Release

by C. M. Steele

  “Men, are you ready?” Draco asked.

  Agreeing, I said, “We’re ready. Stay grouped together. We’ll cover you. Remember, the head and heart are the kill shots.”

  “Yes, sir,” Gage added. Another wolf showed up and I assumed it was the one we were expecting.

  “This is Erik. He’s my brother-in-law. I’ll introduce you assuming we make it out of here.” We nodded because we didn’t have time for formal introductions. He came in a police uniform loaded with several guns, looking ready for war.

  “Welcome to war, Erik,” Hunter told him.

  “A pleasure. Sorry, those fucks caused a delay in town. My deputy managed the issue, so I’m ready to bite off some heads. No one comes near Chloe.”

  “They came after her?” Hunter growled, and Gage snarled. This guy was married to their sister. If I had a sister, I’d be the same way.

  “Yes, but I protected her as always.” They bumped fists.

  “They’re coming,” Kane said, sniffing into the air. I arched my brow with the smile. “We’re going up,” I stated, glancing at the trees. Draco and I teleported into the trees looking into the forest. There were about twenty of these bastards. Half were human, and the others were vampires. Fools.

  Damn, I can’t believe there are werewolves and vampires. This is some crazy shit. I want to kill them all and show us living humans were the best. One of the humans seemed to let me in his head.

  Fools. The best? It made me laugh to myself. They were the best at being overconfident and under skilled.

  Draco and I dropped down behind the back two humans, slicing their throats, before teleporting to the front. Hopping around, we moved back to the battleground. Several of the vampires charged in and we came up behind two dealing with them right away.

  The wolves went to work, stripping and transforming into badass large beasts. It was Erik who put bullets into several of the humans’ head as they ran after them. He was the wolves cover. We watched and let them take the lead on the last few. Damn, they were formidable. It took less than a minute before they killed the two of them. I could hear the other humans coming to strike. It was game time.

  “A few more coming,” I called out before teleporting and getting two vampires right away.

  Twenty minutes later the battle was over. Exhausted, but we needed to get rid of the human bodies, Draco and I teleported back and forth to the ocean, dumping the dead. Fuck it, they joined the wrong side. We couldn’t leave their bodies lying there to be found. Luckily this area was extremely remote.

  “Wow, you two come in fucking handy. Thank you,” Hunter grunted, putting his clothes back on.

  “We wouldn’t need to help if we’d not bothered you.”

  “No, apparently they were already watching us. With Charles in London, there are people keeping tabs on them and us. We didn’t know it, but Charles sounded concerned that they weren’t going to just let us be. Evelyn and Charles have already gone into hiding and will be coming here in the coming days.” Shit, they could be dead already. If they were coming here, they would go after Charles and his mate.

  “Do they have work to finish up or is it because they can’t get away?” I asked them. If they needed to get out of there we were the best of the best to make it happen.

  “No, they’re being watched, and they don’t feel safe making an obvious exit. In fact, they attended a party last night to keep up pretenses that they weren’t involved in anything.” It wouldn’t matter to the Lamia. When they came to get you, you had three options, Comply, refuse and die, or run. I could see the bond between these family members. Should one of their own be killed or turned it would crush them.

  “Call them and we’ll be there right now to bring them here,” I told them.

  “You’d do that for us,” Kane remarked, quirking his brow at me.

  “Listen, I don’t want anyone to die because of our war. If I can help it, I will defend my people. Charles and his wife are now my people. I am their leader and I can’t stand idly by.”

  Kane called, but it went to voicemail. After two attempts, but it was the same. They were either busy or the Lamia already got to them. I hoped to hell that it wasn’t the case. “Just tell us where they are, and we’ll deal with it,” I told him, “We’re wasting more time standing here. He gave us their whereabouts, and Draco and I set off to take them into hiding.

