Release

by C. M. Steele

I woke up from a dream that had to be real. I had to go there now. Draco sat in the security room watching the prisoners. I have to find it, but I need him. I’d ask Falcon, but Nora needed her man.

  “Draco,” I whispered. Stunned, he jolted in his seat.

  “What are you doing down here, Charlotte? Is everything okay?” He jumped up and gripped my shoulders. I should be sleeping, but this couldn’t wait.

  “I’m fine, Draco. I need your help. I have to go somewhere right now. Just you and I. Leave the baby here.” He jerked his head back, looking at me like I was crazy.

  “Where? Why?” he asked frantically darting his eyes around my face.

  “Draco, please just do as I ask. You can even come back for me later. I have to go, though. It’s so critical.”

  “No. I’ll go with and wait for you. You’re my mate. I will not leave you for anything,” he resounded with great conviction. I loved this beastly man.

  “Thank you,” I replied, kissing his lips. “I need to go to the village outside the castle. On the left end.”

  “Near the ancient church?”

  “Yes, that’s the one I need to go to. You know it?”

  “Yes, it was created by Falcon’s mother for the villagers when Falcon was born.” I smiled because I was on the right track.

  “Please Draco. We won’t be gone long. I promise.” We summoned William and told him to guard our little man. In moments we were standing outside the church. Draco took the lead and entered first, guarding me as if danger lurked inside. I peered around the room, using my keener eyesight. I see a door on the left-hand side of the back wall. The church is still used to this day with very few renovations. Marching over there, I tap on the door and walk through it.

  “Wait for me, Charlotte,” Draco grumbled. I kept moving. There’s a floor under the cement. I slam my fist into the stone, making a small crack. “What the fuck are you doing? Don’t hurt yourself.” He moved me out of the way and slammed his foot down, cracking it all apart. We moved the pieces and revealed an old trap door. “I can’t believe this was here. Let me go down first.”

  I rolled my eyes, but let my big strong beast take the lead. Inside the hidden room stood a symbol I had seen in my dreams for many years. I had no idea what it was or why it would appear in flashes with nothing to add to it. “Hmm,” Draco muttered to himself.

  “What?”

  “That’s Lady Lombardi’s personal insignia from her family crest before she became one of us.”

  “Yes?” I smiled. It started to make some sense. A lot of my teenage dreams had this symbol. I ran my hand across the insignia and a new vision struck me. Smiling, turned to my mate. “Please open.” He thrust his fist forward breaking through the stone. After clearing the stone, there it was—the book. I reached in and pulled out the large, heavy leather-bound book. A rush of emotions took over me. I spun around. “Take me back,” I begged.

  “Of course,” he replied, pulling me to him and teleporting us back to our room. We hadn’t been gone more than twenty minutes and I felt the world changed. I needed my mate. A roar of desire coursed through me, demanding satisfaction.

  “What’s going on Charlotte?” he asked, seeing the lust in my eyes. I felt the overpowering need to fuck.

  “I need you now!” I knocked him down and pulled off his belt. Growling, he grabbed my ass then pulled off my leggings. He tore off my blouse and threw me on the bed. Shredding his shirt off, he sprang at me, jumping onto the bed, straddling my body. With a strong thrust, he dominated me, sending me against the headboard. I moaned throwing my arms around his neck and lifting up to get closer to him. We couldn’t be close enough to him. Draco sits back on his heels taking me into his lap. I rode him wildly, grasping on his hair and slamming my mouth down on his. He grabbed my ass and started pumping up into me. I cried out, coming apart at the seams.

  “I love you, my love,” I whispered next to his ear.

  “You are my everything, Charlotte.” Coming down from that insane need to fuck, we both dressed. I reached for the book with just my robe on because I had no intention of getting out of bed unless necessary. This book was going to be my focus. After all this time, one of my crazy dreams from my childhood had come to fruition.

  I climbed back on the bed with the book in hand. Draco bent down and kissed my lips. “I’ll go get Marco.”

  “I’m going to start reading this,” I answered without looking up.

