Draco

We stood long and wide. Those fools had no idea that we had set up a large surveillance system just yesterday. Only a few of us were aware and helped with the set up. I had it set up on my phone. If anyone crossed the perimeter, we would know. They were foolish if they thought they would outsmart us again. The light blinked in two areas, and I lifted my hand. Within seconds, our soldiers were at the posts led by Placido and Pietro. Ready for battle, I turned to Falcon and a smile spread over my face and I felt the desire to tear their heads off with my hands. I would move mountains to protect Charlotte and my baby. Falcon’s face hardened with a look that could instill fear into his enemies. He’d already faced losing Leonora. Rage and pain motivated his passion for blood. Nothing could chase his demons away until he had sliced Stavros’ head clean off. The wind caught just as the next beacon went off in our area. Game on, Lamia.

The horde appeared out of the tree line and were unpleasantly surprised. They rushed toward us, but we had experience on our side. We waited until they were feet away before we moved. I lowered my arm and my men drove into their small army. Fifty of them to our two hundred would be too easy. Falcon and I teleported and reappeared behind them, taking off four heads in the back of their line and piercing their hearts with the next thrust. Then we attacked the next row as they turned to see what happened. Our moves were swift as we switched from the back to the front, moving through the soldiers. Several of our soldiers were doing well on their own, so Falcon and I split up to check on the other side. Most of the enemy had been dispatched by the time we arrived, so I returned to our side of the battle.

Just as I reappeared, I saw three vampires surround Dante. Like a beast, he worked his blade perfectly, slicing at them, taking one head off. Gideon rushed in and thrust his blade into the headless one, turning him to dust. Together they attacked the other two. Their agility and movements were seamless. As one pierced the heart, the other swiftly took off the head. A vampire was approaching Gideon from the behind, so Falcon appeared behind him and slid his blade, scoring his back down the spine. The Lamian soldier arched his back as he howled from the pain, causing Gideon to spin around and strike his heart. Falcon finished the poor soul off with a slice to the head. They had been no match for us, even with the rookies still learning.

The battle was short and victorious. Ash muddied the ground as rain came pouring down. It was like the sky opened up with tears. We all gathered in the courtyard to discuss the battle. “Have we lost any of our own?” Falcon asked Pietro and Placido as they led the teams from the other side.

“No one, my Lord,” Pietro uttered. “All of our men have been accounted for.”

“Huzzah,” Falcon roared, cheering loudly. The men shouted, “Huzzah,” raising their blades in the air.

Once they calmed down Falcon addressed them again. “You have all made us proud. Even if you did not get to engage in battle, you observed. They believed to catch us unawares, but they failed pitifully. They will find additional ways to attack, so please do not be complacent. I’m truly honored to have you all serve with us.”

I added, “Are there injuries of concern?” Everyone looked like their cuts were fading already. “If so, please come forward.” No one approached.

“My Lord, we were not aware that you had such abilities to disappear and reappear,” Pietro said, giving us a quizzical brow.

“Yes, we have used it to our advantage, but since I knew not a soul would survive on their end, we revealed it. May I ask, if any of you possess this gift?”

Heads shook vigorously. “No,” several soldiers called out.

“Well, there’s always time to grow your abilities. One of The Lamia’s people could teleport as well. And he attacked my mate. I finished him for it, but I am not sure who else possesses the gift or if he told them that Draco and myself could.”

“My Lord, how were you aware of their approach?” Gideon asked. His bravery in battle showed me more of his character than when he practiced. Perhaps a real battle tested his strength and will at the same time.

“I installed a surveillance system around the castle. We do not know exactly who to trust, but you all have proved valiant in battle. We must keep our people safe and the humans unaware at all costs,” I added. The soldiers raised voices in acceptance. It was imperative that we keep them in the dark because they were too weak-minded and arrogant to believe there was a species greater or even more intelligent. Yes, we were part human, but overall, we were the superior people.

Leonora approached us, then addressed the men as the leader’s wife should. “An additional meal has been prepared. Please go to the barracks and enjoy some refreshments. You all were magnificent.” She gave them a slight bow and it struck me that she had the makings of a queen to be. With a bit of refinement, she easily could have passed as Falcon’s mother.

The army erupted in cheers and filed out. “Training will continue in the morning. Get rest.”

“Huzzah,” many shouted as they exited.

“My Lord, I am going to rest now. Please do not take so long out here. I am tired and require my mate.” Falcon’s face flushed before he growled and pulled her into his arms.

“Charlotte?” I asked as soon as Falcon loosened his hold on his mate.

“She’s waiting for your meeting to be over. She’s tired as well. We don’t have your stamina,” she said with an arched smile before walking back into the castle.

Placido and Pietro approached along with Gideon. “Wow, you sly sons of a bitches. How long have you been able to do that?” Pietro said with a smile.

“All our lives.”

“Wow, that’s crazy. So none of us will be able to get a gift like that?” Gideon asked.

“How old are you, Gideon?” I questioned. We knew that he was young, but we were not quite sure how young.

“I’m nearly seventy.”

“You are still very young. Hell, you may be the youngest yet. I have heard of no births in seventy years. There is no way to know what your gifts are or could be. I know that you are a strong warrior. A very powerful and skilled one.”

“Thank you. I’ve trained in classes with humans over the years.”