  Charles blanched when he saw us enter the room. “Charles, don’t worry. We’re not here to hurt you,” Draco said. Charles’s eyes darting to something behind us. I turned to see why. There were six Lamian soldiers holding Evelyn hostage. Fools. I arch my brow, smirking at the bastard holding her. What a fucking dummy. He’s human, I can smell it. I’m going to end him, all of them. Draco disappears, coming up behind the one holding Evelyn then jabbed him in the neck with his blade. Evelyn’s released, falling just in time for Charles to catch her. He set her down, but Draco teleported her out of there.

  “She’s safe,” I told him. He nodded and turned to our targets. With violent rage, Charles darted toward them. He had no weapons, but he didn’t give a shit. They attacked his mate, leaving him to watch helplessly. Three of them were vampires. The two remaining humans, reached for their guns like it would work on us. We had them dropped in a second. Draco was back thrusting a blade into the heart of one of the vampires. While I sliced another’s head off. Within moments all we had was dust and some human corpses.

  “You both arrived just in time. I can’t thank you enough for saving us. Anything you need, but I have to be with my mate. Nothing else matters.”

  I nodded, wrapping my arm around his shoulder, we all teleported back the battleground. Erik apparently left to go to his wife who was supposedly somewhere safe. Then Draco and I teleported them to the hotel just outside of the cameras’ line of sight. We entered the hotel like regular guests, then took the elevator up. We wanted them to see us at least once before we teleported to the room.

  Evelyn threw her arms around Charles the moment we walked in. She sobbed into his chest. I went to my mate and daughter, holding them tightly. Others did the same, but I’d been too focused on my family.

  “Thank you, my Lord, Draco.”

  “You’re welcome, Charles. I understand that this wasn’t something you all wanted, but I feel the time is near. Many will perish in this battle but be vigilant because as long as the Lamian Army exists, we are all in danger.”

  “Yes, your highness. We are at your beck and call,” Gideon acknowledged.

  “Wait, your highness? The babe?” Charles questioned looking at the bundle in Nora’s arms. Our daughter slept tucked up against Nora. It was her favorite spot to sleep when I wasn’t around to hold her. “Yes, Charles, Leonora and I had a daughter.”

  He opened and closed his mouth several times as he took in the information. “We heard rumors, but every time it was mentioned it was shut down by someone else,” he stammered, rubbing his jaw.

  “Who told you it was just a rumor?” Nora asked.

  “I can’t remember exactly. Evelyn, do you remember who we were talking to when they denied the truth?”

  “I can’t think of his name. In fact, I don’t recall meeting him before the event, and even afterward. He said that he had been well acquainted with you.”

  “Who was it? Any description?” I asked, yearning for more details. Charles and Evelyn attended parties because of their celebrity, which meant that it could be anyone around the world.

  “A skinny waif of a vampire. A rarity among us. He had deep-set eyes, worn out but they were devious looking. Charles, I remember telling you that he was a bit scary looking.”

  “Oh yes. Count Canterbury. I never heard of him, but he was invited,” Charles added.

  I tried to think of someone by that name, but I couldn’t. There was no Count by that name that I was aware of. “Count Canterbury? Never heard of him either. You, Draco?”

  “No, Falcon. I never have. That’s not good. But Evelyn’s description reminds me
of someone, but I can’t put my finger on it at the moment.”

  "Wait, did he have a mustache?" William asked, walking up to us.

  "He did," Charles answered; Evelyn nodded her head in agreement. "Do you know who we're talking about, William?"

  He nodded, taking a bite out of a sandwich that Arabella brought out for each of us. "I believe so. If it is the same man, he must be unaware of her."

  "Please explain,” I commanded.

  After swallowing, he said, "He suffers from a curse of endless thirst and an eternal life."

  "Hell, that could describe many vampires,” Draco scoffed, pulling his mate closer to him. They were rubbing on each other since we returned.

  "No, his mate has died." The room erupted in gasps. Losing your mate would be agony for wolf shifters and vampires alike. "He was told the girl would bring his end." We all knew that the pain would be extremely intense and almost unbearable.

