Chapter 35

35

M ikhail leaned back in his chair as he read over the list Draven handed him. “We've made good progress. Seventeen vampires, twelve fae, nine shifters, and four dragons are now safely tucked away in Hell.”

Brax snorted and sat his butt on the edge of Mikhail’s desk. “Who would have thought Hell would be the safest place we could find?”

“I told you Lucifer is a good guy,” Sabre teased her mate, making him grumble. She looked at Mikhail. “He’s doing his best to secure the human descendants.”

Mikhail nodded. He was grateful the King of Hell was on their side. “And how many are confirmed dead?” he asked, though he dreaded the answer.

Draven sighed deeply, a rare display of weariness from the usually unflappable angel. “Across all seven lines? The latest count is five hundred and two.”

“Five hundred and two?” Mikhail echoed, his voice hollow. The number was staggering.

“Holy shit,” Brax muttered, his usual tanned features turning ashen. “I think I'm going to be sick.” He clutched his stomach, the reality of the slaughter hitting him like a physical blow.

“We knew it would be bad,” Mikhail said, trying to sound rational, though he felt just as nauseous as Brax. “But this ... over half a thousand people?”

“And these are just the ones we’ve been able to confirm,” Draven pointed out. “Thanks to the list and the diary discovered in Zagan and your mother’s rooms.”

Brax shook his head, his eyes wide with disbelief. “No wonder the Heavens are shaken. We can't afford losses like this. We're screwed if it keeps up. The souls are screwed.”

Mikhail turned to Sabre, hoping for some reassurance. She was always his rock. The last week had been spent fortifying their defences, working through the list to find survivors and victims, and investigating all the reports of people suddenly doing or saying things they typically wouldn’t. Z’s influence was spreading like a cancer.

“Five hundred is an impressive number. Not as impressive as my body count, of course,” Sabre added haughtily. “But it’s up there. We’ll stop him before it gets any higher,” she promised, turning serious. “We’ll stop him. And when we do, the ones he killed will have a chance to rise again. Their souls will be reborn, given another shot at this life thing. It's not the end for them. For now, we focus on the living.”

Her words hung in the air like a lifeline. Mikhail looked around, glad to see the colour return to Brax’s cheeks. Draven’s stern features softened, if only slightly, as he nodded in silent agreement to Sabre.

“Okay,” Mikhail agreed. “Brax, your soldiers are doing brilliantly. Can you have Draven keep liaising with them to get more people into protective custody?”

“Of course. The team are researching day and night to track down the descendants.”

The four of them spent another hour meticulously reviewing each detail of their current plan. They examined every angle, considered every contingency, and scrutinised every resource at their disposal. When there was finally nothing left to discuss, only actions to take, Mikhail felt a mixture of relief and frustration. He believed they were making solid progress in every direction: securing allies, gathering intelligence, and fortifying their defences. Yet, one critical piece remained elusive: capturing Z. They could account for nearly every variable except for the unpredictable nature of Z. How could they neutralise a threat they couldn't even pinpoint, let alone kill?

“We'll just have to move forward and hope an opportunity presents itself,” Mikhail said, more to himself than the others. However, he didn't fully believe his own words. They all knew the stakes; improvisation could be fatal.

“The opportunity to kill Z?” Sabre questioned. “Oh, it will happen. And sooner rather than later. I have no doubt we’re interfering with his plans enough that he’s getting pissed. And impatient. Which means he’ll make a mistake.”

Mikhail hoped she was right. He was getting impatient himself. And not just to have safety restored to his world, but for his love life. He’d seen Jinx daily, spoken with her, and even stolen a few kisses here and there. But they hadn’t slept together again, and they hadn’t once discussed their feelings or their future. They were both holding up their end of the bargain, both being mature and responsible. And it was really pissing him off. He wanted Jinx, and he wanted her now! But he didn’t want to want her. And that was pissing him off even more.

He whimpered, lowering his head to his desk. But before he could wallow, Sabre pinched his ear and yanked his head up. “Ow! Say-ber !” he whined.

“There will be none of that. No sulking. While the Horde is off protecting the masses, you two,” Sabre pointed to Brax and Mikhail, “are going to be practising your new superpowers.”

