Deviant Knights

by Alexandra O'Hurley

  The four vehicles rolled through the airport gates, driving out onto the tarmac. The jet rested on the asphalt, the single spotlight illuminating the airplane. Goosebumps formed on Kadence’s arm, and the chaotic blinking lights blurred with the wetness that formed in her eyes. Her stomach was roiling, her skin crawling.

  Michel was walking into his death.

  They’d said another two Templars would arrive with the plane, Henri and Lucian. The two had been charged with preventing Paloma and her minions from entering the aircraft prior to their arrival. She held her breath as the cars stopped before the plane.

  Gabriel and Alain got out of the car first, drawing swords and scoping out the area. Thierry and Michel did the same behind them. Nervously, she watched from the backseat of the limo.

  Dual explosions made Kadence jump, a scream rending from her lips. The two security vehicles, as well as the occupants inside them, were blown sky high. Her ears pounded, and she could hear a ringing sound as she watched the remnants of the vehicles burn, miscellaneous fiery parts falling to the ground. Jumping to her knees, she looked all around her, trying to determine where the blasts had come from.

  Two men rushed from the airplane, swords drawn. They looked very much like the other men, and she assumed they were Templars as well.

  A door to the limo opened and Gabriel stuck his head inside. “Hurry, we need to get to the plane.”

  She grasped Gabriel’s outstretched hand and began the run to the boarding stairs, only to be cut off.

  Rounding the plane was Paloma and at least a dozen men.

  Black hair whipped around her, the heavy breeze off the sea making her hair look more like that of Medusa, full of flowing snakes. Her full, red dress swirled around her ankles, billowing in the wind.

  Her face, as well as those of the men with her, began to twist into the demonic expression again, making bile rise in Kadence’s throat. The evil inside these beings warped the very air around them, making it hard for Kadence to breathe.

  The Templars around Kadence stood stock-still, frozen, watching their arrival. Nor did they move as the woman stepped closer to eye Michel.

  “Templar, you’re as handsome as ever.”

  “Paloma, you’re as vile as ever.”

  Kadence stifled a shudder. She’d never told the men of the exact conversation they’d shared in her dream. It played note for note before her, making all of the things she’d seen in her head suddenly more real. There was no way Kadence could allow it to continue to go down this path.

  Paloma chuckled throatily. This was the woman who’d broken Michel. She needed to pay for that sin.

  Kadence felt the need to attack, to scratch the woman’s eyes out with her bare hands. But unlike in the dream, she was able to move. She rushed forward as Paloma pulled a sword from a sheath and aimed the tip at Michel’s chest.

  The Illuminati soldiers rushed to prevent the knights from protecting Michel. Swords clashed around her as the Templars began to fight the fast-moving evil incarnate. Kadence ducked around the fighting, not willing to let Michel end this way. She was within feet—she could save him. Paloma would not have his head.

  “Vile, am I? You didn’t think that way many years ago, and if I’m correct, you want me now just as much as you did then. Perhaps more?”

  Michel did not answer her. Kadence waited for the denial as she moved closer, the refusal of such utter garbage, but none came. She watched as his shoulders deflated in shame, his head dropping before him.

  Paloma lifted her sword. Kadence would not witness this act again. She began to run. She had to stop Paloma.

  Michel dropped at the last second. Paloma’s sword bypassed him…and struck Kadence square in the chest.

  ****

  Gabriel screamed as he saw the sword pierce Kadence’s chest. He was fighting two Illuminati foot soldiers, holding them back as best he could. Outmanned, he worked feverously, all while trying to see Kadence.

  Did she live? She had to live!

  He watched as Michel kicked Paloma, knocking her off her feet. In seconds, he whisked Kadence off the ground and up the stairs to the plane, leaving Paloma behind.

  Gabriel needed to fend off these two and get to Paloma before she interfered with Kadence any further. He slashed one of the soldiers through the chest, kicking him onto the ground. One down, one to go.

  He pushed the other away, needing to attack Paloma more than he needed to fight the last man. She was mere feet from the jet’s stairs, rushing to finish the job she’d started. Kadence was in danger.