  “And tell me what the hell is it,” he stated.

  “Yep,” I replied absently, brushing my hand along the front cover. The energy poured off it and invaded my soul. With so much at stake, I almost didn’t want to open it.

  Turning the cover, I read the first page.

  Dearest Seer,

  I cannot say when this book will reach your hands, but I know that my time is coming to an end. I don’t fear death, for I know that we’re destined for more. I leave you with the hope that you will guide my son into his role as King. I don’t know when you will come because fate has strange ways of changing with the choices of others. All that I am certain is he will be victorious and will need protection because many individuals envy power and strength. Be strong and I will share many things you will need to know.

  This journal will be for your eyes only. Keep it close and remember that you have been given a gift because you are honorable and strong.

  —M. Lombardi

  “Charlotte, my love. Why are you crying?” Draco exclaimed, sitting on the bed beside me and grasping my chin.

  “Oh, I didn’t hear you come back. Give me my son.” I held him in my arms. Feeling the love of one mother for her son and feeling closer to my boy than ever before.

  “What is this book?” he asked, nearly touching it, but I pulled it away.

  “I cannot show you what’s in it, but it’s a guide for me from Falcon’s mother.” I shook my head at the realization that I was holding her wisdom, her dreams and hopes for the future. She was selfless. And I don’t know if I could live up to those standards.

  “What? Are you serious?” he gasped out.

  I nodded, then explained a little more to him. “Yes, I’ve had these dreams over the years that brought on a vague image of this cover. I never understood them until now.”

  “This book has been waiting centuries to be read. I know you can’t show Falcon, but you should tell him.”

  “I will. His mother says that I should guide him as best I can.”

  “Goodness, Charlotte. I want to love you all over again,” he growled, kissing me hard. His phone rang and stole our moment together. I had a small vision that screamed danger.

  “Be careful,” I whispered as he hung up.

  “I will. That I promise you.”

  “I have faith.”

  “I have you,” he replied, grabbing my hand. Relief filled me up and instead of letting the danger of losing Draco take over me, I opened the book and rocked a sleeping Marco in my arms.

  Chapter 33

  Falcon

  “Here you go,” I said, bringing the Holdens a large bag of food.

  “Thank you. It smells good. What is it?” Mr. Holden asked, sniffing the bag.

  “Cheesesteaks.” They looked at me like I was speaking a foreign language. Had they never been to America or watch American television? Well, they had been missing out.

  “It’s a sub sandwich with chopped up meat cooked with peppers and onions topped off with lots of cheese. My wife wanted that so that’s what I got.”

  “Thank you for the food. You all have been so considerate, given the current situation.”

  “I told you before what we were about. I have no intention of doing anything cruel to you unless you try to go against me.”

  “It’s hard to believe for us. It doesn’t work that way with the Lamia.”

  “We know. That’s what makes us the good guys. I have some things to do, so you’ll be left alone for a little while. I can’t let you out, but we have our monitors on just in case t
he Lamia try to attack again.”

  “Wait you’re going to leave us undefended?” Matthew exclaimed, fear in his eyes. I hadn’t realized how shitty that had to be for them.

  “Sorry, but I can get here in a second. They won’t be coming anyway. They know we’re on the move. And coming for them.”

  I left them there and headed out to do some more recon while Draco and William stayed back to look after our families and our guests.

  The compound was well hidden in the moors. We scoped it out in the middle of the day. With Stavros forced into darkness, it was the perfect time to go in. Listening for sounds we heard several of humans surrounding the compound. They could easily be taken out.

  Listening to their thoughts would be too chaotic, so we looked for the one thinking about us.

  A guard closest to the entrance couldn’t stop thinking about what he planned to do to Vigo’s wife.

  I want to take her as soon as possible. Pussy is pussy. I bet her thighs are strong and she’ll enjoy a nice hard fuck. Damn, I’m getting hard thinking about her screams. It’s been a while since I took unwilling pussy. It’s the best the way they fight.

  “Holy fuck. This guy makes Stavros look good.”

