Revelation of Blood (30 page)

“Thatch,” Dean barked, “find me a layout of
the area. I want detailed terrain and road maps.”

“Yes, sir,” he said quickly as he pulled a
handheld device out of his back pocket and began typing into
it.

“Trig, what do you think?” Dean asked next as
he gazed at him.

“I think she might be more trouble than she’s
worth, boss,” he smirked. “You aren’t even getting a piece of that.
Are you sure you want to pull the pack into vampire affairs? We’re
going to need at least fifty wolves to take on two hundred fangers.
It’s your call, though. You know the boys and I will follow your
orders.”

Dean sighed and looked over at me. He seemed
to be considering Trigger’s words and I felt compelled to clarify
some stuff.

“Look,” I sighed as I sat up and ran my
fingers through my hair. “I’m getting real tired of people
threatening my family. First Amun threatens to kill everyone I’ve
ever cared about, Nikki included, and now I’ve got Weston
practically doing the same thing. I aim to make a statement if we
fight. I want every Dark One who walks away from this fight to know
that I mean fucking business and hopefully they’ll tell their
friends. I will not stand idly by while people continue to threaten
me and my family just so they can get their way.”

My eyes found Trigger’s and I knew it was
important to get him on my side, so I was brutally honest. “I can’t
die. Short of cutting my head off or cutting my heart out, I’m
unstoppable. Even then I’m not sure if that’ll kill me because we
haven’t tried it yet and frankly, I’m not planning on it. But know
this…when I go in there tomorrow night, I’m not walking out of
there until Nikki is safe, Weston Ley is dead, and the other Dark
Ones surrender. If I have the support of your pack, you’ll always
have mine in return. This isn’t a one sided deal for me. I’m
prepared to offer my unique skillset to the Kaxaw pack to use any
time they need. Dean is my friend and I fight for my friends. Will
you help me fight?”

Trigger’s eyes narrowed as he studied me.
“Prove you cannot die, then we’ll talk.”

“What do you want me to do?” I asked, raising
my chin a bit as I stood. I was prepared to do whatever it took to
save Nikki from Weston’s sick ass.

“A knife to the heart will suffice,” he
cocked a brow as he stood, removing a large knife from its leather
holder on his hip. It was long, pointed, and looked deadly
sharp.

Hagan growled and rose from his chair a few
feet from me. “You’re not coming near her with that thing.”

“Hagan,” I whispered as I held my hand out to
quell his anger, “it’s okay.”

“You know, it’s seriously going to piss me
off if you kill her, Trig,” Dean growled from the couch.

“I’ve got this, babe,” I turned my head and
smiled over at him. “Been there, done that.”

“I’ll allow one stab, wolf, and then you
retreat,” Archer said menacingly as he rose and came to stand next
to me. He was obviously unhappy with the situation, but trusted my
abilities enough to allow it.

Trigger nodded his head and came toward me.
“Wait,” I called out quickly then shimmied out of my shirt, pulling
it over my head. “I don’t want to ruin my top.”

“Fuckin’ hell,” Fitz drawled with a wide
grin.

“Are those real?” Thatch asked.

“Nice,” Cage nodded his head.

“Damn, girl,” Zephyr smiled approvingly.

“Maybe she is worth the trouble,” Trigger
stared hungrily as Archer, Dean, Hunter, Jameson, and Hagan all
growled in unison.

“Put your shirt back on,” Archer rumbled.

“This is my favorite tuxedo t-shirt,” I
scoffed, throwing it on the couch.

“I’ll buy you another one,” Archer argued
tightly.

“It’s vintage, baby,” I raised an eyebrow at
him, not budging on the issue. “You don’t fuck with vintage.”

Archer sighed and ran his fingers through his
hair. “So damn stubborn…”

“They’re just boobs, guys,” I rolled my eyes.
“I’m wearing a bra.”

“My girlfriend doesn’t own bras like that,”
Sayer leered.

“Stop staring at her tits and get on with
it,” Jameson growled as he stepped up beside Archer.

Trigger smiled as he walked toward me, his
eyes glued to my cleavage. “You ready for this?”

I took a deep breath and slowly blew it out
then nodded my head. “Give it to me.”

He put one hand on my shoulder and rested the
sharp blade over my heart. I stared down at the shiny metal and bit
my lower lip as I prepared myself for the tremendous pain I knew
was coming. Trigger glanced back and forth between my eyes and the
knife. He was hesitating, almost like he was calling my bluff and
didn’t fully expect me to allow him to actually stab me.