  "Oh, so he believes that he would have died already,” Catherine chimed in, tightening her son in her arms. Hunter wrapped his arms around her waist and listened in.

  William acknowledged, “Yes, that's more than likely why he would say that, but I don't remember him by that name."

  “So can we go back to my place and look at the video? We never got to check it out,” Kane said. “Maybe this guy was in the video.”

  “That’s a great idea. We’ll move you all in batches. Kane, Gage, Hunter, hold onto your mates. William, protect my family.” Draco and I teleported them along with Charlotte and Marco. As soon as they’re secure in the house, Draco stayed put while I went to get my wife and daughter. Nora cooed down to the baby, while William stood guard, staring out the window.

  “William, is something wrong?” I asked him. From his rigid stance, something was off.

  He turned around from his perch near the window and replied, “No, it’s just that I have a feeling that we’re being watched.”

  “What makes you feel that way?” I questioned moving to the side of the window to avoid being seen.

  “I don’t know. I swear there’s someone on the road over there who hasn’t moved for more than a minute before coming right back to the same spot.” I looked through the window, focusing my gaze and I recognized the son of a bitch. I was being followed. How did he know I was here? Something sure as hell didn’t add up.

  “Don’t worry. Let’s get out of here.” With William holding onto my shoulder, I wrapped my arms around my wife and teleported us all back to Kane’s home. When we got to the house, Speranza began to cry which made Marco cry. William became edgy. As if he was ready to murder someone because she cried. “She needs to eat. Relax. She may be a part of the prophecy, but she’s still a baby. Food is a priority,” she told William, tapping his cheek like a loving mother. As possessive as I am with her, I knew her affection belonged to me and I had nothing to worry about. She moved where Kane and his wife sat and asked, “Excuse me, Evelyn, is there a room I can use?”

  “Sure, come with me.” I followed along holding up a hand toward the rest to wait for me. I had to make sure Nora was settled. We hadn’t a moment to talk after the battles and I had to know she felt at ease. I sensed that she was troubled, but why eluded me.

  “Thank you,” Nora said to Evelyn.

  “You’re welcome. I’ll leave you alone.” She left the room, closing the door behind her. Nora took a seat in a large rocking chair similar to the one we had in Speranza’s room. I stared at her chest as she bared it, scanning the room, I saw a baby monitor. I rushed to it and saw that it was powered off and facing the crib. Breathing a sigh of relief that I wasn’t going to have to kick Kane’s ass, I walked back over to my mate.

  “How are you, my queen?” I inquired, leaning down to taste her lips. I only pull back because we had to talk.

  “I am well. It is you that I’m concerned about. How are you, my king?” she asked, helping Speranza to nurse, which wasn’t difficult because my little girl had her daddy’s appetite. Nora fed her around ten times a day. Soon, we’d move her to solids when her teeth start coming in. Vampires teeth come in around two months as their growth amplifies.

  “I’m well knowing both of you are safe and that we lost no one today. Soon, I fear that may not be the case. They will learn from their mistakes. And they have human allies, tracking our whereabouts. They were aware that we were booked into that room and they watched us. I can’t trust your safety away from me, Nora. And truth be told that scares me.”

  “Trust your gut. You’ve come this far using it all these years. Now is no different. I’m strong enough to defend myself. I’m a hell of a lot better since that battle with Nero and I must say that despite his abilities, I managed to put up a good fight.”

  “That you did, but now I know that they will try to get to you and it concerns me.” She reached out and took my hand, holding it with a smile on her face.

  “Falcon, if your mother’s words were true then you shouldn’t have to fear for me and Speranza. Believe in them and they should guide you. Now go out there, I’m sure they want to let off some steam and plan ahead.”

  “I love you, my queen. Call me if you need me.” I kissed her lips then my daughter’s head before joining the huddled masses.

  I was almost to the center of the computer when I saw someone. “Freeze it right there,” I called out. Hunter stopped the video and all of them focused on the screen to see what I could.

