by L M Lacee
Reeve’s great arms swung his swords, one in each hand in wide arcs, removing heads from bodies that did not get out of his reach in time. Wolf and Hawk walked behind him, killing those he missed or thought they had moved out of the way of death.
Kardan said to Kerol. ‘Secure those four.’
‘Who the hayda are you?’ Yelled one of the green males.
No one answered him and before he could ask again, he and the three males with him fell unconscious. Kerol unsheathed his sword as he nodded to the Warriors standing with him. ‘Restrain them, then load them onto air floaters.’ He looked behind him and saw Jarrod walking into the room. ‘Thank you Kail.’
Jarrod inclined his head in response as he watched Kerol yell and run into the melee.
Kardan went to where Dinas was bent over Hope with the med scanner. ‘She has broken bones, ribs and arm, her chest and back are beyond my med scanner’s capabilities. Her cheek is crushed and her teeth are cracked, and her stomach is filling with blood. They ruptured something inside her. Kardan she has too much damage, she needs the regen. How she is conscious is beyond me.’
‘She is her mother’s daughter. Can we move her?’
Dinas stood and pulled his sword free and started walking toward the fighting. ‘Yes, take her. I have people to kill.’
Rage roared once more, searching for Maya.
‘Calm my large friend.’ Reeve comforted him. ‘We will find her.’
Where is she, I can feel her but I cannot see her?
Reeve skimmed his hand down the back of the large Prowler, and in a voice no one had ever heard him use before, he stated. ‘You need to calm my friend. She is a kit, frightened, unable to master her fear.’ He crouched down next to him and softly murmured. ‘Be her Alpha and release the guilt you are feeling.’ When he felt Rage breathe out a long sigh, he said. ‘Now call her to you.’
Maya, sweet kit. Come, Rage is here.
Maya fearfully asked. Is it really you?
Yes kit, come to Rage.
I called for you.
Come to me, sweet kit.
Within seconds a small shadow sleeked out and in combat mode, detached itself from a crevice and ran to him. She slid between his front legs as she screamed. Rage, Rage, Rage!
I am here, little one, I am here!
He moved his head down and nuzzled the frightened kit as she whimpered in fear. It washed over him while he tried to calm her racing heart and sobbing breaths. Hush, little one I am here, we are here. Hope’s Papa is here.
Me scared. Came a soft reply.
Reeve crouched down, and she hurled herself into his arms. He petted her until she calmed more. ‘We were worried about you, I am pleased we found you, brave kit.’
She snuggled into his arms and sighed. Giant one, me scared. I had to go into dark place to get my Hope. Great Rage, it not good place, me scared.
Rage looked into the concerned eyes of Reeve as he soothed the kit. ‘I am sure it was not a good place for little kits. You have been very brave today.’
She not alone or worthless. I tell her that!
Shocked at what she was saying, Rage asked. Is that what Hope thinks?
She says no one loves her. I tell her she is my love. I go get her.
‘Good kit.’ Reeve told her as he looked over into the burning eyes of his brother. There was no doubt he had heard Maya.
Rage nudged her with his nose. Clever kit.
I hide like Scout showed us.
Rage said. You did well little kit.
The room shook as Kardan’s anger over Hope’s injuries and what he had heard from Maya, took up residence in his mind. He tipped his head back and howled, and within that howl were words only understood by the Universe. The fighting stopped, Warriors stilled as they turned to the Elite and bowed their heads in submission.
Wolf standing beside Netta tipped his head back and his howl rang out across the building, quickly joined by Reeve, Dinas and finally Hawk. Netta felt the hair on her body rise as the sound seemed to build with intensity.
Coraan landed next to her, and she whispered. ‘What is happening?’
He whispered in return. ‘I do not know.’
Rave moved closer. They call it the death howl.
Netta murmured as she watched the five brothers. ‘I guess that is bad.’
Rave bowed his head as he told them. It is said that only once before has the howl been heard.
Netta asked, fearing the answer. ‘When was that?’
The night the compound burnt to the ground.
