"Those four foot thick walls looking worth the effort now?" Aiden asked. The men scrambled for water hoses and fire extinguishers.
Aiden roared loudly getting everyone's attention. "Epsilon, Delta, head to the city to back up Gamma. Their backs are against the wall, and there are a ton of civilians in the crossfire. Gavriel, check in with Zeta; they were on perimeter patrol. Colton, get my father on the phone. We need every man he can muster in the city, and I'd like him to come here to guard the estate. Everyone else, let's get this fire out!"
Amelia turned to Darian. "I bet Ryuu has a fire extinguisher in the kitchen."
He nodded and worked with Oron, unraveling the hose. She leaned up and kissed him quickly. "Be right back."
She ran up the back steps and through the door, looked around the kitchen, and decided to check under the sink first. As she knelt down, the hairs on the back of her neck stood straight up. As she turned, stars exploded behind her eyes, then nothing.
*****
"Sir, Kade has checked; the fire's out." Lorcan, the unit leader for Beta, reported.
Darian stood back and wiped his forehead. It had taken nearly half an hour to put the blaze completely out. Aiden wasn't satisfied until the fire witch confirmed it was out.
"Good work," Aiden said, his face just as smudged as everyone else's.
"Looks like you're having fun without me," a deep voice said. Darian turned around and smiled. Byron and his old unit members were walking around the side of the house.
"Father, thank all the Gods! What do you know?" Aiden wiped his hands on his pants before pulling his father into a hug.
Byron clapped his son on the back and let go. "Gamma, Epsilon and Delta are doing the best they can in the city. The ferals are coming in waves, which means they aren't being overwhelmed yet, but they have been fighting non-stop." Byron nodded to his old friends John Younger and Abraham Carter. "They came from the city. Most streets have been blocked off, but there are still a lot of people trapped in buildings."
Gavriel walked up. "I checked in with Zeta. They haven't seen a thing."
Aiden cursed under his breath. "Gods damn those necklaces! Have them abandon the perimeter and head into the city. Patrols are useless at this point."
Gavriel nodded and reached for his phone and walked away to redeploy the Zeta Unit.
Byron turned to Aiden. "I have activated all retired or inactive unit warriors in the city. Most had already suited up and jumped into the fray with Gamma."
Aiden looked relieved. "We'll take all the help we can get." When Gavriel rejoined them Aiden looked at the men. "Let's check in with the ladies and head to the city."
Darian didn't have to hear that twice. They all jogged to the front of the house and headed inside.
"Meryn!" Aiden called out.
Meryn, Beth, and Ryuu came down the stairs. "Is it true there are ferals in the city?" Meryn asked.
Aiden frowned. "How did you know that?"
Meryn held up a military-issue walkie-talkie.
Aiden sighed. "Yes, we're about to head there now."
Darian looked around. When he saw Jaxon and Noah come out of their office and Amelia wasn't with them, he started to get nervous.
"Where's Amelia?" he asked.
Everyone froze.
"Amelia! Amelia!" Darian yelled, his gut twisting painfully.
He ran for the kitchen, that was where she said she was going. His entire world crashed around him when he saw the cabinet doors under the sink open and the rug bunched and twisted. He looked toward the door, and his heart stopped when he saw drops of blood on the floor.
He threw his head back and roared. His mind narrowed to a single purpose: he had to find his mate. Strong arms wrapped around his chest and wrestled him to the floor. He fought and snarled, trying to break free.
"Darian, brother, you have to keep it together! You're not going to help her by losing it like this!" a voice yelled in his ear.
Slowly he regained his senses. He looked around, and his fellow unit members were standing around him looking worried. Meryn peered down at him, scowling. "Get your giant ass up and go find my big sister-cousin!"
He patted Oron's locked hands at his chest, and his brother released him. He stood and pulled Meryn into a hug. "I'm going to bring her home."
Darian watched as Oron disappeared down the hall. Where was his brother going?
She stepped back. "Of course you are, now get to it." She made a shooing motion with her hand.
Aiden turned to his father. "Can you take over as Unit Commander?"
Byron nodded. "You didn't have to ask, but you know son, that the rest of the council won't like you leaving Lycaonia when the city is under attack."
Aiden growled. "I am in charge of the units, not them. Alpha Unit move out. Beta, you're to report to my father. You're on guard duty here until we return."
The men drew their sidearms at the sound of heavy boot treads in the hallway. Oron was the first to appear in the kitchen doorway. He grinned at Aiden. "I brought some backup."
Everyone walked out to the foyer where sixteen fae warriors stood in burnished gold plate armor. "Her Majesty, Queen Aleksandra of The Fae has offered the assistance of her personal guard." Oron winked at Darian who'd never been more relieved in his life. Sixteen fae warriors could do a lot of damage. Closing his eyes, he focused on his bond with his mate. He let out a breath slowly and concentrated on her light. He opened his eyes and looked around. The room seemed brighter to the east.