Ronan

by Teresa Gabelman

  Ronan spun slowly by the chain, his eyes meeting Wyrick who looked frightened, but wasn’t chained. He glared at him, willing him to do something, but he just shook his head.

  “Yes, Wyrick,” Orjyll taunted, snapping his head that way, “but not soon enough. Just sit there like a good boy, and you might live through this.”

  Ronan angled his head to see Bonnie, who had her phone behind her back and was doing something; he couldn’t tell what. She glanced at him once again mouthing something, but Ronan couldn’t tell what she was saying because he started to spin again.

  “Which one of you Warriors turned Mira?” Orjyll shouted, his voice edging toward hysteria. “No, better yet, which one of you killed my brother?”

  “Hey, dipshit,” Sid said, gaining Orjyll’s attention. “Why don’t you let us down and we’ll tell you?”

  One of the men walked over to Sid and punched him in the face, sending him spinning on the chain.

  Once he slowed, Sid spat blood in the man’s face. “You’ll pay for that, fucker.”

  “Well, since none of you want to talk, how about I just start with your leader?” Orjyll picked up an ax and walked toward Sloan. “Obviously, magic doesn’t work on full-blooded vampires. And the only way to kill a vampire is taking their head off.”

  He flipped the ax in the air and it remained suspended. “Thank you, Cal,” Orjyll said to the man beside him. “You know, Sloan, magic is strong, stronger than a vampire. And do you know why?”

  “Fuck you!” Sloan spat, his eyes narrowed with hatred and fire.

  “No, wrong answer.” Orjyll walked around Sloan with his hands behind his back. “I may not be able to use my power on you, but I can use my power to kill you.”

  “No, actually, you can’t.” Sloan grinned at him. “You have no powers, so you have to have your little bitches do it for you.”

  Orjyll tilted his head, bending down to look at Sloan. “Only a small issue for the moment, but soon that will not be the case.”

  Ronan glanced back at Wyrick, who just stood there like a fucking idiot. Warning bells went off in his head, but he didn’t have time to think. He looked to see Orjyll give the bastard in control of the ax a nod. Sloan roared in rage.

  “I killed your fucking piece-of-shit brother,” Ronan shouted, then grinned. “Just like I’m going to kill you.”

  Orjyll turned, his eyes narrowed. “You are the one?”

  “And I turned Mira, asshole,” Steve shouted straining against the chains. “Come over here, you piece of shit.”

  The ax moved in the air, following Orjyll like a shadow. Orjyll grabbed Ronan by the face and turned him, so they were looking at each other. “He was my favorite brother.” He let go of Ronan and patted him on the face. “Make sure this one suffers,” he told the man, then turned away.

  Ronan stared at the ax that moved his way. He struggled, but knew it was a waste of time and energy. His gaze met that of Sloan’s. “Make sure she lives,” he said, just as the ax began to lower to the back of his neck.

  “Asshole!” Viktor yelled, his rage vibrating throughout the building. “Remember me?”

  Orjyll craned his neck, his eyes widening. He held up his hand, stopping Cal from taking Ronan’s head off. “Viktor, you poor son of a bitch.” He walked over, looking at the amulet dangling from his neck. “Still wearing this piece of junk Emilia made you?”

  Viktor struggled against the chains, growling his frustration. “I’m going to kill you.”

  “I doubt it.” Orjyll still stared at the amulet. “You do know that her little army died by my hands. I guess I missed one.”

  “Make that two, dickhead.” Bishop sneered at him.

  “Well, I’ll be taking care of that today.” Orjyll finally took his eyes off the amulet. “Emilia was clever, making this amulet in the same shape as witch hunters, but reversing it. Tricky.”

  “Oh, we’re witch hunters, but we only hunt certain witches, warlocks, and assholes… as long as they are associated with you.” Bishop glared at him. Ronan continued to think of a way out of this mess while Viktor and Bishop were keeping him busy. “And we’re damn good at it. We’ve taken out quite a few of your followers.”

  “But there is always more wanting to—”

  “Drink the Kool-Aid.” Viktor finished for him. “You’re nothing. You have no powers, and we’re going to make damn sure you never regain them.”

