One on one, a fairer battle for sure, and one I fully intended to come out the victor of.
He shot flames at me, surprised I came through them unscathed. The less that these idiots knew of our abilities, the better off we were. I flew by him so fast, he had no time to respond, nor put up his guard, as a single talon drew a gash across his unprotected chest.
Ionus had already defeated his assailants and was helping Mattias. I dove down, landing so hard the earth beneath me shook. I partially shifted and wrapped my claws around the first one I came across.
“Where is my mate?” I snarled. There was no mistaking my words, though they came out in a harsh growl.
“I’ll never tell,” he snarled, I squeezed tighter and he gasped. “I-I don’t know.”
“Liar!” I tightened my grip, feeling a couple of his ribs snap.
“Brother,” Ionus tapped my shoulder. “We need them for questioning. Dead, they serve no purpose.”
“I am questioning.” My rage fueled words stunned my brother as much as myself. “Where is my mate!” I screamed and reached for the half-shifted assailant, the remnants of his burned wing still simmered in the air.
“I’ll never tell,” he snarled and in a bold move carved his own heart out. His body now one with the earth.
“Fuck! Anyone else care to die today?” I growled at the others, who lay cowering around us, but no replies came.
“Gather them and we’ll take them to the dungeons for interrogating,” Ionus demanded. “Odem, dispose of the dead first.”
“As you wish, brother.” My flame heated to a deadly level, hot enough to reduce their bones to a brittle calcified state. I made a point to crush them beneath my talons, melding them with the soil, leaving nothing behind. A show to the survivors what could easily happen to them.
Remind me to never piss you off, brother,Mattias teased as we gathered the survivors and headed for the precinct.
Caro, Quint, status update,Ionus requested.
Nothing yet,Caro replied.Raven added a spell to disallow Ronan in until we rescue him so they can’t use his blood to get past the wards.
Alex has Larkin and his officers meeting us at the station. I’ll stay and interrogate them and send Mattias and Odem your way.
That couldn’t happen fast enough. Any time not spent searching for Ronan was wasted time. Given I now felt how Caro did when we saved Emerson, none of the prisoners were safe in my presence. Caro ripping one apart held nothing on the rage I harbored.
The scent of burning flesh permeated my senses, a driving force to find my mate and destroy those who took him.
I never claimed to be a saint, but I’d protect my loved ones by whatever means necessary.
Firmly secured in the new cells we’d constructed after the last escape, as we turned to walk away when one of them spoke.
“We’re coming for you, Protectors.”
Ionus snarled. “Bring it on.”
“Omegas are disposable incubators. You’re wasting your time protecting them.”
A fireball left before I could contain it, not that I would have, taking the man out in a single flame. The others gasped and jumped back. Huh, maybe now they’d talk.
“Anyone else care to test us?” I asked. They said nothing but stayed glued to the perimeter walls they’d retreated to as soon as the flame left me, staring at the pile of ash and bone that was once their comrade.
“Clean up on aisle twelve,” Mattias joked, which was rare. “Let’s go find your mate.”
Without further direction from Ionus, we took to the skies, scanning every inch of the terrain as we flew over it toward home. Quint crossed our paths mid-flight.
I’m heading over the mountainside.
I’ll follow you,Mattias said.
Quint and Caro hovered directly over the compound.