“I’ve been trying,” Mikhail admitted, rubbing his sore ear. “In every spare moment. I’ve been trying to create another forcefield, but I can’t.”

“Hence, why I said practice.” Sabre literally hauled him to his feet. “Come on. Get your butt to the training hall. If we have any chance of defeating Z when we discover his whereabouts or when he attacks, then we need you and Brax to bring the goods.”

“I already bring you the goods,” Brax pointed out, ogling Sabre’s leather-clad body. “Every night.”

Sabre grinned at her man, patting his cheek as she walked past. “That you do. But think how fun sex could be with electric armour. What if you could make it vibrate?”

Brax’s mouth fell open, his eyes glued to Sabre’s arse as she sauntered her way out of the room. “I love training!” he shouted, chasing after Sabre like a lovesick fool.

“I don’t know where I went wrong with that boy,” Draven muttered with a disgusted shake of his head.

Mikhail clapped him on the back. “It’s not your fault. He was dropped on his head as a baby. What little sense he had left, Sabre corrupted.”

Draven grinned at Mikhail with appreciation. “True dat.”

Mikhail was shocked into a laugh, his smile staying in place as they made their way to the Horde’s training area. He was barely through the door when a projectile whizzed past his ear. “What the fuck?” he screamed, ducking down low. His heart pounded as he looked up to see Mercy standing with an unsettlingly cheerful grin.

“Sabre said I could throw things at you,” Mercy announced, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

Mikhail stood up warily, glaring at the pain demon. “And you believed her?”

“Why wouldn’t I?” Mercy replied with a shrug. “It’s practice, right? Think quick.”

Mercy’s hand shot forward in a flash, releasing another object with alarming speed. Mikhail swore but didn’t duck. He strained, trying to force his brain or his body to create a barrier to intercept the object, but nothing happened. He braced for impact, for the sting of metal or the crack of bone. Instead, he caught it, his fingers closing around it with a snap, his elbow absorbing the force like a shock absorber. For a second, he didn’t dare look. Then, slowly, he opened his hand and glanced down.

It was a soft, harmless stress ball shaped like a heart. Mikhail squeezed it, his tension draining away as quickly as it had built. “Very funny.”

Mercy laughed. “I may listen to Sabre, but I’m not stupid. I’m not about to throw deadly objects at the King … unless he tells me I can.” He paused, bouncing on his toes. “Can I?”

Mikhail shot Sabre a dirty look across the mats. “Your friends are just as sick as you are.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment,” Sabre replied with a grin. “Now, make a forcefield. Brax, Tin Man.”

“How?!” Both men shouted simultaneously.

“Think about it,” Draven bade them calmly. “These new abilities are a part of you, just like the others. Which means you can control them.”

“But my power is defensive and automatic. It senses danger and manifests by itself. I don’t think about it,” Brax explained.

“Maybe not consciously,” Draven allowed. “But your armour is still you . It’s not a separate entity.”

Brax was silent for a moment, clearly thinking before he pointed at Mikhail. “You go first.”

“You’re such a wimp,” Mikhail spat.

“And you’re procrastinating,” Sabre scolded. “Come on. You said you’ve been practising by yourself. Show me how much progress you’ve made before Jinx arrives.”

His head snapped towards the door. “Jinx is coming?”

“Yep,” Sabre said. “I messaged her. She insisted on coming when I told her what we were doing.” She smirked at him. “I think she wants to make sure you don’t get hurt.”

She cares about me, Mikhail thought, warmth spreading through his chest. The knowledge gave him a good confidence boost. Plus, he didn’t want to look like a loser in front of her, so he stopped prevaricating and closed his eyes, trying to focus.

After a few moments, the air around him shifted in density, and his eyes flew open. A faint iridescent shimmer rippled outward for a moment before fading away. He sighed in frustration. “That’s not going to stop a fly, let alone Z.”

“No. But it’s a start,” Jinx said, stepping out from behind Brax. “I arrived when your eyes were closed. I didn’t want to disturb you. I saw something. How amazing!”

Jinx’s excitement was infectious, and he grinned, puffing out his chest. “Yeah. I did that.”

“Down, boy,” Sabre drawled, moving towards him. “Don’t celebrate yet. Stop these.” She opened her hand to reveal a bunch of small glass balls.