Thanks to Melody, Coraan knew about the compound and the thousands who died that night and who was responsible. Netta whispered as her blood thrummed through her veins.
‘Dearle Stars.’
Rave told them. The Universe should fear, for the last howl was not sung by the Elite.
‘Blood will flow and worlds will die.’ Coraan predicted.
The howl died away to be replaced with the cries of the dying and the clash of sword upon sword. Netta looked around her at the blood already spilled and growled. ‘Let’s finish this!’
‘Brother.’ Hawk crouched by Kardan as the building shook once more. ‘Calm brother, we have her, she will be well.’
Kardan looked at his brother and saw the male he had become.
Hawk whispered. ‘Calm brother, the death howl has been sung.’
Kardan replied in a voice that would rival Marlo’s. ‘The howl has spoken.’
‘Yes brother.’
‘Always the voice of reason, my life was bereft without you.’
Hawk’s eyes filled with sadness at his brother’s words. ‘As was mine.’
He rose as he watched Kardan gently pick Hope up. She came round again and called for him, Papa!
‘I have you my sweet Hope, Papa has you.’
I wanted you to come.
He kissed her face. ‘I will always come my daughter, always.’
I want Mama.
‘We go to her now.’
An air floater sailed in and he gently placed her on it. Slowly it started to move again, Netta stopped it by placing a bloody hand on the corner. ‘Hey Draygon girl, Auntie Netta is here.’
Thankfully Hope’s eyes remained closed as Netta had blood on her, lots of blood, and the Rie had not left her eyes yet, turning them gold.
Auntie Netta.
‘All of us are here, Draygon girl.’
Cause you love me.
‘So very much, my precious niece, love you more than the Universe.’ Netta tenderly kissed her forehead and stood back as the floater moved away from her.
Her eyes were pits of anger as she went to move back to the fighting, and found Hawk in her way. ‘I am not finished.’
‘Yes, Netta you are.’
‘No, my blades still thirst for blood.’
‘And your Rie sings for death.’
Her jaw clenched against the anger rising within her needar and hissed. ‘Yes.’
His eyes filled with understanding and love as he stared at her and kissed her forehead. ‘Sweet Netta, come back to us now.’
Netta shook her head as her shoulders slumped, unable to speak as her anger rode her hard. Kardan moved to where they stood and with a nod Hawk left them to join Dinas.
Kardan waited until she looked at him. The intensity of her eyes did not fade as she told him. ‘I did not howl.’
‘And yet your Rie joined ours.’
‘Is that enough?’
‘More than enough.’
‘Your voice has changed.’
‘It happens when one summons the death howl.’
‘Did Marlo’s.’
‘Yes.’
‘It is time once more for you to be our Netta. Come with us so Bendrix may help settle your Rie. Hope needs her auntie and Knife needs his mama.’
‘Kay.’
Like Hawk, he kissed her forehead, and with his arm around her, he turned and called out to his people still fighting.
‘Finish now,
we leave!’
FORTY-TWO:
Reeve walked with Maya in his arms, Rage and Rave paced with him. Kardan walked with a hand on the air floater Hope lay on. Jarrod walked on the opposite side, Hawk and Dinas with him. Netta, Wolf and Coraan walked behind the floater.
Jarrod asked Kardan. ‘How did you get her to stay at the Embassy?’
Kardan looked over at him, knowing he needed to know, to gauge what state the Star Daughter would be in when they returned.
‘I asked her to trust me… to trust us. She agreed. She knows when to hold back and when to proceed. This time it was wise of her not to show her hand to her enemies, who no doubt are watching?’
‘They are, they have been tagged and will be tracked by Darby’s little bugs.’
Kardan nodded. ‘Very Terran of you. I am thinking they will wonder why she is not here. It is taking its toll on her, but for the good of her people and for the Capital, she will wait at the Embassy.’
They made their way into a vehicle with darkened windows driven by Waseo. Minutes later he drove into the Embassy. Hope was going in and out of consciousness as they rose to the foyer.
