by Aidy Award
He swallowed hard, and pulled Kady into his arms, holding her tight against his chest.
“I can do it, Black. I need to try.”
She had done something that neither he, his elite team, nor any others battling the scourge had been able to figure out how to do. She had injured the enemy.
Up until now they had only been able to track the spectrals with the most advanced technology the Ranger force could come up with.
Every weapon they’d tried, plasma weapons, lasers, disruptors, phasers, hadn’t done anything to even slow the bastards down. Too many souls had already been lost to them.
Kady and her magic could be the first step in winning the war, to saving the galaxy. It also drew them to her. Her bright shining soul, and her magic was like nectar to them.
What if he lost her too?
If it were only about himself, he would gladly sacrifice to save millions. It was the life he’d chosen, to serve, so that others could live.
She had not made that choice. She was the one he’d signed up to defend.
He was faced with the hardest decision he could ever imagine. None of his training had prepared him for this.
Save the galaxy or save the love of his life, and his soul.
Only if the Fates smiled on him, could he have both. He said a silent prayer, thanking them for bringing her into his life, and asking for their help and benevolence.
“Okay, mah wah, let’s go save the world.” He took one last opportunity to savor having her in his arms and kissed the top of her head. Then he switched into commando mode.
“Sigar, are you ready to transport your containers?”
The gnome nodded. “All the rest are miniaturized and loaded. I had a devil of a time getting the broom loaded onto the trailer, but it’s there too.”
“Herbie? My truck?”
Sigar nodded.
One down, a thousand more details to go to make the plan Black was building on the fly happen. “And the transport?”
“The big rig is ready, but we need to hook her up to the trailer.
“Margreth, what can you do to reinforce the wards, anything?”
“I’ve used up all the simple spells I can do.” She shook her head. “But this ward is just around the container, so it’s stronger, more solid because it doesn’t have to stretch to cover the whole garden. It should hold longer than the last one.”
“That’s good. Do you have a way to contact your cousin? I need to get through to my team.”
“Yes, I can call him, but not with the wards up. Nothing is going in or out.”
“That’s okay, just be prepared. We’ll contact him on our way.”
The Gunderson’s nodded and clasped hands, standing together against the threat to their home and lives. “We’re ready for whatever you need us to do.”
Black admired how these two little gnomes were proudly ready to fight. They were good additions to his temporary team.
But his mate was the lynchpin in the whole plan. He took her hand. “Kady, are you ready to try something new with your magic?”
“Yes. I think I understand where it comes from now. What’s your plan?”
“We are going on the offensive. We’re going to fight our way to Magic, New Mexico.”
“Won’t that be bringing the spectrals to them?”
“We need to regroup with my team and get reinforcements. There’s another Star Ranger in Magic, and his mate is also a witch. I’m hoping they can either help by utilizing her and any other witches in the area, or that she can help you focus your power.”
“Okay. So, we get to Magic, and then we can bring the fight to the bad guys. I like that. What do you want me to do?”
“I need you to turn your power outward, instead of shield, we need—”
“A sword?”
“An explosion.”
Kady looked surprised and her eyes flitted back and forth, processing what he needed her to do. “I think I can do that. I don’t totally get how to control it, but maybe that’s a good thing right now. It feels a bit explosive when it let it out anyway.” She grinned up at him, almost shyly. “The magic is stronger when we’re together. So, you’ll have to help me.”
“That is the only part of this plan I like.” He couldn’t help letting his eyes fall to her lips.
For the first time in as long as he could remember, Black wished for another life. One where he didn’t have to serve and protect, but could live simply and grow old with Kady.
He’d get it in as much loving her as he could, while he could. They hadn’t completed the mating, their souls had danced, touched, played, but they hadn’t become one.
Even if the Fates and the mating drive were pushing the two of them together as hard as they possibly could, he wanted to allow her to choose. Choose him.
If he had to sacrifice himself to save her, she would survive. Because there was no way he would let Kady die. He would have to ask his brothers to care for her, be there through her loneliest dark hours.
Kady was strong. A life without a mate was hard, but she had such a fire in her that she would be okay. He had to make himself believe.
Not that he was going anywhere if he could help it. Black kissed Kady, long and hard. She melted into his arms, giving everything he wanted to take, taking everything he wanted to give.
Their souls mingled and Kady’s magic teased, making his skin tingle. Without having to open his eyes, he knew they were lighting up the room and beyond.
Crashes shook the container, the spectrals reacting to the draw her magic had on them. Still he kissed her. This wasn’t for the magic, their defense. This kiss was for him. Something to take into the upcoming battle.
Kady wrapped her hands into his hair, holding him tight, like she too knew this might be their only chance to be together. The air around them pulsed with the energy from her magic and their souls.
He pressed his hips forward, showing Kady the affect she had on his body. He was hard as graphene and ready to take her now, on the floor.
She moaned into his mouth and reached for his pants. He couldn’t let her. He wanted her to be the one aroused. In the short time they had, he’d have to play a good game of fore.