“Are those marbles?” Mikhail demanded. Before he could protest, Sabre tossed one at him. It hit him in the stomach. “Ow! Those are marbles!”

Sabre picked up another one, holding it up high. “You know what to do if you don’t want it to hit you.” She made a show of aiming for his head before letting the marble fly.

“Hey, cut it out!” Mikhail yelled, ducking and trying to shield himself with his arms.

“Come on, Mikhail,” Jinx shouted encouragingly. “Show me what you got.”

“Fine, for you, ” he grumbled, glaring at a grinning Sabre. “But not for you. ”

Sabre gasped. “Ouch. Words hurt.” Then she threw more marbles at him.

As the barrage continued, Mikhail's frustration grew. He focused on the energy coursing through him, imagining it as an impenetrable wall and building it brick by brick. He took a few more blows to the chest before he felt a surge of power erupt from within him. His forcefield expanded outward in a brilliant burst of light, sending Sabre stumbling back in surprise.

“Whoa!” Brax exclaimed in awe. He moved closer, pressing his palm to the barrier. It held strong.

He looked around at his friends' shocked expressions and couldn't help but smile triumphantly. “I did it,” he whispered in disbelief.

“You sure did,” Sabre said with a grin. “Now, drop it and do it again.”

Mikhail nodded and did his best to relax. When that didn’t work, he closed his eyes and pictured a wrecking ball slamming into the ‘brick’ wall he’d built. The energy around him immediately changed, causing him to stagger a little. But when he opened his eyes, the forcefield was gone. He felt exhausted yet exhilarated at the same time. I may just be able to protect my people, he thought, feeling hopeful.

“No rest for the wicked,” Brax informed Mikhail. This time, instead of marbles, his brother tried to stab him with a dagger.

“Shit!” Mikhail yelled, dodging to the side.

“Don’t dodge it!” Brax yelled at him. “Stop it with your forcefield.” Then he tossed it.

Mikhail's heart raced as time seemed to slow. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead, and his heart pounded in his chest. But instead of running, he took a deep breath and focused. He identified the source of the new energy building up in his body and channelled it outward, giving it direction. The dagger bounced harmlessly off the new barrier, clattering to the ground with a metallic clang.

“Impressive,” Brax praised, clapping.

Jinx joined in, as did a few others who had stopped to watch, including Mercy, Shiloh, and Hugo. Mikhail accepted the praise gracefully, pleased with himself but knowing he had a long way to go. But as Jinx said, it was a start. And more of one than Brax had. He looked at his brother, thinking , It’s payback time . “Your turn.”

When Brax opened his mouth to complain, Sabre cut him off. “Now, now. Turnabout is fair play. Get your juices revving.” She began picking up the marbles, pausing when she got to Mikhail. “Great job,” she told him.

“Thanks, Sabre. I’ll keep working on it. Especially holding it longer,” he said. The forcefield had already dropped without his control.

“Definitely,” Sabre agreed. She frowned, thinking. “It would be good if you could expand it to encompass more people. Make it bigger. We’ll practice that next. But first,” she turned to Brax with an evil grin, “I want to torture my mate.”

The marble she pelted at Brax hit the middle knuckle on the back of his hand. It bounced off with a clang, thanks to his exoskeleton legacy. The dull, grey ‘scales’ remained for a moment before disappearing back into his skin. Brax looked more than a little disgruntled.

Mikhail snickered. “Not so funny when the shoe is on the other foot, is it?” he goaded. His brother scowled at him, crossing his arms over his chest. Mikhail's grin widened. "Oh, come on, little brother. You've always been bulletproof; now you can create electricity, and you won’t even try?"

Brax shifted uncomfortably, his usually confident demeanour faltering. “It's not that simple. It’s unpredictable. And dangerous. I’m dangerous when I’m like that.”

Jinx walked over to Brax and took his hand in hers. “I understand why you feel so cautious. Last time, you accidentally hurt someone you love. That’s scary.”

Mikhail felt like a dick. From what he’d heard, Brax’s powers had come at a bad time and with bad consequences the first time. Jinx, once again, had seen beyond the surface. Her empathy and compassion would make her a fine queen, he acknowledged. But he quickly ejected the thought from his mind. He didn’t want to focus on their future together if it was impossible. Broken dreams, he could probably survive. But a broken heart? That would be unlikely.

