Chapter 19

 

 

Feeling a wet nose on my cheek, I open my eyes. Staring at me is not Tanner but a little hellhound. I don’t see Nick anywhere. The little hell hound jumps on top of me and grabs my hair pulling. He starts to growl, and he sounds so much like Tanner.

“Now, now let go of my hair,” I say to him, but this just makes him growl even louder. Hearing a deep growl, I look up to see Stayne come padding into the room, the little pup stops pulling my hair and runs for Stayne.

“Who is this little one, Stayne?” I ask, raising up on my elbows.

“He is my son, my Queen. I’m sorry that he came in here and bothered you. He lost his mother two days ago, and I didn’t know where else to bring him,” he says.

“Of course, he can stay here, Stayne, what’s his name?” I ask.

“Trick, my Queen,” he says.

“Come here, Trick,” I murmur. He runs over to me tripping a few times and lands on my lap. Picking him up in my arms, I cuddle with him. He lies on his back and lets me rub his belly. Tanner runs over and joins the fun.

Stayne looks tense.

“They are fine, Stayne, why don’t you go do what you need to do, I’ll watch the pups,” I say, smiling at him.

“It would be an honor to let you watch my young pup. Thank you, my Queen.” He says. Watching him I know he’s talking to his son; he then looks over at Tanner. Stayne walks out of the room, while I watch the little pups play. They both come over once in a while to be loved on, they are cuddle bugs. Looking over at the fire, I see that Nick put more wood on the fire. Seeing a large shirt next to where I’m lying I grab it and put it on. There are undies there too. Getting them on, I get on my hands and knees and start to play with the puppies. It’s so relaxing being with them.

The puppies stop playing and start growling at the door. I watch as the handle turns, and the door opens up. Nick comes walking in with a food tray, Tanner runs over and jumps on his legs in greetings. Laughing, I look over at Trick, his hair is still sticking up. Crawling over to him, I scoop him up into my arms.

“It’s OK, little one, Nick’s a good guy,” I tell him. He stops growling but still watches him. I feel him scoot closer to me. Rubbing his ears, I watch, and Nick comes over and sits down next to me.

“Cute little hell hound you have there, Spring,” he says, laughing.

“I know, this is Stayne’s little one,” I say.

“Yeah, I was there when he came through the porthole with him, the little shit bit Andy,” he says smiling.

“Oh, no, is he going to be OK?” I ask.

“Yep, it just really hurts like hell,” Nick says. The pups start playing again over by the bed, moving closer Nick wraps his arms around me holding me close.

“I got some food for you,” he says. Looking down, I see there’s fresh fruit and eggs and bacon. Grabbing some fruit, I pop them in my mouth watching the pups play. Nick comes around behind me and leans me back so that I’m leaning back against him. He runs his arms up my sides.

“May I stay with you tonight?” he murmurs in my ear. Smiling, I act as though I’m thinking about it. He starts to fidget.

“I would want no other,” I tell him. Running my hand over his head, I grab a fist full of hair and tug him to me. Looking him in the eyes, I bring our lips together, for one stunning kiss. Suddenly, I get knocked in the chest, grunting I break off the kiss and see Trick on top of me. He starts kissing me like crazy, anywhere Nick kissed me he’s covering it up.

“That blasted pup is trying to cover my scent up with his,” Nick says. Laughing, I cuddle with Trick.

“Silly puppy, now go play,” I murmur to him. He takes one last look at Nick and trots off to join Tanner under the bed.

“He is such a cute little guy.”

“If you like hellhounds,” Nick grumbles. Watching him, he gets up and heads for the door.

“Time to get ready, Spring, we have training to do. I’ll meet you downstairs outside,” he says as he makes his way out the door. Groaning I stand up stretching, and walk over to the bathroom where I get ready.

Heading to the door when I’m finished, I yell for the pups, they come bouncing over to me, and we head into the hallway. I laugh as they go tumbling down the hall tripping over each other. Hearing a loud crash, I run for the stairs running down them I see that the pups are piled up on Faith, she must have dropped a bunch of plates or something. Looking around, I know a few people watching her along with Stayne.

“You stupid little dogs,” she sneers, grabbing them by their little necks. The puppies start to whine in pain.

“Let them go now, Faith,” I yell. I feel my hand start to heat up. Looking around, no one moves.

“These stupid little things made me drop all this stuff. I’m going …” Stopping her, I get to her in one leap. Grabbing her by the arm, I twist her arm back making her let go of the pups.

“When I tell you to do something, do it!” Letting my energy go, it flows into her arm, and she screams out in pain.

“Don’t ever let me see you touch one of these pups again. Do you hear me?” I yell at her.

She falls to her knees, but I don’t let go of her arm, still pumping her with my energy.

“You bitch, let go of me,” she snarls. Letting go with my hand, I grab her by her throat and slam her against the wall. Drawing my arm back, I let it fly, punching her right in the mouth. Blood starts to trickle down her chin.

“I want you out of my house in ten minutes, Faith. If I ever see you again, I’ll kill you.” Letting her go, I bend down to check the puppies.

“Stayne, please make sure she gets her stuff and leaves,” I say to him. He bows his head and takes off after her.

“Do what you must, if she doesn’t listen.” He gives me a low growl and runs down the stairs. Looking over at the others, they start to go back to what they were doing. Squeezing the pups, I head into the kitchen and put them down. Filling their bowls with puppy food I go to the fridge and grab some juice. Maggie walks in and sits down next to me. I pour her a glass and slide it in front of her.

“Thank you, my Queen; you did right by her. She would have been trouble with you anyways,” she says. Taking a drink, I smile at her. Watching the pups, they eat everything in their bowls then dart outside.

