Rogue Warrior: (Dark Warrior Alliance Book Seven)

by Brenda Trim

  “How are they going to keep her from disappearing?” Santiago asked. The sorceress should not have that power, but had gained it from her bargain with Kadir and used it during every encounter they’d had with her. It could make it difficult to follow her.

  “Och, Evzen found a spell in the Mystik Grimoire. It combines witchcraft and sorcery to cover all elements and lock them down. There is no’ a guarantee it will work,” Zander explained. Santiago hadn’t been part of that meeting. He hadn’t wanted to leave Tori’s side and wondered if that was a portent for how life was going to be from there on out. Not that he was complaining. He had never been more content.

  “Thank fuck that tome has decided to remain around,” Hayden interjected. “If I didn’t know better I’d say it housed a sentient being, what with how temperamental it is. Hey, Orlando. It’s not time to launch that thing yet. Take your damn paws off that trigger,” Hayden yelled, pouring his Omega power behind his command. It was so strong that Santiago dropped his hands. No shifter could deny an order from his Omega, and the weapon clattered to the ground.

  “Good thing the safety was still on that,” Hayden muttered, adding, “I didn’t think that one through. It’s good to have you back, Santi,” the Omega continued, slapping Santiago on the shoulder.

  “It’s good to be back, Sire. I didn’t realize how much I’d missed home, but I think my mate did,” Santi replied as he watched the witches work.

  “I have no doubt she did. I don’t think Tori misses much,” Hayden observed. “It’s going to be great to have a Valkyrie join the pack. I will be honest. I was surprised to see you at Zeum. I take it from your presence that you are back?”

  Santiago met his Omega’s brown eyes. “Yes, I am. My approach was wrong, and I’m prepared to accept my punishment,” he relayed, wanting his Omega to understand he had realized his mistake.

  “Good to hear it. Do you plan on staying at Zeum? Or are you interested in a position as an enforcer?” Hayden offered.

  Santiago tugged on his beard and considered the offer. “I appreciate the offer, but I want to stay with the Dark Warriors. That’s where I belong. But I’m hoping that you will be part of my mating ceremony,” Santi hedged.

  A smile bloomed across Hayden’s face. “I’d be honored. I’ve had enough practice by now that I don’t think I’ll keep tripping over the words. Are you planning on doing it on pack grounds?”

  “Thanks, but I think I’d like to have it at Zeum. I’ve been gone so long, plus my blood, sweat, and tears are in the Triskele replica there. Would it be too much to ask you and Zander to do the ceremony together?” Santiago asked, including Zander in the conversation.

  “Och,” Zander chuckled. “Having two leaders perform the ceremony would be a first, but I’m sure we can work something oot.”

  “You ready with your rocket?” Pema called to Orlando, interrupting their conversation.

  “Absolutely,” Orlando replied as he picked up the weapon and rested it on his shoulder, thumbing the safety.

  Showtime, Santi thought as a boom echoed around them followed by a flash. The explosion when the bomb hit the wall of the castle lit the sky. The ground shook and debris flew into the air. Their team was far enough away to avoid injury.

  “Stay here and cast that blocking spell,” Zander ordered the Rowan sisters. “The rest of you, let’s go.”

  “We cast that spell first,” Isis retorted as they fled across the field. “But we will stay out here and Suvi and I will get any that flee.”

  The cold became painful as they neared the house and Santi felt his irritation turn to anger. Anger that had no direct target. He was as angry at his fellow Dark Warriors as he was Angelica. It wasn’t a natural anger.

  “Beware, the Dark magic may be fucking with your emotions,” Orlando warned, confirming his suspicions.

  “Keep your fucking focus on Angelica and her minions,” Zander ordered on the heels of Orlando’s warning.

  A flood of demons dressed in armor, as well as Angelica’s goons raced from the smoking castle. Kyran and Mack both disappeared at the same time and reappeared behind two snarling sorcerers. Their heads hit the dirt and the couple was on the move again before anyone knew what had happened.

  As soon as the goons realized Kyran and Mack could sift and surprise them, a chorus of “Sgiath,” echoed across the battlefield. Santi knew enough Gaelic to curse. These sorcerers had just protected themselves from attack with a spell. Did that protection apply to the demons, too?

