Dark Protectors: Provoked Part 35

Suddenly, four demon soldiers leapt out of a side alcove.

Dage instantly engaged one. Two other vampire soldiers grabbed their heads, dropping to the ground.

Kane stepped forward and fired rapid shots into the demons' chests. Midnight black eyes wide in shock, they dropped to the ground. Dage killed the one in his grasp. Shouting sounded from far ahead, and after receiving a quick nod from Kane, the king darted down the tunnels.

The injured vampires reared up.

"Decapitate them," Kane ordered grimly and pointed at the three still breathing demons on the ground. He glanced at Amber over his shoulder. "Your shield is working. Nice job."

A side door opened, and a tall demon slid outside, his hand wrapped around Hilde Freebird's neck.

Amber gasped, her mind spinning.

Her grandmother had a myriad of bruises down her pale cheek, and blood slid from her nose. She gasped for air. "I guess I wasn't as strong as I'd hoped."

Tears filled Amber's eyes.

"No," Kane whispered. "Let me handle him."

There wasn't any way for Kane to handle him. If he shot the demon, the b.a.s.t.a.r.d would probably tear off Hilde's head before they could stop him. Amber took a deep breath, shooting waves of pain toward the demon.

He smiled sharp fangs, his pale face warming with a light blush. "Nice try."

The pain and images of dying puppies slammed into her brain. She cried out.

Then, the world went quiet. Dying puppies? Of course.

Tightening her hold on Kane's hand, she followed her own path, something she should've thought of from the beginning. Blanketing the pain, she sent waves of peace and love toward the demon, all wrapped up in a pink baby blanket.

He stepped back, eyes widening.

Oh yeah, take that happy thought, a.s.shole. Fighting pain with pain had been a mistake. "I'm a pacifist," she muttered, reminding herself. Then she sent more happy thoughts of puppies and daisies to counter the demon's attack.

He visibly blanched, his hand dropping off Hilde's neck.

Strength filled Amber. Her own strength of goodness. Shooting yet another warm wave toward the demon, she gasped when he growled again.

Kane took advantage of the moment and plunged his knife into the demon's neck, twisting until the head rolled free. Then Kane focused on her. "I don't believe it. You softened him into confusion."

"All I did was counter his attack. If he would've stopped, I wouldn't have been able to continue affecting him." She opened her arms for her grandmother to rush inside. "Are you all right?"

Hilde hugged her tight, sniffing. "Yes."

Amber sighed in relief. "Let's get out of here."

Oscar appeared at her side, a wide smile on his face. "I knew you'd be okay. Let's go."

The rocks crumbled around them, shards shooting toward their skin. Kane ducked around Amber to shield her.

She opened her eyes, dread slamming into her gut.

Five demon soldiers surrounded them. All with a myriad of silver metals lining their shoulders, black eyes narrowing.

Kane snarled, shoving her behind him.

Images, so many, so fast, slammed into Amber's brain. Kane's head jerked back. Oscar gave a pained growl.

Sucking in air, Amber grabbed her grandmother's hand. "Remember when Mr. Doodles had puppies and we put pink bows on them all?"

Hilde nodded, blood sliding from her nose.

"Send that thought out to the demons . . . along with peace. Kindness filled with sugar. Trust me."

Hilde gulped and nodded, shutting her eyes.

Amber centered herself, allowing the nameless chants to course through her blood. Then she sent all the peace and pretty images she could spiraling through the air.

The pain in her head receded.

Kane lifted to his full height.

One by one, the demons stilled in place and then returned to fighting without the mind attacks.

Amber kept up her happy thoughts, keeping an eye on her mate. Kane and Oscar battled the demons until all five were dead.

"That is so freakin' weird," Hilde muttered, her eyes wide.

Kane grabbed Amber's hand. "Must be something about brain waves and turning their own attack back on them. You're a blanket shield, sunshine."

"I'm a pacifist, d.a.m.n it."

Nodding, Kane led the way through the tunnels and out to the breaking dawn. "Wait in the helicopter." Waiting until she and Hilde sat safely inside surrounded by Oscar as well as other armed soldiers, he headed back into the earth.

Less than an hour later, the battle was over.

Kane a.s.sisted wounded soldiers into helicopters that headed off to various hospitals in Ireland.

He and Talen limped toward the helicopter, their faces grim. Dage stalked right behind them.

Kane tucked various guns and knives in pockets along his vest and pants. He shook his head as he neared. "Suri wasn't anywhere here-d.a.m.n coward. Nor were there any demon women or children. And there's no sign of Jase."

Hilde visibly jumped. "I heard something about a Jase while I was being kept underground." Her face paled and her hands trembled in her lap.

All movement stopped, and the Kayrs men stared at Hilde.

Amber put an arm around her grandmother. "It's okay. What did you hear?"