He walked over to Brax and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “It's going to be okay, Brax. We'll figure it out together.”

“See?” Jinx said, cuddling Brax’s hand to her chest. "You're not alone in this.”

Brax took a deep breath and visibly relaxed under their comforting touch. He looked at each of them with gratitude in his eyes before finally nodding. “Okay,” he said, determination creeping into his voice. “Let's do this.”

Brax moved into the centre of the space before smirking at Sabre. “Hit me, babe.”

Sabre tossed the entire handful of marbles at Brax. His usual armour quickly morphed from his skin, overlapping and creating an impervious shield. However, where it typically only settled in areas that were threatened, this time, the scaled bio-metal kept multiplying until it covered his entire body, including his head and face.

When Brax looked at them, Mikhail almost stumbled back a step. Only Jinx’s hand on the small of his back stopped him. Brax’s eyes were red, his fangs were insanely long, and his claws were out. He looked half-beast, half-robot.

“Grotesque, huh?” Brax’s voice was deeper, more of a growl than anything.

“Are you kidding? That is the coolest thing I have ever seen,” Mikhail exclaimed, meaning every word. He’d never seen anything more badarse in his life.

“Not to mention the sexiest,” Sabre purred, her hips swaying as she made her way to Brax.

Before she could touch him, Brax scuttled backwards. “Don’t touch me. You saw what happened last time.”

Sabre smiled, unperturbed. “It’s okay. I trust you. Think sexy thoughts. It’s just me.”

They all held their collective breaths as Sabre moved slowly and confidently until her hand rested flat on Brax’s chest in the ‘V’ created by his shirt. She grinned up at him. “Hi, handsome.”

Brax’s smile was rather unsettling, but Mikhail was proud of his control.

“How about trying to push the energy out, Brax?” Draven suggested calmly. “You can clearly choose when the armour has voltage. So, choose to expel it offensively.”

Brax nodded, asking Sabre to move. She did, but didn’t go far. Mikhail stepped in front of Jinx, hoping he could create a forcefield around her if things suddenly became dangerous. At first, nothing seemed to happen. Brax just stood there, growling and clenching his clawed fists. But then, a crackling energy began to dance across the surface of his exoskeleton, arcing in vibrant blue-white tendrils. It skittered and leapt between the metallic plates, leaving flashes of light in its wake.

“Awesome!” Sabre cheered. She pointed to a target on the far wall. “Aim it over there.”

Brax rumbled his agreement, squaring his body to the target. Within seconds, miniature lightning bolts forked and branched in split-second bursts over his body and down his hands, illuminating the scene in stark flashes. The air itself seemed to hum and vibrate, filled with the scent of ozone. Suddenly, arcs of electricity shot out from Brax's body in every direction, causing them all to scramble and duck for cover.

Much to Mikhail’s consternation, no forcefield was forthcoming. It was definitely not reactionary. Not yet. A quick look around revealed no injuries but an impressive array of damage to the training centre. “I see what you mean about it being unpredictable,” he remarked mildly. “Mine is too,” he continued quickly before his brother could get down on himself. “And Z’s was, or still is, for all we know. He admitted as much to Jinx.”

“Mikhail is right,” Draven stated. He gave Brax a warm look. “You’re doing very well.”

The charges around Brax's body faded away, and the arcs of electricity dissipated into thin air. “I think that's enough for today,” Brax said with a sigh, the exhaustion from using his new powers evident on his face.

“Sorry, but I don’t think it is,” Jinx said, surprising everyone. They all stared at her. She raised her chin, looking at Mikhail. “You’re both capable of so much more progress. I’m sure Zagan’s plans have been expedited in light of recent developments. What if he attacks tonight? Or tomorrow?”

Mikhail exchanged a look with Brax. He could tell Brax didn’t like it, but he agreed with Jinx. So did Mikhail. “You’re right. And I thought Sabre was a hard taskmaster,” he said close to her ear.

Jinx shivered, turning her head. Her lips brushed Mikhail’s chin. “You haven’t seen anything yet,” she whispered.

Mikhail stared in shock as she sprinted off to the restrooms. “Um, what’s happening?”