  He was about to find out as one ran straight for him. His wolf bristled under his skin, wanting in on the action. “Later,” he told it. He needed to remain in human form so he could wield his titanium blade. He wanted to send as many of these bastards to back to hell as he could.

  Claws dug into his sides as he collided with a solid body. He slashed out, aiming for the exposed flesh he could see around the neck. Ignoring the pain, he pushed and twisted his sgian dubh. Black blood spurted from the wound and landed on his cheek. Immediately, his skin began tingling. He wiped it on his shirt so it didn’t burn through the skin.

  Demon blood wasn’t as fast-acting as acid, but it was highly destructive to any creature of the Light and extremely unpleasant to heal from.

  A feminine screech had everyone ducking and covering their ears, even the demons and goons. Santi lifted his head and saw Angelica perched on an untouched tower with black lightning flashing around her.

  She was scanning the field and throwing those bolts at the Dark Warriors. When she spotted Jace, a slow, insidious smile spread across her face. Santiago would not want to be Jace at that moment. The sorceress’s attention was riveted to the healer. At least the lightning wasn’t hurling toward Santi right then. This wasn’t lightning he could divert and had no desire to feel its sting.

  Before that thought reached completion, Santi was stumbling and falling to the ground as he was hit from the side. His wolf howled, and Santi gave into the shift, his paws hitting the dirt rather than his back. Snarling when the transformation was done, one of his paws sliced through the barrier his attacker had erected and then through flesh.

  Expecting to see black blood flow, Santi was startled when the male’s blood poured out red. Were these sorcerers under the influence of a spell? Or under the influence of angel’s kiss? He had a moment’s hesitation, wondering if they were doing the right thing. If the enemies weren’t in control of themselves, then they were innocents in need of saving.

  Was there a way they could knock them out and find out later? The focus needed to be on Angelica. With her out of the picture, they could better determine what they were dealing with.

  Claws digging into the dirt, Santi raced to the castle. Keeping his eyes peeled for activity around him, he saw that Gerrick was surrounded and diverted to help the male.

  His claws swiped through the back of one sorcerer, and he noted the shield was no longer in place. Perhaps it took too much energy to fight and keep the shield up. Before that male hit the floor, Santi was pouncing on an armored demon. Santiago was prepared when they both went down, but not when the helmet flew off.

  Bile surged in his throat when the demon’s face came into view. The peach flesh was covered in boils and smelled like a sewer. It was difficult to determine if the creature even had eyes. Perhaps it was like a bat and used echolocation.

  The demon used his distraction and grabbed Santiago’s throat. Thankfully he was in wolf form and it didn’t get through the thick fur. His paw was in motion before he could think better of it and not only was black blood spewing out, but a green substance did, as well. It was thick and sticky as it hit his fur. He was going to need detoxification after this.

  Bhric and Breslin were standing back to back with Bhric freezing his opponents as they approached and Breslin throwing her flame at them. Rhett was next to them adding his fire to the mix. Rhett was a new addition to the common sight, Santi mused. Rhett may be a fire demon, but Breslin’s grace when she wielded her fire made it a
thing of beauty.

  Santi leaped onto the next foe, leaving that one writhing in the dirt. “Duck,” Gerrick yelled. Santiago didn’t hesitate, but wished he’d jumped out of range when Gerrick stuck his staff into the armor of one of the demons. A split second later, green goo, black blood, and metal shrapnel went flying.

  Santiago yelped when a small piece lodged into his hip. The feel of acid running through his veins drowned out the pain from the minor cut. He willed cells to go to the wound and eject the foreign object so he could fight off the demon toxins.

  “Sorry,” Gerrick muttered as he pulled the metal from his hide. “Didn’t account for the metal armor.”

  Santiago huffed in response and continued the fight. He made his way to the castle, killing sorcerers and demons that got in his path. He could no longer see Angelica and wondered where she was.

