Chapter 20
Thorin
Laughter hits my ears from across the room, and I look over to where Delaney is sitting with Skyla, talking and laughing.
Seeing her looking so carefree does something to my dead soul. My chest tightens seeing her like this, compared to how she looked when she lived here and I was pulling my dumbass shit.
Looking back, I know I hurt her, seeing her light dim from what I did. The pain I caused is something I can never fully erase from either of our memories, but I hope that somehow, in time, I can make amends for it.
“That all it is?” I bring my gaze to Winger as he sits next to me.
I am cleaning blood off a gold goblet with eye-sized rubies embedded in the top. It is something out of an Indiana Jones movie.
“Yeah. No idea what is so fucking special about this thing, but whatever floats the fucker’s boat.”
“Rich pricks will do anything for more power and money, brother. They can’t all be like Halen’s family.”
Halen comes from a long line of supernatural people. Both sides of his family are wealthy and powerful, but they use their money and powers for good.
“True.”
We sit in silence for a few beats, Winger scanning the room everyone is currently occupying. Me and some of the boys just got back from a job, taking this thing I am cleaning from a poacher who deserved the blood that got spilled. Who the fuck hunts defenseless animals anyway?
“Your girl good?”
“Yeah,” is all I say.
I know that we need to talk, clear some things up between us, before we can fully move on. She feels it too, this crack between us that needs sealing.
“She is strong, Thorin. You need to tell her about the past, so she can understand your reasons.”
Looking at my Pres, I take in his words; he is an old soul at heart. The club is his life, and I know he will gladly give his life for anyone who wears our patch.
“I was planning on talking to her tonight.”
“Good. It is a welcome change having Ol’ Ladies around the clubhouse. For years we all fucked and were happy to do so, but seeing Camo settle down, I think most of the guys are wanting what he has.”
“Most want to find their fated mates. For me it spelled heartache and I never wanted that, but now that I have it, I am not letting it go.” My gaze catches my girl’s across the room, and I wink, making her blush.
“She is good for you, brother. I always knew it.” He grins at me.
I snap my head in his direction, frowning. If I had a heart, this is the part where it would hammer in my chest, but mine stopped beating a long time ago. He holds my gaze for a second before he continues.
“Saw it years ago, Thorin. I just wish it had not taken you this long, but you had your reasons. Just treat her good, man; she is like a baby sister to me and the men in this room.” I nod to him, his words a shock to the system.
I go to answer, but Winger frowns, scanning the room again. His body goes tight, and I expect a vision to occur, but it doesn’t.
“Something is off.” No sooner does he speak than the room explodes.
Boom.
My body is thrown off my chair from the sheer blast.
Shaking my head to clear it, my hearing is muffled from the blast. A hand lands on my shoulder, shaking me.
“You okay?” I blink, looking at Winger, who is covered in dust and blood from a cut on his head.
I nod, pushing to my feet.
Looking across the room, I see my woman pulling Skyla out from under a table.
“DELANEY.” She looks to me before leaving Skyla with Camo to come to me. Her body slams into mine, and I breathe her in.
Fuck, I could have lost her.
“Are you hurt?” I scan her body, checking her over, but I only see cuts and scrapes.
“No, I am okay, but one of the club girls is dead over there.” She points to where she and Skyla were.
“Fuck, we need to get you to Winger’s office. It has wards to keep you safe.” She nods.
“I will take them,” the prospect says to me, who like us, is covered in dirt and blood.
“Guard them with your life,” I warn him, and he nods.
“Go.” I kiss my woman and push her toward the man I hope to fuck keeps her safe.
“INCOMING.” I double-check to see where Delaney is and I see the young prospect pushing both women down the hall toward Winger’s office. Thank fuck.
Snarling, I turn to see who is coming for us. I let out a growl when I see vampires flood the room, followed by the Fury.
“NOBODY FUCKS WITH THE KINGS!” Pres bellows.
