CHAPTER SEVEN
Kael had killed the last man, and suddenly Mercier opened a hidden door, a thick steel door that was obviously made to keep something captive. Mercier jumped back and ran to the far wall as several deformed creatures came rushing into the room.
They were howling and snapping their razor teeth as their red, bulging eyes cast around the room.
They charged at Kael, reaching for him with their long arms and fingernails that sliced and gouged at everything within reach.
They were mutants, monstrous creatures, and Kael could only assume where they came from and Mercier’s purpose in keeping them captive.
They were strong, and Kael had sustained injuries, but they lacked fighting skills; they were just out of control, attacking everything in sight, including Mercier’s man, who attempted to come up on Kael from behind.
The monsters did not differentiate among them; in their eyes, everyone was the enemy.
Mercier watched with a heated, excited gaze, showing no concern for his own men. Kael found that the short sword he carried worked best on these things, but it required him to get too close.
The nails on these things were like daggers, and they sliced him over and over as he drove his sword into their hearts. They weren’t hard to kill, but it was hard to get close enough to kill. Their hide was thin and their bones brittle, but everything on them was sharp and deadly.
He took a hit to his side when one of them managed to plunge his nails into Kael’s flesh and twist. It was painful and knocked Kael back a step.
He could feel Elias’ fear, but the man had to stay hidden; these monsters would tear him apart if they saw him.
That fear drove Kael to charge them, taking hit after hit as he fought to take them out before they discovered his chosen.
Elias froze for a few seconds after the first attack.
The guards came at Kael unprovoked, but paid for that error with their lives.
Mercier was watching and enjoying the carnage, and Elias realized he’d never really known this man.
Like the fiends that Kael was battling, he too was nothing but a monster.
Elias was hidden behind the long table and doing as Kael instructed, but he couldn’t just sit there waiting for the end, he had to do something; he had to help. Carefully, he looked around the side of the table and saw several things that had his mind working and plotting.
The chemicals he could see were volatile on their own, and together they could take out this room.
He managed to reach two of them, the two that were the most explosive.
He needed to get the message to Kael, let him know to start moving backwards toward the door, but he was locked in combat.
The blood evident on his body was upsetting Elias, but he pushed it down. He had to stay focused on his task.
He opened the two vials and held them apart when they connected; when they did, the room would go up, and he needed to make that clear.
Elias focused on Kael and filled his mind with thoughts of the chemicals and his intent.
He had felt Kael’s moods and thoughts since their bond, and he hoped that he was able to get his message to Kael.
If not, he would have to shout and delay before setting the explosion, which could give the creatures an opportunity to escape along with Mercier.
Elias wasn’t the murderous sort, but he really didn’t want Mercier to get away unscathed.
He put all his strength into channeling his intent, and then Kael responded.
“Do it now.” Came the call that echoed through his brain. He stood, and when he did, Kael turned and started running at him, nodding. Elias took the vials and threw them against the wall. When they mixed, the explosion was epic, and Kael had scooped Elias up into his arms.
They were out of the bunker, through the lab, and into the hallway when the eruption destroyed the entire area. The bunker and the lab were nothing but rubble.
Kael covered Elias with his own body, shielding him from the fallout.
When it settled, he moved to a seated position, pulled Elias up, and began checking for injuries.
“I’m fine, Kael.” He said, but Kael didn’t take his word for it; he checked him head to toe before helping him to his feet.
He held on to him, pressing Elias close to his side.
“Where are the others?” Elias asked. “Mercier had several teams of guards. We saw some of them on the way in. Where are they now? Why didn’t they come to assist him?” The building was eerily quiet; the only sound was the settling of rubble from the explosion.
“First off, I want to tell you that you are magnificent. Your quick thinking in there saved us.” Kael stated and then pulled him in for a kiss that sucked every ounce of breath and energy from him, and it was wonderful.
Pride at his praise shot through him, making him feel like a million bucks. He loved making Kael proud.
When the kiss finally ended, and the room was filled with their ragged pants and the steady beat of their hearts, the answer to Elias’ question became clear.
Several men could be heard making their way towards them.
Elias was surprised when Kael did not become defensive but rather smiled and looked over at them as they approached.
“Kael, I see you have things in hand here. I have men clearing the rest of the building. The main floor is handled.” Kael smiled and introduced his commander, Cullen Volakis, to his chosen Elias Vance.
Cullen had men watching the Center, and when they saw Kael entering the building, they followed, knowing that shit was about to hit the fan, and they were not disappointed.
“Elias finished them with an improvised explosive,” Kael explained the situation in the bunker and described the mutations that had attacked him.
“Mercier was in the room, so I doubt he could have made it out in time.” Kael pulled him close, and again Elias felt the surge of satisfaction that came whenever he pleased his lover.
“You look like you took a few hits,” Cullen commented on Kael’s condition.
“Nothing serious.” He assured.
“Take your chosen and go to the Coven and stay there until we get this cleared and the Council calls off their assassins.” Cullen was blunt and clear. He then began barking orders to the soldiers converging on the area.
Kael was not hanging around. Cullen had everything in hand, and he wanted to get his chosen to the Coven as soon as possible.
He would be safe there with Kael and surrounded by his people.
“Let’s hurry.” Kael took Elias’ hand and rushed from the basement level to the main floor and then out the front doors.
It was risky, but he was confident that Cullen had cleared the area, and he was not disappointed.
Not wanting to waste time, he scooped Elias up into his arms and moved down the street at incredible speed. He loved the way Elias held onto him and buried his face in his shoulder. This day could not have ended any better than having the threat neutralized and his chosen safe and well in his arms.
“I love you, Elias, and I will give you a good life, I promise.” He just felt like saying what he was feeling.
“I love you too, Kael. You gave me back my sense of honor and integrity, and just being with you is all I’ll ever need in this life.” Kael dropped a hard kiss to his lips and then got him seated in the SUV, and within seconds, they were on their way home.
They encountered no interference and were waved through the gates upon arriving. Cullen had obviously cleared the way for them. The Coven house rose up in front of them, and he heard Elias gasp at the size and the beauty.
“I didn’t even know this place existed.” He said, clearly excited.
“Our anonymity is what protects us. No one not associated with the Coven knows of its existence. That’s why your experiments were so dangerous. It doesn’t take much to come to the attention of the wrong people, and no one wants a war with the humans.”
“That would be catastrophic for everyone.” Elias conceded.
“Yes, it would.” Kael parked near the side entrance and helped his chosen one from the vehicle. He didn’t need help, but Kael just couldn’t keep his hands off the man, so any excuse was a good excuse to touch him.
“Your home is impressive,” Elias commented as they made their way inside.
“Most of the coven live here, some have private homes on the property, and a few live in town. I have an apartment on the fourth floor. I haven’t used it often since my work usually keeps me on the road.” Kael tried to explain, just in case the place looked unused.
“Will you still spend a lot of time on the road?” His words had an edge, which made Kael smile.
“Not as much, no. Now that I am bonded with my chosen, my duties will be modified to take into consideration the needs of my sweet, handsome lover.” He pulled him close and kissed him with a wet, searching kiss that left Elias with no doubt as to his devotion.
“I’ll take on security duties here and will from time to time be sent on specialized missions, but nothing that will keep me away too long.
Don’t worry, my love, I need you as much as you need me; it's how Fate designs the perfect union.” He stopped on the stairs and kissed him again.
He could have taken the elevator, but he wanted Elias to see the beauty and grandeur of his new home.