“How about we get you home.”
Cole pivoted slightly in Stone’s direction. “Delia will be waiting for Elias at the farm and the second wave of Guardsmen have just hit Charborne. I have good news: The Invictus are retreating.”
“That’s wonderful,” Aralynn said.
Stone issued orders to have the men fly the troll home.
Elias straightened his shoulders and since Stone knew he was going to offer to remain and help with the clean-up, Stone shook his head. “You’re leaving. Delia’s expecting you and if I don’t have you home within the hour, she’ll quit my employ. And I don’t have to remind you she’s the only woman who can manage me.”
At that, Elias cracked a smile. “As to that, my woman’s never been happier than serving at your side.”
“She’s been a blessing to me.” Stone then nodded to Cole.
Cole had brown eyes and long dark hair and offered Elias a smile. “Let’s get you in the air.”
Elias thanked Stone and Aralynn, then moved outside with the two powerful Guardsmen. He accepted Cole’s extended hand.
Because trolls were short and Vampire Guardsmen on the massive, muscled size, Cole swung Elias in a practiced move up to his shoulder where the troll perched, one hand hooked into the opposite shoulder strap of Cole’s coat. The vampire immediately took to the air. The remaining Guardsman followed on his heels, rising swiftly as well, but watching the skies while they headed southeast toward Rutland where Elias and Delia lived.
Once they disappeared from sight, Stone opened up his pathing frequency and contacted Harris. Tell me what’s going on?
We’ve got Charborne contained. The electronics were jammed, as we’d suspected, but the Com Center says the feed is now back online. What we don’t understand is that there aren’t any dead, except the wraith-pairs we battled.
Stone was mystified. You mean realm-folk? You haven’t found any deceased among the villagers?
That’s right.
Then they must be in hiding.
That’s what we hope, but we’re not sure. I know the mayor of Charborne had taken great precautions against an attack, ordering the construction of secret hiding places inside dwellings and out in the farmlands and the forest. And he had a large number of the villagers on constant patrol each with the ability to sound the alarm. Stone, I think it’s possible the mayor saved his people. Wait, here is he now. Give me a sec and I’ll get his report.
Stone stood very still. Was it possible that no villagers were lost?
After a moment, Harris pathed, Yup. It happened just like I told you. The mayor said that they’ve been running drills every single night for months, with the full participation of the residents. No matter where everyone is or what they might be doing at the time, they have to know where the nearest hiding place is and get there. Anyone left wandering around is fined. He’s calling his people in now. I’ll have more information over the next hour, but I think we have reason to celebrate.
It sure sounds like it. By the way, we have four dead Invictus out by the mine that will need to be processed.
I’ll take care of it. And what about Elias?
Stone heard the sudden tension in Harris’s voice. Cole and one of his team are taking him home as we speak.
Thank the Goddess. Harris sounded relieved. The last thing any of us wanted was for Delia to lose her man.
I think it would have killed us all. Okay, so bring in the troll clean-up crews to process the Invictus bodies. Aralynn and I will be heading back to the Com Center.
Will do. But one last thing. No word yet on either Gerrod or Ethan. I wasn’t able to raise Quinlan either.
Stone had an uneasy feeling about the mastyrs. Were they missing? He sure hoped not. Stay on top of it, Harris. And let me know the moment you get definitive word.
You got it.
When he ended the telepathic conversation, he turned to Aralynn and shared the news with her about the villagers. She lifted her fist and gave a shout. “That’s the best news you could have told me.”
The brief battle, however, still had his blood pumping and he became acutely aware he hadn’t been with his doneuses yet this evening. He should have made a stop before he went to the Communication Center. But his thoughts had been full of Aralynn and how he’d almost kissed her the night before, so that he’d forgotten about his chronic blood starvation.
Until now.
And unfortunately, he could smell Aralynn’s blood which made his mouth water. He couldn’t believe the layers he could detect, a rich wine and something again very herbal with a woodland aroma. She was definitely a woman of power, which he believed must have also given her blood the same scent that came off her skin. Initially, he’d thought it was her perfume, now he realized it was just Aralynn. And he loved it.