Defender's Blood
The Fallen
Book 5
A K Michaels
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
© 2013 by A K Michaels All Rights Reserved
This book, or any portion thereof, may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission by the author except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Chapter 1
Alex took a deep calming breath...the tension in the jet was so much that she could almost taste it.
Zach placed a hand around her shoulders and pulled her even closer, their bond making him totally aware of how she was feeling. She gave him a small smile and pushed a thought his way, 'Zach I'm really worried, for Duncan to ask for our help, shit whatever is going on must be bad' and her Vampire nodded his head once before saying - “Indeed!” to which she laughed - “Yet another one for the box Zach!”
Vlad, the huge Head of Security, lifted his head and looked over at them, “You two doing that mind reading thingy of yours again?!” and Alex nodded, smiling at their friend.
Simeon, Vlad's relatively new Second in Command, stopped playing whatever game he had on his Ipad and gave a weird look at them. He still didn't get all that mental talking that Alex and Zach could do and it was obvious it made him a little nervous.
“So Vlad, what's your take on Duncan's call?” Zach asked as he stretched his long, strong legs, out in front of him, trying to ease his tense muscles.
Vlad shook his head, “Hell if I know Zach, for something to have got him spooked enough to ask for our help. Well I have to admit that it concerns me no end. I just can't think on what is so serious that the Alpha can't deal with it. He has a large and very strong pack so for him to phone us Zach – it's serious!”
Zach thought so too and it had him worried also. “I just hope we can help.” Zach said and Vlad nodded.
“Yea, be fucking awful if we can't! He's helped us out a load of times so it would be nice if we could return the favour.”
Alex couldn't agree more, Duncan had been the second 'Super' she had ever met. After Zach had found her more than four years ago he had taken her to Duncan's club and she immediately liked him. After she got over her shock of course.
Firstly, he was a bear of a man, and secondly he was a Werewolf! However, the goodness and strength in the man made her feel safe and whenever she thought of him she felt grateful. He had helped her then and had helped when she had to go to Scotland to carry out her destiny, fighting Demons on the way. There was also the Battle against the Demons in the US, he had helped then too, coming as soon as he heard they needed help.
He was a good person, Wolf or not, and he deserved their help and now that she was a strong Vampire herself, well she was going to help in any way she could.
James, their pilot, took that moment to open the cockpit door and let them know they would be landing soon. Alex was a little excited, she was going back to Scotland, her home, and she was feeling a little homesick and thrilled both at the same time.
The landing was as smooth as always and as soon as they were down they all moved to get their stuff. Alex and Zach had a suitcase each, holding clothes and toiletries but more importantly quite a few weapons. Mostly blades but they had an extra large suitcase which held Zach's sword. One he had used for many centuries and which he always took whenever trouble was expected.
Vlad and Simeon had large holdalls and Alex guessed there would be weapons in them too, she only hoped that security didn't do a thorough check, although she thought her mate would be able to take care of things if they did. His mind control abilities were far more than any of them and she was sure he would get them through without any major problems.
After taxiing to where the jet would be kept for their time in Scotland, James and Lisa, his mate, came out. Lisa had a huge smile on her face and Alex frowned wondering what had made her so happy.
James was the one to tell them, “Well folks, how was the flight?” and Zach answered, tho he didn't know why James was asking?
“As smooth as usual James.” Zach said and James nodded.
“And the landing?” and again Zach said “Smooth James – as usual.”
Lisa was smiling even wider and James went on, “Well that's thanks to Lisa – this was her first completely solo flight, landing and taxiing and I for one think she did good.” and he put his arm around her shoulders and gave her a tight squeeze.
“Well done Lisa, we would never have known it wasn't James.” Alex said and Lisa beamed all the more.
“Oh Shit!” Vlad cursed and they all turned to him, “Guess I can't make any more jokes about women drivers!” he finished and Alex groaned.
“Now that was just lame Vlad – not up to your usual standards!” she told him and he just smiled cheekily at her.
Zach took over, “Right, come on, we need to get this show on the road. Grab your stuff you two and let's get going.” Zach directed to James and Lisa and James moved to the rear of the compartment. He went through to where the bedrooms were located and came back carrying one suitcase and a large holdall. Alex guessed there would be weapons in those too.
As they descended the stairs Duncan was waiting for them and Alex stopped dead, holding everyone else up. Duncan looked terrible, drawn, white, worried, and he had some injuries that were clear to see, his enhanced Wolf capabilities not yet fully healing him.
Alex continued and quickly made her way to the huge man and stopping in front of him. Duncan bent down and lifted her up in a bear hug and she gasped at his strength. “Shit Duncan – are you okay?” she asked and he frowned down at her and placed her back on the ground.
“No little lady, I'm far fae okay but we'll wait til we're all back at the hoose an then I'll tell all oh ye taegether. Come on, the jeeps are roon the corner.” and he turned and walked away.
Zach had been more than shocked when he saw Duncan, something was seriously wrong.
All of them followed the Alpha and just out of sight of the jet were two SUV's and William, a half Wolf half Witch whom they knew, was waiting for them. “Hi.” he said and everyone said 'Hi' back – none wishing to just chat.
