Release Page 11

  “It means you’re a phony. You will fall to the Lamia,” he said with actual conviction. I sneered, which turned his bright eyes to me.

  “I’m not a phony, but you’ll regret those words very soon,” Falcon informed him.

  “Sooner if you keep looking at me like that,” I told the fuck.

  “Your lapdog doesn’t like to be challenged.”

  “You better remember that we can dispose of everyone in this room in a blink of an eye. I wouldn’t test us,” Falcon stated.

  “You wouldn’t do it with the humans around.”

  “Why not? Anyone who attacks us will perish. No one will be given mercy. Anyone who fights us will not get the cure. You have some choices to make.” Falcon shouted over the din of the crowd. “For all those curious. If you are afraid of Stavros, you are foolish. You fight for him, you fight against us. My daughter is the key to the prophecy and I will not let a single one of you survive if you even try to come for her. Stavros stole one of my scientists, but I have the best working alongside me. My mate will find the cure and you will regret the day when she does because you will never feel the sun on your skin unless you go to burn in it.”

  “Bullshit, you’re nothing but a dictator looking out for your own interests.” I roared out laughing at this fool. He challenged Falcon’s character when he essentially described Stavros.

  “In a sense you’re right. I care about my own interests and those include not being dominated by a man who would love to see everyone serve him. For those of you too foolish or have been lied to, Stavros killed his own parents for power. Those of you living in the darkness are suffering because of Stavros. He is in the darkness because his treachery was only met with someone equally morally bankrupt. The sorcerer that gave the curse to Stavros to taint the waters also slipped some in Stavros’s cup. He is the one you should hate. Then again, I don’t care what you think. If you want to be saved, you will leave here and never come back. If you wish to die, I will be more than happy to oblige.”

  “Is that a threat, your Highness?” he inquired with an arrogance on his young and ignorant face. I felt like slapping him down. He wasn’t even worthy of a punch like a real male.

  Falcon scoffed, “It’s a promise.”

  “Let’s see.” He lunged at Falcon, but the man held nothing to our skills. Falcon spun around him and slammed the guy’s back to Falcon’s chest. With a thrust of his blade, Falcon stabbed the fucker inches from his heart.

  “Are you really going to try me?” Falcon whispered. “I’ve battled for more years than you’ve existed. I want peace and light for all those willing to live the same way. If that’s too much, I’ll do the right thing and send you to oblivion this second. What will it be?”

  “Sorry, my Lord. I’ll follow you.”

  “I’m not asking for you to follow me. I’m not interested in minions. I’m interested in enjoying my existence with my mate as we work for a cure. Nothing else matters to me but her and my daughter. Do as you please, but this is the only chance I will give.” Falcon pulled the knife from his chest. “Anyone else?”

  People fled the club. No one stayed except the guy who challenged Falcon. “Where is Stavros?”

  “No one knows. He’s the one people talk about, but no one has seen him,” he exclaimed, shaking in Falcon’s hold. Balls disappear when their fate was on the line.

  “Who is your contact?” I asked him, leaning my face into his. I wanted answers and we weren’t leaving until we got them. This fuck’s challenge caused the perfect warning to the public.

  “I don’t know him. We just go to the meeting area.” I believed him and so did Falcon.

  “Where is it?” Falcon demanded, staring the man down.

  “They’ll kill me,” he stammered. We all smile at him with devious intent.

  Falcon pulled him tighter to his chest, then whispered through gritted teeth, “We will kill you. I didn’t miss. I’m giving you a choice. It’s the last time I’ll give it.”

  “It’s in the sewers before Trafalgar square.” That explained Charlotte’s information. It was best if we chose to stay away from it tonight. I hoped that Falcon felt the same way, but I was at his leisure.

  “Good. Now, what are you going to do?” I asked him, wondering if he’d tell them we were coming. Not that it mattered because we could be there before he attempted it.

  “I need to get out of here before they kill me,” he choked out, looking around the room for any potential witnesses to his snitching.

