Unlike the journey to Éire Danu, returning to the Alpha estate was much easier. There was no jarring or cold sensation. It was as easy as stepping from one room to another. One second they were in the royal dining room, the next they were stepping out onto the training field from where they had left. They men were doing evening drills before dinner.
Darian turned to Oron and Amelia. ‘Let’s keep recent developments to ourselves for a while,’ he said, looking down at his ring. Amelia and Oron nodded.
‘Aiden! Darian’s back!’ Keelan yelled before running over.
Amelia watched as Darian pulled the young witch into a brotherly hug. ‘Thank you. Thank you for everything you did to save me, even when I didn’t want to save myself.’ He released Keelan and ruffled his hair.
Blushing furiously, Keelan ducked away from Darian’s hand. ‘Don’t be ridiculous. Of course, I’d try and save you. You’re the only one who takes my side.’
Darian grinned. ‘I’m back.’
Keelan smiled wide. ‘Good!’
Aiden, Colton, and Gavriel clapped Darian on the back. Aiden exhaled, looking relieved. ‘I’m glad you’re okay.’
He turned to Amelia. ‘So how was your first trip to the fae city?’
‘I got to meet the Queen.’
‘Don’t tell Meryn; she’ll mope for days.’ Aiden rolled his eyes.
‘Where is she?’ Amelia looked toward the house.
‘She and Beth are upstairs in the nursery trying to decide where to put a Tardis, whatever that is.’ Aiden shrugged.
Amelia laughed. She couldn’t wait to see the nursery. Immediately following that thought was the realization that this was truly home now. Grinning, she turned to Darian. ‘Guess I can officially move in now, huh?’ she teased.
‘You better.’ He pulled her close and kissed her passionately.
The men around them began to cheer and whistle.
Everyone quieted and looked around when a phone began ringing. When all eyes turned to Keelan, his eyes widened. ‘Crap! That’s your phone, Aiden!’ He pulled it out and handed it to Aiden.
‘Aiden here. … Say again? … On our way.’ Aiden hung up and cupped his mouth with both hands. ‘All units report!’
Amelia stood close to Darian as the men began to crowd around. Aiden held out his phone after placing it on speaker. He looked up. ‘Ferals are attacking the city,’ he said shortly.
‘Hello?’ Sascha yelled.
‘What’s your status?’ Aiden shouted into the phone.
‘It’s a clusterfuck out here, sir! We’re getting hit from every direction. Requesting backup, ASAP!’ Gunshots and screams nearly drowned out Sascha’s voice.
‘We’re on our way!’ Aiden hung up the phone, and he had just turned to face them when a huge explosion rocked the group. Amelia would have fallen if Darian hadn’t had his arm wrapped around her.
Coughing and waving the dust away from their faces, the men ran to the back of the house. A huge fire was climbing up the side of a small building.
‘Meryn!’ Aiden roared.
‘Wasn’t me!’ Meryn replied. Everyone turned and looked up; Meryn and Beth were staring wide-eyed out an open window.
‘Gods, they were trying to take out the armory.’ Colton said.
‘Those four foot thick walls looking worth the effort now?’ Aiden asked. The men scrambled for water hoses and fire extinguishers.
Aiden roared loudly getting everyone’s attention. ‘Epsilon, Delta, head to the city to back up Gamma. Their backs are against the wall, and there are a ton of civilians in the crossfire. Gavriel, check in with Zeta; they were on perimeter patrol. Colton, get my father on the phone. We need every man he can muster in the city, and I’d like him to come here to guard the estate. Everyone else, let’s get this fire out!’
Amelia turned to Darian. ‘I bet Ryuu has a fire extinguisher in the kitchen.’
He nodded and worked with Oron, unraveling the hose. She leaned up and kissed him quickly. ‘Be right back.’
She ran up the back steps and through the door, looked around the kitchen, and decided to check under the sink first. As she knelt down, the hairs on the back of her neck stood straight up. As she turned, stars exploded behind her eyes, then nothing.
*****
‘Sir, Kade has checked; the fire’s out.’ Lorcan, the unit leader for Beta, reported.
Darian stood back and wiped his forehead. It had taken nearly half an hour to put the blaze completely out. Aiden wasn’t satisfied until the fire witch confirmed it was out.
‘Good work,’ Aiden said, his face just as smudged as everyone else’s.
‘Looks like you’re having fun without me,’ a deep voice said. Darian turned around and smiled. Byron and his old unit members were walking around the side of the house.