Duncan was driving one vehicle and Zach, Alex and Vlad went in his with the rest going with William. Once they were on the way Zach tried to get some info from Duncan.
“Christ Duncan, what the hell's going on?” Zach asked.
Duncan shook his head, “Zach, it's bad laddie, real bad an ah jest dinnae know whit tae dae. That's why ah called, but ah'm no even sure if ye can help. Ah fuckin hope so laddie, if no then ah've nae idea whit tae dae.” Duncan rumbled and Alex gasped.
Shit, Duncan sounded – what – scared? Surely not.
“So what's happened?” Zach tried again.
“Laddie,can it wait til we get hame?” Duncan asked and Vlad moved to lay a hand on the Alpha's shoulder.
“Of course Duncan.” Vlad said and the remainder of the journey went by in silence.
Alex and Zach communicated in their minds though, 'Jeez Zach what the hell could scare Duncan like that?' Alex asked and her mate gently shook his head.
'I've no idea, but if Duncan is scared then we n
eed to proceed with caution' and Alex could only agree.
Soon they were taking the turn that led up to Duncan's farmhouse, with the other buildings all around. Even from a distance Alex could see that just about every light was on.
As they stopped in the area in front of the main farmhouse the door opened and Scott, Duncan's Beta, stood waiting on them. Alex let out a low gasp as she could clearly see that he had been wounded, quite badly, and had bandages on one side encompassing his arm, shoulder and going underneath his clothing.
What the hell had happened here? Zach was thinking the same thing and his worry went up another notch.
Scott's bandages didn't pass Vlad's or Simeon's notice either and both Vamps were now more than a little concerned. Wolves had great healing abilities and for the Beta to still be bandaged in such a way meant he had been very badly hurt.
Alex made her way to Scott and tried to hug him but he panted in pain and she pulled back quickly. She moved a hand up, barely reaching the tall Wolf, and stroked his face, “What the hell's been happening here?” she asked and Scott gave a half smile and motioned her inside, not uttering an word.
As Alex moved inside she caught sight of Bri, Scott's mate, and she was holding their little girl in a very tight and protective way. When she saw Alex, Bri almost started crying, and tears were clear to see in her eyes.
Alex moved fast to the Witch and placed an arm around her shoulders, ushering her to the large kitchen area to the rear. “Bri – are you okay? What's going on?” she asked and Bri just shook her head.
“Better that Duncan tells you but Alex I'm so glad you're here. I'm scared,really scared!”
Alex was now even more shocked, Bri was a strong Witch, what the fuck had her terrified.
As they entered the kitchen Margaret, Duncan's mate, was just pulling out newly made scones from the oven and the smell was heavenly. Alex's mouth started to water, it had been ages since she had tasted Margaret's cooking.
Alex's appetite left her the minute she saw Margaret's face though, the woman was scared and white as a sheet.
Alex moved to the taller woman and looked up, “Margaret how are you, and the little one?” and Margaret gave a little smile – turned and pointed to a cot in the corner. A small boy lay sound asleep and Alex moved over, the child was gorgeous, and she bent down and moved a lock of hair that had fallen over his eyes.
“Oh Margaret he's gorgeous, a little mini Duncan!” Alex cooed.
Margaret came over and smiled, “Yes, he is, but he's a little bugger – knows how to wrap his daddy round his little finger.” but her tone showed she didn't care at all about that.
“Will he be okay here while we all talk?” Alex asked, worried in case they woke the sleeping child up.
Margaret half laughed, “Oh Alex a blinking earthquake wouldn't wake him, he can sleep through anything.” she said and Alex relaxed a little and moved to the table.
The men had all sat down and Alex could see Scott wincing in pain and Bri was next to him in a second, “Do you want some more painkillers?” she asked her mate. Scott smiled up at her and shook his head, “No, they make me sleepy, I need my wits about me Bri.” he said quietly, as if he didn't want anyone to hear he had been taking medication at all.
Margaret moved and made sure everyone had something in front of them – whether it was coffee, food or whisky. Duncan had a very large glass of his best whisky in his hand and he took a small sip and then a very large breath in, he let it out slowly and looked about the table.
Vlad was the one to break the silence, “Okay Duncan, out with it, what the hell's going on?” the Vampire spoke in a no nonsense tone – wanting to know just what in hell was happening and what they had all walked into.
Chapter 2
Duncan took a deep breath in and let it out slowly, visibly steeling himself before he spoke. “Okay, tho ah'm no sure where tae start – probably ma brother ….”
Zach interrupted him, “Your brother? Duncan I didn't know you had a brother?” Zach's tone was incredulous, how could he not have known Duncan had a brother – he had known him for over a hundred and twenty years.
Duncan nodded slowly, “Yes Zach I know, but ye need tae understand – ma brother is special. He's got his ain pack, they live in the wilds of the highlands, naebody knows they're there. It's a very special pack Zach, my brother's a Jaguar.” and Duncan stopped just before everyone else started talking.
