Falcon

I didn’t know how to handle her tears. I wanted to tear someone to shreds when she cried, but today it all had been because of me. I caressed her face, trying to ease whatever upset her. “Nora, don’t cry. Please don’t.”

“I’m okay. I think it’s the baby; it’s making me crazy. One sec, I’m all happy, and the next, I want to cry. Then, as you can see, my temper is quick. I kind of messed up the headboard.” I laughed as I pulled her up to see the damage I did to the headboard our first time here.

“When was that?”

“Our first time,” I confessed, smiling proudly at the damage and the fact that she had no idea what she did to me. I lost control every time we fucked, even when I was trying to be slow and sweet.

She shook her head in disbelief, wrapping her robe back around her waist. “No, it wasn’t. I think I would remember that.”

“Sweetheart, when you come, you’re lost in total and blissful oblivion,” I chuckled, getting dressed in a flash. I didn’t care if my men could smell our passion. I was certain they heard my beauty as she came undone for me.

“You don’t have to be so smug about it.” She crossed her arms and looked at me with pursed lips and narrowed eyes. It was cute and too tempting to pass up. I was on her, pinning her to the bed and kissing her until she was moaning for more and clawing at my shirt. I pulled back and stood there, my dick hard and thinking the plan had completely backfired.

I hated leaving her in here, but our baby grew fast inside her and I didn’t know if anyone was working for The Lamia or for their own agenda. I’d fought to protect many pregnant mates since the prophecy. Since this was my babe and my mate, my protective instincts flooded my common sense. “I have to go back down to my men. Are you going to be okay in here for a little while?”

“I suppose. I’m waiting for a call back from Vigo. He may have something important for us.”

“Really?” That was good news.

“Yes, that’s why I’m so eager to get back to the lab.”

“If he does have something…”

“Don’t worry, I’ll let you know right away,” she replied, cutting me off. I grabbed her phone that was tucked under the cushions where I tossed it.

“Oops, it’s seems like you missed his call.”

She snatched the phone and called him right back. “Leonora, I’m so glad you returned my call so quickly. I’m looking under the microscope. The fight between you and Nero had its benefits.”

“Yes and...” A loud crash happened on the other end and the line went dead. She turned to me. What happened? I felt the vibration on my security system. The Lamia were attacking again. The signals were all lost to prevent The Lamia from getting a view inside the battles. “Come. I need to keep you safe.”

“I’m safe here.” I rushed around the room and brought her fresh clothes.

“No, you’re not.” I picked her up and teleported us out of the room as a large blast struck the castle, hitting our room.

She was shaking with fear and I was seething with rage; bodies would fall faster and harder than before. I left her in the secret room and teleported to their stationary rocket launcher. The vampire at the launcher was my first target; I snapped his neck, then plunged my blade into his heart, twisting the blade before swinging my sword and sending his body into the realm of the dead. I could feel the hairs on my neck standing on edge, and I turned perfectly to catch my next kill off guard. In seconds, I dismembered and ended twelve Lamian pieces of garbage before smashing the rocket launcher.

I teleported back to the front lines, seeing one of our own go down. Rage filled me and I attacked, slicing two more Lamian soldiers at once. Nothing could quell the venom in my heart for all of my enemies. Gideon came around, swinging his blade and fighting alongside me. As I turned to send another to their maker, I caught sight of Draco battling. He gave me a wink before taking out several more men.

“Falcon,” Gideon shouted, “behind you.” I turned to see four more going for one of our own. I teleported and did what I must. Gideon jumped into the fray after rushing to the spot.

Draco was at our side as two more rushed us. In a matter of seconds, we finished them all off. We were covered in blood and shaking our heads. My men fought bravely today. It was a much harder battle to fight when they used missiles. We had our own arsenal, which now seemed to be a great idea.

“Sharpen your blades, men. The war is only beginning. They have a lot to learn about the Council’s Army.”

The battle only lasted a half an hour, yet it had been our toughest one to date. We lost a soldier, but it could have been a million times worse if I hadn’t gone up to see my wife. Fuck, the thought of that ripped at my soul, tearing the little bit of calm I had left.

I rushed back to her. Entering the room, I wrapped her up in my arms and held her close. “They knew where we were. Falcon, how did they know?”

“They didn’t have to know. They could have been aiming for my quarters.” She was shivering as I held her.

“Something has to give, Falcon. We need to find their outposts or something and go on the attack. Standing here and taking their abuse isn’t going to work.”

“Yes, that I’m aware of. We have several men searching for their hideout and camp grounds. We need to have more and more vampires trained to do battle. They want to be more aggressive, causing fear in our men and disable recruiting methods. It won’t happen. Those who have been around know what The Lamia is about. The more they attack, the more will join our side.”

“Falcon, we need to call Vigo back. The lines should be up again, right?”

“Yes, please call him. It’s important.” She was already calling as I agreed.

“It’s going straight to voicemail,” Nora gasped. She called again with the same result. “Falcon, we need to go over there. I heard a loud bang before the call ended. Falcon, I know something isn’t right.”