Mercy rubbed his hands together. “I think I’m about to get fed. Tigers can cause a lot of pain.”

“Oh shit …” Mikhail murmured, realisation hitting him.

Sure enough, one minute later, a majestic white tiger prowled out of the bathrooms, its muscular form rippling with barely contained power. Jinx's feline eyes fixed upon Mikhail with an intensity that made his heart race. Those eyes held the same fierce intelligence and mischievous spark he'd come to adore in her human form, yet now they burned with an ancient, primal energy that both thrilled and humbled him.

As she padded closer on silent paws, Mikhail marvelled at the fluid grace of her movements. Each step was carefully calculated, every muscle working together in perfect harmony. She stopped just a few feet away from him and let out a low growl, her eyes never leaving his. Then, without warning, she roared and pounced on him.

“Eeek!” Mikhail shouted shrilly. Around him, the others laughed as he lay flat on his back with a giant feline predator on his chest.

“If you don’t want the tiger to crush you, make your shield,” Sabre taunted from his left.

Mikhail turned as much as he could with a huge tiger head all up in his grill and glared at Sabre. “How can I form a shield when someone’s touching me? Are you expecting it to push her away and not be able to come back? Or do you expect to shield a freakin’ tiger as well?”

“I don’t know. Why don’t we find out,” Sabre said, her voice deceptively mild.

Before he could say anything else, Sabre moved closer and raised an axe. “You wouldn’t,” Mikhail barked, doing his best to wrap his arms around Jinx’s huge form.

“Wouldn’t I?” Sabre challenged, an eyebrow raised. “I once killed a baby.”

There were several gasps from the soldiers, but none was louder than Draven’s. “Abhorrent woman!” the angel condemned her.

Mikhail simply groaned and closed his eyes, listening for the inevitable fuckery Sabre was about to dish out to her fellow guardian. There was no way Sabre had ever killed a baby. A chuff met his ears, and he opened his eyes to find an amused tiger face.

Jinx's mouth was open in a wide, toothy smile, exposing rows of sharp teeth. Her ears were up, and her eyes were bright with a pleased gleam. “You’re incredible, you know that? In every shape. In every form. And in every way. You are incredible. ”

Jinx cocked her head to the side, regarding him carefully. After an intense moment, she let out a contented chuff and nuzzled her head against his face. Her claws extended, and she began to make biscuits on his chest. Mikhail grinned; he was all for the biscuit-making.

“Huh. So, this is what being a human scratching post looks like.”

Mikhail’s happy little bubble popped. How could he have forgotten that they were surrounded by a bunch of ingrates who would tease him mercilessly? Surprisingly, Jinx made no effort to move, and Mikhail was forced to use his only available weapon. His words. “Fuck you, Abraxis.”

“Oohh, not the full name. I’m in trouble now,” Brax said laughingly by his feet.

“You will be,” Mikhail muttered under the weight of Jinx. Brax simply laughed again.

“Well, if you two are done with … whatever this is,” Sabre said, gesturing between Mikhail and Jinx with her axe, “let’s get back to the stabby-stabby.”

“Don’t do it, Sabre,” Mikhail warned when she raised the battle axe for a second time.

Sabre merely arched a solo eyebrow. “Stop me.”

Mikhail's heart raced as he felt Jinx's hot breath on his face, her massive paws pinning him to the ground. He closed his eyes, trying to concentrate despite the overwhelming presence of the tiger. He reached out with his mind, feeling for the now semi-familiar power. He felt a warmth spreading from his core, radiating outward through his limbs—which was a little different. As he chased the sensation, he became acutely aware of Jinx's heartbeat and her breath syncing with his own.

The forcefield expanded outward from his fingertips, molecules of air vibrating and coalescing into an impenetrable barrier that shimmered over the top of them. He peered at it, realising the translucent dome of swirling energy pulsed with each beat of their hearts. Just beyond the shimmering veil, Sabre loomed, her axe glinting wickedly in the artificial light.

The weapon's razor-sharp edge hung suspended mere inches from Jinx's striped flank, frozen in mid-swing as the shield materialised. Mikhail poured every ounce of his concentration into maintaining the protective bubble because Sabre, being Sabre, didn’t stop at one strike. No, she swung the deadly weapon again and again. The forcefield rippled and undulated under the repeated attacks but held.

