Dmitri

by D'Elen McClain

  He picked her up and carried her to their room. She was already naked and he made quick work of his own clothes. Beastkind and their penchant for nudity made him feel uncomfortable in most circumstances, but he realized it was a bonus when it came to his mate. He would let her have her way this one time, but if other bears thought to hurt her again, Dmitri would step in and give his own brand of pain.

  Chapter Twenty

  Two weeks earlier; southwest territory…

  Brandt stepped off the plane and greeted Columbus with a bone-crushing hug. “Are your brothers here so I can see if they’ve outgrown the runt of the litter?”

  Columbus’s laugh was as big as he was. “Who are you calling a runt? Even Amy complains I’m eating them out of house and home.”

  Brandt kept his arm around Columbus as they walked to one of several waiting vehicles. They encountered no problems during the trip to Marcus and Amy’s home. It was late August and the high mountains of Arizona were cooling down significantly with the end of summer approaching. The forest was not as green as Brandt’s home in Colorado, but still lush and beautiful.

  Brandt’s inner beast was struggling. He’d left Emily and their child behind. Magnus, a handful as only beastkind children can be, was the light of his life. Emily was his life. His alpha power simmered just below the surface as he fought to control his anger over leaving his family to save it from their enemy.

  Just as they pulled into the long driveway at the main residence, Brandt turned to Columbus. “Have you heard from your father?”

  The wolf’s shoulders tightened, but his voice remained even. “He’s been out of touch for weeks now. I don’t think we should count on him. From all accounts, my father has gone deeper into his grief battling his personal demons.”

  Brandt peered at the hulking alpha wolf. Ivan, Columbus’s father, was in a difficult place and his son would not understand until he took his own mate. Just the thought of losing Emily made Brandt’s beast scream inside his head. When they’d found each other, Emily had pulled Brandt from the brink of insanity and he knew he wouldn’t survive without her. But Columbus missed his father along with his mother, who died by enemy hands. Ivan staying out of the war would make their task harder, but Brandt believed they would prevail in the end. He had to believe it. The vehicle came to a stop, and the conversation ended.

  Nicolas had arrived earlier and walked outside the large double doors of the house as soon as they pulled up. He approached the vehicle, wrapping Brandt in a hug as soon as he stepped foot from the car. “I’m surprised you could be pried away from your mate, but it’s good to see you.”

  “I could say the same for you, old man. Zenya and your new little one need you, and you should have sent another in your stead.”

  Nicolas’s tone hardened and his alpha power surged. “We end this and then we all return to the ones we love. I look forward to thinking of things besides death and war. Come inside. I want you to meet Vorlyk.”

  The three alphas walked into Marcus’s home. Marcus, Amy, and Vorlyk waited inside out of the sun.

  Hunter, a Kodiak bear traveling with Nicolas, shook hands with everyone first. “Ten more bears will join us one by one to keep the number of bears unknown. Tyboll will ultimately be in charge, though I will control our people until he arrives. He wishes to be present at the birth of his grandchild, so he’s arriving late.”

  Bear family structure and politics were mostly unknown to the clans. But new beastkind children were always bragged about and, other than Mandy’s impending birth, no one had heard anything about another beastkind child. So this statement threw everyone off stride. Nicolas gave the explanation because Hunter didn’t seem to understand why everyone but Brandt looked stunned. “Tyboll adopted Mandy as his daughter. He’s quite protective of her and the coming new addition to the bear clan.”

  They all knew Tyboll’s reputation and were glad to have him and additional bears with them. Adopting Mandy was a surprise, though.

  Columbus chuckled, turning to Brandt. “That’s one way to get your mate’s sister off your hands.”

  Brandt laughed. “You have no idea. That damn she-wolf was almost the death of me. She also gained a brother in the adoption process, and the bears keep her busy, so she stays out of my hair.”

  It was good to laugh, but they all knew why they were there. After continued greetings and a little ribbing here and there, they sat down to discuss the invasion into enemy territory. In the past, when they’d gone into South America, they took small patrols, going in and out quickly. This time there would be two vampires and over one hundred beastkind. There would be no hiding their intentions once they crossed the border.

