Dmitri finally pulled back and looked to The Kodiak. “Call his beast.”
They all knew it hurt to have their beast ripped from their flesh, but it would ultimately help. Tyboll’s scream turned to a low growl when his bear settled against the ground. There were holes in his hands and feet, along with patches of furless and burned skin. Blood, mixed with dirt, covered every inch of him.
He would heal.
“The others?” Dmitri stood, bringing Nikka close against his chest.
The Kodiak’s loud, deep voice gave the information. “Two of our brothers fell, but we don’t know about the other clans.”
“Vampires?”
“We haven’t seen them.”
“Let’s go.”
“Wait.” Nikka would go wherever Dmitri led her, but she needed to be sure he was okay.
“How do you feel?” She brushed strands of hair from his face.
The Kodiak grumbled, but stopped at Nikka’s fierce glare. “Hush. I will see my mate is well or he will not go with you.”
Dmitri laughed. “I feel good. Tyboll’s blood helped. We have a lot to do, love. I need you with me.”
“Where else would I be, you stubborn vampire? But you passed out and I will know you are all right.”
Dmitri kissed her forehead. “I’m well, kotika.”
They began walking to the enemy camp, leaving two bears behind with Tyboll.
The smell hit them first. Dmitri clenched her hand tightly. Nikka knew he would take this hard. Marcus and Amy waited in the middle of the destruction. Vorlyk, Nicolas, and Zenya, followed by their clan, came next.
Amelia’s head rested at Marcus’s feet.
“Raykon?” Dmitri asked.
“Dead,” Esta said. She didn’t try to hide her smile.
Ivan walked into the clearing carrying The Moor. A female vampire and Ivan’s sons followed.
“He’s unconscious, but breathing. Most of the damage is on the inside. He didn’t get away in time, but killed Amelia before he collapsed.”
Marcus stepped forward. “We must gather our dead and get as far away as possible. We don’t want the government to know what happened here. The jungle will grow quickly and within a few months, this area will be unrecognizable. It’s best that we’re not here in case it’s discovered.”
Nikka felt Dmitri relax a bit when they were far enough away not to smell the burning flesh of the dead. She’d seen several female cats dead in the camp and knew Dmitri saw them, too. She hadn’t seen children and hoped if there were any that Dmitri would never know. They carried their injured back to the main camp and started packing. It would take two hours to get to a small landing field and get the more serious victims airborne. It would take several more hours for the rest of them to make it to a larger airfield.
Nicolas approached after they started walking. “Cheri and the children are safe. They’ll stay in the military bunkers until we get them.”
“The Moor told Ivan that Amelia tried finding them.”
“We knew she would.” Dmitri’s words slurred a bit.
Nikka was exhausted and knew Dmitri was beyond that point. They all agreed they weren’t staying in the jungle another day. If they pushed, they would make the final airfield shortly after the sun rose. But she worried about her mate.
An hour later, they reached the first airstrip. It took another hour to get those in the worst shape out of South America. Amy and Marcus went with them in case a vampire’s bite was needed. It was three in the morning when they started walking again.
Nikka couldn’t help thinking of her escape with Vorlyk and Nicolas the first time they traveled out of the jungle. It seemed like years ago. Esta told her of Raykon’s death and she suffered a small twinge of envy. Nikka’s place was at her mate’s side and she could live with the fact she didn’t help kill her enemy. She couldn’t live without her mate.
“Are you okay?” Dmitri asked while putting his arm around her and taking some of her weight.
“I should ask you that. You passed out and scared me to death.”
“I don’t know what happened. I do know that my head doesn’t hurt and the red haze is completely gone. The only side effect I seem to have is needed sleep.”
“Do you think your gift is gone?”
“For the first time, I can think of it as a true gift, but I don’t know.”
They reached the next airfield two hours later. It was longer. Military transport planes waited. The government stayed out of vampire and beastkind politics, keeping the knowledge of their existence highly classified. Help was provided by both sides when needed. So far it worked, but the government on the other side of the border had a deal with Raykon and it was best to be as far away as possible if someone discovered the bodies.
They picked up Cheri and the children first. The female bears and a few others from the southern and northern packs had stayed behind to protect the children with Cheri. They’d left the same day the others went to South America.
Zenya and Nicolas took Jaime Ivan from Mandy. Honey held Demetria, who wiggled against his arms as a bear cub. They all laughed and hugged as parents reunited with children.
Sierra and Roland were almost two years old and ran to Amy and Marcus screaming their names. Nikka was sad when Ivan hung back. Amy and Marcus carried the twins to him and placed them both in his arms. They didn’t take the fierce hugging for long and finally squirmed to get down.
Nikka looked at Dmitri and didn’t even try to hide her tears.
He ran his fingers down her arm and whispered, “I’m sorry you will never have a child.”
Once a human became vampire, their ability to produce children was gone. Dmitri could never give her a child.
She smiled, truly not sad at all and spoke into his mind. “I will help with Mandy’s baby and then any others that come along. I told you before that children were never in my plans.”
“You said you didn’t want to bring them into a world of war. We no longer live in that world.”