Eventually, Sabre was satisfied, resting the axe on the ground and leaning against the handle. She wiped sweat from her brow, saying, “I’d call that a success.”

“Absolutely,” Brax said with a decisive nod. “Think you can do that with more people when we face off against Z? Something tells me it’s not going to be one-on-one.”

The thought itself was exhausting, but Mikhail answered, “Of course. Piece of cake.”

Brax rolled his eyes, no doubt knowing Mikhail was lying through his teeth. But he was smiling. Mikhail consciously released his hold on the shield and went to get up. But he was prevented by a tonne of black and white fur. “Uh, Jinx? You can get off me now.”

Instead of moving, Jinx lowered her head, her whiskers tickling his cheek as she nuzzled him affectionately. Her rough tongue rasped across his forehead, leaving a warm, damp trail. Mikhail couldn't help but chuckle at the unexpected display of feline affection. Jinx then pressed her velvety nose against his temple, a deep rumble vibrating through her chest and into his.

“Do you think her tiger is really going to molest him?” Brax’s words cut through the peace Mikhail was experiencing.

“The real question is whether or not he’ll actually let her,” Sabre commented, sounding curious.

“Ignore them, My King,” Phaedra piped up.

Mikhail had no idea where she’d come from, but he welcomed her assistance. That was until the dainty female spoke again.

“There’s nothing wrong with a little bestiality. Get on with your bad self.”

Draven’s eyes looked like they might fall out of his head as they looked at the woman he had a crush on. Sabre had told Mikhail all about what she considered to be the ‘grossest thing on the planet’. The banter was enough to get Jinx to move, and she sat up with a disgruntled huff. Her green and blue eyes glinted with annoyance as she looked at the group gathered around them before she opened her mouth and roared.

The sound echoed through the hall, loud and ferocious. It was a formidable roar that Mikhail was sure would strike terror into the hearts of their enemies. But to his consternation, it made him swiftly and incredibly hard.

Mikhail felt a sudden rush of heat flood his body, his face flushing as an unexpected tightness gripped his lower abdomen. His breath caught in his throat as a tingling sensation spread through his groin, blood rushing south with alarming speed. The fabric of his pants grew uncomfortably constricting as his arousal swelled, straining against the zipper.

He shifted awkwardly, trying to adjust his position without drawing attention. But the pressure and friction only intensified the sensation, sending little jolts of pleasure through his body. His heart raced, pulse pounding in his ears as he became hyper-aware of every subtle movement.

His mind reeled, torn between mortification and the intense desire to assuage his lust. Unfortunately, despite what Phaedra thought, bestiality wasn’t in his wheelhouse, so he silently willed his body to calm down. Unfortunately, Jinx chose that moment to thrust her head between his legs. He yelped, scooting backwards on his butt to evade the beast. But she just kept following. “What is going on here?” he yelled, concerned that his manhood was in real danger.

“Stop retreating!” Phaedra ordered sternly. “Jinx’s human side has retreated deeper, and the tiger is in control. She’s acting on instinct. She can smell your arousal. She knows you are mates. It appears the tiger has a thing or two to say about that.”

Mikhail went still. “Oh …” He hadn’t thought about that. This was Jinx's first time around him in her shifted form. Of course, the poor animal was acting on her nature.

He met Jinx's mismatched eyes, seeing the intelligence and emotion swirling in their depths. Slowly, carefully, he reached out a hand, palm up. “Hey there, beautiful,” he said softly, his voice low and soothing. “It's okay. I like you, too.”

The massive tiger cocked her head, regarding him with interest. Her whiskers twitched as she leaned forward, sniffing his outstretched hand. Mikhail remained perfectly still, letting her investigate his scent at her own pace.

“That's it,” Mikhail murmured encouragingly. “You're amazing, you know that? So strong and fierce. Anyone would be proud to have you as their mate. I know this isn’t what you signed up for, but for now, we need to think with our human brains, okay?”

The tiger seemed to ponder his words before she let out another rumble and nuzzled him. Mikhail's heart swelled with affection. If he had any hope of a future with Jinx, this animal was going to be a part of the package. And he was very okay with that.