by Brenda Trim
“Fancy meeting you here,” Santi taunted Von as he pulled his sgian dubh from his waist.
Von looked from Santi to Tori, causing Santi to vault over the table and grab the male by the throat. He didn’t care for the way Von was regarding his mate with disdain. “And here I thought you’d caused that scene at the fight club as a distraction. Little did I know that mark he bears is yours,” Von snarled at Tori. “At least that explains why Lana canceled my contract. I never would have guessed that the Guild would pander to its assassins.”
The implied threat to Tori had Santi seeing red. All thoughts of doing the right thing and turning Von over to the police flew out the window. This overweight, rodent looking motherfucker had eaten his last meal.
CHAPTER TWENTY
“You’re going to have to send Lana a message from the grave, asshole,” Tori threatened as she cracked her stalvajer against the tile floor. Sparks flew into the air where it struck, and the impact jolted her. The electricity of her weapon was familiar and comforting. Regardless of the odds being against them, Tori felt impervious when she wielded her weapon. It was an extension of her and reacted as quickly as her thoughts formed, cutting her reaction time drastically and giving her an edge.
Santi was the only one in the room not rattled by the display. In fact, he smiled over his shoulder at her. “Let’s try not to destroy the place. John and Mary have been through enough,” he teased with a look at the black streak her weapon left on the floor.
“I make no promises. Somehow I don’t think these assholes will come willingly.” She snorted and whipped around, her arm following the action.
One of the males shouted and jumped, not able to avoid the stalvajer entirely as she stopped him from fleeing the room.
A survey of the room told her that the other five males were the ones manufacturing the drug. They hovered around two tables that were covered with all sorts of paraphernalia that she didn’t recognize. Glass jars with a wide rim held what looked and smelled like blood. She shuddered, wondering how they obtained the angel’s blood. She imagined the sorceress seducing an angel and casting a spell over him so she could hold him hostage and drain his blood. The horrifying thought caused bile to form in her throat.
The males had an assembly line going, beginning with those jars of blood. The next items were a metal candle with a flame at the end and similar jars filled with clear liquid sitting over the flame and bubbling. There were large droppers and metal sticks and safety glasses. It was obvious to her from the dropper filled with blood that they added it to the clear liquid. At the end of the table, there was a huge cast iron pot filled to the brim. Her skin crawled at the sight.
How could her brother be a part of something so nefarious? Dark magic permeated the air, nearly choking her, leaving no doubt this substance was highly destructive. A wave of sadness and regret washed over her as she contemplated her brother.
Movement caught her eye. One of the males had a death wish, she thought as he reached for a syringe. “I don’t think so,” she bellowed. With a flick of her wrist, her weapon was in motion and the male was screaming in agony. The end of her whip caught him by the arm, removing it from midforearm.
“You’ve fucked up now,” Von prattled as he tried to squirm out of Santi’s grip. She nearly laughed at the sight.
Von reminded her of a snake. Animal Planet was one of her favorite channels and she immediately thought of how the hosts of shows grabbed snakes by the back of the head to subdue them. Santi was holding the front of Von’s shirt and now had hold of the back of his neck, preventing his escape.
Von bared his fangs at Santi and snapped, trying to reach Santi, who wasn’t as calm and composed as she usually saw him in battle. It didn’t take much to know Von’s threat had riled him. He’d never hidden his possessive and protective streak toward her. She understood; she felt the same way about him.
“You are the one who has fucked up. There isn’t a Dark Warrior or council member who will allow you to live after what you’ve done,” Santi retorted.
Tori wondered if he was basing that opinion on assumption, or if there had been some decision made about those involved in the drug trade. The realm didn’t have statutes prior to this about making and selling drugs. Before Angel’s Kiss, supernaturals gained a mild high from drugs, but never became addicted or incoherent from use like humans. Their quick metabolisms and rapid healing kept anything more insidious from happening.
