Page 14

Mac

“W e have the van, it’s moving away from the town. Out into the country,” Ranson cried, standing up.

“Do you think she is on it? We saw her escape? I heard her call for me,” Mac asked, desperate. “I can’t feel her bond anymore, either. That van can’t be shielded.”

“What are you thinking?”

“The camera feeds turned off. But I can’t sense her. She’s still there. Simon wouldn’t have killed them. He wanted the world to know he was right. He’s running. I bet anything Alainen has just raised his ugly head and has her, which means we are fast running out of time,” Mac replied.

“The Legends are chasing the van now. They’re fifteen minutes behind,” Ranson said.

“That’s fifteen minutes we are wasting. I think she’s in a warehouse. Which one? I don’t know, but let’s head there, and we’re on hand in case I’m right,” Mac replied. He needed to do something. It had been two days of watching Lanie suffer.

“If you’re sure,” Ranson responded.

“Hell no, I couldn’t be less certain, but I can’t sit here any longer. Lanie and my kids are out there. I got to find them,” Mac replied.

Mac knew Ranson could hear the agony in his voice, and Ranson nodded.

“Come on, Cuz, let’s get your family,” Ranson said.

Vladimir/Vampire

As fast as the van was travelling, it couldn’t out speed the Legends. They were on it as soon as Ranson had called it in. Mary planned to use the van’s wing mirrors to move the Legends, and they could see the sweaty human driving it. Fear rolled off him in waves. It was Simon Clare, and he was clearly fleeing something.

“I’ll go first,” Vladimir said, shifting into Vampire.

Mary opened the portal, and Vampire flowed through it. He landed in the seat next to Simon.

Simon jumped and stared as the van swerved out of control.

Vampire wrenched it to a stop, overturning it down a grass verge and grunted as he landed on top of the human.

Vampire dragged him out of the smashed front window and shook Simon hard.

“He’s pissed himself,” Swamp Creature hissed, appearing.

“Oh God. Monsters are real!” Simon squealed.

“Where is the woman you kidnapped?” Vampire demanded, shaking Simon.

“I knew she was one of you!” Simon howled. “I won’t tell. You’ll have to kill me!”

“Rip his head open, I’ll eat his brain and discover where she is,” Frankenstein roared.

Simon passed out in fear.

“The great hero!” Dullahan sneered. “I’d not even shown him my party trick yet.” The head under his arm caught alight, and flames danced around it. Sighing, Dullahan put it out.

“Can you read his mind?” Frankenstein asked.

“Yeah. It’s foul and a cesspit, and he has an inflated opinion of himself. He’s not certain Lanie is Lamia because she wouldn’t shift. But he really wanted to cut her open. He was going to get off on that. Here, I have it, send this to Mac immediately,” Vampire ordered, reeling off the address.

“What do we do with him?” Swamp Creature asked.

“We’re going to leave him alive and send a message,” Vampire said with a grin.

Frankenstein frowned. “Is that wise?”

“Yes. Lanie needs to die. She will die at his hands. In his head, she’ll go hideous and in pain. He’ll have sliced Lanie open and ripped her human babies from her, which killed her. Simon will be convinced that Lanie was Lamia until the autopsy is done. That’ll prove she’s human. Slowly, doubts will creep in and drive him crazy as he realises he was brainwashed willingly by Alainen.

“Before he goes totally insane, Simon will tell everyone all he knows about the Hunters. He’ll liken them to a cult and name names. He will spill everything he has on them, and they’ll become famous for murdering Lanie. The Hunters will become the hunted. Then and only then shall Simon succumb to insanity for killing an innocent woman,” Vampire said.

“Oh, that is bad. That’s bloody genius,” Frankenstein replied with a smirk. “A healthy dose of Fear will help.”

“Will he remember us?” Swamp Creature asked.

“No. He’ll never know.” Vampire grinned.

“Good. Let’s go,” Dullahan declared, looking around him. “We are too in the open.”

“Call Mary. We need to support Mac,” Vampire agreed.

Luckily for them, Mary only needed a sliver of mirror to open a portal, and she did so instantly. Usually, they carried a small pocket mirror but, in their haste, they’d forgotten it. And plus, mirrors were abundant nowadays.

Mac

He looked at the text he received.

“Turn around, we’re heading the wrong way. Lanie is at the old glass works,” he announced.

