Holding it in one hand, Cody smiled at his mate. “Don’t worry, babe, everything will be just fine.”
Giving his mate a quick kiss, Dylon then looked at Fionn. “How about you Fionn? Ready to get your mate back?”
Nodding vigorously, Fionn rose, his nervousness dissipating as the love he had for Hunter took its place, giving him the confidence needed to carry out his role. When Dylon first explained the plan to him and Jackson, it called for the uncle to be taken and handed over to the High Council for punishment but Fionn objected; it would still keep him and his mate on edge, never knowing if there’d be another attempt to hurt them. Now his uncle would die, as he should, for everything he’d done to Hunter and Fionn. Standing beside Dylon, Fionn summoned his portal— then stepped in it with Cody.
~/~/~/~/~
Once his attackers closed the door at the top of the steps, Hunter raised his head, searching the room to make sure he was alone. He finally had the last piece of information he needed, confirming what he’d thought—the uncle was using him as bait to lure Fionn. With time running out and, in total agreement with his wolf as to what to do, Hunter did what he should have done at the courthouse. “White Knight!” A flash of brilliant light filled the room and all of his restraints fell to the ground.
Rising, Hunter raised his right hand in which a silver sword had appeared. Pointing it at the opposite wall, his eyebrows arched in surprise when a bolt of lightning emerged from its tip, ending at the spot his eyes were focused on, sending the stone there crumbling onto the floor. Looking over his left shoulder, he saw a huge white wing; checking his other side, he found its mate. Flexing his back muscles, he watched as the wings rose, spreading out until they were fully extended and grinned at the power he felt in them. Looking down, he smiled when he saw the skin-tight white pants he was wearing.
Cocking his head to one side, Hunter heard what was being said by the people on the floor above him. Checking the rest of his senses, he discovered they were far superior to those he had as a wolf—something he’d have to ask Oracle about. Zeroing in on Fionn’s uncle, he listened intently to his conversation, smirking at what he heard. Then, folding his wings against his back he sidled over to the far corner of the room, concealing himself in the shadows, just as the door to his prison opened again.
Chapter 42
“You know, if I give the wolf this shot, he’ll die,” said one of the attackers.
“I told our client that, but he insisted,” replied the leader.
“Fucking asshole…if he wanted him dead, why make us take him alive? It would’ve been easier just to kill him.”
“How the fuck do I know?”
Remaining hidden, Hunter listened as the men descended the staircase, knowing they’d soon discover their prisoner missing.
“We should get paid extra for this job…my brother was killed by that fuckin’ incredible hulk wolf. No one told us about him…did they?”
“If you mean our client? No…according to him, there’s no wolf shifter on earth who’s that strong,” replied the leader.
“Fuck him. I know what I saw and I’m telling you…that wasn’t any kind of motherfuckin’ wolf I know of.”
Reaching the bottom step, the leader of the attack force looked over to where his prisoner had been tied up, but saw only an empty chair. Stopping short, he growled, “Shut up.” Searching the huge room using his wolf vision and hearing, he found no trace of Hunter. Advancing slowly to the empty chair, with his companion following closely behind, he picked up the chain and cuffs, examining them.They’re intact, so how did that sonofabitch escape?Dropping them and scanning the room more carefully this time, he narrowed in on the deep shadows in a far side corner. Taking a couple of steps toward them he paused and then demanded, “Showyourself.” It was a guess but he was sure that’s where the wolf shifter was hiding.
Observing the two shifters who had attacked his mate, Hunter felt none of the anger he expected; instead, remaining calm, he waited for their next move.
Receiving no response, the leader tried again. “Show yourselfnow, fucker, or when your little twink arrives, I’ll be sinking my cock into his sweet, tight ass.”
Smirking at the taunt, Hunter knew it was a hollow threat, but it reminded him— Fionn would soon be here to sacrifice his life to save him. Stepping out of the darkness, his body surrounded by a shimmering white aura, he spread his wings.
“Holy shit! What the fuck is that?” asked the leader’s cohort.
“Fuck, if I know!” the leader exclaimed, taking a step backward, then several more, before stumbling over his companion crouching on the floor. Swinging violently around, he leapt over his buddy and bolted toward the stairs.
His eyes beginning to glow red as they tracked the leader, Hunter waited until the shifter had almost reached the stairs before unleashing a lethal, laser burst from his eyes that tore through the leader’s body, piercing his heart, killing him instantly. Then turning his laser vision at the fallen shifter who’d risen to his knees he shot a laser beam at him, leaving a small, smoking hole between his eyes. He paused for a few seconds, overwhelmed at Archangel Michael’s power before folding his wings, stepping around the bodies, and heading for the stairs.
~/~/~/~/~
Fionn, along with Cody stepped out of the portal into the cavern containing his hoard. Feeling his dragon’s strength fortified by the gold, he briefly closed his eyes holding out his arms, trying to soak up as much power as he could before meeting his uncle.
“Fionn, we better go,” said Cody.
“Give me a minute,” Fionn murmured. His uncle was much older than he and very strong. Recharging his dragon so its power was at its peak would give him a fighting chance if his uncle tried to seize him when he stepped out of the portal—before Cody could kill him. “Okay, let’s go,” he said, motioning Cody into the portal where he watched him become invisible.
~/~/~/~/~
Reaching the partially open door at the top of the stairs, Hunter paused and, using his powerful hearing, found no wolf attackers in the room beyond. Pushing the door open, he proceeded until he came to a set of tall, black, double doors. Sensing two shifters on the other side, he slowly turned one door knob and pushed the door open. The shifters were playing chess at a small table. Emitting two, deadly, laser shots, he murmured, “Checkmate.”
Moving stealthily through the rest of the rooms, Hunter swiftly wiped out the remaining wolf shifters before they could sound an alarm. Now, standing before another door leading to the room his mate’s uncle was in, he pressed his hand against it, sensing the dragon within. Opening it, he felt a burst of fire engulf him…and smiled when all he felt was a smooth, warm breeze washing over his skin. When it finally dissipated, Hunter found Fionn’s uncle staring at him in disbelief.
