Sanctuary, Texas: My Eternal Soldier Part 8

Pulling to a stop in front of Rose's Cafe, I parked and walked right behind her to the door. A blue transparent screen flashed around the building when she pulled open the French door. The barrier only showed itself each time a door was opened or closed. A nifty spell all the buildings in town possessed. According to the Pixies, it kept Djinn from being able to teleport in and out. Made them have to use the door like everyone else.

"Killian!" Raven waved from behind the counter. "Eira?! I thought you were going to be gone a couple months? Is everything okay?"

I followed Eira to the counter, and we took two of the empty stools. "Have you seen the Lycans Travis and Garrett? I need to speak with them," Eira asked.

"Eira, what a surprise," a female voice sounded from behind us.

I turned and gulped air. Diana Blackmoor and her husbands were closing in fast. Eira didn't seem fazed at all by the Drakonae royal trio and leapt from her stool to embrace the pregnant woman. Diana was barely showing, but her clingy dress revealed a definite baby b.u.mp.

"Diana. I need to talk with Travis and Garrett. Charlie, her parents, and several other pack members were taken prisoner by the SECR. By Xerxes. Have you seen the Lycans?"

I stood and stared as Diana hugged and then placed a friendly kiss on Eira's cheek. Like they were the best of friends. Then Miles and Eli both took turns embracing my beloved.

"Wait, Eira," Diana spoke, looking toward me. "This is the Killian you spoke of? Your Killian? The man who gave you the G.o.ddess Sea diamond?"

Eira nodded, stepping away from the giant Drakonae males and returning to my side. "I stumbled upon him through an accident of fate. I can't explain it. I was nearly dead, and I found my way to his barn."

"The diamond pulled you to him. It's probably another reason you felt pulled to Sanctuary after bringing me here. The diamond knew he was close by. It started acting like a homing beacon."

Eira turned her gaze to me, questioningly.

I nodded. "The diamond's pull would've increased the closer in proximity you were to me."

"I'll get Travis and Garrett. They're over in the corner. I saw them come in a while ago," Miles said, before leaving the circle.

"I didn't make the connection last time we met. But, any friend of Eira's is a friend of ours. Our home is yours whenever you are in town," Diana said, offering her hand. "You seem so familiar now that I think about it. Did we know each other in the Veil?"

She expected me to shake her hand. I couldn't refuse, though it seemed so unorthodox. But we weren't in the Veil anymore.

I extended my hand, taking hers. She gave it a firm shake and clasped her other hand over mine.

"Thank you. And, yes, but the honor is mine, your highness."

Diana squeezed my hand tighter. Her eyes opened wide with recognition. "Killian, son of Konall Njord. You have your father's eyes. I remember you now. Your line was the royal family's sword makers and librarians. Did your family escape as well?"

"I go by Killian North. It's easier for humans to p.r.o.nounce. And, no, my family died by Incanti fire. Only my brother and I escaped through the gate before they gained total control. But even he is no longer with me."

"I am sorry for your loss. I understand your pain. But, you have family here now, though."

"Yes," Eli interjected. "Your Eira saved our mate, so she is very near and dear to our hearts. We take care of our family." Eli pulled me into a quick embrace before moving to Diana's side. "So be sure and take good care of her or we will come hunting." He flashed a quick smile and a wink, but even the joking tone of his voice held a tempered warning.

I bowed my head respectfully, though I knew it was not required. "I will protect Eira with my life."

"Killian," Eira whispered into my ear. "I expect to hear the whole story soon."

"I know," I answered. The time for hiding from my past was over. She already knew some, but she deserved to know who had held her heart hostage all these years.

Miles returned, followed by two very large, very emotionally charged Lycans. Their irises were bright yellow, and the tips of their fangs showed from beneath their top lips.

"Where's Charlotte?" The slightly larger of the two growled and stepped closer to Eira.

I moved between her and him, and he snarled.

Eira touched my shoulder and stepped to my side. "Listen, Garrett, you threaten Killian again and I'll make sure you never have babies." She snapped her teeth, and the Lycan male swallowed audibly, stepping backward and calming himself enough that his eyes turned brown again.

The other Lycan, the smarter of the two, stood quietly watching the whole thing. "What happened, Eira?" he asked.

"Double-cross. We were taken by surprise. Half the group was killed, and the other half was drugged and taken."

"Where are they now?" the same man asked.

"Savannah," Eira said.

"How do you know for sure? What if they already killed her and the rest?" Garrett interjected.