Black lifted Kady, helping her wrap her legs around his waist. Thank Fates this living space was so damn small, so the wall was only a few steps away. He pushed her back against it, letting her slide down far enough that his hard cock pressed right at the apex of her sex.
Even through their clothes he felt her heat, her need. It matched his own. He didn’t have time to strip her and dry humping against the wall could only take them so far.
If only he could complete the mating. Bite her neck, claim her and her soul. But, he had nothing to give in return, not without his soul ember.
He couldn’t resist trying anyway. Black grabbed Kady’s chin and turned her head to the side, baring her neck and shoulder to him. He kissed the soft skin above her collar bone apologizing in advance for marring it.
“Whoo, boy. That feels amazing. More, do it more.” Even Kady’s body knew the power this bite, his mark would have on their souls. A powerful beam of light emanated from her, throwing a million sparks into the air.
He scraped his teeth across her skin and licked to soothe the marks he made.
“Oh, god, yes, Black, yes.” She bucked beneath him, pulling them both close to coming.
Black drug himself away from her skin, from the siren call to make her his forever, only far enough to whisper against her ear. “Hold that energy, don’t let it go, yet.”
She licked her lips and drug her teeth across the bottom one. She nodded and held her breath, concentrating. The effort to bank her magic was tough on her. Golden light swirled through her eyes, along with passion.
“Good girl. Draw on that lust, hold onto it for now, and I promise to bring it back to you tenfold when we are safe.”
Kady drew in two deep breaths and nodded ever so slightly. She was barely containing her magic. Black n
eeded to act fast to put the first phase of this ad hoc plan into action.
“When I say go, take all you have, mah wah, and throw it out in every direction. Hit them hard, for me.” He gave her luscious ass a final squeeze making it the same promise of returning for pleasure, set her feet on the floor, and bolted across the room.
“Sigar, we have to make a mad dash to get the transport and the trailer attached as soon as Kady blasts them. Ready?”
Sigar nodded and gave his wife’s hand one last squeeze.
“Margreth, when I say go, release your wards. Kady will blast them and we’ll run for the transport.”
She didn’t look convinced she should do as he asked. “You’re sure it will work, that it will be safe?”
The building shook again, and the trailer it sat on tilted. It was now or never. “No, but I believe in Kady. Look after her once we’re gone.”
Black took one final cleansing breath, focused his mind and shouted the order to go, adding a final plea to the Fates to help them all survive.
Kady shimmered and disappeared before their eyes and Black took that as his signal to grab up Sigar and run.
Two steps out the door, and they saw the mass of spectral warriors lined up around the container. They didn’t notice he and Sigar, their focus wholly on the area where Kady was inside. She hadn’t yet released the wave of power Black had been hoping she could.
“There, in the trees, that’s where the rig is hidden.” Sigar pointed to a large vehicle hidden by a few branches about fifty meters away.
They could easily make it there in under ten seconds. But, that would also be enough time for the spectrals to slide right through the metal walls of the container and steal the souls of both Margreth and Kady.
Why hadn’t she released her magic yet. If he ran now he might draw them away, but probably not. He also wouldn’t be able to protect her.
Fuck.
“Kady, now, mah wah. Now, go go go.”
His shouts attracted the attention of half a dozen of the spectrals. Good. Less of them to focus on her.
If he ran for the vehicle now they might follow him and bring more along. But, that also meant running away from Kady.
He would never forgive himself if this didn’t work.
Black shouted to Kady again to blast them and then took off at his top speed toward the vehicle. He called upon his bear to give him all its strength and stamina.
The bear inside let out a roar and pushed forth, shimmering as near to the shift without fully taking over.
They were ten meters from reaching their destination when two men in the same black suits and dark glasses stepped from the trees and blocked their path. Two spectral warriors hovered inches above and behind them, baring a striking resemblance to the men.
Black barreled toward them, hoping to take out the men in his path. The spectrals rose up, were joined by at least ten more of their kind and screeched down on Black and Sigar.
Sigar cried out, raising his arms in front of his face. Black pivoted to the right, stepped around the men and dove for the cockpit of the vehicle. He tossed Sigar through the air like a Fallenball, praying for a goal.
A spectral warrior turned and attacked Sigar, mere inches from the gnome. The rest of the spectrals bore down on Black. He could do nothing to stop them, but could try to take out the men in black along the way.
He allowed the shift to overtake him and the bear tore forth, fur and claws bursting forth, ready for the fight. His clawed paws struck through the first man, severing his head from his body, and he sank his teeth into the jugular of the second.
The spectral warriors, stolen from the pair, flickered, and disappeared into a puff of scattered light.
Black wanted to the time to consider the implications of what had just happened before his eyes, and relay the information to his team, his brothers, but ten more spectrals soared toward him, and in less than a second, he would either be dead, or worse.
The only thing he could do now was send his love out into the world for Kady, and ask her forgiveness that they didn’t have more time together.
Whoosh.
A brilliant golden explosion lit up the land, the sky, the trees, and his soul.
Mere millimeters from his chest, the spectral who’d been about to steal his soul, was obliterated, it’s light scattering just as the ones he’d killed.