  Marcus spoke first. “We feel we should split into two units, travel separately, and meet up once we’re in cat territory. We are the only ones who will know the plan. We have a traitor among our people and we must take added precautions.”

  Amy leaned close to her mate, communicating silently. Marcus listened then focused on Columbus. “Your father approaches. He is not alone. Amy has notified our guards to let him pass. He arrives with a vampire.”

  Columbus appeared relieved, but also nervous like the rest of them. Energy, both vampire and beastkind, rose up a notch. They waited quietly for Ivan and his companion. Brandt knew the vampire must be an ally, but he had no idea who it could be. Europe denied their request for vamp assistance. That only left Canada, which was dominated by cats with only two vampires throughout their territory.

  The front doors opened and Ivan swept into the room, bringing his own dose of energy. His eyes went to Marcus before slowly sweeping the room. He moved aside and an unknown vampire stepped forward.

  “Kill him.” Vorlyk spoke with barely controlled fury and took a step toward the intruder.

  They faced off, two deadly foes with enough power to kill hundreds of humans and beastkind. Vorlyk’s power flared, making his hair ruffle like there was a windstorm in the room.

  The other vampire didn’t take his eyes from Vorlyk and he spoke without anger. “I ask that you hear me out. You cannot defeat the number of vampires against you. I am here to help.”

  “Who is he?” Nicolas asked his liege while keeping his eyes on the new vampire.

  Disgust dripped from Vorlyk’s mouth. “This is Morris, or as he was known in Europe, The Moor.”

  The change in the room was instantaneous and the energy spiked several levels higher. Everyone knew the legend of this vampire, though most thought him dead. Brandt controlled his insane need to kill as he waited for Amy, Marcus, and Vorlyk to attack. Even The Moor didn’t stand a chance against three vampires.

  Ivan’s voice blared. “I have assured him safe passage. You will listen to him or fight me also.”

  If the energy in the room was powerful before, it now sizzled, elevating the temperature of the entire house. It was times like this that Brandt needed his mate. Emily was the only one who calmed him, making him see reason when his beast took the lead. Brandt actually used one of the ridiculous breathing techniques Emily had him practicing.

  Breathe in…hold, breathe out…hold.

  He still wanted to wrap his hands around The Moor’s throat, but he was able to hold back and avoid instant death. He’d remember to thank his mate later.

  Apparently, Amy had the same calming effect on Marcus. She laid her hand on her mate’s arm and turned to Vorlyk. “We must listen. He possibly knows our plans, can intercept our mind communications, and if we kill him before he speaks we have no hope of learning our enemy’s plans.”

  The Moor remained silent, almost accepting of whatever decision they reached.

  The energy in the room remained thick.

  Brandt caught the expression on Columbus’s face out of the corner of his eye. The wolf was now an alpha in his own right, bowing only to his liege vampires, Amy and Marcus. But he was also a son—a son who loved his father.

  Columbus stepped forward, extending his hand to the vampire. The Moor’s shoulders
relaxed slightly as he returned the gesture. Columbus turned to his father and without hesitation the two embraced. When they separated, Columbus stood beside them, offering silent support.

  Nicolas had his hand on Vorlyk’s shoulder. Not holding him back, but communicating that they needed to remain calm.

  Brandt knew that if the vampires decided to fight there was little beastkind could do, but an alpha’s job entailed soothing his or her liege. He looked to each person in the room, taking another calming breath. “I say we listen.”

  Everyone waited for Vorlyk.

  Vorlyk’s amber eyes rested on his enemy, refusing to look away. “You need to die, but I agree we must hear you out. Speak.”

  The young vampire gained respect in Brandt’s eyes. Vorlyk had incredible control and thought before acting, which was not something vampires were known for.

  The Moor appeared calm, his eyes a mystic gray with no hint of amber. The ability to keep his emotions in check during this volatile meeting showed his age. He was quite possibly the oldest person in the room. The Moor was a legend, or a nightmare, depending on which side of history you stood.

