Defender's Blood The Birth and The Battle (Urban Fantasy)

by A. K. Michaels

  When he returned David was speaking to Tatiana. “I need to get her in the operating room now, Tatiana – we can’t wait.”

  Tatiana nodded her head and looked to Zach. “Zach, please pick up Alex and bring her up to the field hospital, there’s an emergency operating room set up at the rear. David needs to operate ... now.” Her sing-song Fairy voice hid the panic that was in her chest. “I can’t perform any healing spells while Alex is trying to give birth – it could affect the babies and I don’t know what it would do. And I’ve used up most of my powers to heal the more serious injuries upstairs. I’m spent, Zach! I can’t help her!”

  Zach bent down and lifted his mate. He could feel blood dripping down onto him – her blood, the ambrosia of his soul! He hurried out of the room and carried her upstairs.

  He found the operating room, closed in by makeshift partitions. He laid her down on the bed in the middle of the room, with medical machines all around.

  David ran behind trying to keep up with Zach, and as soon as he reached the field hospital he started shouting. “You there – Alison – come with me, we have an emergency. You – hey you,” and he prodded another nurse in the shoulder as he passed. “You’re the one with anaesthetic experience, from Canada? Come quick, we’ll need you.” The two women followed David into the operating room.

  Alex was even paler if that were possible, and Zach was holding her hand. “It’s going to be okay hon, I promise.”

  “I’m scared, Zach,” was all she managed to get out before her eyes fluttered closed.

  David was barking orders and the nurses were running about getting him things. Zach snarled and David looked at him. “Zach, I don’t have any fucking time to deal with you and your Vampire shit! Do you hear me? I need to get these babies out of Alex now or they will die – along with her. So Zach – shut the fuck up!”

  Zach was shocked, David had always shown fear in front of him. He had a pair of balls after all. He nodded his head and tried to stay quiet. His panic was ratcheted up by hearing Alex’s heart slowing.

  David shouted, “No time for any anaesthetic – I’ve got to do it now. Nurse, scalpel please.”

  *****

  Scott had followed behind and was now standing guard at the door. Duncan’s smell hit his nostrils and he saw his Alpha striding towards him. “Whit’s goin on, Scott?”

  Scott told Duncan and his Alpha’s eyes widened. “Shittin fuck … ah hope the lass is okay an gets through this.”

  Scott just nodded his head – so did he.

  Vlad was sitting watching the Angels circle the beast. Christ, he hoped they could take it. They weren’t doing much though, they made no move towards it for several long moments and that scared Vlad. If three Angels were being cautious around this thing … fuck, then they were in trouble, serious trouble.

  Irina was squirming on his lap, she wanted to go to Alex but didn’t want to leave her mate. Vlad gently stroked her back. “Stay with me, little Wolf. You can’t do anything for her right now. Let David work on her.”

  She didn’t reply, she just shrank into her mate, letting his arms calm and settle her. She kept her eyes strictly off of the monitor in front. She couldn’t watch – she was scared shitless at this precise moment.

  The Angels made their move and Vlad watched in horror as they were thrown backwards from some invisible force. He gripped Irina to him tightly, the Angels were now on the ground and the beast started to move. Towards the town.

  “All units – ALL units – converge on the edge of town. We have a problem!” he roared down the comms.

  He raised Irina’s head with his finger. “You know I love you with my entire being, but little Wolf, I need to leave you.”

  She grabbed him tighter. “NO!” The scream tore from her throat.

  “I have to, little Wolf – I have to. The Angels need our help. I don’t know if it will do any good but we’ve got to try.”

  Irina was weeping as he carried her in his arms and he made his way out of the room, down the hallway and up the stairs. She clung to him with all her Wolf strength – she couldn’t lose him.

  Vlad made his way towards the operating room and saw Scott and Duncan standing guard. Scott raised his eyebrows at the sight of Irina weeping in Vlad’s arms. Vlad spoke to the two Wolves. “We’ve got a bit of a situation. The Angels haven’t succeeded in killing that big bastard. It’s on its way here.” Vlad tried to put Irina down but she refused to let go.

  Duncan stepped forward, pulled her out of Vlad’s arms and hugged her to his large frame. “Duncan, can you stay here, keep guard over Alex?” Vlad asked.

  Duncan nodded sadly, thinking of the poor lass behind him in the operating room.

  Scott stepped forward. “I’m coming with you, Vlad – don’t try and stop me.”

  Vlad looked Scott square in the eye. “I wouldn’t dream of trying to stop you, Scott. Come on – we will need everybody still able to fight.” Vlad moved forward quickly, too quickly, and kissed Irina. “I’ll come back for you, Irina. Nothing will stop me – I’ll be back. Stay and watch over Alex.”

  Irina once more clung to him and Duncan once again pried her hands loose. She wept as Vlad and Scott walked away.