‘Father, thank all the Gods! What do you know?’ Aiden wiped his hands on his pants before pulling his father into a hug.
Byron clapped his son on the back and let go. ‘Gamma, Epsilon and Delta are doing the best they can in the city. The ferals are coming in waves, which means they aren’t being overwhelmed yet, but they have been fighting non-stop.’ Byron nodded to his old friends John Younger and Abraham Carter. ‘They came from the city. Most streets have been blocked off, but there are still a lot of people trapped in buildings.’
Gavriel walked up. ‘I checked in with Zeta. They haven’t seen a thing.’
Aiden cursed under his breath. ‘Gods damn those necklaces! Have them abandon the perimeter and head into the city. Patrols are useless at this point.’
Gavriel nodded and reached for his phone and walked away to redeploy the Zeta Unit.
Byron turned to Aiden. ‘I have activated all retired or inactive unit warriors in the city. Most had already suited up and jumped into the fray with Gamma.’
Aiden looked relieved. ‘We’ll take all the help we can get.’ When Gavriel rejoined them Aiden looked at the men. ‘Let’s check in with the ladies and head to the city.’
Darian didn’t have to hear that twice. They all jogged to the front of the house and headed inside.
‘Meryn!’ Aiden called out.
Meryn, Beth, and Ryuu came down the stairs. ‘Is it true there are ferals in the city?’ Meryn asked.
Aiden frowned. ‘How did you know that?’
Meryn held up a military-issue walkie-talkie.
Aiden sighed. ‘Yes, we’re about to head there now.’
Darian looked around. When he saw Jaxon and Noah come out of their office and Amelia wasn’t with them, he started to get nervous.
‘Where’s Amelia?’ he asked.
Everyone froze.
‘Amelia! Amelia!’ Darian yelled, his gut twisting painfully.
He ran for the kitchen, that was where she said she was going. His entire world crashed around him when he saw the cabinet doors under the sink open and the rug bunched and twisted. He looked toward the door, and his heart stopped when he saw drops of blood on the floor.
He threw his head back and roared. His mind narrowed to a single purpose: he had to find his mate. Strong arms wrapped around his chest and wrestled him to the floor. He fought and snarled, trying to break free.
‘Darian, brother, you have to keep it together! You’re not going to help her by losing it like this!’ a voice yelled in his ear.
Slowly he regained his senses. He looked around, and his fellow unit members were standing around him looking worried. Meryn peered down at him, scowling. ‘Get your giant ass up and go find my big sister-cousin!’
He patted Oron’s locked hands at his chest, and his brother released him. He stood and pulled Meryn into a hug. ‘I’m going to bring her home.’
Darian watched as Oron disappeared down the hall. Where was his brother going?
She stepped back. ‘Of course you are, now get to it.’ She made a shooing motion with her hand.
Aiden turned to his father. ‘Can you take over as Unit Commander?’
Byron nodded. ‘You didn’t have to ask, but you know son, that the rest of the council won’t like you leaving Lycaonia when the city is under attack.’
Aiden growled. ‘I am in charge of the units, not them. Alpha Unit move out. Beta, you’re to report to my father. You’re on guard duty here until we return.’
The men drew their sidearms at the sound of heavy boot treads in the hallway. Oron was the first to appear in the kitchen doorway. He grinned at Aiden. ‘I brought some backup.’
Everyone walked out to the foyer where sixteen fae warriors stood in burnished gold plate armor. ‘Her Majesty, Queen Aleksandra of The Fae has offered the assistance of her personal guard.’ Oron winked at Darian who’d never been more relieved in his life. Sixteen fae warriors could do a lot of damage. Closing his eyes, he focused on his bond with his mate. He let out a breath slowly and concentrated on her light. He opened his eyes and looked around. The room seemed brighter to the east.
‘Yum,’ Meryn said ogling the warriors.
‘Meryn, stop looking!’ Aiden barked.
‘No.’
‘No?’ he asked incredulously.
‘No. Because I have to focus on something or I am going to get real upset, real fast about someone breaking into our house again to kidnap my big sister-cousin!’ Meryn roared back at her mate.
‘Aiden…’ Colton began looking anxious.
Aiden turned to John Younger. ‘Can you lead half of these men to the clinic and escort Rheia and my brother to the city?’ John nodded and led half the fae out the door.
‘Aiden, they should come here,’ Colton protested.
‘They should, but they won’t. You know as well as I that they will insist on going where they are needed, at least this way they’ll be protected,’ Aiden countered.