It wouldn’t surprise her to learn that the council had passed laws prohibiting any involvement. The drug was nothing short of devastating. She didn’t remember anything from her time as a human, but she recalled feeling that everything in the supernatural world was harsh and unforgiving. Now she understood that punishments were far more extreme than a slap on the wrist in order to not only protect the secrecy of the realm, but also to teach supernaturals how to restrain their force and not harm those less powerful.
“Your puny council will meet their own end soon enough,” Von spouted, spittle flying out of his mouth.
“Is that what Lady Angelica has told you? She couldn’t prevail centuries ago and she won’t now,” Santi promised. He had mentioned that name before, and Tori once again wondered who this Angelica was. It was obvious Santiago had no respect for the female and did not fear what she may be able to do to them. Tori couldn’t say the same. If she was responsible for Angel’s Kiss, she was incredibly powerful and shouldn’t be dismissed.
“You have no idea the power she holds now, but you will,” Von crowed.
“I know all about her deal with Kadir. Dark magic will never prevail. Not when we have the Goddess on our side,” Santi retorted, making Von’s eyes go wide and more sweat to slick his forehead. Tori had no idea how Santiago could stand being so close to the repulsive vampire. She could smell him across the room, and it wasn’t pleasant.
“We will see how certain you are when she shows up,” Von countered and kicked Santi in the shin. Santiago let go of Von’s neck, and he managed to slither free.
The other males took that as a signal to attack, and three of them headed toward her while the other two joined Von.
“I’m going to make you pay for taking my hand,” the male she’d injured snarled. He’d picked up another syringe and lunged forward, trying to inject her.
She kicked out and missed his hand, but her momentum kept him from sticking her. Sensing the male sneaking up behind her, she allowed him to believe she was sufficiently distracted and afraid of the needle. At the last second, she ducked and swung her foot around, tripping the second male up.
The third male punched her in the head and had her staggering as she tried to stand up. Tori crashed into the table. Blood and drugs spilled and the burner tipped over, catching debris on fire. Without thought, her stalvajer was in motion while she focused on the two males in front of her. A sharp cry was cut off and she felt resistance as her weapon sliced through flesh and bone. She hoped she’d removed the male’s head.
Pushing her wings from her back, she summoned her Valkyrie side. She danced out of reach and checked to her right. The male she’d hit was missing a leg and howling in pain. He’d fallen to the ground and was rolling around in his own blood. The sight turned her stomach, but that was one less foe she had to worry about.
The male missing a hand held back. The trepidation in his eyes told her he didn’t want to feel the sting of her weapon again. She wasn’t going to count him out of the picture, but focused most of her attention on the third male, who posed the biggest threat. He was holding a firearm and was ready to use it. Where he’d gotten the weapon from, she had no idea.
Not waiting for them to attack, Tori pasted an uncertain expression on her face while she continued to back away. When it was clear the big oaf believed she was sufficiently frightened, her stalvajer was in motion. Unfortunately, the male was fast and jumped onto the nearby table, sending objects flying and avoided her strike.
However, the handless male hadn’t expected any
of it and was just in reach of her weapon. The metal end of her whip bit into his neck and laid his throat open. Bright red blood pulsed from the wound and the male gaped like a fish out of water. His hands went to his throat, but there was no use. He wouldn’t be able to stop the blood. She was unsure if the wound was deep enough that he wouldn’t heal before it killed him. Her weapon was made and blessed by Freya and the equivalent of silver to supernaturals. Some of her Valkyrie sisters had bows and arrows that Freya had given them, and being shot through the heart by one of the arrows killed a supernatural instantly.
Her inattention cost her as the uninjured male came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her, trapping her wings between them. Restraining a Valkyrie’s wings weakened her, and she was immediately drained of energy. She hit and kicked and flailed as she tried to get away from him, but she was as effective as a child.
Needing to escape his hold, she tried to coax her way closer to the wall. If she could use that as leverage, then she could break free. She managed to make it a few steps closer before he stopped and looked toward Von and Santiago.