“Damn, that makes sense,” Ranson said, spinning the wheel. He performed an illegal U-turn and shot off down a dual carriageway in the direction of the immense building. It’d been used for a multitude of things, but there were rooms underneath that had been used to store dangerous materials, so it made sense why Mac couldn’t feel Lanie.

Fear was coiling in his gut. Because Vampire had confirmed that the van had been empty and only Simon had been inside. Which meant either someone else had Lanie or Alainen had caught her. And if Alainen had Lanie, she didn’t have long at all.

“Put your foot down,” Mac demanded hoarsely. Lanie’s life was in danger; he sensed it deep in his gut.

Lanie/Lamia

Lanie came to with a groan. Her jaw hurt, and she nearly screamed in frustration when she saw she was back in the cellar. It was still lit, but the cameras had been smashed to smithereens. Lanie was tied to a table, and she yanked on her bonds.

“Irideesa, how could you betray me?” Alainen murmured as he ran his finger down her cheek.

“Who are you?” Lanie demanded. She needed to buy time, and the best way was to play innocent.

“Stop the games,” Alainen replied and slapped her cheek gently. He turned her face roughly to look at him, and Lanie flinched. Alainen’s face creased in anger.

“The scar, Irideesa, look at how you marked me. A warrior of God!” Alainen snarled.

“I don’t know who she is, please let me go,” Lanie begged.

Alainen leant closer and licked the side of her face.

Lanie squirmed.

“Do not lie, Irideesa. Do you think I don’t recognise my own mate?”

“I’m not your friend, we’ve never met?” Lanie denied.

“Stop!” Alainen boomed. “Drop your glamour, or heaven help me, I’ll harm you.”

“I have no clue who you’re talking about. You are all freaking whack jobs. Monsters and strange names and warriors of God. Lunatics!” Lanie yelled.

She hoped to see a momentary doubt in Alainen’s eyes, but instead, they hardened. He drew a dagger from his waist, and Lanie swallowed hard.

Without a word, Alainen stabbed downwards, and Lanie screamed. Alainen stroked her face as he murmured to her. Tears fell from Lanie’s eyes as she saw the dagger enter through her arm and embed into the table.

“Look what you made me do. Irideesa, just drop the glamour,” Alainen muttered.

“That’s what every abusive male says!” Lanie cried.

Alainen’s countenance darkened, and Lanie struggled to get free. He yanked the dagger free and stabbed her other hand. Lanie’s screams bounced off the small room as Alainen once again stroked her.

“Irideesa, you’re my mate, I’d know you anywhere,” Alainen said. “But you betrayed me. Broke our mate bond, do you have any idea of the agony I was in? Did you care?”

“I don’t know what you are talking about,” she replied, crying.

“Liar!” Alainen lifted the knife and held it above her stomach. “Did you think I didn’t hear you say you were pregnant? Your betrayal of me is twofold. How dare you take another man to your bed?”

His arms moved down to stab her unprotected belly when the door burst open.

Mac rushed through it and tackled Alainen, taking him down. Alainen roared as he fought back against Mac, who was in human form.

Ranson followed Mac through the door and headed for her. He grabbed the dagger Alainen had dropped and began cutting the ropes. All the while, his head swivelled to see if they were being filmed.

“Mac!” Lanie screeched as he flew backwards. Mac was a soldier, but he didn’t have the strength of being born as God’s chosen protector.

Alainen went after him, and Mac found himself on the defence.

“Shift!” Lanie screamed.

“I don’t know how!” Mac yelled back as Alainen’s fist hit where his head had been a mere second before.

Lanie sat up and shifted herself.

Alainen roared as he saw Lamia. “You bitch! I knew that was you!”

“You forced a bond on me, you were never my mate!” Lamia cried.

Alainen’s God Sword appeared in his hands as Lamia hissed. “I was yours!” he boomed.

“No. I was yours, you were never mine, you abusive piece of shit!”

Alainen came at her, and Lamia’s own God Sword appeared. She parried his blow and struck back. Alainen dodged her strike, and Ranson scrambled out of the way as they began fighting in earnest. The table went flying as Alainen pressed his attack, insane rage and hate on his side.

Lamia hit him into a wall, leaving a man-shaped dent as she fought for the lives growing inside of her.

Alainen had abused her for thousands of years. And had tricked her before she absorbed Anger. Lamia had righteous anger, and she used every drop of it.

