Release

by C. M. Steele

  “Very well.” I prepared her arm and inserted our industrial strength needles into her vein. Her skin changed for a moment, glowing slightly.

  “Let’s do this,” she said, anxious to test it.

  “Give it about five minutes to hit all over your body. We don’t want to try it and it’s not taken over all your cells,” Vigo added.

  “Try the window first.” She opened the sample door we used to test the earlier samples, then slipped her arm in. She smiled at us. Then screamed out. No, I pulled her from the window. And she started laughing. Her hand was still there and very much normal.

  “You fucking bitch. That was mean.” Nora smacked her arm then hugged her.

  Our laughter and cheers woke up Speranza and made her cry. “I’ll take her to the library and calm her down,” William offered.

  “Thank you. I keep waking her.”

  “Don’t blame yourself. There’s so much excitement going on and well, she’s still new. Soon she’ll be the one making all the noise and you’ll miss these quiet days,” Olga remarked.

  “That’s for sure,” Mary agreed, laughing softly. It was electrifying to see the light in her eyes.

  “Call me if you need any help with her,” Falcon told William who nodded then left the room. William cared for her so much. I wondered if they were fated to mate later. It constantly sat in the back of my mind.

  “Let’s take this outside,” Mary cheered. Falcon, Draco, Charlotte, and I followed Mary outside while everyone else watched from the security room. She stepped out into the sun and lifted her head to the sky, absorbing the sun. My heart burst with hope and love. We had the cure in our hands. We could save so many. I rushed up to her, hugging her to me. Squeezing her with so much excitement she grunted. “Sorry. Can’t help myself. Congratulations, Mary.”

  “It’s all you, Nora. You’re the one. Thank you. I will stay out here all day for test purposes.” I felt so overwhelmed that I held the key. I still had no idea why I was the key, but all that mattered was the fact that I am the light.

  “I agree. It’s a good test,” Gideon remarked. “I will stay with Mary.” Gideon had been fortunate to have been born in from vampires who weren’t forced into the darkness. He showed understanding for Mary and those like her.

  “Very well. That will work. We shall watch from the security room. Should you need anything we’ll be right there, holler,” Falcon said.

  “I wish to run some more tests and discover the best way to develop a substitute for my blood. I don’t think I have enough to replenish all our people.”

  “You and Vigo can work on that. We can treat our army first. One at a time and see. They may have to wait. Your health and well-being mean everything to me,” Falcon said, hauling me to him. I closed my eyes and let the sun absorb into my skin. I couldn’t imagine never experiencing this again. A lot of work was ahead of me. I stared up into my mate’s eyes, then kissed his lips.

  “Actually, it seems it means a lot to everyone. She’s their key to sunlight,” Charlotte said, grabbing my hands and smiling brightly. “We mustn’t give it to the enemy. Once the war is over they will be given a chance to earn the cure,” she suggested to Falcon.

  “I agree. If we wish to maintain our integrity, we’ll have to share the cure with those who deserve it.”

  “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I must get back in.”

  I left them all there, well except Falcon. He teleported me straight into the security room. “Yay!” Vigo and his son cheered, while his wife sobbed.

  “Thank you, your highness. Thank you.” She threw her arms around me. “I’ve waited forever for this moment.”

  “Nora, you have done it.”

  “I couldn’t have done it without either of you. Remember if you hadn’t sent Jack to me, who knows how long it would have taken to figure it out.”

  “You managed to make it happen. Now we need to figure out how to deliver it to all of our forces and their families. You are only one vampire, and your blood is limited. We cannot take more than three pints of blood from you every two days or so. We regenerate fast, but we can’t drain you too much.”

  “I used fifty ccs for Mary.”

  “I think that’s a sufficient amount to make the transition and reverse the curse.” Which means that for every pint of blood, we can get roughly nine doses. It’s not a lot, but our people have waited long enough. I’d say our inner circle should be first then move out to the soldiers. We need them to have their abilities and their families next. As lousy as it is, they will have to wait. If you can sustain it, every month about four hundred vampires can be cured.”

  “Yes, which means we need a viable substitute. My body will not even manage that. I have a feeling that I will need more raw meat in my meals. I need to get the iron and protein to regenerate my blood cells.”

  “Well, then we’re looking like three hundred a month.”

  “That will be a challenge. The more the people learn of it, the more eager they will be.”

  “At least my fears for your safety will be gone. No one will want to harm you.”

  “At least until they get what they want,” I told him. Stavros would selfishly kill me after he got the dose. He would do anything to spite Falcon. It was a jealousy that went beyond common sense. The man frankly was nuts.

  “I won’t let that asshole get a hold of you. He’ll be looking for us very soon,” William remarked furiously, earning a jealous glare from Falcon.

  “Well, let’s prepare the next doses. I want to get as many of the ones we can before I rest and eat. The sooner we get it done, the sooner we can be prepared to take on his forces.”

  “And we’re going to need to do that soon,” Charlotte said. She and Draco teleported into the room.

  “What’s wrong?” I asked, looking at my long-time friend in complete dismay. I hadn’t expected her to be so down after we had this major win. The air went out of my sails.

