Our Enemies
Thyra:
Rushing down the secured medical hall, reminding me of a trauma unit with thick glass doors and medical equipment setup in each private room. Sliding to a halt as two male nurses slid across the floor in crumpled heaps of muscle, slamming into the cinderblock wall across from the roaring screams with grunting ‘oufs’, followed by the mangled metal of the bed railings clanking loudly to a stop right before the doorway.
“WHERE IS SHE? BAILEY!” Peyton’s growling screams spooked me for a split second, shaking it off quickly squaring back my shoulders, lifting my head like the trained warrior I was, stalking into the destroyed room.
“PEYTON DELOIS! SIT YOUR ASS DOWN OR I’LL FUCKING KNOCK IT DOWN. PICK?” Standing firmly with my arms crossed over my heaving chest, snarling out a warning staring at the confused expression etched darkly in those deep honey-ambered eyes.
His tanned flesh slightly marked by soft pink patches of scar tissue where his flesh had been badly charred, his dark auburn locks shaggy and tousled with an extreme case of bedhead. The soft, mint-colored scrub bottoms barely clung to his muscular hips as his legs wobbled his slightly underweight frame to a medical stool that was pushed into a corner, flopping down with a grumbling sigh.
“She’s fierce and scary.” Max chuckled softly from the hallway, receiving a coughed laugh from Rocko as they watched on in curiosity. Exhaling the anxious feeling that swirled through my body, kicking the plastic chunks of what was once a heart monitor away so that I could lean back against the cinderblock wall scraped and marred by claws, possibly by a few of the medical machines that laid twisted and shattered along the smoothed concrete flooring painted in a soft gray.
“Before you open that trap of a mouth, you’ll sit there and listen to every word that is spoken, if not, I have no issue showing you what your Great-grandfather taught me.” Cracking out my neck, feeling the bones pop into place. Max and Rocko stepped into the open doorway, blocking off any attempt at escape, reacting to Peyton’s snarling growl as his honey-ambered eyes turned black with anger.
“Don’t you even dare snarl at them. They have spared your life on my behalf, hoping by the fucking grace of the Gods, that I can change your perspective on the way things were indoctrinated in you by your father and uncle.” Tossing a wink at both men as they stood solid like the reinforced walls surrounding us.
“Pssft…What do you know that could possibly change my thinking? Twenty years of fuckery is next to impossible to fix lady.” Snarling lowly at his attitude and the way he used ‘lady’ like I was beneath him in status.
Fuck you Myles! You deserve everything coming to you plus more for hurting my babies, but Peyton has a chance at redemption.
“You will show respect to Thyra Moirana of the Black Claw clan, your mother.” Rocko snarled deeply in unison with Max, smirking at the spooked expression that sank Peyton’s stony façade.
“You died giving birth to Bain. Dad said you bled out.” His confused expression searched between our faces for any form of deceit, but only found honesty, slumping forward into his hands as his muscular body trembled with troubled sobs.
Motioning to both men to stay, slowly approaching Peyton’s hunched pose as the salty tears plipped heavily against the concrete flooring, gently squeezing his shoulder.
“He lied to you and your brother. He sent a witch to kill me, but she turned me into a rat to protect me from him. I had no idea what kind of family the DeLois’ were, but when I found out the monsters they truly were, I fought back. Your father denied me the right to raise you, and when I found out I was pregnant with Bain, I knew I had to do anything to escape.” Coughing back a sob that choked the air from my lungs as his blackened honey-ambered orbs snapped to mine, snarling out a threatening curse, smacking my hand away from his shoulder.
“You were going to abandon me, and save my heartless brother?” His cold words sliced my heart deeply, standing firmly staring at his muscular frame as he stood towering over me.
“No. I was going to escape and come back for you with my clan. I knew your grandfather, my father, traded me to settle debts with the DeLois family, so I was going to call your Great-grandfather Jorvik, my mother’s father. I was raised in the traditional ways of the Nordic clans, just like my mother and her brothers. I knew my call for help wouldn’t go unanswered, but your uncle and his trained fighters intercepted me about fifty miles from the estate. I was treated like prisoner, caged, fed, verbally, mentally, and physically tortured until I gave birth to Bain.” Gasping back a sob that tore through my chest, pressing a closed fist to my sealed lips trying to fight back the tears that threatened to break my resolve.