  “Do you have a family?” He doesn’t answer, debating our motives. “We’re not going to kill them for your behavior.”

  “Yes, parents are in our home,” he confessed.

  “Tell us where you live.” He relented, and we all teleported there.

  We entered their small home and his parents gasped. They saw all of us flanking him while he was bloodied up. “Matthew,” his mother cried out.

  He walked up to them, then said, “Get your things. We’re moving you out of the area.”

  “What’s going on? Who did this to you?” she asked, running her hands over his face and chest.

  Falcon stepped forward, staring them down. “I did. He tried to attack me, and he’s probably healed already, so calm down. Let’s go and hurry. Once they find out he’s given them up, you’ll all be dead. Come.”

  “We are forced into darkness and the sun is rising,” his father said.

  “That’s fine.” We teleported them back to the island with all of our captives in hand. Teleporting directly into the few cells we had on the island, they were locked up. We stood outside the cell doors that were indestructible and electrified.

  “You’re making us your prisoners,” the father shouted. He had no room for bad attitude. They were lucky to be alive. The Lamia wouldn’t think twice about ending them, even if he hadn’t told us anything.

  “No, we’re keeping you safe for the time being. I told him he had a choice to make. Stavros wouldn’t let you all live. Now I’ll bring things to make it better for you, but until I have a safe place to put you, this is your home.”

  “Are you going to torture us?” the older vampire asked, holding his mate close.

  Falcon shook his head, rubbing his temples. The night hadn’t worked out to our plans, but we gained some knowledge from it. “No. I’m not. I’m not going to do anything to you unless you try to come after my people here. Do you seek redemption? I will give it to you. All I ask is that you don’t challenge me. Are you all hungry?”

  “You’re going to feed us?”

  “I’m not going to let you starve. Are you hungry?”

  “Please. We would love some food. We were about to dine when you came,” the mother said.

  “Yes, ma’am,” Falcon answered, nodding and disappearing.

  “So you just do what he says?” the father asked.

  I smirked. “I’ve been his second in command for over four centuries. We’ve protected each other all this time. We’re practically brothers.”

  “Here you go,” Falcon said, teleporting into the cell, catching them off guard.

  “This smells incredible. Thank you,” the woman said.

  “May I ask your names?” Falcon asked after teleporting out of the cell.

  “I’m Matthias Holden and my mate Anna and our son Matthew.”

  “This isn’t the best situation, but please relax. There are no windows so that the risk of sunlight isn’t possible. Excuse us, but we are to retire for the night.” He turned to me and Gideon. “Keep watch in shifts as usual. Thank you. I have to see Nora and assure her all is well.”

  “Go ahead, Draco. I’ve got the security room first.”

  “Thanks, goodnight.”

  Chapter 28

  Falcon

  It had been two days since we picked up the Holdens. They haven’t given us much trouble, but I refused to let Nora go down to see them. She was too kind and would probably trust them to walk the grounds. After telling her about them, she h
ad been torn about holding them captive. On one hand, it was for their safety and on the other, it wasn’t cool to trap anyone like that.

  Sitting in my office with my little one while Nora worked in the lab on the new slides she took from Charlotte, William, and Mary. My cell phone rang, so I lifted my little one just enough to pull it out of my pocket. At three weeks old, she had gained a few pounds but was still a little delicate flower. I spent any free time with her. Even while she slept.

  I hit the button before it hung up.

  “What’s up, Kane?” I asked, hoping that they weren’t in danger again. The Lamian soldiers kept coming in full force, but we had been there to double down and destroy them fast.

  “Hey, Falcon, I need you to come here. There’s one of the Lamian soldiers here, looking for you. He has information that you want. I can’t read his mind, but he’s a human no longer under the notion of an eternal life.” The confidence in his voice let me know that he hadn’t been forced to talk to me.

  “I’ll be there right now,” I replied. Questioning any of Stavros men could be extremely beneficial. He could be a trap, but then again, it didn’t matter because the wolves could rip his head off in one motion. He risked a lot to get a hold of me.