Hilde twisted her lip in an apologetic grimace. "I heard somebody named Jase died, and they buried him near the beach."

Kane pivoted, his gaze taking in the entire area. Then he pointed toward a sweeping tree, bare branches reaching to the rapidly graying sky. "There's fresh earth."

As one, the Kayrs men ran toward the recently dug grave, digging rapidly with hands moving too fast to track. Dirt flew with their desperation.

Hilde gave a low sob, while all Amber could do was watch, her heart shattering.

Moira stood off to the side, her concerned gaze on Conn.

Talen yelled when he uncovered a foot.

Moving slower, the vampires carefully extracted dirt and rocks from the rest of the body.

The soldiers remaining in the area watched silently, keeping an eye on the Kayrs family while searching for threats.

Amber stood inside the ma.s.sive helicopter for a better look.

Dage dropped to his knees, his eyes widening. "Jase." The low tenor of his voice wound along with the breeze. Then he brushed off more dirt.

The youngest Kayrs brother was finally revealed, rocks and filth covering his bruised body.

Moira buried her face in Conn's side as he stared down at his brother.

Kane dropped next to Dage, leaning forward with a frown on his face. He reached toward Jase, his hands trembling. Then he gasped, eyes lighting up with-hope. Definitely hope. "Jase's head is still attached-barely." Kane jerked up, his gaze on Talen. "Get bandages. Now."

Before Talen could turn, two soldiers ran forward with a medic kit.

Kane quickly grabbed gauze, wrapping what was left of Jase's neck together. "Give him blood."

Sharp fangs dropped from Dage's mouth that he dug into his wrist. He put the blood to Jase's pale lips.

The liquid poured inside.

Seconds pa.s.sed.

Then minutes, and n.o.body even seemed to breathe.

Finally, Jase's chest heaved.

He shoved at Dage, his hands clawing. "Let me go."

"Never." Tears filled Dage's eyes. "Keep drinking." He lifted his head, his gaze on Kane. A slow smile crossed the king's face. "We've got him."

CHAPTER 32.

Kane took a deep breath, leaving Jase in the hospital bed at headquarters. The youngest Kayrs brother refused to talk to any of them. His recovery was going to take some time. And the fact that he'd still had a tendon attached in his neck had kept Kane awake and pondering several nights. The demons wouldn't have made that mistake. They'd let Jase live.

Why?

For now, Kane didn't have to figure that out. Now, he needed to help his brother recover.

Every time Kane visited, he opened up his senses along with his emotions. The act was getting easier each time, and soon he'd help his brother heal. No doubt the skills he'd gained from mating Amber would come in handy at some point.

They'd been home for two weeks.

He still hadn't mastered his new skills, but Amber seemed to be doing well with hers. The fact that she'd smothered the demon attack with kindness and gentleness still impressed the h.e.l.l out of him. She'd found her own way and won.

During that two weeks, Amber had been trying his patience beyond belief. When she wasn't training with everyone who had a different gift, she was messing with Kane's life. The brat was trying to get out of their hundred-year agreement.

He'd kept her more than busy in bed at night, and each time with her was better than the last. But during the day, the woman had run wild. She'd replaced all his food with organic food, had turned several of his soldiers into vegans, and had gotten his sisters-in-law on her side regarding love and forever.

They pestered him daily.

He shook his head. The idea of losing her made his entire body ache. The woman loved him-shouldn't she be trying to stay with him?

He just needed a little more time to figure things out and find a cure for the virus before the d.a.m.n bug attacked his mate. He was getting closer, he just knew it. So his mate could just relax. They had eternity, for goodness' sake.

He opened his lab on the third floor and stopped short. Rabbits, mice, and his five monkeys bounded around the room, free as could be. Worse yet, string cheese covered every available s.p.a.ce, and empty dented cans were scattered everywhere.

She hadn't.

She truly hadn't given the monkeys cans of string cheese. The very same unhealthy string cheese she'd campaigned against the previous week.

Walter opened his mouth and spit cheese. Then the d.a.m.n monkey grinned.

Son of a b.i.t.c.h.

Talen clomped up behind him. "Is Jase any better today?"

Kane couldn't answer, his mouth open as he stared at his once pristine lab.

Talen glanced around him and barked a short laugh. "You have got to be kidding me."

"I-" Kane shook his head, gaze dropping to his favorite microscope. A rabbit sitting under the scope twitched its cheese-covered nose.

Talen clapped him on the back. "You'd better get your mate under control and now."

"I'm telling Cara you said that," Kane murmured absently. A beaker crashed to the floor as a mouse ran by on the counter.

"Whatever. Conn and Moira are heading home tomorrow, and my mate will be here tonight."

"So?" Kane growled as Walter threw a microscope at the far wall.

"So, we'll all be in one place if you want to have a wedding."