“Trigger?” I whispered, meeting his eyes on a
deep breath. “Just do it.”

His brow furrowed momentarily before he shook
his head and took a deep breath, shoving the knife in as he pulled
my shoulder forward. Air expelled from my lungs like I’d been
punched and I screamed out in pain as he drove the knife to the
hilt.

Trigger took a few steps back and watched me
with apprehensive fascination. “Say something,” he said softly as
he stared at the blade in my chest.

“Crap! That fucking hurt!” I hissed as I felt
my eyes involuntarily flicker black. Trigger’s eyes widened and
Dean’s wolves murmured to each other.

“Holy shit,” Dean whispered as he stood and
put a cautious hand on my shoulder. “Are you alright, toots?”

“Just peachy,” I growled as I wrapped a fist
around the knife handle and quickly jerked the blade out. My heart
jolted, restarting itself, and I cried out in pain as I dropped to
my knees. “Fuck!” I shuddered. “I hate that fucking part!” I felt
my muscle and skin start to immediately repair itself and I watched
the wolves’ fascinated faces as they stared in awe.

“Incredible,” Dylan whispered as Archer and
Dean helped me stand.

Within three seconds, I was fully healed and
I wiped the blood away with my hand. “See?” I said to Trigger as my
eyes flickered back to white. “Can’t die.”

“Jesus,” he smiled up at me with wide eyes,
“You weren’t kidding.”

“So, can we talk now?” I asked.

Trigger smiled and held up his hands. “You’re
okay by me, vamp. Any bitch that can take a hit like that and live
to tell about it is aces in my book.”

Dean pulled a black bandana out of his back
pocket and started cleaning the blood off my chest. Archer growled
fiercely and held his hand out to Dean. “I’ll do that, wolf.”

Dean chuckled and handed Archer the bandana
as he stared down at me. “You’re something else, babe. I’d be lying
if I said that wasn’t the hottest thing I’ve seen in a long time.”
I rolled my eyes at him and shook my head as I smiled. “There you
go again…getting my dick hard,” he grinned.

“Dean,” I groaned as Archer threw the bloody
bandana back at him with a growl. “Can’t you behave for one
day?”

“Oh, I’m being a straight saint, toots,” he
winked at me as he sat back down on the couch, “trust me.”

Thatch stood and spoke as he came over to
Dean. “I’ve got the maps.” I pulled on my shirt and righted it as
Dean studied them.

“What are you thinking, wolf?” Hagan said as
he crossed his arms.

Dean flipped through a few images and glanced
up at Hagan. “I’m thinking we stage an ambush,” he said as he
turned the device around to show him the map. “There’s heavy forest
surrounding the ranch and we can arrive before night fall and wait
there. Once Skye exchanges herself for Nikki, we move in for the
slaughter.”

“It’s a good quarter mile between the tree
line and that airstrip,” Hagan frowned, studying the image before
him. “Are you certain we can get to them before they realize what’s
going on and turn on Skye’s friend? The whole reason we’re doing
this is to save her. If she dies, it’ll all be for naught.”

“She won’t,” Dean said seriously. “I like
Nikki. She’s a good girl, from what I know of her the few times
we’ve met. I’m not going to let anything happen to her. I’ll make
sure to have a wolf dedicated solely to her wellbeing. He’ll go
straight to her once we leave the tree line.”

“Nikki can’t be harmed any further,” I said
softly as I looked up at Dean with tortured eyes. “She didn’t ask
for any of this, Dean. Hell, she didn’t even know about vampires
before a few days ago, as far as I know. She was kidnapped because
of me, fed on because of me… The man you put on her has to be one
of your best. Please, honey. I need to know she’ll be taken care of
while I take care of that fucker Weston Ley.”

“I’ll guard her,” Dylan spoke up, “if my
alpha consents.”

“You read my mind, cousin,” Dean smiled
crookedly at him before turning to me. “Dylan’s one of my best
fighters. He’ll make sure your girl is taken care of, babe.” I
nodded my head and felt marginally better about the plan.

“So, how are we going to do this exactly?”
Pádraig asked. “And how are you going to make sure that your wolves
don’t bite us in the melee? Our kind hasn’t exactly been friendly
toward one another over the centuries. You could use this
opportunity to get rid of us as well.”