Peyton waited, a statue of strength and restrained anger. When the doors opened, she took Hope’s hand in hers as they entered the lift. With a thought, she healed her and placed her into a light sleep.
When they reached the doors to her suite, she scooped her daughter into her arms and carried her into the lounge where everyone waited.
Hope opened her eyes for a second and smiled at Peyton. ‘Papa came.’
Peyton cleared her throat of tears and said. ‘Because you are worth loving. Hope, my daughter, you are a gift to the Universe and you are ours.’
‘Kay Mama. Is Maya here?’
‘Yes, she is a brave little kit. Auntie Heather is making sure she is alright.’
‘She was scared.’ Hope told her. ‘The bad males scared her.’
‘I am sure they did.’
Then Hope cried soft sobbing tears of fear and pain. Peyton knew the reasons for Maya’s fear had not been the males. The afterlife of hopelessness should never be confronted, and definitely not by a child or kit. She came back from those thoughts when Hope said through her tears. ‘Mama, I am dirty, I need to shower.’
‘Baby girl, Mama needs to hold you for a little longer.’
Hope nodded, she could feel the fear in her Mama’s shaking arms and her heart. Hope knew all about her Mama’s steady arms and heart. But now it was all wrong, all scary. If her Mama needed to hold her longer, it was okay. What worried her was something she had never felt or seen before, her Mama cried. Tears dripped onto her hair and face.
‘Mama!’
Suddenly her Grammie Esther was there. ‘Peyton, I am here. Hope dearle girl, I am here you are safe.’
Hope couldn’t speak because her Mama was shaking so hard and crying. Then she found herself in her Uncle Jarr’s arms, in a large chair by a window. It looked just like home.
Uncle Jarr.
‘Greetings, little Hope.’
Where is Mama, she was crying?
‘Your mama is with your papa.’
Where are we?
‘In a place I call mine. I thought we could talk about what happened today.’
Mama cried.
‘I know dearle one.’
My Papa and Uncle Wolf and Uncle Reeve and Uncle Hawk and Uncle Kerol and you was all there. Uncle Dinas and Uncle Coraan was angry, and Auntie Netta’s eyes were scary. Rage and Rave and all the Prowlers were there too.
‘Yes, we were.’
Cause you love me?
‘We do very much.’
Uncle Jarr, I was bad. I thought no one loved me, and I went to the dark place and made Maya follow me.
‘I am sorry you thought no one loved you.’
I just forgot, it happens, Uncle Jarr.
‘It is amazing how much you sound like your mother. You know we love you now?’
I know. Uncle Jarr, I wet my panties.
She cried harder as he cuddled her. ‘Ahh, I see, that was understandable, they hurt you little Hope.’
Papa saw my wet panties Uncle Jarr.
‘Oh, I see, well I know for a fact if you were my daughter. I would be so proud of you, you made Enara and Enuru get help and stay safe and you told Maya to hide.’
I did, but I wet my panties!
‘Hope, do you think Maya was weak or bad because she did not attack the bad males?’
No, she is a kit, only little.
‘And so are you, you are only little, no one will think less of you for that.’
Oh.
‘You truly are your Mama’s daughter. So very brave.’
Uncle Jarr?
‘Yes, Hope.’
They was bad males.
‘They were.’
The bad male he was in the shop, no one saw him. He was so quiet. I never seen him. He had no smell, none of the males had any scent. Rage said everyone has a scent, but they had none. Uncle Jarr, why they hurt me? I forgot what hurting was.
She cried as he held her. ‘I don’t know why they wanted to hurt you, little Hope. I do know we will not allow them to hurt you or anyone else ever again.’
Kay, Uncle Jarr, I’m sleepy. I love you.
‘As I love you, little Hope. Sleep deeply and heal little one.’
He took them back to the world, where Peyton sat with her in her arms.
‘The pain and fear stimulated latent memories of before she came to you. And she says she did not know he was there as he had no scent. I will erase the visit she and Maya experienced in the pit of despair.’ At Peyton’s worried look, he assured her. ‘There will be no repercussions from their time there. The pain and violence we will work through. I will have Telfor see to Maya, she will need the same help to understand what happened.’
