Draco

It had been a week since we had learned of Leonora’s name. The island set up was taking longer because of storms that battered the New Jersey coastline, so I was going today. It would be a short trip, but Falcon would be monitoring to see if I’d been tracked on the sensors as I touched down inside the perimeter. There were supposed to be alarms to catch people, but I needed Vigo for it to be finished. We wanted our scents tracked to the island; it would recognize the four of us, but he was the one with the knowledge. I was tech savvy but scientifically inept. I’d only made it through med school because I wanted to help Falcon, but in truth, none of it interested me. I wished to be working on swords or, as time went on, cars, computers, and the like.

I had my cell phone ready as I walked toward the main fortress. Then I heard the sirens. Falcon called me. “Do you hear that?” I asked him.

“Yes. It’s a success. They have to get past several alarms to get access to the main building.”

“I’m going to test our radar system. I want to see how far we have on that. We need to be able to disable a missile coming toward the island.”

“How do you plan to do it? I mean it should work since we have the same system as many nations.”

“I have a boat about twenty miles out. I will shoot a short-range missile. I know you’ve forgotten over the years, but I was and remain your guard. Whether you like it or not, that is my duty and I need to keep you and Nora safe, as well as my beloved. So deal with it.”

“Draco, you can be a lovable prick sometimes. But you know that could change if Charlotte has a girl. You could rule, but just so you know, you’d have to build your own damn castle. That one belongs to my family.”

“Hahaha. I will then, fucker.”

“Please stay in touch with me. I want to know how it all goes.”

“I will. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to attempt to attack what was just built.”

“Have fun. Does Charlotte know what you’re doing?”

“I haven’t told her, but knowing her, she could know.”

“Well, she’s talking it up with Nora, so I’m sure she’s fine.”

“Okay, I’ll be back in an hour or so.” I hung up with Falcon and teleported inside the fortress. Immediately, the sirens went off. Good, those were working, too. I hit the code just as a few laborers came out to check on the noise.

“Oh, it’s you, Dr. Romano,” Octavio said, holding a twelve gauge.

“Yes, I’m here doing a surprise inspection. Didn’t you all see me on the monitors?”

“We did, but you arrived so quickly, we believed it was someone else.”

“Have there been any other visits to the island besides the delivery men?”

“No, but we are always anxious, especially after the attack on the castle.”

“Thank you, please show me around.” The fortress was nearly as large as the castle. It had forty rooms. It was large enough that Falcon and I would have our privacy with our mates and small and strong enough to defend should someone learn of the island. The walls were made out of stone and steel. It was strong and able to withstand hurricanes and harsh weather.

He took me to the security room that was covered in screens. “We can see the entire perimeter of the island and the fortress.”

“And the radar?”

“We have six minutes to react. And the missiles we’ve added can launch in three.”

“Okay, sounds good. Excuse me for a moment.”

I left the room and teleported to my boat. With a smile, I punched the large red button on the control station. As the rocket took off, I teleported back to the security room. The men looked shocked, having no idea I had the ability to teleport. The sirens went off and they started to panic, but they got it together within twenty seconds. They locked onto the missile and fired as it came within a mile of our shoreline. It hit the rocket, both exploding on impact. It worked according to plan. Another thing to knock off my list.

I spent the next thirty minutes checking the other settings and testing the strength of the walls. It was well fortified and perfect for our family.

“Men, you can go back to Italy as proud vampires, but you know you must remain quiet about this.”

“We understand, Dr. Romano. We would never risk our lives and those that protect the Council,” Octavio said, the other two nodding.

“Very well, please have a safe journey back. I must handle some matters here before I return.”

I stayed on the island longer than planned because I didn’t trust them. As they left, I noticed something. It was blinking and it wasn’t there before. I could see that it was a homing device. They couldn’t be trusted. It was a shame, but Falcon had to be alerted to the matter. I quickly took the fingerprints from the device with tape, then I smashed the device. The one who placed this here had set us up. Which of the three, I didn’t know, but I would find out fast.

I teleported back to the boat and examined the island from the distance. I needed a way to hide the island. Light refraction could help with that. Since many couldn’t get here, the attack would have to come by boat or plane. If they couldn’t see the island in the sun, then it would be hard to locate it.

Entering the castle nearest the security room, I texted Falcon. Meet me in the room. Now.

He was down there in two minutes. Clearly, he’d been occupied with his wife, but he knew I would not have summoned him without importance.

“What’s going on? Is there an issue with the island?” he asked, his voice strong and determined.

“Yes, we have a traitor amongst our builders,” I replied.

The change in him was instant. Gone was the proud leader and here with me was the vicious warrior. This was what made him so powerful. Falcon had it all - intelligence, strength, compassion, leadership, and determination. He argued that I was the stronger, better fighter, but he had the heart of warrior with the skills of the greatest strategist. “Someone has a death wish. Did you find evidence of who was to blame?”

“I’ve taken the fingerprint of a homing device that was placed on the back of the main control panel as they left. It could only be one of the three who left my sight. What possessed the fool to believe I wouldn’t notice the tiny blinking light in a darkened room?”

“Have the three brought to me.”

“They are on a ship on the way back. They will not be here until tomorrow morning. Do you wish to surprise them out at sea?”

“Yes, but we cannot leave the women alone.”

“There is only one I can trust to protect her. Gideon.”

“I would have not suspected that. He is a great warrior and his past makes him our ally, but do you trust him enough to leave him with our most precious gifts?”

“I do.”

“Then we shall. Let’s have a word with him and then deal with the traitor or traitors.” I teleported to the men’s encampment and requested he come with me. With a nod, Gideon agreed and I teleported us both to the castle.