  “He goes first,” I replied, clenching the grass hard, tearing it from the ground. Shit. It sounded loud. I hoped to fuck they didn’t hear it. There’s only a handful of cameras around. They may think they’re secure, but they’re not. Our tracking sensors that Draco developed tested the grounds. They didn’t have any outside incendiary devices. It worked well in our favor. I wondered how strong their internal defenses were. They could have the traps inside. According to the little human in the wolves’ custody, there weren’t any serious weapons that could destroy us.

  Another human grunted out his frustrations. Stavros doesn’t have the money to take care of our basic needs. Fucking weak ass vampire. He’s like a dictator that turns a country to shit before blaming someone else. How could he live for centuries and be broke? I call bullshit on all of this. I’m cutting out as soon as my replacement shows up. Fuck eternity.

  He ducked and dodged the soldiers around the compound and fled. Wow, that was easier than I expected. It’s time to visit the local hangout where his soldiers convene. Gideon and I entered a pub and we didn’t immediately generate attention because we dressed like the locals. To be honest several of the locals were just as large as us.

  “Can you get us two pints, please?” I asked the barkeep as we take a seat at the bar.

  “Sure, mate.” He hands us two pints, but he forgets to keep his thoughts to himself.

  They’re surrounded, and they don’t even know it. Fucking fools will be a feast for the vampire and his wife.

  “Boyles, I would take a hike if I was you. This place ain’t safe for the likes of you.”

  “What’s there to worry about here?” I said, drinking my pint.

  “People like us.” I placed the pint down, then spun around to see two men with guns aimed at us.

  “Interesting. You would be?”

  “We’re not interested in your kind here.” Fucking idiots. I can tell they are vampires, but they have no clue who we are. “You’re going to see the boss, or we’ll kill you right here.”

  “How cute? I wonder does everyone in here feel the same way? Because if you work with these two fools, you best stay for the fun,” Gideon remarked giving them a crooked smirk.

  “This will be your only warning to get gone.” Scooted chairs scraped the floors. We looked around to see all the people pull out guns. Too cute. Immediately, I grab the blades that I hid in my coat. Both of us displayed our weapons.

  “They brought knives to a gunfight,” the jackass laughed.

  I nodded to Gideon. “Ready?” I asked him

  He nodded back. I grabbed Gideon’s collar and we teleported behind the two vampires that started it all. I thrust both of my blades from behind into their hearts. Then Gideon sliced his blade through the air, chopping off their heads. They turned to dust on the spot. They all opened fire in such a small building. Dumbasses. I teleported with Gideon at my side and killed six of them while their own men accidentally shot the others as they tried to shoot us. I couldn’t believe how inept these fuckers were.

  I took out my phone and called Draco. “Hey, I need you to come to the pub. We’re going in to get them now. We were followed and they’re aware we’re here.”

  “I’m coming.” He was there within seconds. Shit, I hate that we were leaving the girls with only William. That’s not safe. I had a bad feeling. We’ve been played.

  “We’re as ready as we can be. I say we teleport straight to them and go, fuck fighting. We don’t need Stavros right now. We need to get them safe.”

  “I agree.” We coordinated the two locations where they were held. They were well protected. Leaving Gideon on the hill outside the pub to set it ablaze, we struck.

  I entered Mrs. Johannsen’s room she was shocked but tilted her head. There was a guard sitting three feet from her. “Dead?”

  “Yes,” she whispered for my ears only. I snapped his neck on the spot. I broke her shackles and her son’s as well, teleporting them to the island. Vigo and Draco appeared with Gideon. We watched as the couple reunited tears overflowing, they kissed over and over. Both of them hugged their son.

  “Falcon, they need food,” Draco said, looking at the weakened family.

  I teleported to the kitchen, bringing them with me. Nora, Mary, William were all in there. My mate stirred cookie batter in a large bowl when she saw me. She nearly dropped it on the floor. “Falcon, you’re back,” Nora sobbed, running into my arms. She shakily cried in my arms. I sensed her relief and had another surprise for her.