Mac was sitting slumped, shaking his head. Alainen had hit him hard, and Lamia yearned to get to him.

Alainen ran at her like a bull, and she hit him with her tail. “I’ll take your head, foul creature,” he promised.

“You’re going to die today,” Lamia snapped in return. Alainen spun and threw a dagger straight at Mac.

“No!” Lamia screamed.

Mac moved to one side and shifted. Alainen’s eyes widened. “Two of you?”

“My real mate. Not forced on me. It was my bond with Mac that broke your hold on me,” Lamia taunted.

Alainen roared in fury. “I’ll kill you both!”

“You can try,” Lamia cried and launched at him.

Alainen found himself hard-pressed as Mac struck from one side. He swung at Mac, rightfully judging him to be slower and less used to his form. Alainen missed by inches, but Lamia didn’t.

Her sword cut deep in the other side of his face, and blood sprayed everywhere. Blinded, Alainen swung wildly, and Mac hit him with the table.

Alainen stumbled back, and Lamia’s sword cut deep once more.

His eyes widened and held hers as slowly his head rolled off his shoulders.

Lamia gasped as his head fell at her tail, dead eyes looking at her.

“No more than you deserved,” she hissed.

“Are you okay?” Mac demanded, sliding over to her.

“I’ll heal whilst I’m in this form. What do we do now? Simon Clare is still out there,” Lamia asked.

Mac wrapped his arms around her and drew her in close. “We’ll figure that out,” Mac reassured, raining kisses down on her face.

“Lamia!” Vampire shouted as he rushed down the stairs.

“I’m here,” she called, laying her head on Mac’s chest.

“Thank God, sister. I was worried,” Vampire admitted as he slowed down.

“Well, now, time didn’t do him any favours, did it,” Swamp Creature said, looking at Alainen’s head.

“All the cameras have been destroyed, and the laptop smashed to pieces. The footage did cut off when you escaped Clare,” Dullahan explained, his head twisting around.

“That’s good because I was terrified one had continued recording,” Lamia replied. “But I wasn’t going to let him harm my babies. I couldn’t, even if it risked exposing us.”

“I understand,” Vampire soothed, and Lamia knew he did. Vampire had Amari, his precious daughter.

“What do we do now? This is going to be hard to explain,” Mac demanded.

“Burn it,” Ranson suggested.

“No. I’ve an idea. Listen…” Vampire said.

He explained what he’d done to Simon Clare and how they’d left him injured for the police to find. Vampire laid out the last of his plan.

“That’s going to take some manoeuvring,” Mac stated.

“Not really. Lilith can magic a body, I can hypnotise those we need to, and Mac can play the grieving fiancé.”

“Let’s do it,” Lamia said, and Vampire nodded as he called for Lilith.

Lanie/Lamia

“In a shocking turn of events, the world mourns the loss of Lanie Cross this evening. For three days, we all sat mesmerised and prayed for her escape or rescue. Tonight, the sad news was revealed that when Miss Cross escaped her kidnapper, she was recaptured and tortured to death. The suspect, Simon Clare, then fled the warehouse and was involved in a car accident. This led to him being arrested by local police.

“While no details have been announced, it’s been noted that several officers who entered the derelict glass factory were seen to be physically sick. A source has reported that Miss Cross was horrifically tortured and has even announced her unborn babies were cut from her stomach.

“Her fiancé, Mr Joe McIntyre, has been informed and has identified the body. He is said to be highly distraught but thanks everyone for their prayers and well wishes. Mr McIntyre will be arranging Miss Cross’s funeral and that of his children. This is a tragic day for the world who watched and prayed, and gatherings have been held across Miss Cross's hometown and England. Candlelight vigils are being planned and held in respect of what happened.

“The new station is also investigating how Mr Clare was able to hack in and stop them regaining control of their satellite. This allowed him to control the media and not let them block his filming…”

◆◆◆

Mac turned the TV off and dragged Lanie on top of him.

“Bored already?” she asked as she straddled his hips.

“Of you? Never. Of the news? Yes. But everything’s going to be fine. We’ve a plan in place, and you’re safe once more,” Mac soothed.

“But I can’t go out into the world again. I’m either constrained here or Refuge. I’ll miss my freedom,” Lanie complained.

“Baby, I know,” Mac said and rubbed her arms.