  “Oh and he said your mate is going to want to know about it. It’s about your scientist.” Fuck, I hoped Vigo was still alive. Seeing Leonora cry killed me inside.

  “Is he secured?” I questioned. I didn’t trust Nora’s safety with anyone even a weak human.

  “Yes, he came unarmed and alone. I have Hunter, Erik, and Gage with us,” he answered. “He’s not going anywhere.”

  “Good, I’m on my way in ten minutes.” I teleported just outside the door to the lab with Esperanza in my arms, so Leonora didn’t freak out, again. After a knock, I said, “I’m coming in.” I walked into the lab to see her smiling up at me.

  “What’s going on? Is she hungry?”

  “No, but I just got a call from Kane. He’s got some information about Vigo, but he needs us to go there to talk to the informant,” I explained.

  “What are we waiting for? Let’s leave the baby with Charlotte and Draco.” She rubbed her hands on her coat before taking it off and hanging it up on the usual rack nearest the door.

  “Okay,” I answered. We teleported outside their room, knocking because we knew better than to walk in on the happy couple.

  “Come in,” Draco called out. We stepped in to see Draco in their bed with Marco on his chest. Charlotte came out of the bathroom with a towel on her head.

  “What’s going on?” Draco asked.

  “We need you to watch, Speranza. The shifters need to speak with Nora and me. It’s a matter of urgency,” I told them.

  “Okay, we’ll take her,” she squealed. Her love for my little girl helped ease the tension between us and the stress with her visions skewed. Esperanza seemed to bring her some peace.

  “I’m going to the castle in a little over an hour. I have to meet with the men and check on training. Do you want me to wait since we have the prisoners below?” Draco asked.

  “No, if we’re not back, go ahead. Just let Gideon and William know to stand guard. But I’m sure we’ll be back before that.” Draco nodded. He feared that the prisoners would escape.

  “Thanks,” I said, grasping Nora around the waist and teleported outside of the hotel.

  Gage came out to meet us, nodding he said, “Hello, Falcon, Leonora. We’re in Hunter’s office.” We shook hands and walked into the hotel.

  “What do you know?” I asked him, looking around the hotel lobby to see if there was any damn spy lurking for Stavros. I’d love to confront them. After learning of Norton’s death, I had to wonder if they would be looking for me.

  He shook his head. “Nothing really, he’s kind of spooked that Stavros will find him, but promised he had something important to tell you.”

  “Well, that’s a good thing,” I said as I entered the room with Nora tight to my side. The guy before me wasn’t at all what I expected. He had to be barely eighteen and not that large of a man. He nodded, trying to stand, but Hunter shoved him down. Damn, I really liked Hunter. His name suited him perfectly.

  “Who are you?” I asked him, remaining calm and in control.

  “I’m Jack Sutton,” he stammered. His apprehensiveness didn’t do him any favors. I needed to read his thoughts.

  My stance strong and tall, I inquired, “Why would you come here?”

  “I promised Mrs. Johannsen that I would sneak away and give you the information you need to find the cure.” Shit, I hope they don’t kill me. I have to be strong. I’m not weak.

  His thoughts seemed to be legit and full of fear. That explained his reason for the apprehensiveness. “What? Start from the beginning.”

  “I was assigned to watch her for the past month. She’s locked up with her sons at Stavros’s request. She got to talking to me and told me that we would never get to be vampires. I didn’t care because well, I wasn’t there because I wanted eternity, but I was forced to serve. My brother died last week at the hands of one of their vampires, so I don’t have anything left worth losing. I was going to hide as soon as I could get away. During one of our first talks after his death, she said that if I got away, that I contact you. Her husband said that she must be strong and pass the information on.”

  “What information?” I pressed, my hands clenched in anticipation.