“Jaguar! Are you fucking kidding me?” Vlad stuttered.
Zach followed that with, “I bloody knew they were real!”
Then Alex with, “Really? Jaguars, feck, I don't believe it!”
James, Lisa and Simeon didn't say anything but their shocked expressions said much.
Duncan nodded again, “Aye, a Jaguar, they're very secretive – fer obvious reasons – an well his pack has been all but wiped oot! Ma niece got here a few days ago an she wis in a terrible state. Hurt an terrified – an talking aboot demon dogs an apparitions......”
Zach interrupted again, “Demon dogs? What does she mean?”
Duncan sighed, heavily, “Well the truth is Zach ah dinae know whit they are but that's a gid description. After she got here ah took some oh ma lads, quite a few actually, up tae see whit wis goin on an well, as we got closer we started tae come across the bodies. Most oh the pack is either deed or missin, ma brother's gone an so is his mate. We found them outside their camp – butchered. Ah've no seen anythin like it Zach, never ..” and Duncan had to stop.
His huge hand shook as he brought his glass up to take a drink and everyone's eyes and ears were completely focused on him. Zach and Vlad's minds were hurtling like trains – trying to figure out what it could be and how to fight whatever the hell it was.
Alex was shocked and just a little scared, to see this powerful Alpha like this, well anyone that had a brain cell should be downright terrified.
Nobody said anything waiting on Duncan to speak again. After another couple of sips of whisky he carried on, “We found lots oh bodies, but there's at least a dozen young females missin an we couldnae find 'em. We started tae track their scent an after aboot an hoor we heard these noises – never heard anythin like it in ma life, turned oor blood cold. Then we were attacked, huge beasts, nae idea whit they fuckin are but they're big an fast – an deadly! We lost three oh oors, Todd – he wis just a young Wolf, his brother Thomas an Stuart …..”
“No!” Alex sputtered, Stuart had been one of the Wolves that had helped them when they had came for her to close the gates of hell. He was big and brave and had gotten hurt badly keeping her safe.
“Aye little lass, Stuart saved ma ass, one oh those things had me pinned doon an it wis jest aboot to finish me when Stuart tackled it – it ripped him to shreds. We high tailed it oot oh there as fast as we could, every one of us wis hurt, some more than others, but all oh us wis hurt. An we didnae take doon even one oh them.” Duncan finished and took another drink of whisky.
Margaret had moved to her mate's back and her arms were around his neck, trying to comfort him in some way. The loss of his Wolves wore heavily on the Alpha.
The rest of them were trying to process what Duncan had told them and Alex picked up on something. “Duncan, the ones that are missing, are they all females and how young?” she asked and the look that came over Duncan's face was hard to see.
“Aye Alex, all young jaguars, no too young tho – we came across the wee ones in the camp, dead in their beds mostly, everythin under puberty and anything older than aboot thirty years, all dead – it's the rest that are missin but only the females – the males – dead.” and Duncan took another sip of whisky.
Alex's mind was whirling round, why were the females taken and who had taken them? She thought if they could find out who and why then they may just be able to find them.
Zach looked at Vlad and he was shaking his head, he had never heard of anything like this before. Something that could take out a full pack? No – never came across it before.
&
nbsp; “If Sam hadnae got away we widnae hae known, no fer a long while, it's no as if they come visitin every week, we only see them for big holidays and family days. It coulda been months before we knew anything wis wrong.” Duncan told them and suddenly all eyes turned to the door.
A scent had came to them before they saw the young woman standing in the shadows. With their enhanced eyesight every one of them could make out the girl – her face drawn tight in fear but standing straight – trying to be brave.
“Ah come on in lassie, they're all friends here.” Duncan said and the girl stepped forward.
She was stunning, chocolate brown hair that fell way past her waist. Taller than Alex (but hey everyone was taller than Alex) but not as tall as Lisa, who was quite tall, and she wore jeans and a tshirt which did nothing to hide the curves and womanly figure she had.
The most breathtaking thing tho were her eyes – they were almost gold in colour and seemed to shine slightly. With specs of brown and rust through them they were the most unusual eyes any one of them had ever seen before.
Alex smiled, trying to put the girl at ease “Hi, I'm Alex, we've come to try and help.” she said and the girl moved in further.
“Really? Do you think you can? My sister is one of the missing.” Sam said and her voice was different to anything any of them had heard.
There was an unusual twang as if she had trouble with words and she blushed scarlet. “Uhm sorry, I don't talk much.” she said as if she knew what they had all been thinking.
Duncan took over, “Yes the jaguars live a lot of their lives in their animal form – so they don't have a chance to talk much.” He enlightened them all and Lisa was intrigued by this. Being a Wolf herself she could understand the draw to stay in animal form. However, she loved her life too much to do that – and most Wolves lived as humans and only changing a small part of the time.
The young girl's eyes were drawn around the table as if she was looking for someone or something and finally they landed on Simeon, whose eyes hadn't left her since she appeared. She smiled shyly and Simeon just stared. Trying to understand why he felt drawn to this female.
Defender's Blood The Fallen (An Urban Fantasy) Page 1