  Duncan spoke quietly to the little Wolf in his grip, pushing his Alpha power towards her, trying to calm fears that he had himself. He managed – but only just. She looked up at his eyes, knowing what he was doing and thankful. The feelings she had inside would tear her apart if she didn’t get them under control. With this Alpha’s help, she was doing it. “Thank you Alpha,” she whispered to him.

  Duncan nodded his head once, and then let her go, knowing that he didn’t have to worry about her running after her mate. Irina moved towards where Alex was, leaving Duncan on guard outside. The sight before her as she entered ratcheted her fear up again. There was so much blood and David was cutting into Alex’s belly.

  Vlad was outside shouting orders over his comms link. “ALL men and units, ALL men and units – get your asses to the battle area. We have a Demon to send back to hell!” He looked around at the men in the immediate area. “You men stay here, protect the building.” Then he started running, Scott at his side – he had changed to Wolf and Vlad saw the immense power in the beast.

  As they neared the edge of town, they heard the sounds of battle once more. There were screams and thuds, and as they turned the corner they could clearly see why. The Demon was making its way towards the town and clearing everything in its path. Wolves and Vampires were being thrown all over the place. The sound some of them made on contact with the ground or buildings made Vlad sure that they wouldn’t be rising again.

  The Angels were still trying to attack but were thrown away time and time again. Blood was now clear for them to see ... marring the beauty of their wings.

  Scott’s Wolf stilled – he changed to human form and knelt on the ground. What the hell, Vlad thought, what is he doing?

  Scott clasped his hands in front of him and started to pray. Can’t do any fucking harm, the large Vampire thought. Scott raised his head to the sky and started to speak. “Father – we need your help. Your sons are not strong enough. We are not strong enough. Please answer my prayer. Please help us.”

  He stopped for a moment and then started again, saying it over and over. Vlad stood guard over him, watching his back for any attack.

  Scott’s throat was raw – he was now roaring his prayer to the sky. He knew they would not be able to defeat this abomination that walked the earth.

  Suddenly Michael was beside him. The large Angel knelt on the ground and joined Scott in his plea. The voice from the Angel was melodic, strong and rang throughout the area. Michael finally roared at the sky. “Father – why have you forsaken me, my brothers … we need your help!”

  There was a glow that appeared in the night sky. A feeling of calm came over everyone in the area ... a tingling on their skin, a buzz in their ears. They all looked upwards and the clou
ds and darkness of night disappeared as if it was midday on a sunny summer day.

  The sight that met their eyes was glorious ... a hundred or more Angels flew straight down from the sky. Their silver and white wings gave off a brightness that encompassed the entire area. Michael’s plea had been heard ... his brothers were coming to his aid.

  Vlad looked on, shocked to his core – what the fuck was happening?

  Scott smiled and said, “Thank you, Father.” He got up and stood next to Vlad.

  Michael got up and flew back to his brothers who were still trying to stop the Demon. They flew some way from the Demon and waited on the multitude of Angels to reach them.

  The Demon roared up at the sky – so loud was the roar that Scott thought his eardrums would burst. The light above it got brighter and brighter, they had to shade their eyes to watch as the Angels descended.

  Michael and the two others joined the legion of Angels and the beat of their wings was loud in everyone’s ears. They moved towards the large Demon and circled it until it was completely surrounded. The light given off by them seemed to shine ever brighter, and as one, all of the Angels threw their arms out towards the Demonic being in front of them.

  The light flew from them and the Demon roared once more before the light landed on its unholy body. When it made contact, it seemed to penetrate beneath the surface of its disgusting, writhing skin and then push outwards. The brightness pushed and pushed and finally erupted out of the abhorrent being, exploding it into a million pieces. Its final death roar was clearly heard for miles.

  The Angels drew backwards, hovered with their majestic wings beating, before raising skywards and returning to whence they came.

  Scott stood with his mouth hanging open, his body finally returning to normal, no more buzzing in the ears, the tingle disappearing from their skin and a great peace settled over the area. Vlad cheered and Scott joined him. The cheer was taken up by everyone in the area.

  Vlad once more took over as leader. “Okay guys, we need clean up. Search for any of our survivors and get them to the medical unit. Any of our dead, lay them out in the field next to the woods for identification and burial. Our jobs are not yet done, my friends. Unit leaders – get names and numbers to me as soon as you can.”

  He turned to Scott and they made their way back to town, walking slowly this time, trying to take in what they had just witnessed. Scott had the silliest smile on his face. Vlad knew he went to church and stuff so he guessed it was because he had witnessed his God’s intervention. Vlad was pretty pleased too. That was one sight he would never forget.

  Vlad picked up his speed – he wanted to see his mate.