Several of my family members murmured their
agreement and I looked up at Archer, concerned. His brow was
furrowed a bit and I knew he was thinking the same thing. “Dean
wouldn’t do that,” I said, standing. “He’s a friend…a good friend
and a good man. I can’t believe you guys don’t trust him. He’s been
nothing but good to us and he’s proven his friendship time and time
again.” I scanned the faces of each member of my family as I
addressed them. “Dean and his pack helped track down Amun when I
was taken. Because of them, I was found in that East Austin
basement and rescued. And did you forget what he did a few weeks
ago? Zephyr, Primo, and Dean helped
An Dilis
and me look for
Amun. Those are not the actions of a man or pack that wants us
dead. We need to bury the old prejudices and embrace what could be
a very beneficial and worthwhile friendship for both our
species.”

Everyone was silent as they looked at one
another. Finally, Dean stood up from the couch and addressed his
wolves sternly. “The death of any vampire in this room is an
automatic death sentence for the offending wolf. This is law. We
will notify the rest of the pack tonight when we meet.”

“Yes, alpha,” the wolves said in unison,
bowing their heads respectfully.

Turning to Pádraig, Dean raised an eyebrow.
“Does that take care of your concerns, warrior?” Pádraig nodded his
head and the tension evaporated from the room.

“Pádraig, Hagan, Quinn, and Hunter will be my
team,” Archer addressed his children. “Lochlan will accompany Skye,
so that means I need the rest of you working the club tomorrow
night.”

“I’m going, too,” Jameson growled as he stood
from his seat.

“Nay, Youngblood,” Archer shook his head. “I
need you at the club working VIP.”

“
Athair
,” he argued, “you can’t expect
me to just sit on my heels while you all risk your life. To hell
with that! I should be there fighting beside you.”

Archer shook his head and sighed. As much as
I wanted Jameson far away from battle and safe, I knew he had a
right to be there if he wanted.

“
Baby
,” I spoke silently to Archer,
“
you should let him come. He wants to fight for me and Nikki.
Don’t take that away from him
.”

Archer frowned, growling softly at me, and
every head in the room turned to the two of us as we stared at each
other. I knew I was testing the maker/child boundaries and needed
to tread carefully so I didn’t piss off my father and mate. “
I
don’t want my son hurt, Skye
,” Archers argued.

“
He’s a damn fine swordsman and can kick
some serious ass
,” I frowned. “
I trained with him for weeks.
You have to trust him…Jameson can take care of himself
.”

Archer’s muscle worked in his jaw as he
considered my words. “I hope you’re right,” he said aloud before
turning to Jameson. “Fine. You can join us, but I have one
stipulation.”

“Anything, father,” Jameson said.

“You will give Skye your blood and teach her
how to heal,” Archer said, crossing his arms over his chest. “If
anything happens to you, I need someone able to heal you. Besides,
two healers are better than one. With the eight of us there plus
the fifty odd wolves, going against over two hundred Dark, there’s
bound to be some injuries. We’re going to need every advantage we
can get.”

“You got it,” Jameson agreed, his emotions
telling me he was itching to kick some Dark ass.

I chewed thoughtfully on my bottom lip.
Taking Jameson’s power would give me a total of four, not including
my own. I could feel my powers of empathy waning already, but it
wasn’t disappearing fast enough for my likes. I was already
overwhelmed with the powers I currently had and wondered if taking
Jameson’s healing blood would push me past my limits. I sighed and
pushed the thought out of my head. It didn’t matter. I knew I’d do
anything I needed to do to help get Nikki, and everyone fighting
for her, home safely.

Dean glanced questioningly at Archer. “You
said one of your most powerful assets against the night walkers
will be escorting Skye? What can he do?”

Archer smiled mischievously and motioned for
Lochlan to come forward. “Show them,
dheartháir
.”

I had no idea what Lochlan’s Divine Power was
and I sat riveted as I watched. Lochlan smirked at the wolves
before holding his palms up in front of him toward the ceiling.
“An’ God said ‘let dere be light’,” he said right before a huge
beam of heat and light came out of the palms of his hands. Dean,
the wolves, and I all jumped back in shock as our eyes grew wide.
We stared disbelievingly at the ceiling as we watched him
illuminate it. Just as quickly as it started, it disappeared and
Lochlan lowered his hands, dusted them together, and smiled.