"It gives me strength to have
somebody to fight for; I can
never fight for myself, but,
for others, I can kill."

~~Emilie Autumn

****************

~Nevada~

The meeting was cut short by the unfortunate news that another kingdom had fallen victim to Balthier Christani. It was possible that it could have been the humans working alone since they were more known for their love of mass destruction. But none of us really believed that it was, at least not on their own. 

My father's hard expression, one that mirrored that of his younger brother Elijah, was enough to keep all of our thoughts to ourselves. Alana looked stricken at the news despite the fact that King Dreymier had been against her from the beginning, literally wanting her dead. No one spoke for several long minutes and I took the opportunity to meet August's eyes. 

The only physical reaction he showed was the fist currently resting on the conference table, clenched so tight that his knuckles turned white. My eyes roamed his face, searching for any clue as to his thoughts. The Folmorian kingdom had been his home for centuries, his loyalty to them holding strong even after he had been turned. How was he handling this? His expression was a blank mask, not even his eyes gave anything away.

"I think we should take a break for a bit," my mother began hesitantly, glancing at her husband with worry in her eyes. Pushing away from the table, her eyes misty with unshed tears, she looked at Nova and I. "I'll take you guys to your cabin so you can clean up. Come on."

Wordlessly, the five of us followed, relief washing over Michael's face like he was running for his life as he rushed out of the room ahead of us. Nova watched him with a mix of curiosity and confusion before looking at me with raised brows.

"Uh… what was that?" Nova asked once outside, slipping his hand into Hatter's as we followed Alana down the sidewalk.

Threading my arm through August's, I shrugged. "You would probably know more than me."

"Not lately," he muttered.

"I think we have bigger problems than the newest reason for your friend's weirdness, babe," Hatter commented without looking at any of us. "Things are getting thick."

"It won't be long before it all comes to a head," August added, his mouth set in a grim line and I tightened my hold around his arm. 

"You're probably right," Alana sighed, stopping in front of a cabin and turning to face the four of us as Michael had completely disappeared. "I had hoped to be farther along in my plans to reclaim the throne, closer to being ready for battle, but… no one is talking to anyone and I can't just walk in there. And now this…"

"Dominic needs to be kept in check, Lana," August warned quietly, holding her gaze. "With Elijah at his side, this could quickly turn ugly and not in our favor."

"I know," she agreed, worry etched across her beautiful face. She sighed again, running a hand through her hair before gesturing towards the door. "It has two rooms so take your pick. Clean up, rest, and we'll talk soon."

Releasing August, I pulled her into a hug and closed my eyes as she returned the embrace. "Let us know if we can do anything, okay? And don't either of you take off like you did before."

I pulled away enough to see her face, tears still shimmering in her eyes as she forced a watery smile.

"I'm sorry I did that," she said quietly, her voice laced with regret as she looked from me to Nova, "to both of you."

He nodded but didn't say anything, a shadow flitting in the depths of his blue eyes as he turned away. Nova pushed through the cabin door without a word and Hatter gave us a small smile before following him inside. I released my mother and stepped back, a sigh leaving my own lips as I looked at the door.

"He'll be okay," I told her softly. "The last few days haven't exactly been the easiest."

"I really fucked that up," she said, almost more to herself.

August pressed a kiss to my temple. "I'll leave you two to talk. Just watch him, Lana."

"It's not just you guys," I admitted somewhat reluctantly. I chewed on my bottom lip, glancing back towards the door, unsure if I should tell her but in the end, I knew I had to. "We saw Edith the other night… she didn't know we were there and we overheard her say some things… some terrible, horrible things…"

"What things? Alana pressed, keeping her voice low. 

"About Nova…" Tears filled my eyes as I recalled her words and the pain that had engulfed Nova in return. "She wants him dead… his mother wants him dead…"

Alana's hands cupped my cheeks, turning me to face her as her thumbs wiped away the tears silently slipping down my face. When she spoke, her voice was soft but firm and her eyes blazed with something I couldn't quite describe.