“I can’t let you just go over there.” The danger was too high. I heard an explosion in the background as the phone died. After all this time, I was truly afraid that The Lamia had the upper hand. I couldn’t reveal the concern because I had to remain strong for my people. We had Charlotte on our side, but she didn’t have the centuries of experience my mother possessed. And even she couldn’t stop what happened to her and our people.

“You can take me there.”

“I can’t at the moment, I have to assess the damage. I will as soon as it’s over.”

“God, I hope he’s okay.” I held her close as Draco appeared and pulled Charlotte to him.

I gave them a breakdown of what happened with Vigo and how they attacked the castle. This was getting indiscreet. The world would know if we didn’t hide the battles. The damn Lamia was on a mission to out us to the world. If so, there would be no peace for us, ever.

I caught the gaze in Charlotte's eye. Whatever happened at my home wouldn't be a good thing. My heart beat was steady, not letting on that fear was growing in my chest. "Nora, stay with us. The men will need our help to get back on track. You know they can't organize a thing without us," Charlotte said, wrapping her arm around Nora's shoulder, leaning her head on Nora's.

"Please be careful, Falcon. I can't lose you,” Nora pleaded, looking at me with her bright blues full of unshed tears.

"Ah, he'll be fine. Please, just take it easy,” Charlotte brushed off.

I pulled Nora into my arms, kissing my mate with fiery need, crushing her form to me and letting her absorb my touch before stepping back and heading home. I could smell the sulfur from the explosion that took place in the lab. The damage was clear from the hallway. The walls were crumbling on the side they burst through. A wave of concern flooded me. I entered the busted up lab. Vigo wasn’t in there and everything we had was destroyed. I looked around for any signs of what had been Vigo or anything to say who took him. Then I saw the bloody note.

We have your scientist. He’ll work for us or die along with his family. No labs, no cure.

You will not win, Falcon.

Stavros

I heard the sound of ticking and I teleported out of the room just in time. I watched from down the road as my home, the home for Nora and our baby, exploded. I ran around the burning mess, searching for their scent, but the smell of the blaze was too strong. Speeding around the house nearly a hundred times, I was able to contain the fire to one side of the house. My cars weren’t burned, but I had the auto start for them. Hitting the buttons, I roared as my cars were tossed into the sky and came down in a fiery heap. The fire engines could be heard in the distance. I needed to have a talk with Charlotte. Did she send me here to die?

I teleported back to the castle with rage filling my heart. As soon as I got in there, I was hovering over her, my eyes bright with anger and my fangs out. Draco protected her, bearing his teeth at me. I wasn’t going to back down. My blood was boiling. I had kept my mother’s letter, even though I promised to burn it. Her last words to me were gone. I snarled. “You sent me there to be killed,” I accused. It was Nora’s hand on me as she sobbed that changed my attention.

“Falcon,” she said, hugging me tight.

Charlotte stepped from behind Draco and said, “I didn’t send you there to die, as you can see that you are still here.”

“If I hadn’t heard that ticking, I wouldn’t have been,” I tossed back, my fangs reared.

“But you would have. Those first responders wouldn’t have. You saved twenty human lives by triggering the explosion. It was motion activated.”

I froze. She had done the right thing and I lost it with her again. I grabbed Nora and teleported to my bed chambers, ashamed of my behavior and needing to compose myself before I addressed both of them.

“Falcon, are you well?” Nora asked, brushing her fingers through my hair. I held her close and carried her to the settee. Our room was under repair, even though they had already fixed the wall.

“Yes, but I’ve lost my comportment again. I can’t do that. I know your safety and our well-being is the most important thing, but I cannot be so damn antagonistic. I must go apologize before I do any more damage.”

I teleported us outside their bedroom door, then knocked. “Come in, Falcon.”

Draco stood in front of Charlotte as if to protect her from me. I felt more ashamed than before. I took a deep breath and composed my thoughts. “Draco, first I must say that I understand your reticence, but I must speak to Charlotte.”

“You can do it from where you are standing, Falcon.” His words were hard and just.

“Very well. Charlotte, I must apologize. I have behaved abominably toward you since your revelation of gift and the attack on Nora. It will always be my duty and privilege to protect her, however, I must learn to control my temper. It’s unbefitting someone of my station. In centuries of anguish and battle, I have never treated anyone such as I have you. I understand your duty and your limitations, so I beg you to forgive mine. Nora will always come before all others, but I will take heart that you have her best interests in mind all of the time. I am truly sorry.”

She stood up from behind Draco. “Falcon, you again have nothing to apologize for. I’ve been less than honest with you. As a leader, you live your life via information and facts. My withholding them must drive you to madness. With your mother, her sins of omission were easily forgiven. I understand that I am not her. So, I accept your apology because I know that your love for Nora is strong.”

“Thank you, Charlotte. I promise to be objective.”

“Tell us what happened with Vigo,” Nora demanded.

“They’ve captured him. I don’t know what they plan to do, but I believe that they will use him to find a cure or to get to you.”

Immediately, Nora sobbed hard.