  I stepped out of the way. “And I brought someone back with me.”

  “Vigo,” she cried out, hugging him like crazy.

  “Okay that’s enough,” I growled, pulling her to me. She only laughed. Oh my god, you all could use some food. Here, I was in the middle of cooking.”

  “Where’s the baby?” I asked.

  “Right here,” William answered, nudging the bouncer she was in around the corner.

  “Congratulations. We heard the rumors, but it is truly amazing to see. I told you, you were special Nora. I felt it.”

  “Thank you, Vigo. I can’t believe everything that’s happened since I first met Falcon. It’s as if my life before him never existed. That my family began with him and now Speranza. Oh, that’s the cooking timer. I’ve got to toss a meal in for our guests.”

  “Guests? Us?” Vigo asked.

  “No, we captured a Lamian soldier who became an informant, plus his parents.”

  “You mean Jack?” Mrs. Johannsen asked. I’d forgotten that she’d been the reason he came to us.

  “No not Jack. He’s with the wolves. He gave us great information and…” Nora cut me off.

  “Oh my goodness. You have to see!” Nora squealed out, jumping up and down in my arms, causing Speranza to cry out. “Oops.” I picked up my little blessing and held her until she calmed down. Vigo and Olga stepped closer to take a look at our miracle.

  “She’s perfect,” she said.

  “Thank you. We named her Speranza. Italian for hope,” I told them. I could see the effect she had on people from being in her presence.

  “You did it?” Vigo asked, grasping his wife a little tighter than necessary until she squeaked out. This meant everything to him. He’d been determined to find a cure for his family.

  “I think so. The results are completely different than any other tests. Eat,” she demanded as Mary set down three plates for them. The other food was going to take a little longer and they needed to eat now. They could eat later if they wanted to, but I didn’t want them to wait. We were about to test the results on Mary right now.” Nora caught Mrs. Johannsen’s expression. A look of jealousy and envy came over her. It wasn’t the darkness that was bothering her. It was the human feeling of being replaced. “Mrs. Johannsen, I’
m sorry. We haven’t officially met. I’m Leonora Lombardi. Vigo worked so hard to give you back your sunlight.” Nora gave her a hug.

  “Thank you. Please call me Olga,” she responded, returning the embrace. Vigo tugged Olga to his side as if he was jealous of Nora. Silly man.

  “How much blood does it take?” Vigo asked, taking a bit of the sandwich Mary prepared for them.

  “I’ve made a solution to enter the bloodstream, but we haven’t tested it yet.”

  “What are you waiting for?” Vigo inquired impatiently.

  “Duh, we don’t want it to not be enough and then I accidentally kill vampires,” Nora remarked, rolling her eyes at him. That fact haunted Nora. What she doesn’t understand was that they would chase any hint of a cure.

  “I’m telling you. You’ve got it. I didn’t get to tell you, but I started to test it on other samples and they worked, but before I could say anything I was captured.”

  “I’m game for it, Nora. Give me the injection,” Mary interjected.

  “Are you sure? It’s risky,” I told her.

  “What do I have to lose?” Damn, she was right. If I lost Nora, I’d be dead already. I couldn’t live without her. The world would be dark, and my heart would stop beating. That, without a doubt, would destroy me. I understood it and nodded to Nora.

  “Okay. I’ll prepare it. We still have several hours of sunlight left. Let everyone eat and maybe Draco could get Dante,” Nora suggested.

  Mary fervently shook her head. “No, I don’t want him here for this. He’ll want to do it himself and he’ll try to stop me.”

  “Yes. Well, I’ll get it ready.” Nora left the kitchen. “When you’re done, you can join me, Vigo. This is as much your doing as mine.”

  Chapter 34

  Leonora

  “I’ve created the serum. I cannot be for certain, but if you are sure that you wish to do this we can go ahead.” I had fears of killing vampires. In truth, I figured that it would work. After all, I trusted Vigo and his years of experimenting before I came around.

  “I am certain. If this doesn’t work, then I get to be with my dearest Alessio and no one has to take the chance of death.”