Aiden turned to Oron. ‘Go with them and catch up with Gamma in the city.’
Oron shook his head. ‘No.’
Aiden threw up his hands. ‘Why is everyone telling me no?’
Oron checked the clip in his gun and holstered it. ‘Normally, I would obey any command you gave, but I’m going with my brother to get my sister back.’ Oron’s tone booked no argument.
‘Fine! Darian, do you have a direction yet?’ Aiden asked.
‘East. We head east,’ Darian replied.
‘Okay men, move out!’ Aiden yelled.
Hold on my love, I’m coming!
*****
Amelia blinked as she slowly came to; she had no idea how long she had been unconscious. Every time she had tried to wake up it had felt like she was trying to climb a slippery slope. Each time she thought she could open her eyes, she slipped back down and lost track of time. When she was finally able to open her eyes and keep them open, panic-induced adrenaline burned away any lingering traces of sluggishness.
‘Ah. She’s awake.’ A male voice said to her right.
She looked around and couldn’t see anyone. She tried to move and realized she was strapped against a steel plate. Metal cuffs secured her in place around her neck, waist, wrists, thighs, and ankles. She twisted and pulled, but it was no use. She was trapped.
‘I wouldn’t try to escape if I were you. The metal edges on those cuffs can be sharp.’ The disembodied voice cautioned.
‘Who are you? Where are you?’ she called out.
‘No need to shout, dear. Look to your right. Do you see a small box?’
She nodded.
‘Good. That speaker is projecting my voice. If you look up and over the doorway, you’ll see a camera. That is how I can see you.’
She looked up and saw a white camera mounted to the wall over the door.
‘Why am I here?’ She wanted to keep him talking while she summoned her magic. With any luck, she could call some vines from the earth to break her free.
‘You’re here because you’re valuable. Moreover, if you’re thinking of using your magic to break free, I feel like it’s my duty to tell you it won’t do any good. In fact, it will help me enormously. I would say look above your head, but, well, you can’t.’ There was light male laughter. ‘What you can’t see is that you are strapped into a metal tube. There’s a large crystal above your head that collects and stores magic. In less than an hour, it will be ready to suck you dry. By that time, your mate and his fellow unit members should be here to rescue you.’
‘Is that why you brought me here, to get the Alpha Unit? Because that was the dumbest thing you could have done. They are going to kick your ass!’
‘Tsk, tsk dear, language. It will be very hard for them to kick my ass when I’m not even in the vicinity. The entire complex you’re in has been abandoned for the sole purpose of destroying the Alpha Unit.
‘As for why we brought you here, let’s just say, you were always going to end up here. In fact, we had a team ready to run your car off the road just outside of Lycaonia.’
‘Why? There’s no way you could have known my mate was in the Alpha Unit.’
‘We didn’t bring you here to get the Alpha Unit. They’re just the icing on the cake.’
Amelia swallowed hard. ‘Who did you bring me here for?’
There was more laughter. ‘Your brothers dear, all six of them. There isn’t anything they wouldn’t do for their little sister.’
‘You sonofabitch! You leave them alone!’ she screamed.
‘I’m afraid that just isn’t an option. We’ve made huge strides refining our techniques. Your brothers represent a very valuable resource, one we simply cannot do without. It makes perfect sense to cull the decedents of the two strongest remaining witch families. When your mate gets here, we’ll detonate a spell that will rip the souls from the bodies of any living person in the facility. We’ll swing by, collect them, and be on our merry way. The Alpha Unit will be no more. The remaining units will be without a commander. The shifter Elder will be grieving the loss of a son, and I will have gained the perfect bargaining chip to negotiate with your brothers.’
‘But you said that spell will rip the soul out of everyone in this facility, how can you negotiate with my brothers then?’
‘Because they will be negotiating for your soul. Do you have any idea how hard it is to keep a hostage? Souls are much easier to work with. Now, you’ll soon feel a slight pinch before pain will explode through your entire body, I personally haven’t experienced what you’re about to, but previous witches screamed a great deal so I imagine it’s very painful. Goodbye, my dear.’
‘Wait! Wait!’ She struggled against the metal as she heard the machine over her begin to power up.
Darian stay away!
*****
‘I don’t like it.’ Meryn grumbled. Beth agreed. Something didn’t feel right.
Meryn turned to Lorcan. ‘Go help Aiden. We have Byron and Abraham here, not to mention Ryuu and some kick-ass fae warriors. We’ll be fine; Aiden will need you more than we will.’