‘Thank you Jarrod.’
‘So they had help, a furin Elder.’ Jarrmeru said as he walked in. ‘They can mask the scent of any.’
Jarrod agreed. ‘It would appear so Jarr.’
‘Someone allowed them access to the shop, where the girls were.’ Declared Marlo.
‘Worse than that.’ Klune stated. ‘Someone at the shop notified them when the girls were going to be there.’
Larson said. ‘I would say that Klune and Marlo are right, we have an insider.’
Peyton looked at Marlo. ‘Please find who allowed this to take place and bring them here.’
He kissed her forehead and stroked Hope’s cheek. ‘It will be done.’
He nodded to Larson, and Reeve then motioned with his hand to Jarrmeru and several others who left with him. Peyton could not find it in her heart to feel sorry for whoever they found. They had given away their lives, the instant they chose to steal her child.
Jarrod said to the silent male who sat by Peyton watching Hope. ‘She is most embarrassed that she wet herself and you saw.’
Kardan looked stunned. ‘Did she? I had not noticed.’
‘What the hayda happened to your voice?’ Esther demanded to know.
Kardan shook his head as everyone stared at him. Netta said. ‘I will explain it to you later, Esther.’
‘Well fine, but he sounds all rusty, it rivals Marlo’s.’
Heather said as she moved to where Kardan sat. ‘Little girls get embarrassed by things like soiling themselves, especially with their Papas. If she mentions it, tell her you never noticed, and that she is brave, she will forget it soon enough. Do you need me to look at your throat?’
‘Thank you Heather, no. It will be what it is.’
Darby, who had only been informed when she had left the shopping complex. Entered the lounge and rushed to Peyton and Hope, saying as she hugged Peyton. ‘Hey sis, how you doing?’
Peyton turned tortured eyes to her. ‘I can’t… you know.’
‘Yeah, we know.’ Darby soothed, ‘Hush… hush we are here now, as is Hope.’
Netta said. ‘Peyton, we got her back, and the ones behind thi
s will reap what they have sown here today.’
Helen handed a cup of tea to Kardan with a kiss to his forehead, which comforted him more than he would have believed anything could have, as she said. ‘The likes of what they have never seen before. To take one of us is abhorrent. To take and hurt a child, beyond evil.’ She turned angry eyes on the males in the room. ‘We must make an example.’
Esther stood. ‘Here is our stand. They must be made aware we will not tolerate this anymore.’
Kardan, Hawk and Wolf inclined their heads, Kardan spoke in a tone no one so far had heard him use as he looked around at the people present. ‘This is what you want?’
‘Yes!’ They all agreed
‘So be it!’
Peyton lifted her hand and star fire pulsed into the room as the Star Daughter vowed. ‘They brought this on themselves!’
Darby turned frightened eyes to Kardan as they all felt another rumble under their feet. Kardan finished his tea, then stood and pulled Peyton to her feet. His arms surrounded her as she laid her head on his chest and felt his voice vibrate in his chest. ‘My heart, calm. Do not succumb to your instincts, you are stronger than that. We will fight this.’
She looked up at him. ‘Together, we will make them pay.’
He kissed her fiercely, then told her. ‘For what they did today, and for what they made our daughter endure. We will hunt them to the ends of time.’
She sighed and gave him more of her weight, in what he realized was a surrender to her belief in him. ‘Yes, my love for that alone.’
He nodded. ‘Now the young arrive.’
He was right. Rayvan, Draykin and the twins Enara and Enuru, followed by Avana with both babies, rushed in.
The children ran to their parents. ‘Mama, Papa, we lost Hope.’ Rayvan said as Kardan picked him and Draykin up.
He said. ‘She is here and well.’
Rayvan said to Kardan, ‘Papa, bad males took her.’
‘They did, and because of you, Draykin and your bondmates, they are safe and home with us.’
Draykin said. ‘Because we teach them to be sneaky.’
‘Yes, because you and Scout taught Maya to crawl and hide.’
They smiled at him as he hugged them tightly.