  “Oh, okay.” Orjyll laughed then held out his hand. “Give me a knife. I’m bored and think I’ll kill Emilia’s lover… oh, wait… that was me, ex-lover slowly.”

  “Shit!” Ronan, as well as the other Warriors, struggled as someone placed the knife in Orjyll’s hand.

  Orjyll lifted Viktor’s head up by the hair and placed the knife under his chin. “Tell Emilia I said hello and… no hard feelings.”

  “Fuck you!” Viktor spat at him.

  “Hey, Dad!” Bonnie jumped down off the platform just before Orjyll made a cut.

  Orjyll stopped, turning to look at Bonnie. “What did you just say?”

  “Ah, hey, Dad.” Bonnie rolled her eyes. “People need to get their hearing checked.”

  “What in the hell are you doing?” Bishop growled from beside Ronan.

  “I’m introducing myself to my father. Do you mind?” Bonnie walked by and stopped Steve from spinning. “But before I do that, I wanted to let Sloan know that Wyrick is a traitor. He is waiting for Kira to kill the bastard—sorry, Dad, but you are one evil bastard—at which time, Orjyll’s power will be up for grabs.”

  “That’s a lie!” Wyrick bellowed, maybe a little too loudly.

  “Adam.” Bonnie glanced over at Adam, who stared at Wyrick in disgust.

  “It’s true,” Adam growled, then spat toward him. “Sorry, boss, never thought to get a read on him since he was a friend of yours.”

  Sloan’s answer was a snarl as he glared at Wyrick. “You’re a dead man.”

  “Whew, okay. Now that is out the way.” Bonnie turned back to Orjyll, then said in a Darth Vader-esque voice, “Orjyll, you are my father. Eh, sounded better in my head. Anyway, what a night for reveals, huh?”

  “That’s impossible.” Orjyll legitimately looked stumped as he stared at Bonnie, who transformed herself from her disguise. Orjyll’s eyes rounded in shock, then narrowed with hate.

  “Nope, rape can produce a child. My name is Bonnie Emilia Grail. Emilia Grail is the woman who you put a spell on, made her love you, raped her because… well, she was under a spell and not really a willing participant because eww, look at you, used her and then tossed her away to go back to what? Even the man she really loved didn’t want her because of what you did. He should have been my father, not you. You disgust me.” Bonnie’s tune totally changed in that moment. “But my mother made damn sure you never had another chance to do what you did to her to anyone else.”

  “Your mother was a whore,” Orjyll growled, stalking toward her, but Bonnie threw up her hand with a flip of her wrist, stopping him.

  “I’ve got powers, Daddy-o,” Bonnie warned. “Don’t forget.”

  “You’re ruining everything.” Wyrick threw his hands toward her, but nothing happened.

  “Oops, I was ready for that, bitch!” Bonnie sneered at Wyrick, then turned her attention back toward Orjyll. “And I’ve got something for you also, Daddy saggy ass. In about two seconds, your reign of terror is about to end.”

  Ronan yelled a warning, as did the others, as Orjyll shouted for his men to take Bonnie, but the building around them shook as the coyotes began to attack Orjyll’s men, at least the ones that stayed.

  “What’s happening?” Orjyll looked around, then screamed, “What the hell is happening?”

  “Judgment day.” Bonnie grinned, then looked toward the doors that began to shake. She then glanced at the Warriors. “Hold on to your asses, boys!”

  Ronan glanced at the door, then squeezed his eyes shut when it exploded, shielding himself the best he could from flying debris. He opened h
is eyes to see big coyotes coming through the door followed by Kira, whose arms were spread wide, her eyes taking in everything and dressed in…. “What the fuck?” he whispered. Then their eyes met before hers looked up to see the ax suspended above his neck. Her eyes narrowed as she twirled her finger toward him and the ax flew past him into the wall.

  “Kira!” Orjyll clapped his hands excitedly. “I’ve been waiting for you, but you really should have knocked first. You broke my door, but that was magnificent.”

  Ronan glared at Orjyll before his eyes went back to Kira, who had looked away from him to the bastard still clapping.

  “Knock knock, asshole.” Kira smirked, and Ronan had never been more fucking proud of anyone in his life.