The sounds of fighting told her they hadn’t beaten her mate, and she chanced a glance to see what caught his attention. One male was slumped in the corner missing his head, while the rest paced around Santiago restlessly. She used the opportunity to race to the wall while her captor was distracted.
She was there and walking her way up before he managed to shout at her. “Who are you calling a bitch?” she asked the male as she landed behind him. Her weapon was on the floor ten feet behind her.
Knowing she wouldn’t make it, she wrapped her hands around the male’s neck and twisted. The loud pop that echoed was followed by his form slumping to the floor. She’d broken his neck, but that wouldn’t stop him entirely.
She raced over and snatched her whip from the floor, and it was arcing through the air and cleaving his head from his shoulders in the next blink. Panting, she glanced at her other two opponents, noting that only the male missing the leg was still alive and he wouldn’t be giving her any more problems.
Before she could head over to help Santiago, she was distracted by his shift into wolf. White light so bright she was forced to shield her eyes engulfed him at the same time primal, earthy energy swept through the room. It made her think of forests and full moons. Crazy and clichéd, she thought as she shook her head.
Santiago was nothing like the human idea of a werewolf. Shifters were creatures of the earth, the sun, and the wild and there was no man evident when he shifted. His shoes and clothing fell in tatters to the floor, and there was no sign of his human side when the lights cleared. He was all animal, and a huge beast at that. Everything about Santiago spoke to her on a primal level.
She’d never really allowed her Valkyrie free rein, but she had given herself over countless times now when she was with Santiago. This was the first time she’d done so in a combat situation. She’d been too afraid of losing every ounce of humanity she’d managed to retain.
Now she realized she never would. Not as long as she had her Fated Mate at her side. He grounded her and gave her permission to be who she truly was. She trusted that he would always catch her if she fell, and bring her back from the brink by his teeth if he had to. She’d do the same for him. Hell, she had been ever since she’d met him without even knowing it.
The second the transformation was complete, Santi stalked Von, pushing him to the wall. The spineless vampire was quivering in his boots—well, loafers, Tori amended, glancing at Von’s feet. Santiago reared up on his hind legs and his canines sank into Von’s neck. Blood flew as Santi shook his large wolf head back and forth. Von’s cries came out as gurgles.
Tori had been so caught up in Santi’s shift and attack that all she could do was collapse when pain sliced through her wing and back. She landed on her left wing and couldn’t feel her arm. Glancing around for what had hit her, she noticed the only other male standing at the other side of the room looking at something behind her.
Following his gaze, she saw an elegant female standing there with a snarl on her beautiful face. She had a black blade in her hand that emanated evil. Tori swore she could see black smoke seeping off the vile weapon, but couldn’t be sure. All she knew was that she didn’t want it to touch her again.
It must be Lady Angelica. The female was obviously a sorceress, but unlike the colorful sparks that typically emanated from a sorcerer, Angelica’s were black. Everything about her screamed an eternity of torment in the Underworld. It was anathema to her beauty. She had long dark brown hair with smooth mocha skin most females spent thousands of dollars to achieve. Her eyes were an eerie black with a white pupil, but stunning and captivating nonetheless.
Her formal gown swished behind her as she slowly stalked toward Tori. Tori tried to stand and run, but barely managed to get her torso off the ground. Warmth seeped down her side, telling her she was bleeding badly. She refused to look down and see how much damage the sorceress had done when she cut Tori’s wing off. No use confirming what she already knew.
It was bad, very bad. Tori’s strength was leaving her in a rush and spots danced in her vision. A strangled groan was all that escaped when she tried to call for Santiago. He was intent on chewing his way through every muscle and tendon in Von’s neck.
“I do apologize that you’ve gotten caught up in the middle of something that has nothing to do with you. You can thank your Dark Warrior for that.” Angelica sneered in Santiago’s direction. “I respect Lana and the Guild. In fact, I have used them on several occasions. Seizing control of a realm requires a no-mercy policy.”