We move.
Screams and grunts fill the room, the sound of weapons colliding mixed in.
My vision goes red. Someone dares to attack the Kings of Anarchy MC and thinks they will live to tell the tale. Not fucking likely.
I attack, tearing at anyone who is not a part of the club. Flames and ash fill the room as me and my brothers kill vampires.
Spotting the last remaining sister across the room, I move in their direction. They are not fighting just watching the carnage in front of them. Having a front row seat to their little pawns’ deaths.
Blood is spilled, and I hear grunts I assume is coming from my brothers and the vampires they fight before killing them.
My focus is on the bitch.
Pain hits my thigh, and I look down, seeing a fucking gnome with a knife in his hands baring his teeth at me.
“Cunt.” I dropkick the fucker, his body slamming into the wall before hitting the floor.
My blood rages in my body as I fight with vampires coming at me. They are young, newly turned by the red color of their eyes.
Newly sired vampires have bright red eyes that dims the older you get. The colors of our eyes are still determined by the mood, but we learn to control the blood thirst.
One rushes Camo, slamming him into the floor, and they fight. I go to help, but Camo gets the upper hand: he twists his body, picking up a broken table leg and driving it into the fucker’s chest, killing him.
Halen snaps the neck of one female vamp, then pulls her head from her body. Flames erupt, my brother dropping her head like a hot potato. He looks up, ready to take on another, his gaze connecting with mine. He offers me a smile that we rarely see, one that means he is in fight mode.
Cries fill the room, making me spin to see what is happening now. I see Shift smirking at three vamps who are patting their bodies.
“I am on fire,” one screams.
“It burns.”
Shaking my head, I move toward the Fury, the one who will fucking die tonight. Seeking revenge is what the Furies do, it is what they are designed for, but tonight, revenge is mine.
Movement to my left catches my attention, and I turn to see Rush standing against the wall, using his compulsion on four vampires fighting their own kind.
He winks at me, blood covering his arm, but I don’t worry about him.
He will either heal or wear the scar with pride; the fucker loves bragging to women about his scars.
Someone rams into me from the side, and I twist my body, throwing the bitch off. He snarls at me, but I see fear in his eyes, hair matted, eyes bright red; he looks no older then eighteen, nineteen. For fuck’s sake.
“You know who I am?” He shakes his head. “I am the alpha vampire of this territory. You have attacked my club on false pretenses. That Fury led you here to your death for revenge,” I explain.
“Why?”
“I killed her sisters. They threatened to kill my wife, my mate.” Something flickers in his eyes, and I have fucking hope I can save this one.
Not all newly sired vampires are ready to kill and feed. Some fight it under the surface.
“She told us that you killed her sister because they were more powerful than you,” he informs me.
“No. You have to know that if you fight me, you will lose. You will die tonight.”
“I hate what I am. Dying would be a mercy.” A flicker of sadness hits his eyes. “I killed my boyfriend.”
“I can help you. But you need to leave now.” He nods, his gaze flickering around the room.
“How?”
“Down that hallway by the mirror, there is a door. Go through it; hide out until I send someone for you." He nods. “Go.”
He takes off, and I lock my focus on the cunt who brought this fight to my club.
She grins watching the carnages play out in front of her. There are three male vampires protecting her. They all look like they belong on a fucking football field. They are that big, but they look young and new.
They watch me approach, snarling, ready to pounce.
Stretching out my neck, my bones cracking, I am ready for a fight— something I have not done in a long ass time.
“You brought this upon yourself, bloodsucker.” The Fury cackles.
“Nah, bitch, you started this war. You seem to have forgotten that I killed your sisters and I will kill you.” I grin.
My words anger her, and she rages behind her wall of vampires. Fists clenched at her sides, her nostrils are flaring, and her teeth are bared to me. If looks could kill, I would be bursting into flames right about now.
“Kill him,” she commands.