  Scott took his phone out of his pocket and hit speed dial number one. It rang once only and then he heard her voice – his mate. “Scott, is that you? Are you okay? What’s happening?” She was breathless and agitated.

  “I’m fine, Bri. I think it’s over and you’re not going to believe what just happened.” He was elated, he was convinced God had answered their prayer. He had sat on the ground with an Angel next to him and prayed – and it had been answered.

  “What? Tell me Scott, tell me it all and can you find out if Rhianna’s okay, I’ve been so worried!”

  He laughed. His little Witch, worried for him … it warmed his heart. “I haven’t heard of any Witches being hurt, they weren’t on the battle ground, they were on roofs and stuff. Bri, listen to me. I was kneeling on the ground praying with a bloody Angel next to me! Can you believe it? I can’t – jeez, it was surreal! I can’t get it out of my mind, Bri. He answered – God answered!” At that Scott was nearly crying, it had affected him so much.

  He could hear Bri crying on the other end of the phone and he spoke quietly to his mate. “Don’t cry hon, please don’t cry. I’m okay, Rhianna’s fine … everything’s going to be okay.”

  She stopped sobbing long enough to answer. “No Scott – I don’t think Alex is going to be okay.”

  At that Scott took off, running towards town to find out what was going on with Alex.

  He ran into the building and straight towards Duncan. The look on his Alpha’s face was grim. “What’s going on? Is Alex okay?” Scott asked.

  Duncan shook his head, “Nae laddie – one oh the babes is oot but the other’s no yet. Things are lookin bad, Scott. Ah can hear them talking, David’s trying but she’s losing her fight, son.”

  Scott shook his head. No – this can’t be happening. Surely God would not have saved them from the Demon just to let Alex die in childbirth. Surely not.

  He could hear Irina crying loudly and Vlad was there trying to soothe her. He could hear Zach’s laboured breathing, as if he had lost the ability to draw breath. Tatiana was also there, he could hear her saying words in her native tongue, words he didn’t understand but he could hear the pleading in them. He assumed she was praying. He told Bri he would call back later and closed his phone.

  He knelt down and once more began praying. He heard noises around him and opened an eye. There were others on their knees, joining him in praying for Alex. A lump came to his throat – he had never seen a Vampire pray before, but several were there on the floor, next to countless Wolves. Scott only hoped that they would be heard this time also.

  In the room, Alex was fading fast. David was trying to get the second baby out but it seemed to be stuck and he tugged and tugged and finally it popped free. He handed it to a nurse and started hunting for where the blood was coming from. If he didn’t find it quickly, he couldn’t save Alex. The amount of blood she had lost was immense and couldn’t be replaced quickly enough.

  He hunted and hunted, frantic to find the cause. “More time – I need more fucking time!” he shouted and Tatiana stepped forward and placed a hand on his arm. He looked down at the Fairy. “I’m losing her!”

  There was a sob in his words and Tatiana only nodded her head. “I know, David, I know.”

  The words had penetrated Zach’s hearing and he roared so loud that everything shook – the pain was clear for everyone to hear.

  Scott’s heart stopped. Surely not? He started praying again with a fervour, and tears came to his eyes. Alex was a unique being, full of love, compassion, empathy … every good thing he could think of, Alex had it in spades. This couldn’t be happening.

  Tatiana walked to Zach’s side, he was calling to Alex. “Don’t leave me baby, you can’t leave me – I need you – please don’t go. Come back to me, Alexina!” The longing in his voice brought a lump to everyone that heard it.

  Vlad was shaking his head. Fuck – if Alex died he didn’t know what havoc Zach would wreak until he then died and joined his mate. He would do anything, anything at all for this not to be happening. Seeing his friend’s mate lying on the table, torn open and blood everywhere … Christ this was wrong, so very, very wrong.

  Tatiana spoke into his Zach’s ear. “Vampire, you can help her. You have a decision to make and you need to make it now, Zach.”

  The meaning in her words worked through into his brain but he shook his head, surely she couldn’t expect him to do that?

  He looked down at his love and heard her heart stutter … slowing down … nearly stopping.

  “No!” he roared and grabbed her head to place a kiss on her lips.

  Continued in Book 3, The Turning, grab it HERE!

  Author’s Note

  Many thanks for reading Book 2 in the Defender's Blood Series – I hope you enjoyed it! If you want to find out what happens to Alex, click HERE for book 3!

  Now I know you want to get stuck into your next book, I do. But if I may just ask for a moment of your time to leave a review it would be most appreciated. As an Indie Author every single review helps and can also help other reader’s decide whether they’d enjoy the story.

  Find my contact details over the page and my other series are all there too. Dive in and meet a host of different characters from scorching hot Alphas, to a kickass female assassin, not
to mention some sizzling Dragons.

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  Live, love, read.

  Ava xx

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  Other Work by Ava

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