Lanie’s likeness had been plastered everywhere. Nobody would be able to walk past Lanie and not recognise her. Lanie bitterly regretted losing her freedom and knew it was permanent. Her human shifter side had been bust wide open. Even if a hundred years should pass, Lanie would be recognised by photographs. Her future in the world was over.

An uncomfortable prickling bubbled over her skin, and Lanie rubbed at her arms where Mac had been touching her. Had there been something on his hands.

The sensation increased uncomfortably, and Lanie gasped.

“Lanie?” Mac asked, but he seemed to be a long way away.

“Something’s wrong. Call Lilith,” Lanie demanded as her skin felt like it had caught on fire. There wasn’t pain, but she felt like she was shedding her skin like a snake. It reached fever pitch and then suddenly faded.

“What the hell?” Lanie demanded.

Mac let out a squeak, and she was dumped on her ass as he shot out of bed.

“Mac?” Lanie asked.

“Who are you, and where’s Lanie!?” Mac yelled.

“What?”

“Where is my fiancée?” Mac shouted as he backed away from her.

“Right here, you blasted idiot,” Lanie snapped and blinked. Her voice sounded different. She raised a hand and paused. Her hand was paler and daintier.

“Mac!” Lanie wailed. “What’s happening?”

“Lanie?” Mac asked, confused.

“Yes!” Lanie shrieked as Lily entered. She spotted Lanie sitting on the bed and changed into Lilith.

“Who the hell are you? How did you get here? Why haven’t the alarms gone off?” Lilith demanded.

“It’s me!”

“Who’s me?” Lilith retorted, her hands lifting in an attack.

“Put those weapons down! It’s me, something’s wrong. Have I shifted?” Lanie exclaimed.

“Lanie?” Lilith asked, peering at her.

“Yes. Someone, tell me what’s happening!”

“You are no longer Lanie. Or the Lanie you were, how damn confusing. You’re a redhead, sister, with green eyes and freckles. The complete opposite of your usual human form,” Lilith explained as Mac kept his hands held high.

“Why are you doing that?” Lilith asked, exasperated.

“Because one moment I was fondling Lanie, and the next she was in my bed. Yeah, until I get confirmation that’s my woman, I want my hands free and clear!” Mac snapped.

“I didn’t need to know that, Mac!” Lilith retorted.

“Then don’t ask. If you’re Lanie, shift,” he ordered Lanie.

Lanie did, and everyone relaxed.

“There’s my girl!” Mac stated and walked towards her to fold her in his arms.

“Change again,” Lilith demanded, and Lanie did.

“Well, that’s a surprise. You are a redhead,” Lilith said, shifting back to Lily.

Lanie frowned and headed for a mirror. “Oh!” she exclaimed. “How has this happened?”

“I think it’s the spell we cast. We asked that your identity be hidden from the human world. Because you’re now not hidden from the world, the spell has reactivated and remodelled your shifter form,” Lily mused.

“It can do that?” Lanie gasped.

“I’d have said no, but with you being pregnant and the universal danger to you, it’s possible.”

“Damn,” Lanie replied, looking at Mac.

“I’ll love you no matter what, but I can’t help feeling like I’m betraying you with another woman,” Mac replied with a short laugh.

“I can see why.” Lily giggled as she began leaving their bedroom. “Next time, Mac, try not to bellow so loudly. You almost gave poor Jess a heart attack when you reached out to us, although I can see why. Having a strange woman straddling you must have been disconcerting!”

“Sorry,” Mac murmured as he studied Lanie. “This is damn confusing,” he finally admitted, and Lanie laughed.

“Poor you. Did you think I’d been spirited away?”

“Yes, I was ready to break your neck. Can we not do that too often?” Mac demanded.

“I didn’t know we could, and Lily did not either. But it gives us hope if we’re outed,” Lanie replied.

“I love you, babe, I do not care what you look like as long as you don’t change inside,” Mac said, dropping a kiss on her lips.

Lanie smiled and placed her hand on her stomach. “I thought love had passed me by, and then you came along and proved me wrong! Thank you for being you.”

There was hope. They had Refuge, and several other shifters had returned to them.

The Hunters might be hunting, but they’d lost a leader, and Alainen had been killed. Soon, Simon Clare would start spilling the beans on what he knew. And the Hunters would be outed as a cult.

A battle was coming. And this time, the Legends didn’t stand alone. And that was a relief.

But for now, all Lanie needed to know was that she was loved. And that was the most precious gift of all.