“How have you been able to keep your center and control your speed?” Falcon asked. It was one thing to control it when your emotions were normal, but combat often raised our adrenaline to new levels.

“I don’t know. I suppose it could be considered a gift in patience, but it’s nothing special.”

“We haven’t talked about your past, please tell us some more about you,” Falcon demanded.

“You won’t like it,” he warned us. His tone was ominous and I didn’t care for that one iota.

“Well, tell us,” Falcon demanded.

“I was born to Lamian supporters. My father had been one of their soldiers and was killed.”

“Are you a traitor?” Placido asked, angry and distrustful.

“To them,” Gideon replied.

“Prove it,” Pietro demanded.

“My mother was destroyed when my father was killed. She blamed The Lamia for their stupid need for power. She went into a depression so deep we could not bring her back. She went after some of their generals and was killed. They tried to explain to me that it was necessary. I played along for a while until I could get away. Then I attended school in England. I graduated from Oxford and opened a chain of stores, hoping to just live a normal, war free existence, but rumors started to spread about hunters roaming Bath.”

“Hunters?” Falcon asked. I wondered what he was referring to as well.

“Yes, they search for us, those who have defected or just other vampires to force into The Lamia,” Gideon answered, looking between all of us, hoping that he wasn’t crossing into dangerous territory by admitting his past.

“How do they force them?”

“Mostly by attacking their families, threatening them with the curse,” he answered with a shrug.

“Really? They don’t have the toxin anymore. They couldn’t or they would have seized control much sooner,” I complained, livid that people actually fell for it.

Falcon shook his head in disbelief, but then added, “Yes, but they thrive on fear. Fear is one hell of a motivator. Pietro, you did get word that they were in London recruiting and about to attack. So where else are they going?”

“Who knows? At this point it’s hard to notice. One of my employees had been taken into their wings against his wishes. They killed two of my human employees as well. I decided it was best to sell my company and come searching for help. I have funds should we need them for whatever,” he offered. I knew it was because he craved acceptance.

“We do as well,” Placido said. And this fool offered so they didn’t look like cheap bastards.

“At this point, everything is paid for. Remember, they cannot bomb us in fear of being found out by the humans. They’re a nosy bunch of people.”

“Yes, you remember that Miller was awfully chummy to us. Then he went after Leonora.”

“Don’t remind me. He is in prison, but if I should get my hands on him, it will be slow and painful.”

“They are after your mate a lot?” Gideon asked, clearly confused and angry. Perhaps a bit too angry for someone unacquainted with Leonora. I wondered if Falcon noticed the tension in Gideon.

I stepped in to judge Gideon’s interest. I wondered if he had more to do with The Lamia than he confessed. “It was not the same threat. The human wanted her as his wife,” I explained.

“Oh,” he mouthed. “Are there other dangers for her? I don’t have a mate and it scares me that should I find the one, I will kill all who even look at her.”

“Perhaps that’s why you have not found her. You must grow more. It took us four hundred years.”

“As patient as I am, that’s too long.”

“Yes, it truly was,” I grumbled.

“Very well. If you can think of anything that can help us against The Lamia, please inform us, Gideon. You’ve been extremely valuable to all of us. Your skills are natural and that in itself is a gift. Ask Draco; it’s how he has become the best warrior I have ever known.”

“Thank you, my Lord,” he bowed to Falcon.

“It’s Falcon,” he said, sticking his hand out and shaking it. “Thank you for helping Dante today. His mother would be destroyed if he perished.”

“Falcon, it was done selfishly. I did not wish to see her cry. I’d seen enough of that from my mother.”

“Good, now go rest with the others. Placido, Pietro, goodnight as well. My mate has already summoned me and I don’t want to get on her bad side,” Falcon joked.

“No, we can’t have her mad at us. She may starve us or make us hunt ourselves.”

“Heavens, I don’t know if I even remember how.” Yes, I remembered how refined they had gotten. Falcon and I had still hunted on occasion, but meals were better if you didn’t have to prepare them yourself.

We moved to the castle and headed up to our chambers. “It has been a very long day, Falcon. Are you certain you can trust, Gideon?”

“Mostly. There is something about his reaction to Leonora that confounds me. His interest was strong. Not like a mate, but as though she was a motherly figure to him. Perhaps his pain is greater than his demeanor belies. Please discuss him with Charlotte by tomorrow. She said before that the threat wasn’t in our camp, but I wonder if that will or has changed with the battle,” he said.

“It is truly frustrating, her gifts,” I said.

“Yes, it was always that way with my mother. When I’d ask for a definite answer, I was left often more puzzled than when I stepped into her study.”

“Okay, perhaps when the war is all over we won’t need to rely on her visions so heavily.”

“Let us pray it will happen. Goodnight, Draco.”

“Goodnight, my old friend.”

“I’m about to feel like a young man,” he laughed.

I gave him a wink because so would I. “Time to collect the spoils of war,” I replied, then teleported into my room.

“Charlotte,” I hissed. She lay on the center of our large bed clad in just a sheer robe, her breasts visible and taut. I growled. I needed to shower.

“I have to shower.”

“I know, I shall help you bathe,” she whispered, seductively getting off the bed and sauntering toward me. I smiled, pulling her to my chest, caring not for the blood and muck on me. I devoured her kiss and carried her to the shower.