235

I frowned at Ryder as the pilot of the private jet announced our destination. We were heading to Mexico, hours from Guatemala. He ignored my not so subtle looks and each time I tried to get him alone, he busied himself with Maxim.

We drove in a large convoy into the resort town of Puerto Vallarta. I sat in the back of the SUV that Ryder drove and a huge walled estate came into view. The overpowering scent of wolf caught my attention as the gates opened and Ryder drove inside.

An old man stood by the bottom of the steps, a younger man’s arm under his elbow. “Ryder Grey! You are a sight for sore eyes my old friend!”

“Gideon, it’s good to see you!”

“You remember my son, Phillipe.”

Ryder and the old man hugged briefly and he shook hands with the younger man, who was also smiling. Wolves and vampires eyed each other and Maxim climbed out when I did. The old man regarded me with a smile on his face even though I didn’t smile back.

“Ah you brought the Dragon Slayer with you.” Gideon regarded me coolly and then stuck out his hand that I shook. This man had power at his fingertips and you had to respect that.

“Wynter Grey and this is Maxim Williams.”

Gideon didn’t look fazed. “I know exactly who the Vampire King is. Today we have surely made history gentlemen.”

Gideon led the way inside and while his estate was large I doubted that he could house all of us at once. He led us into the dining room that was now transformed into an operations room. Clark stood up from a seat and I smiled.

“Clark.” We hugged and he slapped me on the back.

“Did you doubt that I’d come to your aid after all you did for our realm?”

Milo and Clark hugged as well and we greeted the fifteen men that regarded us with smiles. I knew each and every one of them and it was a bittersweet reunion. Gideon gave instructions and coffee and food appeared on side tables set against the walls.

“I have sent ten of my men to Aldea Raxjut as Marcel requested additional security. They send daily reports of his fortifications and they have reported the arrival of one hostage, Shae Grey. She is unharmed but disorientated and she’s being injected with Dragon’s Lily. Apparently she is not the docile girl Marcel thought she was after she killed five of his men.”

Ryder blinked the pride from his eyes and settled down in a seat next to Gideon. “What other intelligence have your men sent? How many men does he have?”

“He has fifty vampires at his compound, he has moved her from the underground bunker to a cell in the compound. It is easier to defend than the bunker is. We all know how the bunker was breached the first time.” He gave Ryder a look and smiled.

“That’s good, we can attack a compound better than we can a bunker. We have twenty vampire warriors, fifteen hunters and us. We can take fifty of them.” Ryder’s determination didn’t waver once.

“You forget the ten wolves inside already.”

That gave us a total of forty-five highly trained warriors. Ryder had already thought this through and called in favours from people I never knew he had befriended. Nobody really befriended Gideon Delanie and his reputation was well known.

Josh, a hunter from the Unit, brought up satellite feeds of the compound and we all got a look at it from above. We spent the next three hours showing out weak spots, points we could infiltrate and how best to get our men inside.

“It's over thirty hours to drive to Aldea Raxjut from here. Reports of our convoy will reach Marcel’s ears long before we’re there.” Clark had a good point but with the way that Ryder was smiling I knew we’d be flying in.

“We’ll be flying in, it will take us roughly four hours to fly there with the added weight.”

“There’s nowhere to land near the compound and once again we’ll be spotted and give our position away. There’s no way Marcel’s not gearing up for a fight, he knows someone will come for her.”

I turned towards Clark and shared a look with Ryder. “We’ll by flying in on our dragons.”

“Shit, I was afraid you’d say that. Listen you two are the only ones who fly your dragons, it’s not common practice for dragonkin to actually fly their dragons.” His voice had gone up a notch and for the first time in my life I saw Clark nervous.

“Your dragons will submit to Echo and follow his lead, it’s as easy as that. All you guys have to do is hold on and jump when we circle the compound.”

“My men will take control of the access points and the gates will be open for you to just walk through.”

“I’ve always liked a grand entrance.” Our heads turned as one at the lone voice that bellowed from the hallway.

Ryder smiled first and then I recognized him. His British accent was hard to forget even for a five year old. Ryder and Elio hugged as Gideon smirked and I knew that he had been expecting him.

“I told you not to come.”

“Since when have I ever listened to you, asshole?”

“Uncle Elio.” Milo pushed past me as they hugged and I saw the emotion in Elio’s eyes.

“Milo … you look well boy. You still showering with Wynter?”

Maxim’s brow lifted in a comical fashion as he turned to stare at me. “You’re manhood just took a dive.”

