Embrace the Wild (The Blood Rose Series Book 6) by Caris Roane Page A

several times. “I’ll want back up. Give me a sec.”
    He shifted his focus to Evan, and because he needed to supply coordinates mentally, Malik contacted him mind-to-mind.
    Evan, I’m going to need your help, but first, is everything okay with the Vampire Guard? Malik’s adrenaline pumped hard.
    We’re good here. No Invictus sign, but I can hear shit in your voice. What’s going on?
    Trouble on Willow’s land. Axton procured another illegal charm and is trying to dislodge the wraith families I told you about.
    That motherfucker. Where do you want us and how many?
    Bring two squads with you.
    You got it.
    Eight vampire Guardsmen should be enough to take care of Axton. He mentally sent the location and disconnected.
    To Willow, he said, “You’ll need to release your protective charm over your gate, or my men won’t be able to get in. Please tell me it’s separate from the one that keeps the wraith families hidden.”
    “It is.” She closed her eyes and he could feel a rolling sensation as the charm disappeared. Opening her eyes, she nodded. “Done.”
    “Let me fly you to Axton’s position.”
    “I was hoping you’d say that, but skip the paths and head into the sky.”
    “You just read my mind.”
    He gestured to his right boot, and when she stepped up and slung an arm around his neck, he took to the air.
    ~ ~ ~
    Willow leaned her head close to Malik, nestling against his shoulder. She wasn’t used to flying with vampires and wanted to be sure she made it easy for him to maneuver.
    But as Malik lifted above the forest canopy and moved swiftly to the west in the direction of the colony, she felt as though she’d dropped into a warm bath and wanted to stay there forever. With the need to make sure her wraiths were safe, she’d forgotten how much she desired him, a sensation reinforced by the fact that she was essentially held tightly in his arms.
    Desire flowed as it always did, yet so inappropriately given the situation that her cheeks warmed yet again.
    Forcing her attention to the matter at hand, she focused on her protective shield and the battering it was now taking. And the closer Malik flew to the colony, the stronger the charm’s vibration beat against her mind.
    She felt someone tapping against her telepathy as well and because she was away from the protective charms surrounding her treehouse residence, she tested the frequency and felt Illiandra trying to reach her.
    Willow, we’re under attack again.
    I’m on it, she pathed.
    Hurry. The charm is much more powerful than the last one and Axton is almost through.
    We’re just a few seconds out.
    We?
    Mastyr Malik and I.
    Oh, thank the Goddess. He’ll be able to help you. I just know it.
    Illiandra shut down the communication as Malik dropped ten feet behind Axton, releasing Willow at once.
    Axton stood outside the entrance to the colony. Smoke streamed into the air as the vines burned. The rancid smell was almost more than Willow could bear.
    Malik shouted, “What the fuck do you think you’re doing, Axton?”
    Startled, Axton turned to glare at Malik over his shoulder, his gaze skating over Willow, then returning to Malik. But he kept the charm on full bore. “There are wraiths behind this protective shield and I intend to expose them.”
    “Oh, you do, do you?”
    Willow was about to mention to Malik that he needed to stop Axton from using the charm, when Malik suddenly closed the distance, drew back his arm and punched Axton in the jaw. When Axton flew backward, he lost control of the charm and the large, glowing emeralds fell to the ground. Malik didn’t hesitate to grind each gemstone into the dirt with the heel of his boot.
    The charm broke instantly.
    Willow had never really seen any of the Guardsmen in action before, so watching Malik take charge as swiftly as he did stunned her. Witnessing this side of him caused her interest to rise yet another notch. Of course, he was a man of war, and he’d chosen the simplest route to