"Edith Dumont may have given birth to that boy, but she isn't his mother and never has been." She paused to draw in a breath and exhale through her nose as if trying to calm herself down. "Do you understand what I'm saying? No one is going to hurt my children… either of you. I don't care who they are."

Sniffling, I nodded and let her pull me in for another quick hug. "Thank you."

"I have to go," Alana said, releasing me and taking a few steps back. "Your father needs me and plans for a counter are most likely underway even without us. August was right."

After her departure, I entered the cabin to find August leaned against the kitchen counter with an opened bottle of whiskey. The space had an open floor plan with two doors, one on each side of the room, and a large room in between that held the small kitchen and larger living area. Hatter and Nova were nowhere to be seen and August didn't look up, even as I stopped in front of him. Silver eyes studied the whiskey label through narrowed slits.

"August…" I began, lightly placing my hand on his arm.

I felt his muscles tense beneath my fingers but he still didn't look up. Instead, he let out a roar and threw the bottle, glass shattering against the wall and dark liquid cascading down and puddling on the floor. A startle squeak burst from my lips and my hands flew to my mouth. August clenched the countertop in front of him, his head down and chest heaving in anger. One of the doors flew open and Hatter tore into the room, shirtless and eyes wild.

"What the hell?" Hatter demanded when he spotted the broken bottle. "Warn a motherfucker next time you lose your shit."

His eyes flicked to me briefly before he spun on his heel and nearly walked into Nova who was leaning against the bedroom door frame. His katana was in his hands but he seemed perfectly relaxed other than the look of irritation that he shot August. Hatter walked back into the room, cursing under his breath before the sound of another door slamming resounded in the room.

"August, I get that shit is fucked up right now," Nova said quietly, his voice even and calm, "but we can't afford for you to lose it right now. None of us can. Vengeance will be a sweet delight so don't unravel before we have the bastard's head on a platter."

August didn't move or respond, keeping his head down and eyes closed as Nova turned his gaze to me. He was worried but didn't let it show as he waited on my reassuring nod before slipping back into the bedroom without another word. When the door clicked shut behind him, I looked back at the man I loved and struggled to find any words that would ease the pain threatening to unravel him.

"He promised retribution for those involved in what happened," August suddenly said, his voice low as the counter protested under his hands, "and he got it. Balthier has made everyone pay and yet it's still not enough."

"We won't let him win," I told him, even though I knew I couldn't promise anything. We could try all we wanted but in the end, it may not be enough.

"I won't let him have you, too." August turned to look at me, eyes burning violet with silver flecks as heat and anger pulsed through him. 

"Hey, I'm not going anywhere." I placed my hands on either side of his face, the hair on his face tickling my palms as I held his gaze. "I'm not going to leave you."

August gripped my hips and pulled me flush with his body, his mouth crashing into mine with an urgency that had heat blossoming instantly inside me. Before I knew it, my feet had left the floor and my thighs gripped his waist, our lips moving together in sync. I barely registered the fact that we were moving or the sound of a door shutting behind us until my back hit the bed. August pulled back, one hand cupping my ass while the other held him above me.

"I'm not letting you go, Princess," he growled. "A thousand years I waited, and no one can take you from me."

"I'm yours," I promised breathlessly.

He stood from the bed and I had never been so thankful for vampire speed in my life as I was then. My boots hit the floor and my legs were bare within seconds, the cotton fabric of my panties soaked between my legs as I ached for him. I could see the need in his eyes, a desperation to have me in a way that was almost feral. Unable to hold back my own mounting desire, I reached for his belt and relished in the growl that emanated from his chest as my hand brushed over the erection straining inside his jeans. 

A smirk curved my lips as I looked at him through my lashes while my fingers worked the clasp. "The Princess and her bodyguard and their not so secret affair… we would make a great porno, or a cheesy romance novel."

"That's it. You're spending too much time with your brother," August replied, his voice husky despite the playfulness of his words. His breathing grew more erratic as the rasp of his zipper filled the room. "Fuck, you're going to kill me, baby girl."

Lust blazed in his eyes as he hooked his fingers under the edge of my panties and tore then from my body. A startle gasp left my lips, all thoughts of teasing fleeing my mind as the cool air met my exposed sex. August wasted no time in lowering his pants enough to allow his cock to spring free, using his legs to spread my knees as he gripped my thighs.