“No, and you’re the reason why. I wouldn’t give you up for fifty children.”
“Good, because I’m never letting you go.”
“Kiss me, you damn vampire.”
“Yes, my beautiful damn cat.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
Three days later, they made it back to Dmitri’s territory. It took an extra day because they wanted Tyboll traveling with them. The ceremony for the two dead bears would be the following night.
The claws of Hunter and his fallen brother were brought from South America, but that was all they had left.
Nikka had lived with death her entire life. After the night of mourning spent under the stars, to live a life without threat didn’t seem real.
“How are you, kotika?”
His arms came around her shoulders, pulling her into his chest. “I’ll be fine once you tell me the meaning of the endearment you’re so fond of.”
“Hmm, it fits you even if you don’t care for its meaning.” He moved the hair above her ear aside as he nuzzled and scented one of his favorite places.
“How will I know if you don’t tell me?”
“Pussycat,” he said as he lifted his hands to her breasts. “My very own pussycat.”
“Grrr.” But the growl changed to a moan as his teeth scraped across her neck.
He turned her around and gazed into her eyes. “I love you.”
Going to her toes, she kissed him and tightened her arms around his neck when he lifted her. “I love you.”
***
One week later…
The private plane touched down early in the morning.
Taking the steps down, Zenya breathed in the mountain air. Fresh and clean like the Colorado Mountains, but different. This was the smell of their new home. She turned and watched Nicolas assist others from the steps. He’d lost so much here, but it was where he grew up and it was his. She smiled. Theirs.
Vorlyk stopped beside her, keeping a tight hold on Madayah’s hand. The airf
ield was thirty minutes from their home. They’d seen pictures of the new main cabin, built to accommodate their growing clan, with side cabins interspersed so the mated pairs could seek privacy if they wished.
For now, Zenya knew they would stay together. As their clan expanded, it would eventually change, but slowly, and that was what they needed. No more war, threats, or worry. She knew small quantities of each would always be on the horizon, but nothing like they’d been through.
“Are you ready?” Nicolas’s hand rested on her middle back as he guided her to a waiting vehicle. Several clan members left for the Northeast territory directly after the return from South America to take care of the final preparations.
Zenya looked up into her mate’s eyes. “I’ve always been ready.”
“Welcome home, love.”
***
Emily pulled Brandt close. He missed Samson, and the sadness over his loss weighed heavily. The following day, challenges would begin to replace Samson’s position.
“I miss him, too,” she said against his shoulder.
The squeeze he gave her made her snuggle closer. “Our son will not remember him.”
“Then we shall tell our son stories of him every day.”
Brandt rolled to his back, bringing Emily above him. “Do you ever wish we knew of the ability to produce children with different species of beastkind before we met?”
Emily had wondered if more bothered him than the loss of Samson. “No, I would change nothing.” And she wouldn’t. Brandt saved her and made her a complete person.
He hesitated then asked, “Do you wish for another child?”
She didn’t need to think about her answer. “Our son is perfect. I don’t need another baby, because I will never allow another man to touch me.”
He pulled back slightly so she could see the relief in his eyes. “I’ll ask you again in a hundred years.”
“That works, but please don’t expect a different answer.” She leaned down and kissed him.
***
An hour after the sun went down, Amy took Sierra and Roland to the garden pond to play. She sat in the gazebo watching them splash in the frigid water. Fall was changing the trees to yellow and orange and the nights were becoming chilly. The cubs didn’t mind as long as they were in wolf skin. She couldn’t believe how big they’d grown with their second birthday just around the corner. She wondered when their father would claim them. It broke her heart, but they needed Ivan.
He’d spent a few days with them before leaving with The Moor and Becca to help search for more cats scattered throughout South America. If they wished asylum, they had their choice of the three North American clans or the new one Ivan was forming with The Moor. The integration of female cats into all the clans would increase offspring. Ivan was now at peace with Alba’s death and wanted to be part of a family again.
Ivan spent time with Sierra and Roland, but didn’t mention that he wanted them until Amy brought it up.
“They need their father,” she said softly after he took the seat beside her as she watched the cubs play with a large ball.
“They have a mother and a father.” He wouldn’t look at her.
“No, they have an aunt and uncle who love them as their own, but always knew they were only on loan.”
Ivan finally looked at her. “I don’t know if I’m ready.”
“They’ll be ready when you are. Strengthen your clan then take your children. All families must have children.”
“Thank you, Amy. Alba loved you and she knew you would always be there for her babies.”
“I will always be here, and don’t think they won’t be visiting us regularly. At least until Sierra’s a teenager. Then I plan to take a break for a few years.”
Ivan laughed. It was so good to hear and Amy knew he would be okay. She hoped someday he found another woman to share his life.
A warm hand on her arm brought her thoughts to the present.
“What has you melancholy?” Marcus sat next to her and took her hand, twirling the wedding band on her finger.
“I’ll miss them.” She rested her head on his shoulder.
“I will too, but it will be awhile before Ivan collects them. We have a few more months and I promise we will visit after they leave for their new home.”
