Chapter 25 #2
Nolan backpedaled a few feet, his face paler than it had been in the dim moonlight seeping down through the tree limbs.
Bel didn’t say another word, but Rafe felt something. A low pulse of energy surge from his brother. A command. He didn’t know what it was, couldn’t make it out in word form, but the woods were suddenly an overwhelming cacophony of noise. The black bear roared as it charged Nolan.
Overhead, birds cried out in unison as they leaped from trees.
Numerous wings flapped and beat at the air.
The birds dove. Rafe spared only a glance in horror at the mix of smaller starlings and robins against the larger birds of prey.
Owls, vultures, and hawks divebombed the MacPherson vampires, sending them running and screaming in all directions.
With everyone distracted by the attacking animals, Rafe rushed from cover to Philippe’s side where he was already kneeling beside Jullien. Pulling a knife from its sheath on his belt, Rafe slashed through the ropes binding Jullien’s arms behind his back.
“What the fuck, Varik?” Jullien demanded. His head was whipping around as if he was trying to keep all the chaos in view. Not the easiest of tasks with only one working eye.
“You’re going to have to be more specific,” Rafe muttered. “It seems Bel has laid claim to Philippe, and I wouldn’t fuck with him right now. He’s got an army.” And yeah, he couldn’t be prouder of his brother.
With the ropes gone, Philippe and Rafe got on either side of Jullien, helping him to his feet. They scurried to cover as quickly as possible, even if it meant mostly carrying Jullien.
“You need to feed,” Philippe said.
Rafe shook his head. “We can’t now. It’s too much of a risk to have more than just Jullien weakened.
” He felt for Jullien. The vampire had to be in a great deal of pain, and not just from his injuries.
His body would be craving blood so intensely that it’d be like his veins were full of burning acid.
“He’s right. Take care of Nolan and the rest of these fucks,” Jullien said between clenched teeth.
“I’m not leaving you undefended.”
“I’ve got him.” Winter stepped out of the darkness like he’d cut a hole into it. They all flinched. Philippe even pulled his blade on him, but immediately lowered it again with a muttered “Sorry.”
“Go. No one is getting near Jullien,” Winter instructed, and then he disappeared again right before their eyes.
“You…you will need to explain that to me later,” Philippe stammered a bit.
“Later,” Rafe promised. “Winter will keep Jullien safe where he’s at.”
With Jullien guarded by the Wee One, Rafe ran into the clearing.
The wolves had suddenly appeared as he’d expected, but Bel was holding them at bay with a trio of bobcats, while he fought with the vampire who controlled the wolves.
He saw flashes of Lola, Ryder, and Marcus fighting vampires across the gravel parking lot and in the fringes of the picnic area.
Blood splashed across trees, and animal cries were mixed with very human shouts of pain.
A horrible yelp rose from the bear attempting to maul Nolan.
It limped off toward the woods, leaving Nolan balanced on one knee.
He was breathing heavily, long claw marks across his face and chest. They were slowly healing, but not before he lost a good amount of blood.
Around him were the scattered dead bodies of the MacPherson clan.
“It looks like you didn’t bring enough,” Rafe taunted.
“That’s okay,” Nolan panted. “I had to leave enough behind to make sure we didn’t forget the new Varik fledgling.” Nolan lifted his head and grinned at Rafe. “I knew Marcus wouldn’t allow his fledgling to come play with us. But don’t worry. He won’t survive the night.”
Rafe held on to his smile while secretly praying Marcus couldn’t hear Nolan. His brother didn’t need the distraction. “Thank you. We definitely didn’t want Aiden to feel left out of the fun.”
Nolan’s smile dissolved and his eyes widened.
“You didn’t hear? Yes, Aiden is in town, and he’s looking over our fledgling personally.” Rafe twisted his wrist, letting the blade in his hand cut through the air. The brilliant silver metal caught and danced in the pale moon. “He’ll take care of the remains of your clan. I guarantee it.”
With a growl, Nolan shoved to his feet and attacked Rafe and Philippe. They dodged and slashed. Nolan had a small dagger in his hand that he used to keep Rafe from removing the fucker’s head from his neck, while Philippe attacked with a short sword.
Philippe flashed in and out like a golden hummingbird while Rafe focused on keeping Nolan preoccupied. Each time Philippe lashed out, a new long cut was opened up on Nolan’s body. Arms, legs, torso, neck. He was slowly bleeding him out, weakening him so that he was now swaying on his feet.
Rafe wanted to give Philippe this. He wanted Nolan to die from a thousand cuts.
The pain needed to swallow Nolan whole after what Philippe and his clan had been put through.
But there wasn’t time. The rest of the Variks were fighting for their lives, trying to eliminate the MacPhersons.
Marcus’s home was under attack. They needed to return to check on Aiden, Gideon, and Ethan.
Only when Nolan was awash in his own blood did Rafe finally step back. “We need to finish this,” Rafe murmured.
Philippe gave a jerky nod before he knocked away Nolan’s blade with enough force that bone cracked, and the knife spun around through the air. Nolan cradled his shattered wrist against his chest, glaring at Philippe. “You’ll never be one of them.”
