Chapter Twenty-Eight

It took an entire day to get Fowler into Saint Lakes, and even then, the alpha and some of his enforcers had to go on a rescue mission. Sylvain and his driver went along. They were gone for two solid hours before Ladon stumbled into the yard again, carrying Hacen, Jules and Thomas’ mate. Ramsey and Fane followed behind him. Rocky recognized Quidel and Teagan from the council. He also recognized Rory and Caerwyn Lewis from Wingspan. Caerwyn and one of the council enforcers held on to Fowler.

The fighting would have been terrible there if Quidel couldn’t bring any more council members with him other than the ones who lived in Wingspan. Not to mention Caerwyn and Rory were farmers, not enforcers for the council, yet they behaved as though they were guards, as much as the enforcers with them.

Gabe brought up the rear. He walked with a limp and had blood dripping from his forehead. He scowled as though still pissed off from whatever fight he’d just had. As soon as Shawn saw him, he ran past everyone, straight to Gabe’s side.

Jules and Thomas exited the house. Jules’ face was pink and wet from crying and Thomas’s expression was one of worry. Rocky wasn’t sure if he was more worried about Hacen or if he feared Jules might lose it.

Sylvain directed Ladon to lay Hacen on the ground. He waved his driver forward and then asked for Taylor Pyke for reasons Rocky couldn’t understand. Taylor had been in the house with his mate, Marshall, but they made their way over to Sylvain.

Taylor seemed confused by Sylvain’s request, but he kneeled beside Sylvain as he placed his hand on Hacen’s shoulder. He whispered to Sylvain. “How can I help, sir?”

Rocky and Henri were close enough to hear him.

Jules and Thomas kneeled beside them. Jules’ hands shook as he touched Hacen’s arm. Thomas had one hand on Jules’ back, rubbing it, and he held Hacen’s hand with the other.

“I need to stay hidden. This many people seeing me is too many. Already too many people know.” Sylvain seemed worried.

It was the second time Rocky had ever seen the scary veneer Sylvain wore fall away. The first time had been when he’d saved Anna’s life in an office bathroom. Sylvain had saved a lot of lives the day they had captured Fowler. He deserved as much protection as Lucas and Echo.

Rocky addressed Thomas. “Can you create one of your domes of privacy?”

Thomas nodded. He took a long breath in. His chin wobbled with unshed tears, but he fought them. Rocky thought he’d been holding back the entire time. Thomas might feel as though he had to be strong for Jules and maybe even for Hacen.

Before the dome surrounded them, Lucas came over, with Bennett following behind. He kneeled beside Hacen, staying close to Sylvain. “I can do it if you’re drained.”

“I don’t get drained anymore.”

“I’ve improved as well.”

“Keep working at it.” Sylvain laid his hand on Hacen’s chest. “Fowler hasn’t been the first power-hungry person I’ve encountered. It’s important to hone your skills. They’ll save your life.”

Sylvain drew up a ball of light and pushed it into Hacen. Hacen grunted, but otherwise didn’t seem any different from the outside.

When Sylvain stood, so did Lucas. Sylvain spoke to Thomas, since he was the most coherent. “Remember, I can take a life as easily as I can give it.”

Thomas nodded, but otherwise didn’t acknowledge the threat. “Thank you.”

Henri pulled out of Rocky’s arms and kneeled on Jules’ other side, showing support to his friend.

The dome fell away. Sylvain and his driver headed for Fowler.

“Sylvain,” Rocky called after him.

Sylvain met his gaze.

You have my protection. Saint Lakes clan has your back too.

Sylvain smiled and nodded. I may call upon you some day.

I’m here for it.

Sylvain turned to Fowler again, grinning as though he were a lunatic. It was clear he would enjoy the next few minutes.

Lucas followed Sylvain as if something had pulled him forward. If Rocky had to guess, Sylvain told Lucas to follow him.

Echo came out of the house followed by Bandos and Vaughan. He headed straight for Sylvain.

“James. Do you see the mess you created?” Sylvain pointed to the bodies surrounding the yard.

Fowler seemed to shake when Sylvain started talking, but he didn’t say anything. As soon as Caerwyn and the council enforcer let Fowler go, Rocky understood why. Sylvain had made it so he couldn’t control his body. It was as if he were becoming a gargoyle against his will. He couldn’t even speak.

Sylvain held out his hands. Lucas took one while Echo took the other. Lucas and Echo were a picture of innocence compared to Sylvain. Something about the contrast made them seem even more terrifying.

What contributed to the ominous moment were the dark clouds forming overhead and the soft mist. It was as if the three of them conjured the weather, adding a dash of intensity.

Florin grinned as if he knew what Rocky was thinking. “He likes it when I create drama.”

“It doesn’t surprise me.” What else could Florin do?

The driver chuckled. “This is going to be fun. Let’s watch.”

Rocky wondered at the mental stability of Sylvain’s driver. He was glad to have Sylvain and his people as friends instead of enemies.

“I’m going to give you a choice, James. Lucas or me. Choose.”

Fowler’s expression was one of fear. There was no mistaking it. His eyes darted to Lucas.

When Sylvain spoke next, it was clear he was addressing Lucas. “Find out who’s in charge. The humans under the senator’s command. If you wouldn’t mind, Lucas.”

Lucas nodded. The second he began poking around in Fowler’s mind, Fowler’s expression turned from fear to terror. He shook.

