“Leave me, Marcus. If I don’t get out, save as many as you can and leave me.”
He didn’t stop his exploration. “Never. If we die, we die together.”
Her breath caught when he applied pressure to her nipples and teeth to her neck. “What of Sierra and Roland? They need one of us to return home.”
“They have a father and four brothers. We will not die, so stop thinking of what ifs and think about making love to your mate.”
“I love you, too, Marcus.”
The tent flap pushed back and Marcus groaned.
“Only a minute of your time.”
Both vampires were shocked. Ivan entered the tent. “The Moor told me it was time. I fight with my family, if you’ll have me.”
“At the moment, I have my mate, so get the fuck out of here and visit with the sons you see so little of.”
“Yes, my liege and lady.” Ivan backed out without another word.
***
Dmitri and Nikka stood with The Kodiak as he spoke to his bears. Sonora, Honey and Mandy stayed behind to guard the children. The bears wanted Tyboll back, but they understood that he sacrificed himself for them and they would honor his wish. It didn’t mean that they wouldn’t try, but they each said they too would die if there was no other option.
A short while later, Dmitri lay with Nikka stretched out on top of him, her hair tickling his nose. He never wanted this moment to end.
“I agree with The Moor. If you die, I will go, too.”
Nikka grabbed a large section of his hair and jerked it hard. “Not an option. There are not enough vampires to keep everyone safe, even after we win this. I will not die, Dmitri. I have no plan to leave you.”
“If you do, there will no longer be a living organism in South America.”
“See, I have lots of incentive. Now stop talking and give me more.” She bit his chest and let out a yelp when he flipped them so she lay under him.
“You have sharp teeth, but mine are sharper.”
“Then shut up and use them,” she growled.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
They attacked six hours later. It made no difference that they were outnumbered and outvamped. Dmitri, with The Kodiak and Nikka by his side, stayed on the outer edge of the battle, not that they didn’t have plenty of cats to kill. They knew Raykon would try to flank their force and come at them from the sides and behind. The female cats with their wolf pack mates stayed to the rear for the same reason.
Most of the surrounding jungle was cleared away. Dmitri could see permanent living quarters in the distance, but their enemy wasn’t yet coming out to play. The Moor said they had more than three hundred cats. Suddenly, gunfire sounded in the distance and it took everything Dmitri had to hold his position. Each clan had a job and he would do his.
Esta noticed the large group of enemy first, kissed her mate, and charged with the other females. “I’m winning this bet, but I’ll let you win the next one.”
Aster’s crazy laughter was right on her heels. “We’ll see about that, mate.
Fifteen minutes…
***
The bears’ mission, besides decimating the enemy, was to rescue Tyboll. Hunter led them on their rampage. A sniper, high in the trees, fired shots in the opposite direction as Hunter and his men closed in. He sent Blavnick, one of his best fighters, to try to dislodge the shooter whose rifle pointed at Marcus and Amy’s clan.
Their attack seemed too easy until Hunter almost pitched headfirst into a camouflaged pit. He managed to leap forward and grab a tree root. The spikes below were more than three feet long.
“Hold up and watch where you walk.” He shot into their minds as one of his friends pulled him up.
Just as his feet touched solid ground, cats attacked from both sides. Thanks to Nikka’s and the other females’ training, the bears killed them quickly, suffering no losses or serious injuries. Half of Hunter’s force had shifted to bear before they entered the camp. Hunter and the others, who hadn’t shifted, began slowly making their way forward, checking the ground, and uncovering additional traps. Hunter knew they needed to find Tyboll quickly.
Thirteen minutes…
***
Marcus and Amy had the largest force and they ran straight through the middle of the enemy camp with Ivan and Columbus leading the pack. The sniper took out two wolves before Marcus found his location. One of the bears was making short work of the lone rifleman when Marcus flashed inside the elevated hut. Marcus could only take his anger out on the rifle as the bloody bear charged back to his clan.
As soon as Marcus was back with Amy, cats and vampires charged from every direction. The thick leather collars worn by the wolves saved them from cat claws and teeth. Amy and Marcus battled the baby vamps with bloody precision.
Ten minutes…
***
Two vampires came at Dmitri. He tossed Nikka none too gently at The Kodiak and heard her scream. “I will kill you, you big smelly oaf. Let me go.”
Dmitri smiled as he twisted the head off one vampire. The other was too stupid to run and possibly too young to flash away, and sixty seconds later his head joined his friends. The Kodiak released Nikka immediately and she ran for Dmitri. He shook his head, the dull ache from earlier now pounding.
Nikka rammed into him, her touch immediately soothing the pain.
Landing a solid punch to his midsection, she whispered, “You stupid vampire.”
“We still have a job to do, kotika.”
“When this is over, I shall ask you the meaning of that word.” She kissed him again as he gave her a reassuring squeeze.
“I don’t think my midsection can take another attack, so I might keep that bit of information to myself.”
“My liege, another vampire is coming, if you think you can spare the time.” The Kodiak grumbled.
“Here.”
Nikka flew through the air again.
“Damn vampire.”
“Damn cat,” Dmitri said as he took on the new fool who thought he had a chance.