“I was born to be one of them.” He held his hand out and Rafe tossed him the sword he’d been using. Philippe caught it and used both his short sword and Rafe’s in a scissoring motion to slice Nolan’s head off in one smooth movement.
The body collapsed in a heap while the head bounced and rolled across the gravel parking lot.
Lowering the swords, Philippe turned and took one step toward Rafe. His lover needed him. Rafe swallowed past the lump in his throat and pulled him tightly into his arms. He kissed his blood-splattered face, relieved Philippe was alive and safe.
“Philippe Varik does have a nice ring to it,” he whispered against Rafe’s chest.
Rafe chuckled. “A perfect name.”
“We should check on the other Variks before I worry about the monogrammed towels.”
Rafe didn’t want to let him go, but he was so very right.
He needed to help the rest of their family.
But he was already checking along the magical ties to his blood brothers.
Marcus and Winter were close by, and he didn’t sense any problems. He certainly would have known if something horrible was wrong.
Only Bel worried him. His sweet twin was upset.
Releasing Philippe, Rafe quickly swept his eyes over the area.
Marcus, Lola, and Ryder were finishing up the last couple of MacPherson vampires by the SUVs.
Bodies of animals and vampires were everywhere.
The cleanup was going to be massive. He usually didn’t think about expenses, but the bill from the cleaning crew would be painful to see.
Bel was almost exactly where he left him, but he was standing over the dead body of the vampire who controlled the wolves.
Blood covered him, but there were only a few healing cuts.
His arms were held out as if he were trying to hold some invisible foe at bay.
In front of him were the wolves that had attacked Rafe.
And on either side of the wolves were the bobcats.
“Go check on Winter and Jullien,” Rafe said as he slowly approached his twin. He was afraid to distract him, but he wanted to help in some way.
“They don’t want to leave.” Bel’s soft voice wavered with an unexpected mix of sorrow and confusion.
“He was their master. They’re attached,” Rafe replied. It wasn’t easy keeping his voice even. It wasn’t the wolves’ fault they attacked him. They were only doing what they were trained for. Of course, that didn’t mean he was going to relax around them.
“No, they don’t want to leave me.”
Rafe blinked at his brother in shock. “Can you get in their heads?”
“No. I just get flashes of emotion. Fear mostly. Sadness. Hopelessness. But I can’t send the bobcats away until the wolves leave. I’m getting tired.”
Rafe stared at the wolves, unnerved by the intelligence he could clearly see staring back at him. These were not your average wolves, but he hadn’t a clue as to how they were different. They looked like big, fluffy wolves to him, except that they’d clearly imprinted on Bel. Not good.
“Go! Shoo! Go away!” Rafe shouted, waving his hands at them.
“Seriously, Rafe?”
But the larger of the two wolves snuffed at Rafe and turned. The smaller one followed, and they disappeared into the woods at a fast trot.
Bel spun on Rafe and held up a finger. “Not a word!”
“But—” Rafe started, nearly choking on his laughter.
“Not. One.”
“Go check on your bear. I think Nolan broke one of his legs, and he needs you.”
“Motherfucker!” Bel started to leave, but then he turned back and pulled Rafe into a brutal hug. “So proud of you, my sweet brother,” he whispered.
Rafe closed his eyes and hugged his sweaty, filthy brother. “And I love you, my sweet Bel.”
With his twin off to look over his giant black bear, Rafe wandered to where Philippe was kneeling next to Jullien.
His wrist was pressed to Jullien’s mouth as the other vampire fed from him.
Rafe’s blood boiled in a flash and he clenched his teeth, but he shoved the feeling down when Philippe looked up at him, relief and joy clearly written on his face.
After everything Philippe had lost, after being betrayed so horribly, Rafe could push his petty jealousy aside.
Philippe needed to be there for his old friend.
It didn’t change the fact that Philippe belonged to him and him alone.
“Bel?” Winter asked as he stepped over to Rafe.
“Taking care of his bear.”
Winter shook his head. “Jesus fuck,” he muttered. “He got a damn bear.”
“And bobcats,” Rafe added. “The wolves were trying to adopt him.”
“I guess we’re lucky he spends all his time in the lab.”
Rafe grunted and then remembered Nolan’s final threat. “You should grab Marcus and the others. Head to his house. Nolan mentioned sending vampires to kill Ethan.”
“We’ll make sure everything is cleaned up there.”
“I’ll bring Bel and Jullien with us when they’re ready.”
Winter jogged off toward the parking lot to round up the rest of the clan. Rafe wasn’t too worried about Aiden, because…well, he was Aiden.
Jullien lowered Philippe’s wrist from his mouth and sighed heavily. He tilted his head up at Rafe and frowned. “Philippe said he’s a Varik now.”
Rafe flashed his lover a grin. “He was born to be a Varik.” He turned his gaze to Jullien. “But there is still a little more room in our clan if you wish to join us. I know it would make Philippe happy.” Rafe paused and sighed extravagantly. “And I would find some way to tolerate you.”
“I’m not moving into that damn deathtrap you call a penthouse.”
“Certainly not!”
No, but maybe he could live with Lola.
That was an excellent idea. Lola could teach Jullien to have a little fun, and Jullien could possibly keep Lola out of trouble.
A brilliant idea since he was planning to spend a great deal of time with Philippe Varik in and out of their bed.