His Kady had saved them all.
He and Sigar glanced at each other and then at the house. Damn, that had been close.
Black took a deep breath, willing the bear back down so he could find his mate and spank her ass for waiting so long to release her magic.
Then he’d take her back into the bedroom and see what he could do to beat their six-orgasm record.
Mid-shift, his bear refused to be contained. Which could only mean one thing. They were all still in danger.
Black ran back toward the container, searching for the threat. Nothing. The field was clear, the trees, empty.
He had to get to Kady. Find her, warn her, protect her.
A scream wrenched through the air. Kady’s scream.
Chapter
Twelve: Key to Victory
Blood dripped down Kady’s fingers and onto the floor. The fucking bastard had cut her. He would have sliced into her face if she hadn’t blocked him.
“I told you there would be consequences if you tried anything.” The same man who’d blustered his way into her bath house hovered over her now.
“You’re the douchecanoe who is going to be facing consequences.” She didn’t know what those were yet, because she’d tried to magic him to death, and all it had done was put a few icicles in his hair.
She needed Black to come help recharge her magic. Then she’d freeze this TFO bully’s balls off.
“As soon as my back-up gets here, we are taking you in. You’ll never see the light of day again for destroying months of work.”
The front door crashed in and the biggest most beautiful black bear snarled in douchcanoe’s direction.
“Ha. Here are those consequences I told you about.” She kicked out, catching the TFO man in the knee.
He lost his balance and his knife-like weapon went clattering to the floor. Black took the opportunity to lunge, but his great size in the little space put him at a disadvantage. The dude rolled, narrowly evading Black’s claws, which cut right through the floorboards.
Kady snatched up the knife-weapon, that wasn’t a knife at all. It vibrated in her hand and was cold to the touch. It might not be a knife, but it had cut her, so it could hurt douchecanoe too.
Before she could throw it, or stab at him, Black put his big ole bear butt between her and the bully. That left the doorway open and he escaped from the container and Black’s wrath.
Black charged after him, but by the time they got outside, straight out of a spy movie, a helicopter swooped down and dropped a rope ladder. Their nasty enemy climbed, signaling the crew to pull him up.
He pointed toward them, rather ominously, as the chopper flew away.
Black’s sides and chest expanded and huffed. He was breathing hard and a snarl rumbled low in his throat.
Jiminy Christmas he was big. The last time he’d shifted they’d been getting shot at and fleeing for their lives and she hadn’t really gotten to see him in all his beary glory.
She touched the fur on his shoulder and he turned on her, snapping at her hand. He was still deep in protective bear mode, but she wasn’t even a little bit afraid.
He continued to huff and puff, shifting back and forth on his front legs like he had too much angry energy.
Kady smiled, loving this big bad side of him. She shouldn’t. The alpha male rumbling represented all that had always scared her. He was cranky, and big, and cranky, and male, and cranky, and could hurt her like most every other big bad man in her life had.
Because she’d let them. She hadn’t known what was inside of her, and she didn’t mean her magic. Sure, that helped, but pushed to th
e brink, tested and tried by an alien ship crash, a covert government agency, and some weird ass spectral warrior monsters, she’d withstood. In fact, she’d thrived.
A cranky bear, who she loved, yeah, that’s right loved, didn’t scare her one bit.
Kady reached out and held Black’s muzzle between her hands. She stroked the soft fur on his face, looking into his eyes, the same ones that she saw in the man, and softly called his name. “Black, come back to me now.”
He huffed one more time, but then his form shimmered and soon she held the man’s face.
He grabbed her in his arms, lifting her under the knees and carried her back into the house. He was heading back toward the bedroom again and with the adrenaline of that last battle still coursing through her system, a good ole romp in the hay sounded like a great idea.
“Black, wait. Stop. Margreth is hurt too.”
He didn’t stop. “Sigar can care for her.”
“No. She was trying to protect me. Put me down. There will be time for some nookie later.”
Black growled, but set her down. “We will be nookie-ing as soon as you tend to Margreth. I need you in my arms, under me, crying my name as I make you come. I need to know that you are okay.”
Aww. That made her heart go pitter-skip-patter. “I know, I want to feel you inside of me, and know that you’re okay too. But, first let’s make sure our gnomes are okay, and get the hell out of here.”
Black stared at her for a few moments and then nodded. He took her hand and gently touched the wound. “I’ll go help Sigar finish hooking up the trailer to his vehicle. You tend to yourself and Margreth.”
He kissed her hand and then went outside. Kady found Margreth sitting on a stump in the yard. She had Percy in her lap and was stroking his belly.
“Percy. I wondered where you’d gone off to. I’m glad you’re okay.” Kady tapped Percy’s little nose, happy her tiny friend wasn’t injured.
Margreth smiled and handed him over to her. “Little thing was biting at the pant leg of one of our evil friends. He’s a tough little familiar.”
Percy crawled up Kady’s arm, nuzzled her neck and then disappeared into her sleeve. “Are you okay? Were you hurt?”