"Say it again," he demanded in a lustful rasp as he aligned himself with my entrance. "Say it, Princess."

My fingers clenched in the comforter beneath me in anticipation as my core throbbed with need, knowing what he wanted to hear.

"I'm yours, August." I whispered, my eyes locked with his. "I'm yours… always."

In one swift move, he slammed home and I cried out as pleasure instantly enveloped me. August's lips found mine again and our tongues danced together as our bodies moved in sync. This wasn't sweet and slow like so many times before, but hard and fast while filled with intense emotions. I could feel his fear, his pain, and anger mixing with my own that had built over the last few days.

I met each of his thrusts with one of my own, moans and whimpers filling the air around us as his pace quickened. Pleasure built in my belly until it burst, sending heat blazing through my body in waves as August drank in my cries with a rough kiss. Before I had even come back down from the high, he lifted my body and my arms instinctively wrapped around his neck as he pressed my back against the wall. 

I clung to him as he slammed into me again, the sounds of slick flesh sliding together surrounding us as I cried out from the much sharper angle. My channel clenched around him as another orgasm built quickly even as aftershocks from the first still echoed through me.

August groaned as I tightened around him, teetering on the edge once more and one hand slid between us. 

"August…" I whimpered as my muscles tensed in anticipation and silver eyes met mine.

"Come for me again, baby girl," he whispered, grunting as I clenched around him. 

The pad of his thumb lightly circled the small bundle of nerves, slick with my juices and I ground against him. I was so close that I was beginning to see stars as the tension continued to build but not quite pushing me over. I knew what I needed, what I wanted, and in one movement I told him too.

Tilting my head to the side, I bared my neck and whispered, "Please…" 

A sound more primal than a growl rumbled from deep in his chest as his fangs grazed my skin. Chill bumps erupted down my arms and a chill shivered through my spine causing me to dig my nails into his arm. That's all it took; his teeth pierced into the curve of my neck and a wave of utter bliss overwhelmed me, my eyes rolling back into my head and my fingers gripping his hair to hold him close. I felt him pulsing inside of me as my inner walls milked him to release alongside me, prolonging my own.

"I love you so much, Princess," August whispered, sliding his tongue lightly over the marks on my neck, "so fucking much."

I was spent, my entire body limp as a noodle and my hair sticking to my skin, both damp with sweat. But I smiled at his words, closing my eyes as I rested my forehead against his shoulder.

"I love you more," I replied softly, sighing contentedly when an after shock shuddered through me.

For a short while, we were happy, nothing in the world able to touch us, or threaten to rip us apart. We were just together, and I would have stayed that way, his cock buried inside of me and his arms wrapped around me, for hours longer. But a pounding knock on the bedroom door instantly took that thought away with the voice of his progeny.

"They've called us back," Hatter called through the closed door. "Something's happened… again."

●●●●

August and Hatter ended up leaving before Nova and I which left the two of us to rush out the door at the same time. If I hadn't been forced to dig through my bag in search of new underwear, it wouldn't have been a problem but I couldn't bring myself to go commando. 

As we speed walked to the main cabin side by side, I glanced up at Nova. His hair was sticking up in all directions and his cheeks had a slight flush to them. When he looked over at me, I couldn't help but notice that his mouth was slightly red and swollen and I blushed as realization struck me. They had been interrupted too apparently. 

"Don't give me big, innocent eyes, little sister," he said with a roll of his eyes. "I could hear you from the other side of the cabin so I'm pretty sure the whole damn camp heard you too and we all know what you were doing."

I blushed even harder, mentally praying to the gods he was exaggerating. Refusing to comment, I followed him through the glass doors of the welcome center. Nova stopped in his tracks, so suddenly that I bumped into him. 

"Shit, sorry," I muttered, stepping around him. "What the hell?"

He didn't answer but he didn't need to. I looked around and realized everyone was watching the large flat screen television that was mounted on the wall. Michael hovered at the back of the room, but my parents and everyone else that had been at the earlier meeting stood directing in front of the screen, eyes locked onto the person speaking. Tugging on Nova's arm, we wormed our way through the growing crowd to our mates.