Five minutes…
***
Tyboll—bloody, twisted, and broken—stood staked to a tree. The metal spikes passing through his hands, arms, legs, and feet were keeping him upright. They’d burned and peeled skin from his body, and had broken his back and legs.
He would die. The burning anger simmering deep in his gut kept the pain from consuming him. Dmitri was coming and Tyboll’s only wish was to live long enough to hear his enemy scream as their blood boiled.
They’d tortured him for days, but he refused to give them information. They’d stopped the day before and left him to die from his injuries.
He could hear the fighting going on around him and knew his suffering would soon be over.
Kill every fucking one of them, my liege.
Hunter reached him first, but the crazy bear wouldn’t be able to help.
“Go. You cannot save me.”
“Bullshit,” the bear bellowed.
The piercing scream behind them made Tyboll’s blood run cold.
Amelia.
She picked up Hunter like he weighed nothing, bringing him down over her knee and breaking his back. “Where are they?” Her shrill scream made Tyboll’s hair stand on end.
Hunter smiled, blood seeping from his mouth. “You’ll never know.”
He looked up at Tyboll, the smile still on his face as she ripped out his throat. There was nothing Tyboll could do but pray she would die painfully.
Amelia flashed away.
Tyboll knew what she wanted. Cheri had taken all the remaining beastkind and hidden them. The children were safe and that meant his son, Patreous, would survive. They knew from the beginning that Amelia would attack the weaker of the clans when they divided their forces. But Tyboll also knew she’d never find them, even if she killed everyone.
He looked at Hunter, his brave friend. A growl left his throat, revenge making him want to live. Two more bears ran to his location. They began bending
the large spikes back and forth, determined to force them out or break them off and worry about removing them later. Tyboll knew time was running out, but the two bears refused to listen.
Two minutes…
***
The low beeps went off from watches carried by northern forces and they used mind communication for everyone to clear out.
The Moor ran while holding tightly to Becca’s hand. Because of her recent transformation to vampire, she was unable to flash from the danger zone. He stopped suddenly, pulling her behind him. Amelia blocked their path.
Her beauty enraptured so many, but The Moor saw through it. Victoria had chosen to turn Amelia because of her lack of human feelings, making her the perfect weapon. She was a monster before, but now, with her power, she was pure evil.
“It’s you,” she spat. “All for this sorry excuse of a vampire. I’ll kill you both”
He heard Becca whimper. “Run,” he yelled as he attacked the bitch from hell.
Amelia screamed in rage as they collided. The Moor knew his eyes were a perfect match to hers. No more hiding who he was or his power. If nothing else, he would keep her here long enough for Dmitri to end it all.
He counted on the northern forces to save his mate. He would gladly give his life for Becca’s. Amelia’s teeth ripped into his arm nearly tearing it from the joint. She was strong, but he was stronger. Using his legs, he took her to the ground and brought his other arm up striking her head. She bit into his shoulder while his insides began heating.
Amelia screamed as he twisted, managing to get her in a headlock. He didn’t hesitate. With everything he had, he applied pressure. Her screams punctuated each crack and tear until her head separated from her body, a look of complete surprise on her face.
The heat was too intense and he didn’t know if he had the energy to flash.
“I love you.”
Becca. He closed his eyes and thought of Becca.
Chapter Thirty
Nikka kept her arms around his chest, her face pressed firmly against his back. They’d discovered that he had more control if she touched him. He controlled the rage, allowing the red haze to build as he pushed it outward. The screams from the distance were not just those of animals but of friends as well as the enemy.
He cast the burn out of himself, relishing the unquenchable need to destroy. Nikka’s trembling and tears wet his shirt giving him a link to life. He could feel The Kodiak nearby. When it was time, he would stop Dmitri. Without thinking, Dmitri grabbed her hand, squeezing her fingers so she would know it was still him. But the monster wanted more…
Why the fuck didn’t The Kodiak stop him?
With his power focused on death, there was a complete absence of pain in his head. The energy fed his inner demon, amplifying his need for blood. Boiling blood—he wanted to smell it, touch it.
“Dmitri.”
His mate’s voice came from far away.
“I love you.” She was closer. He felt the heavy hand of his friend and then all went quiet.
Peace.
No red haze, no screaming.
Peace.
***
The Moor rolled—the pain so intense he couldn’t speak. Cool hands touched his arm as raindrops fell on his face. Only, it wasn’t rain…tears. Becca’s tears.
“Get away.” He didn’t know if he spoke aloud or even through their mind link because she didn’t leave.
“Shh, I have you.”
His skin burned and his insides boiled. The intense pain was too much to bear. But her touch was enough so he could open his eyes. The most beautiful soul he’d ever known gazed back. It didn’t matter how badly Amelia and the others treated her, she always had a smile for him. He watched her lips as they curved upward even as her tears fell.
“I love you,” he managed to groan as blood gurgled up from his insides. He tried to say it again, but the shine of her smile faded and his world went dark.
***
Covered in blood, smiling from ear to ear, Esta faced her mate. “Raykon runs like the dog he is. We are giving chase.”
Everyone in human form shifted.