“Your father had no idea about my family lineage, we’re considered ‘immortal’. The only true way to kill a Black Claw descendant is to cut out its heart and stab a pure silver dagger forged over the flames of wolfsbane and Nordic spruce. Why do you think you’re still breathing? That broken neck, or those deep burns wouldn’t have killed you.” Reaching out for his trembling hand as his honey-ambered eyes swirled back and forth between him and his beast, gripping his warm hand with a reassuring smile.
“Mom.” His choked voice trembled out as the muscular man that stood proudly in front of me, crumbled to the ground like a small child, clenching tightly to my shoulders as his tears soaked my t-shirt. Rubbing soothing circles along his shivering back muscles, looking back as Max and Rocko relaxed their tensed poses, leaning against the doorframe casually with soft smiles.
“He took her mom. He took our ‘little star’.” His trembling voice cracked heavily against the pained sob that ripped from his chest, pulling back enough to wipe away his soggy tears with gentle thumbs.
“I heard she rejected you, but Dax had other intentions. Am I correct?” Asking firmly about the information we had received from Desmond and Izzy.
“S-She tried to reject me, but the pain made me realize I still had a heart. Dax refused point blank and square between the eyes, then Helmer stepped in, hurting her, mocking her, so Dax took over. We know where that got us.” Smiling at his calm recollection of events.
“Dax is smarter than you give him credit for, but would it ease your mind to know she’s okay? She’s currently under the care of the Vampire realm, Peyton, Helmer changed her. She’s now part vampire.” Studying his swirling eyes as Dax fought to surface but faded back to a steady hue of swirling blackness around his iris’.
“When can I see her? I need to apologize for being a complete asshole.” Standing slowly with him as his eyes darted between the two men leaning against the doorframe.
“Peyton, meet Rocko Narvik, my mate and Sir Max Silvermoon, my brother, your uncle.” Snickering softly knowing he already knew both men, but the situation has changed and now he has two strong males to teach him properly.
“Sir Max is your brother? But he’s hybrid.” Peyton’s body went rigid under my palms, trembling violently as both men stepped forward offering their empty hands as a non-threatening sign. Gripping his biceps enough to get his attention as Dax fought to surface, snapping my fingers in his face to get his attention.
“Your grandmother sent me photos of him shortly after your birth, he’s about a year or so older. His father was wolf, a strong one, we’re still researching that part but right after my father paid his debts with me as his trade, my grandfather got involved. Knowing the type of man he was, a ‘Blood Eagle’ was sure to have followed.” Grinning at the coughing grunts that sounded behind my back, not to mention the horrified expression stretched across Peyton’s face. Patting his muscular shoulders, examining the fine young man that stood before me, trying to erase the nineteen years of painful reminders with the smiling, soft eyed expression that cupped my cheek in warmth.
“I’m so sorry mom. I knew deep down that something wasn’t right, but I let dad and Uncle Titan influence me along with Bain. Please forgive me?” Gasping in shock as his muscular frame dropped to his knees, clutching to my hands as tears streamed freely from his bright honey-ambered eyes, looking around my stunned body at Max and Rocko with pleading eyes.
“How would you like to make it up to her?” Max spoke in a scary tone, shivering under the sheer coldness of his words as Peyton looked at me with a silent determination, standing to his feet with his head bowed.
“Anything for her.” His words sparked a prideful glee inside my heart, reaching for Rocko’s hand as he pulled me into his chest, placing a gentle kiss to my forehead.
“Titan, Myles, and Bain have been captured and are scheduled to face sentencing against Queen Mei Rockwell, and Elicia Nightshade inside the arena. Now that your mom is back to her human-self, the invitation is open to her as well. She may choose for you to join her or not, it’s up to her on this matter, but I think a solid round of justice is deserved. Don’t you?” Max chuckled deeply, stepping back slowly with a Cheshire grin that would make the cat jealous.
“What about Bailey? When do I get to see her?” Exhaling slowly, looking at Max for that answer because he knew more about the situation and how volatile she really was.
“One thing at a time. You’re still on a lot of ‘shit lists’ with the realms but facing your family will be the deciding factor whether you live or you die. Understood?” Pulling aside my shirt collar, exposing the Black Claw family crest on the opposite side from my mating mark.
“This family crest is only passed on to those who display a ‘fighters heart’, one day I hope to see this mark on your right shoulder, but first, face your blood enemies.” Motioning for everyone to leave, hearing the thunderous chanting echoing through the thick walls as the elevator awaited our arrival.
Standing dead-center with my baby brother to the left, one of my sons to my right, and my mate behind me, anchoring us all as the elevator carried us to face our next phase.
Our Enemies.