  A figure in all black jumped from nowhere, stabbing a blade into Paloma’s chest. Gabriel skidded to a halt, trying to figure out what he’d just seen. Paloma began to slump to the ground. If she was Illuminati, the strike would not kill her, but it would incapacitate her enough for Gabriel to deal the deathblow.

  He saw the figure in black slowly pull his sword from the bitch and then raise it above. He knew to give the deathblow. The assassin would steal their kill from them. If not Michel, it needed to be a Templar. Paloma had wreaked havoc on their lives. The kill was theirs to take, not some nameless assassin’s.

  One of the foot soldiers rushed to aid Paloma, fighting off the dark slayer. Seconds later, the soldier Gabriel had pushed away caught up with him to attack. Paloma was forgotten for a moment as Gabriel fought for his life.

  ****

  Thierry sunk his sword into the Illuminati he fought, pulling the metal back out. Crouching back into the fighting stance, he saw Gabriel, Henri, and Lucien all with a single foe. Another unknown fighter in black fought an Illuminati soldier and Paloma lay on the ground nearby.

  Paloma had blood on her abdomen. She was wounded. Thierry rushed closer.

  The unknown warrior was small, moving with ninja-like grace. Dressed all in black, the fighter was hard to keep in his line of site, the darkness around him swallowing him whole as they danced. But his short sword blazed, reigning shots down on the much larger Illuminati.

  As Thierry got closer, the Illuminati captured the fighter in a headlock, pulling him up close. Ripping at the black cloth that covered his head, the Illuminati pulled the mask from—her. Onyx braids fell from her head as crystalline blue eyes caught his in the briefest of seconds.

  His feet quickened.

  Her sword swiped down, catching the Illuminati in the gut. The soldier dropped his prey and went to his knees. She turned, the sword level with the soldier’s neck. As she spun, the blade struck through and the soldier’s head went flying.

  Thierry froze as she leveled those incredibly blue eyes on him once again. The coldness that emanated from them was bone-chilling. A callous kick behind her, without looking to see her target, and the man’s body fell to the ground. A smirk twisted her full lips and he was both awed and disgusted by the act.

  Lightning that should have been theirs rushed into the fighter’s body, lighting her from inside.

  Thierry was dumbstruck.

  The body began to crumble to ash. Wind picked up the remnants of the powder, whirling it around and bringing it close to the female. It slowly absorbed into her. She’d watched the whole thing with indifference, as if it hadn’t been the first time the event had happened.

  Thierry’s mouth dropped open. This was the same as what Gabriel and Michel had described with Kadence.

  The warrior.

  Pushing him out of her way as she passed, the electricity of her near presence made his skin tingle. She brushed past him, drawing her sword high, charging after Paloma.

  Who was gone.

  Thierry raised his sword and circled the area, looking for signs of the female. They’d been so close to finishing Paloma off, ending Michel’s nightmare. Alain charged into the fray, his eyes wide as he surveyed the woman.

  Turning to Thierry, Alain asked, “Did I see what I think I did?”

  “Good question, mon frère.”

  When Thierry turned back to her, the warrior woman was gone.

  Chapter Seven
teen

  Michel worked diligently over Kadence’s wound. The sword had gone clear through her, exiting through her back. Blood was everywhere; he held his shirt to her wound, trying to keep pressure on it.

  He heard the sounds outside, the fighting. His body yearned to be out there, helping his brothers fight. But he couldn’t leave Kadence alone. Not after she’d rushed to him…to what? Save him?

  Silly girl. He was a Templar Knight, more than qualified to save his own arse. She’d gotten in the way of his chance at redemption. Paloma had been in his sights. It could have ended right there, right then. Instead, in her misguided attempts to save him, mind, body, and soul, she’d gotten hurt.

  He was angry. Angry she’d interfered. Angry she’d gotten hurt. Angry at himself for being such a son-of-a-bitch.

  Regardless of the fact she’d gotten in over her head, she’d done it for noble reasons. She thought she could save him.

  No one could save him.