A man I hadn't seen before was on the screen, his image frozen. He had short black hair and eyes so dark that I couldn't see his pupils, tattoos lining his right arm that seemed vaguely familiar but I couldn't place them. After a moment, the image unfrozen and the man began to speak, his voice washing over me from the speakers like icy water in my veins.

"Citizens of the North American continent, my name is Balthier Christani. As I'm sure you're already aware, we are on the brink of war." His face was cold and his eyes hard like shards of jet. "I have a simple goal in mind and if you should help me reach it, all of this will be over."

I slipped my hand into August's and held on tight as dread slowly pooled in my gut. Whatever he had to say, it couldn't be good.

"The Vampire Council is gone, the scum eradicated from the earth because they were useless and nothing but sniveling parasites. Unless you want to join them, I strongly advise following my instructions."

Two images appeared on the screen on either side of him and my breath got trapped in my throat as fear snaked around my heart like a vice.

"These two individuals need to be brought to me along with the remaining pieces of The God Stone. Once I have them and the entire stone, all of the death and chaos will end. I will personally see to it myself." Balthier's dark eyes bore into the camera. "The time of the gods is over and I dare them to try and strike me down. You have twenty-four hours to do as I ask or I'll put Hades wrath to shame."

The video froze but began all over again a moment later. Elijah cursed and pointed the remote at the tv, pressing the power button with anger and if it were a gun he would have shot the tv. With one shared look between Elijah and Dominic, our group separated from the growing crowd and silently ended up in the conference room. Hatter and Reyne stood beside each other, the fact that they were twins hitting me once more as their expressions were identical. 

A small crash sounded from the back of the room seconds after the door closed and we all turned to look at the source. Michael was straightening his clothes as he righted a chair, carefully avoiding everyone's eyes.

"My bad," he mumbled, keeping his eyes focused on the table. Nova snorted and Reyne smirked but the rest of us let it go as we focused on the two fae at the head of the table.

"Motherfucker hacked the video networks for that shit," Elijah growled and the silence immediately erupted.

Everyone spoke at once as Nova and I watched the arguments unfold, no one being heard clearly over anyone else. Our eyes met, both wide as neither of us knew what to do. We had never been to war, or barely any battle, much less be able to plot a retaliation. Just as the curses and shouts had become almost intolerable, Hatter raised his voice to a booming tember, quickly gaining everyone's attention and dropping the room into tense silence.

"Enough!"

"You got a plan, Bat Dog?" Elijah quipped impatiently. "Because we don't have time for bullshit right now."

Nova choked on a laugh and looked at Elijah. "Bat Dog?"

Hatter cut whatever response Elijah would have come back with off as he narrowed his eyes at the two before turning to Reyne.

"Do you still have the chopper?" he asked his twin.

"Like a motorcycle?" Dominic asked skeptically. 

Hatter clenched his jaw and replied with forced patience. "No… a helicopter."

"Yeah, it's not far away actually," Reyne answered, ignoring my father entirely.

"We need to see what's going on in Folmoria and with the Council, right?" Hatter asked, looking at the group. "Aerial recon would be our fastest way to do that."

"True, unless you're shot down," Elijah argued,  although he didn't exactly seem against the idea.

"Better get it done quick," Torch cut in, tossing his phone onto the table and looking at Nova and I. "Balthier felt the connection break and has finally reached out to me. He knows where I am and he's coming to get me… or I guess I should say us."

Everyone stared at Torch as if he had just grown two heads.

So much for twenty-four hours.

********************

A/N: Two more chapters to go! (Unless inspiration strikes to drag them into three more)

What do we think?

Are we ready for the end of book 3? I'm not.

The moving process has started but it's slow going so keep being patient with me please.

Thanks for your support and reading my books! You guys are awesome!

Also, SHOUT OUT TO MY BEAUTIFUL MOM ON HER BIRTHDAY! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! I LOVE YOU!!!!❤❤❤❤Dedicating this chapter to you FloraSmith632

XOXO🖤❤🖤❤