The three snarl, growl, then lunge for me. Knowing I am faster and stronger, I calculate my movements.
Gripping one by the neck, I use his body as a weapon to stop the other two. They crumble to the floor, still snarling, inhumane noises coming from them, as they jump to their feet and attack again.
Reaching behind me for my dagger, I swing, letting the sweet blade cut through the neck of the poor fucker who reaches me first. Flames burst over his body, making the other two hesitate, which in turn makes me grin.
Spreading my legs wider, I touch my palm with the blade.
“Who is next?” I ask.
“Do not fear this fake vampire. He is nothing. It is all for show. You” —the Fury points to one— “kill him. And you.” She points to the other one. “His woman went down the hall that way. Go find her and kill her. Drain her of all her blood. Then bring me her body.”
Something inside of me snaps.
Red fills my vision and it is not blood, but I remember what I was taught many years ago: control.
Most vampires will get lost in the blood crave, let the anger and thirst get to them.
“You touch my woman and believe me, I will make your death long and painful,” I snarl.
My voice is low, deep. I push forward my alpha power, and their steps falter; their eyes flashing wide. The threat toward Delaney amps up my anger and need to finish this to get back to her.
“Kill him. What are you waiting for?” the Fury screams.
I hold strong, my stance waiting for them to lunge, but they do not move, looking at each other, then to me. In their hesitation, I lunge, driving my dagger through the heart of one, and while he flays around burning to death, I move using my vampire speed to put the other in a head lock.
Using all of my strength, I tear his head from his body, before letting him fall to the floor.
“Nooooooo,” she cries out.
Turning to the single Fury, my head down, eyes up, my menacing look makes her eyes flash with fear for a brief second before she regains her composure.
“Damn you, bloodsucker.”
“My name is Alpha Thorin; get fucking used to it, cunt.”
“You will die by my hands. If not tonight, then it will be soon.” Those are her parting words as she flees alone.
“Fuck, I could use a drink.” I turn, looking over my shoulder to see Rush reaching for a half empty bottle of Jack on the floor.
I survey the room, looking at the piles of ashes and bone, along with some other supernatural remains.
“How many?” I ask Winger.
He looks tired; hell, they all do. Every one of them is covered in dust and blood from the explosion and fight.
“The newest prospect and two club girls,” he informs me.
“Fuck. Who?”
“Layla and Meryl.”
“Damn. Layla gave good head. Sucked my cock like a damn Shark vacuum,” Cotton whines, snatching the bottle from Rush and taking a big gulp.
“Shit, this going to take ages to clean up and repair.” Camo swipes his hands across his chest, looking around.
“I will look into contractors when we have assessed the damage,” Winger says, taking in his clubhouse.
I nod, and so do the others.
“I need to check on Delaney,” I state, and Pres nods.
“I’m coming too; I need to check on Skyla.”
We both leave our brothers and rush down the hall that leads to Winger’s office. The prospect who was instructed to protect our woman stands firm, a ball of fire in his hand ready to strike when needed.
At his feet there is a pile of bone and ash.
“You did good, prospect. Go see Pres for further instructions,” Camo instructs him, and with a nod, he leaves.
“He will earn his patch,” is all I say.
“Yes, he will.” He sighs. “Your woman has taken a shine to that prospect, so she will battle in his corner.”
I chuckle. Camo steps closer to the door and the need to see for myself that Delaney is okay is like a need to breathe. My body suddenly feels tight and my fists itch to hold her in my arms.
“If you have weapons do not shoot, it is just two very dashing men coming to claim their ladies.”
The door sings open before he can reach for the handle and there stands a freaked-out, wide-eyed looking Skyla. She moves but my gaze remains on my woman, who is looking just as freaked out as Skyla.
My brother and his woman leave us, my body itching to go to her; thankfully, she moves first, her body colliding with mine.
I hold her, breathing her in, thanking the Fated Gods that she is okay.