“I hate you, Uncle Elio, almost as much as I hate Milo.” I smiled as he grinned at me and we finally hugged.

“King Maxim.” Elio took a knee and bowed his head. “I see you’ve all met my godfather, Gideon. Let’s go kill some leeches.”

The shrill ringing of my phone interrupted the moment and I walked out of the dining room to answer the private number that flashed across my screen. “Grey.”

“Daddy?”

“Hello, Princess. Are you okay?”

“I love you, Daddy.”

“I love you more, Princess.”

“Come home soon, Daddy.”

The call ended with her kissing the speaker and I smiled as the front doors opened and my breath hitched in my throat.

“You and I will still have a conversation about your disappearance.”

I bowed my head and took a knee in front of him. “King Sorin.”

“Stand up, Wynter. I know where your loyalties lay. Now let’s get these warriors in on the plan and get little Shae home.”

For the first time vampires, wolves and dragons would fight together against a common enemy. Kings gathered together for the first time and it made me proud to know that we could all put our differences aside and fight together.

“King Gideon, King Maxim, a welcome sight you two are.” I looked at Gideon who’s expression gave nothing away as he caught my gaze.

“King Sorin, my house is your house but enough with the titles and bullshit. We have work to do and an enemy to kill.”

We discussed our plans and Sorin listened quietly and made one or two recommendations. As dinnertime arrived we had finally all agreed on a plan. Sorin’s warriors were trained to fly their dragons, a fact I was pleased to hear.

We would leave at midnight, land on the outskirts of Marcel’s territory at four am. The wolves inside would open the gates for us and we’d literally walk inside and start attacking. I was confident in the knowledge that Marcel wouldn’t hurt Shae, she was too valuable to him as a possible chosen half.

Chances were though that he’d run with her and instead of sleeping as Gideon’s estate quieted down I kept thinking about Marcel running. If he ran we wouldn’t find him so easily again, that’s what worried me.

I waited until ten pm and I quietly made my way from the room I’d been assigned and strapped on my old Unit uniform and weapons that Clark had brought with him. It felt familiar and safe and it steeled my resolve in what I had to do.

I was Ghost and tonight, probably for the last time, I’d slip that mask on and be the Winter Ghost once again. In that moment as I slipped outside and ran for the cover of the trees, Gideon’s wolves not once noticing me, I didn’t care if I died, as long as Shae got away.

Echo was quiet as we flew towards Guatemala and Aldea Raxjut. He was in stealth mode now, both of us in agreement about our mission. Our bloodlust was at its highest, our heartrate even and slower than normal, our scent masked and our resolve steadfast.

Echo made the four hour journey in three and kept his wings still as he soared over the compound once and I jumped from his back. Echo merged with me before I landed on the roof with a tuck and roll and the vampire sneered at me as I got to my feet.

His eyes showed surprise as he looked down and I pulled my hand from his chest. He slumped down softly and I moved forward softly. The two knives were now in my hands as my eyes glowed yellow and I stood against one corner quietly and waited for the other one to find me.

“Rove …” My knives dug into the side of his neck and pierced the skin. His blood oozed past my fingers as he gasped for breath and I ripped his throat out.

I slipped through a wooden shutter and stood in what looked like an attic. There were six beds along one wall where the roof sloped and I slipped the pistol from my thigh and shot the four sleeping vampires in their heads.

At the far end of the attic was another door and it creaked lightly as I opened it and closed it behind me. The stairs were cast in darkness and I moved slowly and methodically. There were doors on either side of the hall, some open and others closed.

I killed fifteen more vampires that were in different stages of either sleeping, getting dressed and two right in the throes of passion. I caught a familiar scent that reminded me of Maxim and I knew Marcel was close by or had been recently.

The next floor had more open doors than closed ones and I made quick work of the seven vampires on that floor. The ground floor of the compound was completely deserted and I followed my instincts and headed for the basement stairs.

“He knows we’re here.” Echo’s grumble made me halt in my steps.

“Sensor alarms …”

In the basement I heard shuffling and dripping water. The first few cells housed Gideon’s wolves, all in different stages of healing. I broke the locks on those doors and one man opened his eyes groggily. “Get your brothers up. I’m Wynter Grey and I’m getting you out of here.”

“He has many warriors.” The man stood up and I gripped his shoulder trying to give him some semblance of hope.

“How many?”

“Two hundred at least.”

Echo breathed out smoke through his nostrils at that information. Marcel had been waiting patiently for us to make our move. He was smarter than any of us had given him credit for.

“Where’s the girl?”

“In his chambers, dragon, he keeps her chained to his bed.”