“Wow, okay,” I say. “Well in that case, I shouldn’t have to worry about work for a few days. Um, when are we going to deal with the vampires?”
“Soon,” Hayden replies. “Let’s get back to the safehouse.”
“I drove,” I say, looking around. “Sorry, Storm, but I borrowed your Porche. Seemed like it would get me here faster.” I give him a sheepish little smile.
“As long as you didn’t total it,” he chuckles. “You can drive it back. I feel like running this morning. Anybody else?”
“Absolutely,” Remy agrees. “I’m curious to see if I can maintain my speed now that I’m an Alpha. Without tearing the ground apart, at least.”
“I could use a run myself,” Jaxton says, popping his neck and back.
“I’ll meet everyone there,” Wyatt says. “I need to swing by my place first.”
I get kisses from all five Alpha wolves that leave my head spinning before they shift into their Natural Forms. They’re all bigger now, except Hayden; he is still the same enormous eight-hundred-pound behemoth he was. The others have grown so much, though, especially Jaxton. Five beautiful, magnificent Alpha wolves who have devoted themselves to me, no matter what happens.
Once I recover and catch my breath, I hurry to Storm’s Porche.
I don’t feel much different than I usually do, but I’m energized. Refreshed. Like the best night of sleep, mixed with the strongest coffee, mixed with something supernatural. I’m not sure if it’s because of the mating ritual, or because I’m carrying Hayden’s child. Even now, I can feel life growing inside me.
“We’ll have to come up with some names,” I smile to myself and my baby as I place a hand on my stomach.
I drive back to the safehouse, which takes a while, since morning traffic is a hindrance. I drove like a maniac when I was trying to get to The Den. I’d probably get the belt from all five of them and never get to come again if they had seen me speeding through town.
When I get to the safehouse, the garage is open. I see all five of them inside. Even Wyatt beat me here, and he had to stop on the way. I pull the Porche into the garage beside the SUV and get out.
“Took you long enough,” Hayden grumps.
“I’d be worried if most of you didn’t make it back before I did. I’m pretty sure you weren’t stuck in traffic,” I laugh. “Anyone checked on Daisy yet?”
“No, we were waiting for you,” Remy says. “I’m still fast, by the way. Faster than any of them.”
“I didn’t try to reach maximum speed,” Jaxton’s face reflects good-natured annoyance. “No need to leave a canyon across Chicago.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Remy mutters.
“I’m not sure if this is what your vision showed you, but this sword has been in our family for a very long time,” Wyatt says, reaching over and picking something up.
Wyatt turns and I recognize the sword immediately. It’s exactly the same from my vision. Polished steel that gleams in the light, the blade elegant and deadly, with a slight curve that gives it both grace and menace. The crossguard sweeps upwards, shaped like wings, both ornate and functional, etched with symbols that shimmer.
A large gemstone is embedded in the pommel, deep amber, similar to my mates’ eyes. It doesn’t glow, but the way the light catches it makes it appear like it does.
“That’s it!” I say excitedly, walking closer to him. “May I?”
“It belongs to you now,” Wyatt says, turning the hilt towards me.
The grip is wrapped in worn leather, dark with age, but when I take the sword from Wyatt, it feels almost weightless in my hand.
“What is this made from?” I ask, marveling at the way I can wield it. I give it a few swings, finding it feels like an extension of my arm.
“I don’t know. We’ve never been able to identify the alloy,” Wyatt admits. “Trust me, I’ve tried. Our kind doesn’t fight with swords anymore, but one of our ancestors supposedly did. That’s what our mother told me, but the whole true story was lost over the generations. It might not even be true.”
“Okay, how do I activate it?” I ask, glancing at Wyatt.
“Activate it?” Wyatt asks. “What do you mean?”
“It’s a sword, you just hit shit with it. Preferably vampires,” Jaxton is looking at me like I must have something out of whack in my brain.
“No, that’s not what I meant,” I reply, staring into the amber gem. “In my vision… this sword? It was on fire.”