  She gave me a dejected stare, before she told us, “We’re going to be attacked in the next twenty-four hours and this time. They’re on to us and have learned that an armada will be the best way.”

  “How many in their fleet?” Falcon asked, grasping my waist tightly and brushing his thumb along my ribs. It soothed me for a second. It had grown increasingly difficult to be happy around here. I wanted Stavros to die because I knew that nothing less would stop this madness.

  “Ten ships and two aircraft.” Fuck. That was more than we had ever had to compete with. Stavros doubled down on us. We knew his army, even with the help of some humans wasn’t as large as ours. And after the threat at the club, many probably defected. If they were smart they would have.

  “We’ll need a battle plan,” Draco added, grasping onto Charlotte.

  Charlotte nodded but bit her lip. “Yes, we definitely will. Also…we can’t be here when they come. The likelihood that one of us will be killed is hard to see. It looks as if we’re in great danger.”

  “Are you sure it’s not that fucker in your head again?” Falcon challenged. With everything going on, we hadn’t talked about the guy in her head. I felt like a jerk because that was a big deal and I left her to just deal with it, forgetting anything but the bloodwork.

  “No, I’ve found a way from blocking him,” she said with great pride. That was the smile I hoped to see.

  “Great. How?” Falcon questioned.

  “I found a special book last night.” She paused, and I knew there was more. “Your mother left it for me.”

  “My mother left you a book?”

  “Well, for the future seer. She had no idea it would be me. I can’t let you read it, but I can show you the note inside of it that she left for me to read.

  “Please do. I miss both of them more than I can explain,” he admitted. She pulled the letter from her pocket and handed it to him. I saw the emotion of love and happiness cross over his face as he held the paper his mother touched.

  Chapter 35

  Falcon

 
Standing there with my mother’s words in front of me took my breath away. I missed her more than I could express. I read the letter several times before finally relinquishing it to Charlotte. My mother was right. As much as I had a hard time trusting Charlotte, I went to her for guidance. It was surreal that a part of my mother had been here to help bring an end to Stavros’s path of destruction.

  “Thank you for sharing this, Charlotte.” I looked at Draco and said, “Prepare the weapons for a strike when we’re not here. I don’t want them in my home.”

  “They won’t. I say we take our family to the wolves,” Draco suggested. That sounded like an excellent idea.

  “Then we come back and clean house on the boats?” I tossed out, hoping it was feasible. I’d hate to have to rebuild this place if they came on for another attack.

  “Yes. I like that idea very much,” Draco said with a sinister sneer.

  “How do you feel about that Charlotte? Does that look promising?” I asked her. My mother told her to be my guide. I had to put my faith in her advice when she had some to give.

  “It sounds great. You still need to be careful. Having a telepath on their side means he may be able to predict your moves. If he’s aboard that ship, leave.”

  “Understood. Thank you,” I stated with a slight nod.

  “What about our guests?” Nora asked. I forgot about them.

  “We’ll see right now.” I took Nora by the hand and led her to the containment area. Draco and Charlotte followed behind. The family had been sitting around reading the books we provided. When they saw us, they stood up at attention.

  “Good afternoon. I’ve learned that we will be attacked very soon. We will be releasing you, but you have a choice where you’d choose to go. You can go back to London. You can go to the castle and work alongside my soldiers or you can go to Washington where I’ll be sending my family and guarded by the wolves until I return.”

  “How much time do we have to decide?”

  “Ten hours. Then we move. Or you can stay here and take your chances that they won’t kill you.”

  “And by the way, Queen Lombardi has found a cure for the darkness,” Charlotte added. I turned my head to her. She just revealed it and then they looked at Nora with a new repentance.

  “Yes, I have, but we are still in the early stages of testing it. I cannot guarantee that it will last. And at present, I don’t have enough to do more than a handful at a time.” Tears stream down her face.

  “You’ve never known the light, Matthew,” she sobbed.

  “Wait, are you telling me you were born in the darkness?” Nora asked with giant wide eyes. The scientist in her ready for another great discovery and the possibility of saving those in the dark.

  “Yes, I was.” Nora looked at me with painfully beautiful happiness. I nodded because I couldn’t take away her happiness. Besides, we had more than Matthew born in the darkness, so it would be great if we could save them all.

  “May I have a sample of your blood? I have not tested it on someone born in the darkness.”

  “Yes, please. If that’s what it’ll take. Please take it.” He stuck his arm forward inside the cell, gesturing that he was all for it.

  She turned to me and asked, “Falcon, can you please?”

  “Yes, my Queen.” I teleported to the lab and grabbed the equipment and headed back into the cell.

  “Arm,” I told him. I took a large vial of blood and two small ones. There was no way I would let Nora in there with him. Regardless of their cooperation, I couldn’t trust that they wouldn’t try to escape or harm any of us.

  “Is this enough?” I asked my mate.

  She nodded her pretty head. “It should be. I’ll go there straight away, so we’ll know before they come to attack.”

  “I can’t believe this,” Matthias said, looking at Nora.

  “Her name does mean light, after all,” Charlotte informed them, tossing them a smirk.

  I teleported Nora back into the lab. “I’ll wait while you work.”