Lorcan looked torn. Beth could tell he was itching to follow Aiden. He looked around and met Byron’s eyes. ‘Do you think you’ll really be okay here?’
Byron nodded. ‘Yes, Meryn’s right. We have enough men here. Go help my son.’
Looking relieved, Lorcan barked out the order to leave. He and the rest of the Beta Unit quickly headed for the door.
After they had left, Meryn turned to her and smiled. ‘Phase one complete.’
Gods help them; she was scheming something!
Meryn picked up her walkie-talkie. ‘Gamma Kitten One, Gamma Kitten One, this is Menace come in, over.’
Beth looked over at Byron who started to rub his chin and smile. He knew she was up to something, too.
‘Menace? Why are you using the radios?’ Sascha demanded.
‘Gamma Kitten One, you didn’t say over. Anyway, I was letting you know that me, Papa Bear and friends, Bunny, Wheels, Pretty Boy, and Baby Girl will heading your way, over.’
‘Like fucking hell you will! Listen to me Menace, stay put! It’s dangerous here!’
Beth could just imagine the veins in Sascha’s forehead sticking out.
‘What was that Gamma Kitten One? You’re breaking up. We’re on our way. Menace over and out.’ Meryn clicked the walkie-talkie off before turning to Byron.
‘I assume you approve.’
He nodded. ‘It makes sense to get everyone together so we don’t have split resources.’
Meryn smiled. ‘That’s why you kick ass playing strategy games.’ She turned to Jaxon, Noah, and Penny. ‘Let’s roll.’
Beth shook her head and picked up Meryn’s bag. Ryuu had already gathered their coats and was waiting in the hallway. They ended up taking three SUVs to the city. Beth had never been so scared as when they made their way to the city center. Gamma, Delta, and Epsilon Units, along with volunteer warriors, had created a large barricade in front of Council Manor lit by spotlights. This is where the city had held the Midwinter Ball in December. Families from nearby houses and businesses had come here for protection.
When Sascha saw them approaching, Beth could see him cussing from where she stood.
‘Dammit Menace! Are you trying to get us both killed?’ Sascha yelled.
Meryn crossed her arms. ‘Where are the Delta and Epsilon Units? Why is Gamma defending this barricade alone?’
Sascha shot a look at Byron who simply raised an eyebrow. Sascha turned back to Meryn. ‘They are helping to defend checkpoints throughout the city, there are a lot of scared people out there.’
‘Exactly!’ Meryn said.
‘What?’ Sascha asked looking between Meryn and Byron.
Byron stepped forward. ‘I’ve learned a thing or two from Meryn here about urban combat from a strategy game we play online. Meryn’s methods are extremely simple, but they work every time.’
‘What method?’ Sascha asked.
Meryn picked up her walkie-talkie and turned it back on. ‘Goldilocks, Santa Claus, and Quarterback come in, over.’
Sascha grinned at the other’s call signs. Seconds later, Graham Armstrong, Santiago Diaz, and Markus Aiken answered.
‘Menace, who gave you permission to create these crazy call signs?’ Graham grumbled.
‘Quiet down, Goldilocks. Here are your new orders. Coordinate with the volunteers working with your units and start herding civilians to Council Manor. I have Wheels and Pretty Boy setting up a mini command post inside the manor; they will guide you in using the surveillance system to avoid pockets of ferals.’
‘I fucking love you, Menace,’ Santiago said, making Meryn smile.
‘Divvy up the streets and start moving, gentlemen,’ she ordered.
‘Yes, ma’am,’ they replied.
Sascha shook his head. ‘What did we do without you?’ He looked around. ‘Where’s Beta?’
‘Drag your knuckles and beat your chests. I sent Beta to back up Aiden.’ Meryn looked around. ‘Where’s Rheia?’
Sascha pointed to the Council Manor. ‘She’s in there with some of the injured.’
Meryn turned and went to Penny. ‘Head inside kiddo, your mom is waiting for you.’ She looked up at one of the fae warriors. ‘She is your only responsibility. You’re her new shadow, got it?’ The warrior banged his fist on his chest and held out a hand to Penny and escorted her inside.
Meryn looked at the remaining seven fae warriors. ‘The rest of you decide who will guard Beth and me, and the rest are to report to Sascha. Our main focus is getting as many people here to safety as possible.’