  Tackling one of her sorcerers, Santiago held him with his big paws and allowed a second to look around. Mack was laughing and flashing, inflicting minor injuries as she went. Kyran was busy fighting off a hellhound Santi hadn’t seen before, and didn’t see the demon flash behind Mack. Santiago forgot about his sorcerer and let out a howl at the same time he flew into motion.

  He barreled into the demon at the same it stabbed Mack in the side of the neck. Santiago didn’t have time to stop and help as he tore into the demon. Green goo and black blood covered the ground by the time he lifted his head and saw Mack lying there. Blood was gushing out of her wound and he shifted back.

  “Jace,” Santi yelled. “Mack needs you.” Kyran flashed to her side, leaving his fight behind. In the next second, he had her at Jace’s side.

  Santiago didn’t have time to see what happened next as Angelica walked out of the castle and slammed her staff into the ground. Everything on the field froze. Santiago couldn’t move or talk and assumed it was the same for the rest of his team. Good thing her spell affected her minions as well.

  She strolled through the melee. “I knew you’d come home, Jace. It’s a relief my efforts to break your connection to that vile human have finally paid off. I’ve missed you,” Angelica crooned.

  Santiago couldn’t move any part of his body and was unable to check Jace’s reaction, but there was no way he was happy about the female’s delusions. Santiago’s wolf stirred beneath his skin, making him realize the animal was not affected by the same spell. Taking a risk, Santiago reached for his wolf and called it forward. For the first time in his life, the shift was painful and felt as if it was turning him inside out. He barely managed to keep from howling in pain.

  When his paws hit the ground, he turned and saw that Angelica had reached Jace’s side and was slicing his cheek open with a fingernail. She was too busy examining the blood and telling him how she was going to take over the realm. Santiago passed Hayden and Orlando on his way to Angelica and was pleased when they both roared, startling her.

  In that heartbeat, the sorceress lost control over her spell, and the field once again became a scene of chaos and fighting. Jace didn’t hesitate to take his sgian dubh and plunge it into Angelica’s chest. Her eyes went wide, and Jace snarled something in her face that Santiago couldn’t hear before Zander came up behind her and used his claymore to take her head.

  Time stopped for a split second while everyone watched Angelica fall to the ground. Santiago had his answer about the sorcerers in the next second when they resumed fighting.

  Their team worked seamlessly together to beat the demons and goons, confirming that Santiago’s decision to remain with the Dark Warriors was the right one. Suvi and Isis along with their mates had joined the fight after the sorceress was gone. Santi assumed Pema and Ronan had hung back at a safe distance. The witch was due to have their first child any day and couldn’t wage into the middle of a battle. With the tides turned, the demons were killed and the sorcerers began fleeing.

  Santiago and the rest gave chase until they disappeared in a puff of black smoke. “What the hell just happened?” Rhys asked.

  Santiago shifted and stood there naked in the cold as he checked on Mack. Kyran was holding her as Jace finished healing her. It didn’t take long for the strain in Kyran’s shoulder to ease and Mack to look up and cup his cheek.

  “You’re losing your edge, firecracker,” Kyran murmured.

  Mack smiled at him and patted his chest. “In your dreams, bloodsucker. I got forty-two. That beats your thirty-nine,” she boasted. Kyran shook his head and held her even closer. Santi noticed the way Mack wrapped her arms around Kyran’s neck.

  “Thank you,” Kyran told Santiago. Santiago nodded and hope grew that it wouldn’t be as difficult as he thought to earn their trust.

  Zander clapped him on the back in the next moment. “We need to find you and Orlando some clothes and get home. I believe there is a punishment to mete out,” Zander murmured, clearly torn. Santiago wondered if he was torn about accepting him back.

  “But not before the mating ceremony,” Zander continued, turning to include the rest of their group.

  Santiago sighed in relief. “I’d like that, liege. I don’t anticipate my sentence to be an easy one, but I’d appreciate Tori not living with the pain of an incomplete mating.” Santi rubbed the mark over his chest in an attempt to soothe the constant burn.

  “That would be cruel and unusual punishment for sure,” Gerrick quipped. “You may deserve that, but she doesn’t.”