  But she’d been willing to risk her own life to save his. That meant something, didn’t it? Foolish, silly woman. He wasn’t worth saving. Hadn’t he proved that with his rough handling of her in bed? Hadn’t he shown her how much of an ass he was?

  Yet she’d still been willing to fight for him. Fight for a man she barely knew. Fight for a man who’d been unwilling to see the good in her the moment doubt was thrown in the way.

  The moment he’d first seen her, he’d seen her light, her zest for life. He’d been pulled to it like a moth to a flame. She made him smile. Made him laugh. She made him feel—more than he’d felt in an eternity.

  She made him want more.

  And then she’d fallen on a sword for him.

  He’d said to her that she wasn’t the woman he needed. That he needed something more to heal the broken spirit that rested within him. He’d been so wrong.

  She was more than enough woman. And she lay dying in his arms.

  The fighting quieted. Sirens began to waft in the distance, the authorities nearing. It was a wonder they hadn’t come sooner considering the explosions. But this part of the tarmac was far away from the normal traffic. It probably wasn’t noticed at first, giving them plenty of time to fight off the Illuminati. At least he hoped that his brethren had been successful.

  Henri’s face appeared in the doorway, bruised and bloodied. “How is she?”

  “Bleeding. A lot. We need to get off the ground, now. I hear sirens.”

  Henri ducked back out and down the stairs. Lightning struck outside the plane. His brothers were eliminating the Illuminati soldiers. Was Paloma in their number?

  Gabriel strode through the door, a headless body in his arms. He dropped it on the floor at Michel’s feet.

  “What is this?” Michel kicked the torso away and it began to disintegrate.

  “The ash seemed to strengthen her the last time. Perhaps it will help her now.”

  The body disintegrated and the powder swirled into the air and moved toward Kadence. It flowed into her and her body lifted slightly from Michel’s arms. He pulled his shirt away and saw her wound. It was not healed, but the blood had stopped flowing from it freely. The sirens were getting louder. They didn’t have time to wait for another body.

  The engines kicked over right after Lucian rushed into the cockpit. The other Templars crowded into the cabin, seating themselves. All looked worse for wear. Blood-soaked clothing, cuts, and bruises abounded.

  “Paloma?” Michel didn’t ask anyone in particular. He just needed someone to answer. Was the nightmare over?

  “She got away. I’m not sure how she did it.” Thierry answered from behind him.

  “Bitch needs to die.” Kadence breathed out on a low murmur.

  Michel exhaled a sigh of relief. Kadence would live. And she was right. That bitch needed to die.

  ****

  Thierry opened the doors to the German estate as Gabriel carried Kadence in his arms. They’d called Nicolas mid-air and told him of their plight. If his woman did indeed have the power to heal, then they needed her to heal Kadence.

  Gabriel rushed up the flight of stairs before him, not knowing where he was going, only knowing that he needed to find her a soft bed to rest in. Thierry rushed past him on the stairs and guided him to a bedroom, opening the door wide to let them through. Michel was fast on their heels, carrying her bag and the first aid kit with the medical supplies they’d used on the plane to bandage her wounds over his arm. Lowering her to the bed, Gabriel gingerly released her. She moaned lowly as he jostled her as carefully as possible.

  Thierry looked out the large thick-leaded windows into the night sky. “I see lights approaching. It may be Nicolas and Matthias.”

  Michel and Gabriel were left alone with Kadence. Gabriel sat on the edge of the bed, watching the shallow breaths she took, worrying over her ashen appearance. She’d put herself in the path of that sword to save Michel.

  Gabriel had promised himself that he would protect her from Michel. He’d already dropped the ball. Here she was before them, fighting for breath, a sword wound running through her. For what? A man who didn’t trust her, didn’t know how incredible a woman she truly was because he was too wrapped up in the past to get his own head out of his ass?

  “She’s here, like this, because of you,” Gabriel bit out, the anger in his words sounding like venom to his own ears.

  “She’s here, like this, because she was a fool to think she could fight Paloma.”