  His voice was deep and steady. “Amelia is insane. She awakens more vampires, giving them life and killing them at her whim. Unfortunately, she doesn’t dispose of enough of them. But she is powerful and ruled by hatred. She has one ultimate goal and that is the complete annihilation of beastkind. When she has no more enemies to kill, she will turn on her own clan.” His gaze traveled around the room before he continued. “The South American cats are not all enemies. Yes…” The vampire’s eyes locked on Vorlyk, “many kill the women and female children, but there are others who fight for them, too, even knowing they will die. They are hiding the women and the young like you, Vorlyk. I knew of your plan to leave. I knew of Zenya’s infiltration into the camp to rescue Nicolas.” He turned away from Vorlyk and looked to Marcus and Amy. “Amelia builds an army of vampires. She’s hidden the numbers even from Raykon, her alpha. She must be stopped.”

  “Why should we believe you?” Amy’s eyes were returning to their natural color.

  The depths of The Moor’s eyes filled with sadness. “If you don’t, everyone you know and love will die.”

  “The better question is why do you care?” Vorlyk’s eyes showed his continued rage, and he wasn’t giving an inch.

  The Moor’s attention once more focused on Vorlyk. “I am tired of war. It’s a simple answer, but the truth. I cannot kill all of Amelia’s vampires alone. Two vampires are all you can afford to send and you stand no chance against Amelia’s seethe. Even if you accept my help, we are incredibly outnumbered.”

  “Again, why?” Vorlyk practically spit, hatred ruling his brain, but still he managed to keep from attacking.

  The slow, steady stream of energy pulsing from The Moor spiked. “I have found my mate after centuries of living alone and I fear for her.”

  The killing glow in Vorlyk’s eyes dimmed slightly. “Is she a cat?”

  For the first time The Moor’s eyes took on an amber hue. “No, she is vampire. One of Amelia’s.” He let his words settle before adding, “I also know who is betraying you.”

  The silence in the room was absolute.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Blood boiled in Marcus’s veins as he paced across the soft carpet of his bedroom. They’d been given the names—not one but two. After angry deliberations, they unanimously decided to leave the two wolves alive for the moment. They planned to feed them misinformation and use the betrayal to their advantage.

  Now Marcus worried for Brandt. After Brandt killed the two brothers, Zeb and Clem, in fights for alpha, the remaining two brothers came to Marcus’s clan. Somehow, Raykon played on their emotions and turned them against their own kind. The two were liked and respected, which made the betrayal even harder to bear. They would die gruesome deaths—soon. And Brandt needed to hold it together. Marcus knew without Emily by his side that it would be difficult if not impossible for the volatile wolf.

  Amy’s arms went around Marcus’s waist, her cheek resting on his shoulder. She was incredibly powerful for one so young, but it was still difficult for her to leave and go to war, fighting without him. With her unique gift of mind sharing with all beastkind, she was a necessity whether Marcus wanted her in the battle or not.

  Her voice, always soft, had a way of soothing him. “We will win and there will be no more threat to the clans. We must eliminate Amelia along with the pestilence she creates.”

  He turned so her hands rested on his lower back and pulled her closer, inhaling her unique scent. Her beauty often left him stunned and today was no different. Rescuing her from a serial killer had risked exposure of vampires and beastkind, but it was the wisest decision he’d ever made.

  He loosened his arms a bit so he could gaze into her eyes. “Do you trust The Moor?”

  She smiled before snuggling closer. “I want to. I sense turmoil but also peace within him, but if your history is to be believed, he leaves behind a long path of death and destruction.”

  Marcus tensed. “Believe it. Throughout history, he’s chosen the most powerful side and killed off the weaker. When we came to this country, he was left behind.”

  “You chose who would come to America?”

  “All but one. Cheri was stronger than any of us. She threw her weight around and had Dmitri included in the voyage. We thought he would be the death of us, but somehow he managed to gain control of himself. Finding his bears helped, but I’ve never fully trusted him.”