“That’s why you’re doing this? For power? Are you really that delusional?” Tori couldn’t help but ask. She was appalled that the female would cause so much damage to a realm she hoped to rule. Who would want control over a bunch of drug-addicted subjects?
“The realm has been asking for a leader capable of beating the demons. All I am doing is giving them what they’ve asked for. Few are willing to make the sacrifices I have for the good of the realm,” Angelica revealed.
Shocked, Tori shook her head but stopped when the movement sent pain coursing through her side. This female walked a fine line between delusion and reality. Tori opened her mouth to respond, but Angelica had pulled that black blade back, and it was coming at her faster than she could react. She wasn’t going to be able to avoid the blow. She regretted not telling Santiago how much she had come to love him. She should have agreed to mate him. At least she felt his presence wrap around her as she poured all of her energy into moving out of the path.
She heard a wolf’s howl at the same time Angelica stumbled and the black blade cut through flesh already damaged by the first strike. Fighting the darkness threatening to engulf her, Tori searched for Santi, wanting to see him one more time. The blade may not have struck right through her heart, but it had nicked it, and she could feel the evil stealing her life. It was suffocating her and burning her heart.
The last thing she saw before she succumbed was Santiago’s wolf clawing the red silk dress Angelica wore. The blood wasn’t immediately evident, but she saw him clamp down on her shoulder and tear before everything went black.
*****
Angelica disappeared in a puff of black smoke, leaving Santiago with a mouthful of flesh and jewels. The bitch had attacked his mate. He wanted to go after her, but Tori needed him.
After shifting back, he grabbed a jar, spit the flesh into it, and raced to his mate’s side. Tori lay unmoving. One of her wings had been cut from her body, and her arm, as well. The wound was so deep he could see into her chest cavity. Her heart was turning black. Panic struck as he realized she was going to die unless he got her help.
Not thinking about his nudity or the male remaining in the room, he swept Tori into his arms with her injured arm tucked against his chest, then grabbed her wing and headed out the door. The maître d’ was in the hall, wringing his hands.
“Don’t let any of those left
alive leave. The Dark Warriors will be here soon,” Santi ordered as he stormed out the door and raced across to his vehicle. He was in a race against time as he laid her across the backseat and took off toward the one place he never thought he’d go again.
Ignoring speed limits and traffic lights, he drove like hell was chasing him. Through their mating bond, he felt Tori slipping from him. “C’mon, get out of my way, motherfucker,” he screamed at cars as he swerved to avoid impact. His heart raced and he could scarcely draw a full breath. What seemed like an eternity later, he pulled into the long drive that led to Zeum. He easily navigated the lane and cursed when the twenty-foot wrought iron gate blocked him.
Mashing his finger into the intercom button, he cursed at the delay. Glancing over his shoulder, his heart stopped when he noticed how pale Tori was. Her chest wasn’t moving either.
“Open the fucking gate, Nate. Now,” he snarled.
“Hold your wolf, Santiago. You no longer live here and don’t get to give me orders. I’ll have to ask Zander about letting you in” came the tinny reply over the intercom. The dragon shifter was asking for a beatdown. It was all Santiago could do to hold his shift at bay. His wolf was just as worried as he was about Tori.
“If my fucking mate dies because you are being an asshole, I will rip you to shreds,” Santiago snarled. “Open this fucking gate, now.”
A sigh of relief escaped Santiago as the gate creaked open. He prayed it wasn’t too late as he pulled under the portico by the front door.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Orlando wiped his sweaty palms on his jeans and glanced to the house again. He shouldn’t be there, but he had been unable to stay away. Thoughts of Jaidis tormented him to the point of insanity. Her smell was intoxicating and she was sexy despite the fact that she was hugely pregnant with another male’s baby. A male she was mated to, at that. Maybe he’d been dropped on his head as an infant or he had displeased the Goddess in some way and that was why he kept falling for the wrong females.