"I'm the reason they can sneak in and out of places. Jump the walls without tripping alarms. I'm the thorn in Xerxes's side. The pack relocates the refugees from the SECR, but I'm the one that gets them out. Xerxes wants me and he doesn't have me yet."

"Raven told me you returned unexpectedly, Eira. What's happened?" The voice of Rose Hilah cut through the conversations around us. The two Lycans stepped aside to allow her into the circle we'd created. The pet.i.te, olive-skinned woman stepped forward.

"Xerxes has Charlotte."

"Eira..." Rose's brown eyes darkened almost to black. "You know it's a trap."

"Doesn't matter. She'd do the same for me."

"What about your destiny here? You're supposed to be one of the town's Protectors. Why do you continue to run from it? We can offer your friends homes within the safety of Sanctuary."

"Only if I take your offer, right?" Eira spat out. "I've lived on my own just fine. What makes you think I'll hand over my freedom to you now?"

"To save your friends, you would sacrifice anything. All Protectors share that commonality. We need you, Eira. It is not a one-sided deal. We protect ours." Rose turned from Eira to Miles. "Please go find Alek and Jared."

The Drakonae male nodded and slipped away.

"Alek and Jared are two of the most powerful Others living in Sanctuary, besides myself and the dragons. They will accompany you. A Gryphon and Phoenix should tip the scales in your favor... I do hope you return to us, Eira, and join the family you are destined to have."

I wasn't exactly sure what Rose was, but if she compared herself to a Drakonae, she had to be something really old and very powerful.

"Killian, take care of Eira and watch yourself. Xerxes' spies are everywhere. Trust no one and never drop your guard," the small woman said, her gaze penetrating to my soul. Magick shuddered in the air around us both like free-flowing static electricity-as if she could control the essence of it.

I nodded. I had no intention of losing Eira ever again. And though I didn't understand exactly why Rose wanted Eira to be a Protector or what that really meant for her, I could tell it was upsetting, and that irritated me. This woman was offering us help for the rescue mission, but was attaching chains.

"Thank you," Eira whispered quietly. "I will accept your offer when I return."

Rose lifted her arm and touched Eira's face with her fingertips. "You won't regret joining us. I promise."

Chapter Fifteen.

EIRA.

Holding back the anger seething inside me was close to impossible. She'd taken advantage of my need, promising the help we desperately required to have any chance at all of recovering Charlie and the others and making it out of Savannah alive.

All so I'd take the vow of a Protector. Granted, she was offering asylum to what was left of the Mason pack, but it still stung. It wasn't likely that the Masons would want to leave Ada anyway. So that offer was worthless. Still, if she was willing to send a Phoenix and Gryphon with me to Savannah. That alone was worth my sacrifice. Charlie would do it for me.

Vampires in Sanctuary who filled the roles of Protectors were bound to the Sisters of the House of Lamadae through a spell. Rose then gave permanent safeguarding from the sun through a tattoo she enchanted.

Never having to fear the sun again was every vampire's unspoken desire a fatal weakness that couldn't be escaped.

But magick always came with a price. Blood created the daylight ring I wore. It was a small spell. But the spell to become a Protector was a huge ordeal. Bailey had described what she'd gone through when she took on the role. There hadn't been any drawbacks yet, but that didn't mean there wouldn't be later.

I was a lot older than Bailey. The longer a person lived, the more suspicious they became. I'd asked Erick about it, but he said other than taking time to help Rose find the rest of the Protectors, it hadn't changed his life in a negative way.

Still. I knew there had to be a catch. It just wasn't one anyone knew about... or purposefully wasn't sharing.

After Rose left the circle, I turned to Travis and Garrett again. "We need SUVs. There could be people hurt we need to transport. They took at least eight, including Charlie."

"On it," Travis answered. He and his brother slipped off and out of the cafe.

"You need to feed again, Eira. Before we leave," Killian said, placing a hand on my arm.

He was right, but I couldn't feed from him again so soon. It wasn't fair to weaken him and put his life in unnecessary danger.

"You can't give more blood. It hasn't been long enough."

He shook his head. "I'm fine. Take what you need."

"She's right, Killian," Eli's deep voice rumbled beside me. "If you've already fed her in the last twenty-four hours, you need to rest. She might need you again once you're out on the road." Eli turned to Raven, who was standing a few feet away behind the counter. "Grab me a large gla.s.s, please."

The purple-haired Pixie set a large water gla.s.s on the counter.

Eli pulled a small silver dagger from inside his jacket. It was dragon steel, the only metal that could pierce Drakonae skin. He slid the dagger over his palm, and his blood ran freely into the gla.s.s below.