  William gasped, “That’s the guy that I saw standing outside the hotel today.” Exactly, one in the same man. The bastard dealt with Stavros or his minions. I clench my fists.

  Kane patted my back. “Who is it?”

  I grunted, then answered through gritted teeth, “That’s who I expected to see. I know him. He’s Detective Norton and he works for the Seattle PD.”

  “What? How would he get here so fast to know you’d be here?”

  “He’s a human so there’s no way he could get from place to place or just happen to be in both places at the same time. He must have your phone cloned or something. They are listening to your calls,” Draco informed them. Draco already searched their home for listening devices.

  “I don’t know who else he was working for, but I know that the day he and I met, he was goading me to say something about his thoughts. I had no intention of it. I’ve been hearing thoughts for centuries and wouldn’t fall into that trap,” I fumed. Visions of ending Norton played in my head. He could go missing and no one would know who did it.

  “Do you think he’s working with Stavros?”

  “Yes, there’s no way to explain it. He would have known where the attack was going to be and got to the hotel to see us. He’s not a vampire or shifter but he probably wants to be. He’s a lowly rat-bastard, I want to get rid of.”

  Chapter 23

  Stavros

  I threw my phone across the room, letting it crumble into little pieces and even damage the wall. “Calm down, Stavros.”

  “Woman, please stop it. They are fucking winning at every opportunity. They easily dispatch my soldiers. They always know when a strike will happen. I can’t get them to fuck up. The castle attack only wised them up.”

  “We know that they have a seer on their side, but she’s not that like Falcon’s mother. They haven’t been able to catch all our attacks, or we wouldn’t have their scientist and destroyed all of Lombardi’s homes.” Yes, DeRosa came to us after the battle to inform us that they had a seer in their midst. Of course, she wasn’t that good because she didn’t see through the De Rosas. And she needed to die as well. Then again, I may be able to use her.

  “You are right, my mate. But I can’t win if the prophecy is to be true.” That nagged at me and made my ire grow. After all these years, they would still win. I couldn’t let that happen. I wouldn’t let that happen.

  Slamming her hands on her larger waist and rolling her eyes, she bitched, “Then find a different way to strike. We are talking about centuries between the prophecy’s inception to today. Th
ey had no idea what the future would be like. Human advances in weaponry have been elevated. You can nail him to the wall and let the humans slake their lust in his mate before they are both killed. Remember, you’ve stopped the potential end before.”

  “Yes, speaking of, I could truly use good old ‘Jack’ again.”

  ‘Jack’ was rumored to be brutally cruel to humans. Having lost his mate to them, he refused to die in hopes to destroy as many lives without getting caught. He has never been whole since. Vampires who lose their mates, never become whole. They can perish or carry on. Most develop vices of gambling or imbibing until they begin to waste away. He carries on a mission to destroy humans with a promise of payment from the highest bidders.

  I thought back to the conversation I had with him.

  “Please come in. Lord Grayson will see you.” I followed the servant, hearing his thoughts. The master is weak again. This guy will not be good for the master. I am certain, more trouble is ahead.

  “Thank you,” I muttered, thinking that this guy would need to be disposed of soon if I didn’t get my way.

  “Welcome, Mr. Stavros. Time has been good to you.” I saw a scrawny looking man standing before me who although a supposed vampire, seemed to truly be fading away.

  “Yes, it seems that I can’t say the same for you,” I confessed. This surprised me because of his cunning and reputation in my kind of circles just five years ago.

  “Well, it will never be good until I meet my own demise,” he remarked, pouring himself a glass of brandy. He lifted the bottle towards me, but I waved it off.

  “If life after your loss has been so damn traumatic then why not end it,” I told him. He looked fucking pathetic.

  He leaned forward, pressing his hands on his desk practically snarling at me. “I have my reasons. How can I help you, Mr. Stavros?” For the first time, I saw something evil in him and I liked it.

  I smirked, “I would like you to dispose of a few witnesses including a child.”