“Here’s what’s going to happen.” Sylvain waved his driver forward. The driver pulled out a cellphone and handed it to Sylvain. “Call your men off or we’ll start killing. We’ll work our way down until there is no one left, James.”

Sylvain must have freed parts of Fowler’s body because he shook his head. “I don’t know.”

Lucas spoke. “He’s lying. There’s three of them. One is leading the attack. The other two lead underneath her.”

Sylvain glowed in a way Rocky had never seen before. The glow encompassed Lucas and Echo. “I see them. Howell will die first.”

Echo gasped as if something bad had happened. He shook and tried to pull his hand out of Sylvain’s grasp, but Sylvain held on.

Lucas didn’t seem to hesitate. He whispered, “It’s done.”

“There is a punishment for lying.” Sylvain held out his phone. “Are you going to be a good boy and cooperate?”

“It’s too late.”

Lucas didn’t hesitate the second time. “The other two are dead.”

Sylvain’s smile died along with the humanity in his gaze.

Rocky took a step closer, ready to pull Echo and Lucas away if Sylvain grew dangerous.

Fowler screamed as if Sylvain was a worm inside his mind, eating away at his brain. And it was clear when he killed the people trying to help Fowler because Sylvain said, “Shall I continue?”

Fowler fell to the ground as if his legs couldn’t hold him. He shook his head. The terror was clear in his expression. Maybe Fowler had hoped he’d make it out in one piece with all his wishes of world domination granted. But Sylvain killed it the second he stepped into Fowler’s mind.

Fowler’s fear of Sylvain was a living thing. It had planted itself as though it rooted to the ground where Fowler kneeled. It might climb to the sky as though it were a skeletal tree if they let it continue much longer.

Rocky didn’t have any empathy for Fowler. But it was difficult watching someone being destroyed in such a torturous way. He couldn’t think of Sylvain the same way he had before. Maybe he was seeing the real him for the first time.

There were nuggets of good in Sylvain. Wasn’t there in everyone? Rocky knew they were there, yet Sylvain shoved them so far down he couldn’t see himself anymore. Instead, he became a villain who happened to be on their side.

“Shall I keep going, James?”

Fowler either didn’t answer or couldn’t. Rocky wasn’t sure, and it didn’t matter because Sylvain didn’t wait for an answer.

He turned to Lucas and said, “Your turn.”

Lucas shook his head. “We’ve killed enough. No more.”

“It’s never going to be enough. Is it, James? They’ll keep trying to save you and we’ll have to keep fighting. It’s a viscous cycle destined to repeat itself.” Sylvain was right. It would never end until they ended it.

“Do it, Lucas. Just the top people. Spare the rest.” Rocky didn’t use his alpha nature very often. He didn’t want to lead. It wasn’t his place, but Lacus needed guidance from someone other than Sylvain.

“Do what Rocky says, Lucas.” Ladon backed him up.

Lucas cried. Tears fell down his face. “I don’t want to. Please.”

Bennett growled, but he didn’t step in. He’d fought for Lucas since the day they met, putting himself in harm’s way each time. But he didn’t step in that time. “Get it over with, baby.”

“I don’t want to, Benny. I’m not… like him.” He turned to Sylvain. “I’m sorry but I’m not like you.”

Sylvain dropped the villain act, wrapping his arm around Lucas’s shoulders. “I’ll finish it.”

Lucas drew a deep breath and nodded.

Several of the humans outside the barrier died. Not all of them but enough it scared those left alive. They ran away when they realized their leadership had crumbled around them. With the bodies piling up from the day before, they finally understood paranormals had defeated them.

And then there was James. A sniveling mess.

Sylvain released Echo’s hand and then let go of Lucas and closed the distance to Fowler. He pulled up a gray ball. “I’m going to kill you now, James. Your time is done. I’ll make it painless, although you deserve my worst. You always have, even when you were a young man.”

Rocky had to agree. All the hardship and loss of life. He shook his head. It was all so unfortunate. The trauma they had to recover from wouldn’t be an easy road. Not even for someone like Rocky who had shit flung at him in the past. Getting caught in the middle of other people’s sick agendas wasn’t something he would ever get used to, especially when it led to violence, but he had built coping skills over the years.

Echo ran to Bandos and Vaughan. And Lucas turned to Bennett.

Bennett lifted Lucas into his arms and headed toward the house.

Sylvain sighed. “I think we’re done here.”

Mother Estelle stood on the patio and yelled across the yard. “Stop scaring people and come inside, Mr. Sylvain. I’m sure you’re hungry.”

Sylvain smiled. “Does she mother everyone?”

“Every single person. You’ll hurt her feelings if you don’t accept,” Ladon answered.

Henri stood, squeezing Jules’s shoulder. “I’m available if you need me.”

“Thanks, Henri.” Jules lay on the ground beside Hacen. Thomas took up residence on the Hacen’s other side as if their spot in the yard was a bed.

Henri closed the distance between them. “Can we go home now?”

“Soon. I think the whole family will stay together for a while after this. Are you okay with that?” Rocky wrapped his arm around Henri’s waist.

“I think I’ll be looking over my shoulder for a long time, expecting to see a human with a gun.”

They all would be, but they had each other to fall into. If the last couple of days had taught them anything, it was family and clan meant everything, and they could rely on each other when the worst happened. It was how Rocky, Bandos, and Sully had started their journey together. Helping the family was why they had come to Saint Lakes. And it was why they would always be a part of the Saint Lakes Clan.