cruel grasp of the Marine and the sounds of concern above.

  “I’m sorry…I’m sorry, okay. It was just a damn reaction,” Xael’s bitter snarl broke through.

  I opened my eyes and lifted my head to see the heat of anger on her face. “It’s okay. I’m fine. Just need a minute.”

  “Let me through,” a familiar command echoed.

  Boots scuffed, bodies moved—everyone made way for Doc Angel.

  “Let’s get him on a chair,” she barked, and leaned close. “We’re going to move you inside, okay, Commander?”

  I gave a weak nod, and pushed when they lifted. Weak…damn weak. This wasn’t me. I was rock steady. I’d been in command longer than I remembered being a civilian. I’d made the hard decisions without even a second guess, bombs flew on my say-so, lives were taken—lives were saved.