  Chapter 28

  Kira waited to see what Orjyll had to say, but he seemed to be focused on his men, who were all shaking their heads at him. “Oh, they won’t be of any help to you,” Kira said, then looked up at the Warriors. “I really think you’ve made a big mistake here. Have you ever seen a pissed off Warrior before?”

  “They’re harmless,” Orjyll sneered at her. “You really think you have me, don’t you?”

  Spreading her arms out, she focused on releasing the Warriors. At once, the chains unraveled dumping the Warriors to the floor. She then turned to look at Orjyll. “Yes, I do.”

  “Don’t even think about it,” Tessa said from behind her. She turned to see Orjyll’s men start to scatter, but the women were all over them, as were the coyotes controlled by Katrina.

  “Just get it over with,” Bonnie urged her. “He’s taking up my oxygen.”

  “So there are now three Grail bitches I have to get rid of.” Orjyll sighed with a shake of his head. “Is this it or are there more? Oh, wait, I forgot about sweet little Drew.”

  “Don’t even say her name, you bastard,” Mira threatened, then glanced at Kira. “Do it, Kira.”

  Taking a life, even as evil as Orjyll, went against everything Kira was about. He deserved it, more than anyone she had ever met. He had killed her mother, was trying to kill everything she held dear, and still she hesitated. She was not a killer. He was pretty much helpless without his men. Just a pitiful man. No, she didn’t feel sorry for him, quite the opposite. She loathed him.

  “Kira, let me.” Finally standing, Ronan walked toward her.

  She heard him, even through the commotion of the warlock’s men being taken into Warrior custody with the help of the women. “No.” She shook her head.

  “Wyrick.” Orjyll smiled, still staring at Kira. “I have a deal for you.”

  “I’m listening.” Wyrick glared at Kira.

  “Help me, and I will give you half my power once they’re dead.” Orjyll glanced Wyrick’s way.

  “Deal.” Wyrick turned just as Sloan made his way toward him.

  “You bastard.” Sloan leaped toward him, but Wyrick pulled out a gun and shot Sloan, throwing him back.

  Everyone stopped what they were doing to stare at Sloan laying still on the floor. “Silver bullets work just as well as magic. Who knew?” Wyrick grinned, then glanced at Sloan with a tsk. “Sorry, old friend, but business is business.”

  Ronan roared as he rushed toward Wyrick, but stopped when Wyrick raised the gun. “One more step and die, cowboy.”

  The gun started to vibrate violently in his hand, but Wyrick only smiled. “Oh, little girl.” Wyrick glared at Kira. “Your power is no match for mine.” He threw his hand out, sending Kira flying back, but she stopped in midair, righted herself, and floated back to the ground.

  “You sure about that?” Kira cocked her head to look at him.

  Suddenly Wyrick spun, his arms going out from his body. Kira didn’t know what was happening but was ready for anything, yet she wasn’t ready for what just happened. Every single one of Orjyll’s men held guns in their hands and were aiming them at everyone, her sister included.

  “Absolutely, 100 percent, sure.” Wyrick raised his gun at her. “There are about to be three less Grail women, and in any time now, four.”

  “No!” Mira screamed, and Steve roared.

  “Oh yes.” He glanced at his watch. “Drew may already be… well, you know. She was a cutie, but unfortunately born into the wrong family.”

  “You bastard,” Kira screamed, feeling her power rising. She spread her arms, bowed her head and let the magic overtake her. The force of her power shot everyone off their feet as she stalked after Wyrick. She saw true fear in his eyes. She raised her hand toward him, but he flew off the floor toward her. His hands wrapped around her throat, but she was able to push him off with a strength that shocked her.

  Kira started a binding chant, then heard Mira and Bonnie join in. Orjyll screamed something, but Kira was too far gone in the chant to realize what was going on. It was too late, Wyrick grabbed Orjyll and then they were gone.

  “No!” Kira screamed. Her head slammed back as she continued to scream, the power radiating out of her body. All the windows blew, glass shattering everywhere. She had failed.

  Ronan fought his way toward Kira. He cared for nothing else but to get to her. He knew she had lost control and didn’t know what to do, but her scream of rage and sorrow was more than he could bear. Just as the windows shattered, he jumped toward her, cocooning her with his body to shelter her from flying glass as he took her to the ground.

  The current of power went straight through his body. The pain was unbearable, and he couldn’t even imagine what she was feeling.