  “That you are the key to the cure. It’s in your blood,” he said, looking at Nora. We all gasped while focusing our gaze on Nora. She shook her head. “From their conversations, all I know is that Vigo is stalling,” he paused, I could see the hesitation in his eyes.

  “What else are you holding back?” I snarled, towering over him.

  “They plan to kill them all even if they get the cure. It’s why I had to make sure you knew first.”

  “Where are they?”

  “You have to be careful because they’ll kill one if you get to the other first. Trust me when I say Mrs. Johannsen is heavily guarded.”

  “Where are they?” I asked again.

  “In the Rannoch Moors in Scotland,” he stammered out, looking up at me completely fearful of me. I understood that he didn’t feel safe around any of us, but as long as he had been on the up and up we wouldn’t hurt him. I’d never attacked the innocent. Those who came after me got what they deserved. If he did the right thing, I’d reward him in the end. Until then, he’d have to stay with Kane and Hunter.

  “Do you know the exact coordinates?” Fuck if I was supposed to guess the actual location. I got that he worried about his safety.

  He gave them to us before adding, “There are located on the same bunker on opposite ends of the complex.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Sutton. If you want to live, I suggest you keep your mouth shut and don’t speak to anyone about this.”

  “Yes, sir. I promise. I just want to go back to my normal life in England.”

  “You will once this is over. I’m sorry, but for the time being, you’ll need to be here until I can at least get Vigo and his wife.”

  “Thank you, sir. I don’t know much about Stavros, but he’s a coward from what I can see.”

  “Yes, he is, or he would have faced me centuries ago. I will deal with him.” I pulled Nora to my side. “We’ll call you before we make any moves. I’m sure my mate can’t wait to get back to the lab and test Vigo’s theory.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Sutton,” Nora said, pulling away from me and giving the young man a hug. He was completely taken aback by it but accepts her embrace. I tug her back to my side. “She’s mine,” I warned him. His eyes widen as if I’m going to kill him.

  She chuckled as we teleported back to the island. We go straight to Draco and Charlotte’s room where they are playing with the babies.

  “Wow, that was really fast. What happened?” Charlotte asked. Her demeanor seems to have changed. I wonder how much she knows.

  “According to the informant. Leonora
is the key. Her blood will cure them all. Or that’s what Vigo believes.”

  “So why aren’t you in the lab?” Draco asked Nora.

  “We wanted to tell you before I go. Besides I have to feed her first.”

  “Oh yeah. She’s starting to fuss.” I take her from Charlotte, needing to hold my baby. “We’ll be in the lab in about twenty minutes to test the theory. See you there.”

  We teleported back to our room. Nora sat down in the rocking chair to feed my sweet, little girl. “What are you thinking?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe that he means I’ll find the cure. After all my names mean light and I’m a scientist.”

  “Yes, you’re a scientist because fate made it so. Who else better to understand the workings of DNA. The worst that happens is that he’s wrong and we keep looking.”

  “I suppose you’re right. I just feel like it’s been months with no results and yet I never thought to test my blood.”

  “Why would you? It’s not like you were born a vampire and it’s our curse.”

  “I suppose that’s true too.”

  “Remember this, Nora, my queen. I’ve been at this for centuries, studying and failing to find the answer. You are doing just fine, all things considered, you and Vigo got farther than all of us before. I have faith that you’ll find a cure.”

  “Thank you,” she said, feeding and slowly rocking Speranza. I paced and thought about how we could get them out without anyone on our side being killed.

  “Are you planning in that brilliant head of yours?”

  “Yes, we have too many variables to weigh in. I don’t know how many soldiers are there and what security measures he has set up.”

  “Well, maybe that’s something you could ask Mr. Sutton. I’m sure he’ll answer all of your questions. He seems eager to survive.”

  “I can’t blame him. They only get one short life. I actually feel bad that some of these kids could be snuffed out by my men if they get in the way.”

  “Well, all we can do is carry on. For every life ended another is saved. The Lamia and Stavros aren’t going to give up. This is going to be a battle to the end isn’t it?”