Aster let her take the lead with the other she-cats two steps behind. They could hear Raykon ahead, frantically running through the dense jungle. When they were within striking distance, Aster stayed back. The women earned this right and they would have the blood they craved.
Raykon didn’t stop until Esta landed on his back, her claws tearing into his flesh. His scream was cut short when the others began tearing him apart. Eventually, his low whimpers silenced and only the sounds of the jungle gave an eerie backdrop to the pieces of bloody flesh littering the ground.
They remained in their beast form as they headed back to the enemy’s camp.
“I lost count at twelve,” Aster said into Esta’s mind.
She scoffed. “My count is twenty-two.”
“You never said what you wanted if you won, so make it good. I don’t know if I can afford to lose anything more.”
“Are you still whining about your favorite shirt?”
He laughed huskily. “No, it looks better on you.”
“You have a lot of work in front of you to pay this one off.”
“I figured. Tell me.”
“Nothing less than twins. I want to be pregnant as few times as possible, but desire ten children. If you can’t find a way to make twins, the deal’s off.”
He laughed, happiness radiating throughout his body. “Am I allowed to lie up until the birth?”
Her laughter matched his. “Of course, but I plan on making you pay for each child who does not come in multiples.”
“I like your forms of punishment, so it’s a deal.”
***
Ivan needed to find The Moor. The heavy smell of burned flesh assaulted his nostrils, making him turn and search further afield outside the kill zone. Everything was charred. Dmitri explained what he could do, but seeing it and smelling what remained was different.
A few minutes later, he heard crying. A woman…a vampire. She leaned over The Moor, obviously afraid to touch his burned flesh. The vampire’s mate would not know who Ivan was. The Moor could not risk telling her his secrets.
“Becca.”
She hissed as she crouched to attack, amber eyes flashing.
Ivan put his hands out, staying back, though if she attacked, it wouldn’t be far enough. She was beautiful, her rounded face youthful. The Moor told him she was in her twenties, though maybe it was the tears that made her look so much younger. “I’m his friend. If he’s alive, I may be able to help, but we must act quickly.”
Her eyes didn’t change, but her head tipped slightly as she contemplated his words. “What will you do?”
“He must have blood. I am alpha and my blood may help.”
“Whose clan do you belong to?” She looked nervously back and forth between Ivan and her mate.
“I have no clan. The Moor helped the north defeat Amelia and Raykon. He is my friend.”
More tears trailed down her cheeks. “Help him, please.”
Ivan drew a large knife from a sheath at his hip. He approached slowly while Becca watched him closely. He slit the inside of his arm from elbow to wrist, cutting along the vein.
“Open his mouth.”
Becca took her eyes off the bloody knife and did as he requested. Ivan lowered his hand allowing the blood to run down his fingers and flow into The Moor’s mouth. He leaned in and massaged the vampire’s throat, helping the blood get where it was needed.
Several minutes later, The Moor still hadn’t moved and barely breathed. Ivan didn’t stop the blood flow until the cut began closing on its own. He slit his other arm as Becca cried quietly. They both saw The Moor’s fingers clench.
“Move, Father; I will take over.”
Columbus took the knife and cut just as deeply as his father had. Ivan fell to the side, weak with blood loss. The Moor’s hand moved again. Ivan gazed upward. Asia stood over him. He turned
his head to see all his sons.
He missed them. He missed their mother. Tears welled in his eyes. It was time he stopped running from the past and face the future. Their enemies were dead. He glanced over at Columbus. He’d earned his role as alpha and Ivan would not fight his son to the death for the title.
The Moor groaned.
Columbus sat down beside Ivan, leaning against him.
Ivan heard Becca speaking quietly. “You must fight, love. I’m here.”
That’s what Ivan wanted, his mate standing by his side. No one could replace Alba. She took his heart when she died. He had to move past the pain of losing her and stop running away, running from himself.
He crawled to The Moor, helped by his sons. He would leave Columbus to lead the southwest pack. His other sons would find their way and could be part of Ivan’s new life if they wanted. He tiredly rested beside The Moor, urging the vampire to fight. “Come back to us, you son of a bitch. I have need of a liege and you need an alpha.”
The Moor’s eyes didn’t open, but his lips quirked slightly.
Chapter Thirty-One
“Dmitri.”
Nikka pulled him closer. Loud crashing behind them had her preparing to fight, but The Kodiak placed his hand on her shoulder. “It’s our clan.”
A group of bears came out of the jungle struggling to carry…Nikka cringed. It was Tyboll, but he was almost completely unrecognizable. Dmitri’s hand tightened around hers and she turned. His eyes were open, now soft brown and completely aware of his surroundings.
“Help me up, you big lummox.” He put his hand out to The Kodiak.
Nikka had to smile as The Kodiak helped Dmitri stand. The bears lay Tyboll on the ground and Dmitri began barking orders. “Re-break the bones. If I don’t feed from him quickly, he’ll die. Once I feed, it will be much harder to break the bones again.”
They managed to reset some of the worst ones. The bear’s back was another story, but shifting might help. Dmitri sank his teeth into Tyboll’s neck, drawing blood and leaving behind the enzymes that healed.
Dmitri Page 16