  “Kira!” Ronan shouted, trying to get her to stop screaming. “Kira! Stop!”

  But she continued. Her body felt as if it were convulsing underneath him. He glanced up at Bonnie, who was crawling toward them.

  “Kira, I love you,” Ronan said against her ear. “You have to stop. Come on, darlin’, we need you.”

  Helplessness slammed into him, so overwhelming he didn’t know what to do. Bonnie put her hand on Kira’s forehead and mouthed something that he couldn’t hear, but soon, Kira started to quiet.

  “We need you, Kira,” Bonnie said calmly, her hand still on her forehead. “Come back.”

  Ronan took some of his weight off her, then looked at Bonnie. “What is it?”

  “She’s lost in the power.” Bonnie frowned. “She wasn’t ready for this. I told you that, dammit.”

  “I know,” Ronan cursed, looking around at the chaos. He should have stopped this. “Fuck!”

  Kira gasped, then started to push at Ronan. “Drew!”

  “He was bluffing. Drew is fine. Adam and Tessa read him,” Bonnie assured her. “Are you okay?”

  “I failed.” Kira turned her head in shame. Then pushed herself away and stood up.

  “Bullshit!” Bonnie stood and faced Kira. “You didn’t fail. You just weren’t ready. Next time you’ll—”

  “Next time?” Kira stepped back, shaking her head. “There’s not going to be a next time.”

  “Oh, there’s going to be a next time.” Bonnie grabbed her arm, glaring at her. “So get over it, learn what the hell you have to do. You have my mother’s powers, something that should be mine, and if you for one minute think I’m going to let you waste it, then you are truly fucked in the head.”

  Ronan was about to tell Bonnie to back the hell off, but something sparked in Kira’s eyes. “You’re right.” Kira nodded, then looked around. Slade was working on Sloan. “No!”

  Slade looked their way and shook his head. “It’s too late.”

  Bonnie hurried that way. “Move out the way, Doc.” Bonnie knelt and placed her hand over Sloan’s wound.

  Kira let go of Ronan and hurried over, kneeling on the other side putting her hand on Sloan’s forehead. Ronan watched as Kira leaned her head back, her closed eyes opening, showing only white. Her lips moved, but no sound came out. Not being able to look at her like that, he glanced at Bonnie. Her hand was turning black, then flashing to silver to black again. After a few more minutes, Bonnie fell backward, holding her hand against her chest.

  S
loan moaned, his eyes opening. He looked up to see Kira, then glanced first at Slade then Ronan. “What is Kira doing to me?”

  “Saving your life,” Slade replied, then helped Bonnie up. “As was Bonnie. Are you okay?”

  “Yeah, I’ll be fine.” Bonnie worked her hand with a frown. “But damn, man, that is what silver feels like to you guys?”

  “Yeah, it does,” Ronan said, then frowned. “Is she okay?”

  “You sure got a lot to learn about our craft, don’t ya, cowboy?” Bonnie grinned, then nodded toward Kira. “She’s fine and coming out of it.”

  Ronan looked at Kira to see her eyes back to normal. She said something to Sloan as she removed her hand from his forehead. Trying to stand, she wobbled, and Ronan was there to help her.

  “I got you,” he whispered, holding her tightly. Bonnie was right. There was much he needed to learn about Kira and what it meant to be a witch. It was more than he expected, that’s for sure.

  “Where is that motherfucker?” Sloan hissed as he stood, stumbled, then righted himself.

  “Gone.” Sid walked up then glanced at Kira. “Much respect, girl, and damn impressive.”

  “Nothing impressive about failing,” Kira replied, her eyes downcast.

  Sid reached out and lifted her face to his. “That wasn’t failure. Just a setback.”

  “He’s right,” Sloan replied, anger still edging his voice. “We don’t always get our man, but Wyrick signed his death warrant. I will not rest until we find the bastard. No one shoots me and lives. You sure they’re gone?”

  “Yes.” Kira’s frown was full of disappointment. “I’m sure.”

  Ronan knocked Sid’s hand away. “That could have been said without touching.”

  Sid chuckled, but stepped away. “Just trying to let her know she didn’t fail, bro. We don’t always get our man, and we are fucking badasses.”