The scent of his fresh blood was intoxicating. My fangs descended, and I stepped closer, licking my lips. The antic.i.p.ation of Drakonae blood made my mouth water.

"Thank you, Eli."

"Like we said, you are family, Eira. Diana will enjoy you living in town. I know she enjoys Calliope and Bailey's company, but she truly misses you when you go. Return safely, little warrior."

I drank down the gla.s.s of blood, told Diana goodbye, and then left the cafe. Killian followed right behind me.

"What do you have to do to be a Protector, Eira?"

I leaned against the stone wall of the cafe, studied him for a moment, and then shrugged. "It links me to this town. But no one really knows the end game for the spell. The Sisters say it will ultimately free them from Xerxes threat. But that's all I know. If Rose or the Sisters know more than that, they haven't shared it with anyone."

He cupped my face and captured my mouth, sweeping his tongue across the seam of my lips until I opened for him. Then he plunged it inside my mouth, taking me away from the worry and confusion. Only he existed in that moment. Only the feel of his mouth against mine, his scent surrounding me. He was my rock. He was what my life had been missing all these years, what my body and soul had wept for every time another couple kissed or embraced.

The roar of engines coming down the road made him pull away. I cursed that we didn't have time to make love again before we left. But that would have to wait. Charlie and her family needed me. I wouldn't let them down just because I was a little h.o.r.n.y.

Two black suburbans pulled to a stop in front of the cafe. The dark-tinted windows rolled down to reveal Travis and Garrett in one and the two men I'd only met in pa.s.sing, Jared and Alek, in the other.

"Y'all riding the bike? The seats in here are gonna be a lot more comfy," Travis said, patting the side of the vehicle. "Just leave the bike. The Pixies will put it away for you."

Killian nodded. "Let's stick with two vehicles. The bike is loud. These SUVs will make less of an impression."

Worked for me. As long as we arrived where we needed to be, I was fine with it. I walked with him to the side door of the SUV Travis was driving. He opened it for me, and I climbed in first. The middle row was made up of two bucket seats with a third fold down seat in the middle. The back seat had a large black duffle bag. From the strong scent of gunpowder wafting my direction, it was full of guns and ammunition.

Killian handed me the two dragon steel sheathed swords and climbed into the bucket seat behind Travis, closing the door behind him. The SUV started forward, only to jerk to a sudden halt.

"What happened?"

"We added another pa.s.senger to the caravan. Mikjall just climbed into the other SUV. Apparently, he's coming along."

"Who is Mikjall?" Killian asked.

"Miles and Eli's kid from a long time ago. He escaped the Veil right after Diana did. Xerxes killed his wife. Doesn't surprise me that he wanted to come along. He's been itching for a fight ever since he arrived here."

"He's Drakonae then?" Killian spoke again.

"Yup," Garrett answered. "Fire breather like his dad... dads."

"His name is of Elvin origin."

Travis shrugged as he put the vehicle into gear and began to move forward again. "Don't know what to tell you. He's a dragon, not an elf." He laughed. "We have four dragons in town now. Xerxes has to be quaking in his boots. Haven't seen any Djinn snooping around lately, either."

"Settle in guys. We have a good eight-hour drive before we hit the fence at the Mississippi," Garrett said, rolling his head from side to side.

"If you pull over a mile or so before, I'll influence the guards to let us through without questioning you," I added, leaning against Killian's shoulder. The sun poured through the side window and bathed my face and arms in its warmth. It felt good to not fear the light again. My thumb rubbed over the new ring while I considered the agreement I'd made with Rose. Having a permanent solution to the sunlight was definitely a perk to the Protector position in the town. Still, something bothered me about the whole arrangement.

It didn't matter right now. All that mattered was rescuing Charlie and her family.

"Don't worry about the guards. Stop at Fort Stevens. I know the Commander on post there. He'll radio ahead and let us in and out without any trouble," Killian said, wrapping his arm around my shoulder and pressing a kiss to the top of my head.

I sat up, pulling away from him. "How?"

Garrett turned in his seat and c.o.c.ked an eyebrow as well. "You know TR soldiers personally?"

Killian nodded. "I was in the army for thirty years. They are very friendly toward Others. It's the local police departments that can't get over themselves. Even though the republic is very clear that they are pro-Other."

"Some towns are worse than others. Most of the small towns could care less as long as everyone is friendly and respectful," Travis added, catching my gaze in the rearview mirror. "The big cities like to blame their problems on us, but it's no more us than it is humans. There are good and bad in every species."

"Very true," Killian said.