  “Nicolas and Brandt trust him.”

  He kissed her forehead. His mate, who knew nothing of bloodlust before she came into his life, held firmly to her soft heart. “The Moor was bad, but Dmitri was death and should have been destroyed. To this day, I don’t know why Cheri protected him. She was his sire, but he murdered too many innocents and he was unstable at best.”

  “I haven’t read of him in your history.”

  Marcus owned the only known text of beastkind and vampire lore in North America. He brought the heavy volumes with him when he left Europe. Amy was fascinated by the history that humans would find dark but fanciful, similar to Grimm’s Fairy Tales. Much of the text was handwritten, which Amy spent hours deciphering. Her journalistic background needed an outlet and the books provided her with the tools to try to understand who and what she really was.

  What Marcus was about to tell her wouldn’t comfort her, but with war on the horizon nothing would. “The texts refer to him as the Black Demon, though humans labeled far too many of his victims as typhus. When we discovered it wasn’t disease killing so many, his death count was already in the hundreds of thousands.”

  From the look on her face, she now understood who Dmitri was. “So why isn’t he fighting with us?”

  “Because he never had enough control and when he unleashed his power, everything in his path died. If he fights against our enemy, innocents will also pay the price for our war.”

  “Do the others know who Dmitri is?”

  “No, it’s one of our vamp secrets, though I’m sure his Kodiak is aware. There were rumors of an accident many decades ago, but since then Dmitri and his bears stay quiet. We worried about his nightclub, but he’s made a success of it and managed to stay out of clan politics that don’t affect his bears. He offers the bears as security or for rescue missions but little else…until now.”

  Amy stared at him before going to her tiptoes and kissing his lips, pressing her body tightly to his. “We will win, with or without The Moor or Dmitri. We must.”

  ***

  Brandt stomped around the cabin assigned to his pack. Samson, his second in command, had been in and out of enemy territory for months. For the first time, Brandt hadn’t received communication from Samson in more than a week. It was past time to worry.

  Brandt also knew that his unrest before he found Emily was to blame for the traitors in their midst. He’d killed Zeb and his brother Clem in fair challenges, but the reason
for those challenges was Brandt’s instability. He’d thought Cheri, his liege, was his mate. She chose another who happened to be Brandt’s father, and Brandt went crazy. An alpha who couldn’t control his pack brought out the dominant tendencies in others. Thus, fights to the death, and now two more wolves would die.

  He continued stomping back and forth trying to take his mind away from the betrayal. Tyboll would be arriving in the next two weeks and the push into South America would begin. Brandt had a gut feeling that it would be too late for Samson and the twelve wolves with him.

  Brandt’s men sat in quiet groups feeling the turbulence rolling off their alpha. Everyone looked across the room when a strident knock sounded. Ivan and The Moor entered after one of the wolves opened the door.

  Brandt missed his old friend, but this Ivan was not the same person he knew for hundreds of years. The fact he was with the vampire made Brandt doubt his friend’s sanity. The Moor should not be trusted.

  Ivan’s hand went to Brandt’s arm and Brandt immediately knew something happened and it wasn’t good. Ivan didn’t delay his news.

  “It’s Samson and his team; they’ve been defeated, no one survived.”

  Brandt’s unrest turned to fury and grief. Hot energy filled the room.

  “My love.” Emily’s soft voice entered his mind, but he shook it off.

  At the same time, he shook off Ivan’s arm and turned on the vampire. “You did this.”

  Ivan stepped between the two of them. “Brandt, I know it’s hard, but Morris is not to blame. Samson and his men knew the risks. He caused daily havoc to the cats and it was only a matter of time.”

  Brandt lost it.

  His wolf exploded, tearing his clothes. Before anyone could stop him, he used his massive body to shove Ivan aside. To a vampire, an out-of-control werewolf was nothing more than an irritating fly, but The Moor took the first hit without protecting himself. “Keep everyone back, Ivan,” he said calmly as blood ran down his face.