One of the warriors stepped forward. ‘My name is Doran Ri’ Eirlea, brother to Brennus, our Queen’s consort. I will stay and guard you. My queen was very clear in her orders that nothing was to happen to you.’ He also raised a fist and banged his chest making the armor ring like a bell.
‘Well, all righty then. Doran you’re with me. Everyone else, get your orders from Sascha.’ Meryn turned to Byron. ‘Can you watch over the barricade?’
He stared down at her unblinking. ‘What are you going to do?’
She shrugged. ‘Nothing.’
Ryuu cleared his throat. ‘Denka, I think we all know that is a lie.’
Meryn sighed. ‘No explosives, that’s all I can promise.’
Byron pinched his nose the same way Aiden did when he got aggravated. ‘Fine, but if anything happens to you, Adelaide will skin me, and use my fur as a rug. No putting yourself in danger, young lady.’
‘Pffft, would I do that?’ She held up a hand at their dubious expressions. ‘Never mind.’ She turned and darted away with Ryuu and Doran in tow.
‘She will either save us or be the death of us all,’ Byron said, heaving a great sigh. He turned to Beth. ‘And what will you do?’
‘I’ll head inside. I’m used to coordinating large groups of people from when I worked with my uncle in Noctem Falls. Pretty soon, we’ll have a lot of scared people looking for someone to tell them what to do.’ She said looking at the small groups already arriving.
Byron clapped a hand on her shoulder. ‘Gavriel is very lucky to have you.’
She smiled. ‘I feel the same way about him.’
Beth blinked as she watched Meryn bounce past them wearing a green army helmet and carrying a gun slung across her back.
Dears Gods in heaven!
‘Meryn, what in the hell are you doing? Where did you get that helmet?’ Sascha roared.
‘I’m helping, and I got the helmet from one of the duffel bags behind the sandbags, cool, huh?’ she asked, rapping her knuckles in it.
Beth didn’t have the heart to tell her she looked like a child playing soldier. The helmet kept sliding down over her eyes.
‘Help? Help how? Dammit, Menace, that gun is bigger than you!’ Sascha said, trying to pull the gun off her back.
Meryn backed up. ‘I got this!’ She ducked behind Ryuu then ran inside the Council Manor, Ryuu, and Doran following.
Sascha grimaced and held a hand to his midsection. ‘My stomach hurts. How does Aiden do this all the time?’
Beth patted him on the arm. ‘She’ll be fine. She’s been practicing with Penny and Colton. Aiden forbade her to use handguns after she accidentally shot him, but he was okay with her learning how to use a rifle.’
Sascha gave her a sour look. ‘A high power sniper rifle?’
They heard men shouting to their right. Beth and Sascha turned to see a small group of three ferals bearing down on them.
‘Shit! They must have gotten past Delta!’ Sascha brought up his gun, but before he could fire the three ferals went down, one right after another.
Sascha’s walkie-talkie crackled. ‘Gamma Kitten One, did you see that? I got em! Over.’
Beth laughed. Sascha shook his head in defeat. ‘Good work, Menace. I owe you one.’
Slowly, in small and large groups the entire city was evacuated to Council Manor. Beth stayed outside to help give them direction trying to keep neighbors together. Since all the units had now fallen back to the manor, she was about to head inside when she looked up and saw a thick white mist begin to roll in toward them from every side street.
She hurried over to Sascha. ‘What is that?’
Sascha shook his head. ‘I have no idea.’
‘Gamma Kitten One can you let everyone know that I’ve borrowed some of your peeps and we’re creating that mist. Over.’ Meryn’s voice broke the silence.
Sascha picked up the radio and looked up at the roof. ‘What is it, Menace?’
‘I haven’t seen any ferals in a while. That’s when I remembered some of them could be invisible. So I had two of our witchy friends use earth magic and water magic to make a flour-based, glue-like mist. That shit will stick to everything. So if you see a blob of white coming at you with no face. Shoot it. Over.’
‘Shoot faceless, white blobs. Roger that Menace, Gamma Kitten One over and out.’
Beth smirked at him. ‘You know, now that you used that call sign, you’re stuck with it for eternity.’
Sascha shrugged blushing. ‘It’s grown on me.’
Beth looked down the street. ‘Not to ruin your night, but you have faceless white blobs appearing in the street.’
Sascha gave an evil grin and turned to the men around him. ‘Light those motherfuckers up, gentlemen!’
Beth put her fingers in her ears as dozens of different caliber guns started going off all around her. She hurried inside to help keep the people calm. She couldn’t let Rheia and Meryn do all the work.