  “Can you check on William to see how he is handling Speranza?”

  “Absolutely. Be right back.” I kissed her then went to fetch our daughter.

  When I entered the library, William had both kids in their bouncers and reading them stories.

  “How’s it going?”

  “Great. Her eyes are interesting though. I have to look away or I get fascinated by them. It’s crazy, but she’s got an angelic presence to her.”

  “That she does. Her gaze released you; perhaps that’s why they fascinate you so.”

  “Perhaps. How’s everything going? Nora working on the cure?”

  “Yes, and we have some developments. I’m going to need you to go with the women and Gideon to the wolves.”

  “What’s going on?”

  “Another attack and it’s going to be huge. Draco and I will need to teleport around and can’t risk taking anyone who can’t teleport.”

  “Okay. I’ll protect your family with my life.” His solemn vow meant the world to me. Loyalty had been so hard to come by over the centuries, having lost many true friends because of deceitful snakes.

  “Thank you. Can you watch them a little longer?”

  “Absolutely. Let me know when you need me.”

  “I definitely need you for this. Unless Draco and Charlotte come. Mary’s enjoying her new status out of the darkness and sitting outside with Gideon watching over her,” I told him.

  “It’s truly incredible. I can’t believe that this is all happening. After spending all those years as a dog, I never imagined the prophecy would come true.”

  “I hope this is going to end soon. I must get back to Nora. I will keep you informed. Thank you, again, William.”

  I teleported back to my wife.

  “She’s perfect with William and Marco.”

  “Wonderful. I’m about to test the sample.” Vigo and Olga watched as she did the test. A minute after setting it in the sunlight, she pulled it out. A smile covering her entire face. It looked like everyone else could be saved as well. After looking through a microscope, she confirmed it. “It’s the same result. Yes. We can do this,” she cheered. I picked her up and spun her around again.

  “What do we do to determine who gets it first?”

  “Well, the two of you need it. Then I figure we get Dante here and then our prisoners.”

  “Prisoners before our soldiers?”

  “Yes, now hear me out. We need loyalty from people like them. After all, we can’t give it to more than a few more people. Let’s clear families one at a time. I know we need our soldiers, so they can attack in the daylight, but think about this. If word gets out that we turned the family of a defected Lamian soldier, they’ll be dropping their weapons and trading sides.”

  “That’s true, but we can’t trust it.”

  “I know, but see they’ll see the promise that we will offer it to them after we provide for our loyal soldiers and their families.”

  “Woman, that’s why you’re the Queen,” I said. I want to fuck you on the nearest surface.

  Before we leave, my King.

  “All hail the Queen!” They erupted in cheers.

  “Thank you. I say if you want the serum we can inject all of you and then test the theory tomorrow morning before we leave the island.”

  “I think it’s perfect,” Olga responded, beaming with joy.

  “I’ve waited for this day for so long.” Vigo had tears in his eyes as he hugged his mate.

  I wrapped my arm around his shoulder. “Thank you for being a big part of making this happen, Vigo. You have been supporting me after every setback.”

  “Are we ready?” Nora asked, growing impatient. There was that temper again. I knew this all had to be taking a toll on her physically.

  “Yes, your Highness,” I grunted. I helped her prepare the syringes. We needed six and had just enough blood to do it.

  “Hey, wait. Let’s get Dante here.”

  “Okay.�
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  I left the room and entered the castle. “Where’s Dante?” I asked the head day guard.

  “Resting, Sire,” Tatum stated. I got acquainted with many of the soldiers and am grateful for all that they do.

  “Thank you. How are you faring here?” I asked, making the younger vampire smile broadly.

  “Great. The news of the little princess has felt like a blessing that I can’t describe.”

  “Are you alone in those sentiments?”

  “No, Sire. Everyone is eager to end this war and ready for when you need us,” he informed me with such a jovial spirit.

  “Good, soon we’ll be going into the final stages of this war.”

  “That’s great news.”

  I nodded then teleported to my nephew’s chambers. “Wake up,” I ordered, kicking his bed.

  “What’s going on, Falcon?” he stammered, jumping up from the bed completely naked. I laughed as he covered his flaccid manhood.

  “What gives with the nudity?” I questioned my bare-assed nephew. It wasn’t something I was used to seeing and perhaps I should have knocked.

  “I’ve been hot lately,” he said, rushing around to dress. “What’s with the sudden arrival?”

  I did all I could to give him his privacy. “We have something for you to see on the island.”

  “For real? Why? What?”

  “Come on. Now is not the time to play. I have people trying to wait patiently for you to come.”

  “Okay. I’m ready.” We teleported into the lab.

  “Ah, there you are.”

  “Vigo!” Dante cheered.

  “Where’s my mother? I’d thought she’d be here too.”

  “She’s outside,” Nora said with a smile.

  “Outside?” he exclaimed. I could see the dread coming over him.

  “She’s not dead. In fact, just the opposite.”

  “What? How?”

  “We have the cure.”

  “I can’t believe it.”

  “Well, you better believe it. If you want your dose, you can line up. We’re just about to give the Johannsens their doses, then next will be our captives.”