“I don’t like pulling rank like that, but I will never let anyone hurt these animals,” I say, looking over at her.

“Spring, you are the Queen, nothing else needs to be said. Not once have I thought you would abuse your power,” she says.

“Thank you, Maggie, I’m sorry I took your help away, you may pick someone else to help you,” I say, standing up I put the juice away and put my glass into the sink, “until then I will help you out.” Squeezing her shoulder, I put my coat on and head outside to the side of the house. Turning the corner, I stop to watch all the men work out and fight each other. They are beautiful, some have their wings out, while others don’t. Andy comes walking over to me smiling.

“Ready to start training, Spring?” he asks.

“Yep, sure am; you are training me?” I ask him.

“For a while yes, come on,” he says. We walk over to where there is a clear spot, and he starts going over the moves that I need to learn. Rolling my eyes, I smile at him.

“Why don’t you try and take me? I learn better that way,” I say, looking over at him. He doesn’t give me a chance to warm up, he’s on me in a flash, I hold my own for about twenty minutes, but then he flips me over, and I hit the ground hard. Lying there, I’m breathing hard and sweating despite the cold weather.

“Not bad, Spring, you lasted a lot longer than I thought you would,” Andy says. Looking around, I notice that everyone is watching us. Seeing Nick, he’s got a grin on his face. Standing back up, I get into my stance and wait for Andy to come at me. He does, and I don’t play anymore, letting the energy fly from my hand I hit him in the stomach, he flies back twenty feet and hits the ground hard. Walking over to him, I grab him by his throat and lift him off the ground. Smiling, I look into his eyes. He grabs my arms trying to break free, but it doesn’t work.

“Are we done?”

His eyes are huge. Nodding his head, I let him drop to the ground. Hearing someone yell I look over at them and they are pointing up into the sky. Looking up, I see tons of angels flying our way, so many that the sky is darkening with them. Jogging over, I stand next to Nick.

“Nick, we’re in big trouble; we are way outnumbered,” I murmur. He wraps his arm around me and starts barking out orders, Stayne comes and stand on my other side. We all watch as they begin to land, at least fifty of them while the others stay up in the sky.

“Spring, go inside,” Nick whispers in my ear.

“There is no use, and you know it,” I say. Watching as one of the angels breaks off from the rest of the others, he makes his way over to stand in front of us about ten feet away. Sammy, Andy, and Mick come and surround me.

“Hello, Nick, long time no see, what has it been, two hundred years?”

Luc, not long enough,” Nick says. Watching, I see Luc look me up and down a big grin spreads across his face.

“My Queen, so nice to finally meet you,” Luc says, bowing low.

“What do you want Luc?” I ask. I feel the men move closer to me; Nick puts his hand on my back.

“Well, I come for you, my Queen. Look around you can see plainly who will win if this comes to a fight. You come with me and we just leave,” he says, smiling. Hearing shouting behind me, I know what they want to do.

“Give me a minute to consort with my men,” I say. Slowly, I back up, the four men follow me along with Stayne.

“Ideas?” I ask. Looking around, I notice none of them say anything.

“Nick?”

“We will fight, but we are very outnumbered. I never thought Luc would do something like this. We are in real trouble here, Spring,” he says. Watching him, I know he’s itching for a fight.

“What about Michelle?” I ask. If anyone can help, it would be him.

“It’s too late, we couldn’t reach him in time, I do have someone going there now, but they have to find him, he’s on a mission around the world at the moment, or he would have already come for you, Spring,” Nick says.

“Stayne, please speak so that everyone here can hear you as well, what are your suggestions?” I ask him.

He bows his head. “My Queen, we will not win this fight, many will die defending you. I sent Trick and Tanner to get the King, but it’s not going to be in time. If you decide to go with Luc I can come with you, while the others cannot,” he says. Nick’s shaking with anger.

“Spring, you cannot, we will fight,” he says. Looking around at the men I know they would fight to the death for me. Walking back to where Luc is, I look around my new home.

“I will go with you, Luc, but I have one request.”

“Which is? My Queen?” Luc asks.

“That I get to bring Stayne with me,” I say, looking over at him.

“Agreed, I’m not heartless, say your goodbyes, my Queen,” he says.

Turning around, I look up at Nick. “I know you don’t agree to this, but there is no other way, and you know it. Live to fight another day; Nick gets Michelle, he will know what to do.” Squeezing his hand, I look down at Stayne who nods at me. Taking a deep breath, I turn and walk toward Luc; he has an evil looking grin on his face.

“My Queen,” he says, reaching his hand out to me. I place my hand in his as he grabs my other hand and ties them together behind me. Biting my lip, I keep the tears at bay, not wanting to make things worse. Hearing Nick, I look up.

“Is that necessary, Luc?” Nick growls.

“I have seen what she can do with her hands; it is,” he says. Looking up, I know the men can see the terror in my eyes. Luc pulls me close and whispers in my ear. “We will have a lot of fun in Hell, Spring. We will be wed and have children you were promised to me,” he says, watching Nick.

“No, Nick,” I say. Watching Luc smile, he knows he’s getting to Nick. “Grow up, Luc,” I growl. Looking over at Nick one last time I see the start of a small grin.

“We will be seeing you soon, Luc” Nick says. Grinning, Luc looks at him for a minute and shakes his head. He runs his hand down my cheek, and I try to move away.

“Sleep, my Queen,” Luc mummers. My eyes start to close on their own. I try fighting it, but I can’t. Looking around wildly one last time, I finally find Nick. He’s being held back by Andy and Mick.