“I know, and I’m sorry for feeling sad.”
“Let’s hand these two off to Philip and see if I can make you happy.”
“You always make me happy.”
He kissed her passionately. “I mean very happy.”
***
Three months later…
Nicolas worked on some paperwork in his office looking up when Zenya walked in, turned his chair, and sat on his lap.
Her fingers ran along his cheek. “Jaime Ivan is wreaking havoc but I bribed Madayah to take him for an hour. Just how busy are you?”
“I’m finished but I don’t know if an hour will work for what I have in mind.”
“Is that so?”
Before he could answer, the ringing phone startled him and he gave a heavy sigh when he leaned around his mate and saw an unfamiliar number.
“I shouldn’t answer,” he growled.
“Yes you should alpha.”
“Don’t remind me… Nicolas,” he answered simply.
The crying voice of a female was not what he expected. “I need your help, please come and get me.”
“Talya?” He hit the speaker button so Zenya could hear.
Her sobs grew louder. “I’m sorry, I just want to come home. You can’t let him keep me.”
Anger rolled over Nicolas. Zenya stood up from the chair, her anger matching his.
“He…he…” Her voice changed and she started yelling. “You can’t stop me you pig-headed fool.”
Whoever the other person was there was a battle over the phone because they could hear heavy breathing followed by a distinct clatter.
“Hello?” A decidedly masculine voice spoke into the receiver while Talya cried in the background.
It took a moment but then the voice registered, “Ivan?”
“I was planning to call you later but I guess Talya beat me to it.” Exasperation was heavy in each word.
“What the hell’s going on?”
“Obviously, I found your missing cat.”
They heard a heavy slamming door in the background and Talya’s cries suddenly stopped.
Nicolas stood up. “And obviously she’s not happy about it. Where can I pick her up?”
A hard edge entered Ivan’s voice, “You can’t.”
Nicolas looked at Zenya and she had the same perplexed look on her face. “What do you mean, I can’t?”
“She won’t be coming back to you, I’ve decided to keep her.”
“And I’ve decided to kick your ass. Where are you?” Nicolas was finished playing nice.
“It doesn’t matter and you need to stay out of this.”
Now Nicolas was yelling. “You son of a bitch, put Talya back on the phone.”
“No, but I’ll have my mate call you when she calms down.”
The click of the phone was loud in Nicolas’s office.
Nicolas and Zenya looked at each other in shocked silence until a slow smile spread across Zenya’s face and then her laughter spilled into the room.
“The two of them deserve each other and I say he can most definitely keep her.”
Nicolas’s smile grew until it matched hers. “Don’t expect me to argue, but do you really think this is a good idea?”
“They’ll either love or kill each other, but I think we should let them figure it out.”
“I think you’re right,” he said as he sat down pulling Zenya back onto his lap. “I also think we need to give Magnus a couple of little sisters.”
Her smile turned wicked. “I wish it was that simple and we could choose a little girl over the chance we’d have another male hell-child.”
“I believe it’s out of our hands.”
“A
nd what makes you think that?” She asked huskily as he pushed his hips up.
He circled her neck pulling her closer and whispered against her ear, “I had a dream last night, more like a vision and we’re having twin daughters next.”
“You tell me this now? That your visions have come back and we’re having twins?”
He took her mouth in a deep kiss.
Pulling away only slightly he looked into her eyes. “I also bribed Madayah.”
Her laughter cut off abruptly when he kissed her again.
Talya didn’t call back that day and two months later, twins were born.
Dear Reader,
I have loved the story of Grand Duchess Anastasia of Russia since I was a child. When scientists positively identified her DNA after the discovery of her remains in 2007, I wanted to cry. I had long dreamed that she survived that fateful day in 1918 that took the lives of the Royal Family. But I dreamed of her again by making her Dmitri’s first love and bringing her happiness before her death. Anastasia Nikolaevna was seventeen years and one month old when murdered.
In Russia during the civil war between the White and Red Armies, Epidemic Typhus killed approximately three million people. One of the symptoms listed is “boiling blood.” Now how could I pass up this historical opportunity? Dmitri was quite evil back then.
Kotika is actually kotik in Russian and means pussycat. I added the “a” because it sounded better to me.
I read an online review of Zenya’s Story (Yes, I read them all, good and bad), the reviewer mentioned disappointment that Nicolas’s ability to see the future was left out of the book. *hits head against computer screen* Yes, it was. My bad. I take a gazillion notes and somehow overlooked that one. I fixed it in Dmitri’s Story but I know it’s a little late. My apologies!
I’ve received messages about my lack of naming Brandt and Emily’s child. Very true and Wendy Higgs was the first to mention it so I asked her to name the baby. Thank you Wendy, Magnus was perfect.
This book was pushed along by my Facebook friends. You are awesome and I love you. When we get into those great discussions and you tell me to get off FB and finish writing the book, I laugh. I also get off FB and write. If you enjoy the Fang series please join us. I promise to accept your friend request if you let me know you’re a reader or writer. https://www.facebook.com/delen.mcclain.writer
Dmitri Page 17