  Gabriel turned, rage filling him. “She risked her life to save you, to prevent your head from being cleaved off, and you call her a fool? The only thing she’s foolish of is thinking you’re worth the effort.”

  Michel’s eyes widened, his nostrils flaring, but he remained quiet. After a moment, he relaxed a bit. “You’re right.”

  Gabriel jerked at that, not expecting an admission but rather more denial. Michel was great with denial.

  “I’m not worthy of a woman like her.” Michel turned from Gabriel and bent down on one knee beside the bed. He reached a hand out to caress her cheek with the back. “She’s a fool and I’m a selfish bastard who couldn’t see what was right before me.”

  Envy filled Gabriel. Kadence was Michel’s. If she survived this, she was his. She would be the one to save his miserable soul.

  Kadence’s eyes fluttered open.

  “Selfish bastard?” She chuckled lowly before moaning in pain. “You are a stubborn bastard. Get it right.”

  Gabriel watched as Michel gathered one of her frail looking hands in both of his and brought it to his lips, pressing a kiss onto the back. Michel smiled at her, and Gabriel realized it was the first real smile he’d seen from Michel in years. The envy bled from him in that moment. Kadence was the woman who could save his friend. And he wouldn’t stand in the way of Michel’s happiness, or Kadence’s.

  He just wished he’d seen this coming before he’d lost his heart to her.

  Chapter Eighteen

  A willowy blonde rushed into Kadence’s room, followed by Nicolas and Matthias. Michel narrowed his eyes at the woman. His trust may have opened to accept Kadence, but no one else would be so lucky. She approached Kadence slowly, eyeing Michel like a wild beast she’d need to tame. How right she was.

  “Michel, Gabriel, this is Britt. She’s here to help.”

  Britt moved closer, Michel never easing. He refused to move, seated at the head of the bed, Kadence’s head in his lap. The woman smiled softly, her green eyes glistening.

  She dipped to the bed, resting on the edge. Collecting Kadence’s hand in hers, the woman closed her eyes and began to hum quietly. Her other hand lifted and began to hover over Kadence’s body, floating in large circles until it narrowed into smaller ones just above the wound.

  A light formed under the bandages, in the exact spot the wound was, and mere seconds later, was gone.

  “The sword missed the major organs. She was lucky. She could’ve bled out if it had been a few inches to either side.” Britt stood, a smile on her lips
and in her eyes, as she stared directly at him. Michel could hear a slight Nordic accent to her words. “But you, you have some wounds, yourself. Deep wounds. And the healer for those lies in this bed.”

  Britt turned to Nicolas and Matthias. Both men smiled at her, Nicolas pulling her close. The three left the room, the door clicking shut quietly.

  Gabriel slowly began to unbind the bandages around Kadence, probably needing to see it as much as Michel did. They peeled back the bloody gauze to find a light pink gash. The skin had knitted together nicely. It looked like it had been weeks, not hours, since Kadence had received the wound.

  The woman had done it. Britt had healed Kadence. More proof of Thierry’s claim. The seer and the healer. Two down, three more to go.

  Kadence’s eyes opened, a gasp filling her lungs. Michel held his own breath, waiting for a response.

  “What was that?”

  “The woman Nicolas told Thierry about. The one they think may be the healer.” Michel didn’t want to admit that everything was coming together, proof that the story Thierry had found could be true. The men had told him of the warrior woman who’d planted a sword in Paloma, and he’d felt great love for this warrior woman. Too bad she’d not taken the gypsy’s head.

  “So skeptical.” She looked down to the wound in her chest. “Looks like I’m healed, so that would make her—a healer.”

  Michel frowned down at Kadence, even though he reveled on the inside. She was restored and he’d finally gotten his head out of his ass, hopefully in enough time to make it up to her. If she still wanted him. And if Gabriel did not object. He had a lot of crow to eat.

  After all the things he’d said, all the things he’d done, she had every right to cast him out. He hoped she didn’t, but would understand if she did.

  Britt’s words came back and ran through his mind. The healer to his wounds lies in this bed. Perhaps there was hope? “I’ve recently said a lot of things I regret.”