  Santiago took the ribbing, knowing it wasn’t malicious but a hazing of sorts. No one could escape the consequences of their decisions. After all, failure was the opportunity to begin again, only this time more wisely, and that was what Santiago aimed to do.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  Butterflies were buzzing in Tori’s stomach and her heart had yet to settle into a normal rhythm. Then again, her heart had been racing since the day she’d met Santiago.

  “Stop fidgeting,” Brittany chastised her. “I will never get this eyeliner right if you don’t sit still. You need to be perfect today.” Brittany’s words reminded Tori why her friend was doing her makeup instead of her.

  Sure, she was lucky to have her arm and wing at all, but they didn’t do her any good. Her arm was useless, and her wing had been causing her problems from the moment she woke up.

  Jace had done an amazing job of saving both appendages. Too bad the Dark magic had already done irrevocable damage. She hadn’t been able to move her left arm more than a few inches above her waist and her wing refused to fold under her skin, and it hurt more than anything she’d ever experienced in her life.

  She was still surprised Santiago wanted to hitch his soul to hers. Sure they carried portions of one another’s souls, but that didn’t mean they needed to go through with the whole shebang. He didn’t need her bringing him down. It wasn’t the horrific scars that now marred most of her left side, but her inability to do much on her own. It rankled that she couldn’t do simple tasks such as applying eyeliner. Santi had been through enough and had recently realized the error of his ways and turned over a new leaf.

  “There. Done,” Britt announced as she stood up and checked her work. “You are nearly perfect. Just one more thing,” Tori’s best friend murmured. Britt hurried to the bag she’d left on the bed and grabbed a small bottle. It had a plastic bulb on the end and reminded Tori of an old-fashioned perfume bottle.

  Britt hurried back and pointed one end at Tori then squeezed the bulb. A fine powder shot out and hit Tori’s exposed shoulders. “What are you doing?” she asked as Britt took care to cover her back, paying extra attention to her scars.

  “I’m adding glitter. Every female needs to shine for her mating ceremony,” Britt replied matter-of-factly. Sweat broke out over Tori’s forehead and she suddenly had trouble breathing. “None of that,” Britt warned. “You are melting the foundation I just put on you. Your scars mean nothing to your mate. He loves you regardless.”

  “I know, but I don’t like them, Britt. They make me feel broken, and I don’t want attention drawn to them. It
’s bad enough that my wing looks like it went through a shredder,” Tori admitted.

  “You are gorgeous like always,” her best friend declared. “See for yourself,” Brittany continued and turned her chair to the full-length mirror. Tori was stunned. Brittany, it seemed, was a miracle worker. She’d camouflaged the scars almost completely.

  A knock sounded on the door, interrupting Tori’s reply. “Come in,” she called, wondering why Santiago would be visiting her so close to the start of the ceremony.

  It couldn’t be any of the other residents of Zeum, and her all of her family was gone. Since the incident with Angelica, she and Santiago had been staying at the Dark Warrior compound and she had become friends with the females in the home, but they were understandably wary of her given how antisocial she had been. She knew she needed to interact with them more, especially since this was going to be her new home, but it had been hard enough to accept what had happened to her. She didn’t need to bring the rest of the house down with her.

  “Hey, there. Need any help?” the Vampire Queen asked, peeking inside.

  “Sure,” Britt replied at the same time Tori muttered, “No.”

  Elsie looked from her to Britt and Britt smiled and approached the queen. “Don’t mind her, she’s nervous. I could really use some help to get this last part perfect,” Brittany murmured as she genuflected to the queen.

  “Oh no. Please don’t do that. We’re not formal around here and I’m uncomfortable when it’s necessary,” Elsie objected, entering the room with Izzy in her arms. Immediately the princess began bouncing on her mom’s hip, clapping her hands.

  “Fairy, Mama,” Izzy blurted. Tori smiled at Izzy and waved, which had the princess laughing and reaching for Tori.

  “I’m not a fairy. But you sure do make a pretty princess,” Tori told the little girl. It was a familiar conversation between the two of them over the past weeks. As expected, Izzy vigorously nodded in response.

  Tori laughed as the baby disappeared from her mother’s arms, making Elsie mutter, “I hope she’s going to her dad and not some demon stronghold.”