Warrior Breed (Insert)

Prologue

Demons! For the love of the Great Goddess, there were so many demons chasing her, wanting to drink her blood and to possess her magick. Why were they forever after her? She was nothing special to them! Only a low ranking witch praying that the spell she cast came out right. The blistering breath of those foul demons scorched the nape of her neck as she ran hell bent down a long narrow corridor, looking for the door. The corridor was black as night with only the glowing cracks of the door guided her. Somehow she knew if she got pass the door she would safe. She had to reach the door or she’d die!
Beads of sweat formed on her brow and trailed into her eyes stinging them horribly. Her bare feet slapped loudly on the cold hard floor came away wet. She was glad she couldn’t see what her feet sloshed through, but she had a good idea. She wasn’t sure how many demons were behind her, and she didn’t want to risk a look over her shoulder. In the movies when the victim looked back that’s when they got you. She felt the furious snapping sharp needlepoint fangs click loudly in her ears as her hand grabbed the door handle.
Salvation!
They were almost on her when she burst through the door, and blinded by the awesome bright light engulfing her whole. The demons shrieked painfully, pulling away from the hot bright as day light. They kept to the outer edges of the darkness, waiting for her to back. The greedy clicking of their jagged claws scraped along the walls and her nerves. She slammed the door behind her trying to catch her ragged breath. Her legs folded beneath her, and she crumpled to the untainted white marble floor, weary from the chase. This place felt so familiar to her, but she knew she had never been here. Right? There was no way she wouldn’t remember being at a place so harmonious with everything. The serenity wrapped around her like a safety blanket, cocooning her fears away.
“Where am I?” Her words floated quietly on the soft breeze. After a while her retinas accepted the piercing light, and what she witness took her breath away. There was so much beauty surrounding her she knew this place couldn’t be real.

“Am I dead?” If she was then the demons would have taken her to Hell. Surely she wasn’t allowed in such a place after everything she had done in her life.
“No, child thee are very much alive. I brought thee here.” A large radiant being floated over to her. The glowing light shimmered into an exquisite woman with long flowing golden hair and pale blue eyes.
“Are you an angel?”
“Ah…no, I am not a seraph. I am the Great Goddess.” The beautiful woman shimmered radiantly exhibiting her powers. The long flowing pale amethyst gown enhanced her lush curves and whispered over the cool white marble floor. Her long golden brown hair had fat curls that framed her fey little face and her large indigo were sparkling like star shone from them.
“Why would you invite me there, Great One?” Was she supposed to bow down to her? The mere thought of groveling chafed her arrogant pride. Sure, she was grateful the demons didn’t get her, but if she had her weapons with her she could have destroyed them. Or at least sending them back where they belonged, in the bowels of the fiery pit of hell.
“Thou are not to question me. This is the only warning I will give thee.” Aghast the Great Goddess towered over the human, her brow furrowed as she considered soul before her. “There is not much time and much to tell thee. On the day of your first and twenty date of birth, your powers will—”
Suddenly a loud clap of thunder drowned out the Great Goddess’ words and Haven felt herself falling down…down…down…


Chapter One

Coven of Radiance

“Where is she?” A man towered over the girl that answered his summons demanding to know, crowding the Great Hall’s door like he own them. His hot savage dark eyes glared warningly at the girl in front of him, his arms crossed over his broad muscular chest. His forearms were bare and showed his rippling muscles while he waited. “I was told to pick her up.” He growled lowly, impatient to be gone. There were other things he had to do other than wait for a spoiled little brat.
“Be at ease, Kendra. This is Mathayus,” Wicca laid a gentle hand on Kara’s tense shoulder. “I will see to this matter. You need to get back to your studies.”
Kendra didn’t need to be told again as she ran away like a scared little rabbit. She was thankful that beast wasn’t here for her. Though she should tell Haven about him, but she didn’t want to disobey Wicca who was like a mother to all the girls of the coven. If she disobeyed then she would be punished hopefully Haven wouldn’t be mad at her as she went back to class. The only reason why she answered the door was because she was on her way back from the bathroom.
“I don’t have all day, lady. I’m here to get…Haven Skyes.” He grimaced at the name and wondered how many times the girl was the amusement of other kids. By the Gods, he hated babysitting detail. He wouldn’t be here if he wasn’t on top of his mother’s crap list. Just his luck to get caught messing around with one of her favorite priestess’ he grunted to himself. Luckily, he was saved from seducing her. He had been so drunk on Ambrosia he would have bedded her and felt nothing but disgust with himself for it.
His mother, the all knowing demigoddess bade him to do this one little thing and she’d forgive him. Bloody hell! He agreed before he thought it through and now here he stood. Gods, he wanted a beer so badly! He promised himself he’d get one at the first opportunity even if he had to drag the girl into the nearest bar!
“You are here for Haven? B-but that’s impossible! A messenger took her well over a month ago.” Shock and worry filled her dark green forest eyes. “I had him checked out before I let them leave since I didn’t know him. By the love of the Great Goddess, who was that man?”
Although, Wicca knew the day would come when Haven would be taken from her she didn’t think it would haven been so soon. There was still so much to teach her and prepare her for her future. Her dark green forest eyes narrowed on Mathayus wondering if he knew Haven’s age. Surely, his mother wouldn’t have sent him to protect her. This was the man who would seduce any pretty female with little to no effort at all. How was Haven to resist him? She had never been exposed to such raw masculinity, other than the old priests from town.
“What do you mean you gave her to another?” Everything within him became very still watching Wicca with narrowed eyes. His body tensed barely controlling the rage that tore through him. That was new. He never had such a reaction to messed up news.
“There must be some kind of mistake!” Wicca cried out as she tried to calm herself so she could focus. She had to considerate in order to get a fix on Haven. Taking deep even breaths, she closed her eyes banishing all the wild emotions plaguing her. Behind her eyelids she pictured Haven and the man that took her. He told her his name was Ramid. A medium stature man with a short pudgy nose, small intense beady eyes, a bald head, and wore civilian clothing. Nothing like an agent from the order or some lone guard sent to make a pick up. However, that didn’t necessarily mean Ramid wasn’t who he claimed to be at the time. She should have been more careful and triple checked his orders.
Suddenly, Wicca felt Haven’s piercing pain from far away. She could see Haven locked in a dirty little cell, cold and hungry. Little patches of dirt covered her from head to toe, as did ugly dark bruises. Another call to Wicca fell from Haven’s cracked lips begging her to come to her, to stop the pain. A bulky shadow entered the cell and fell over her. The cold dank surroundings didn’t tell Wicca where Haven might be held. She had no direction to give Mathayus and when she opened her eyes he was gone.
Mathayus cursed his dammable luck, feeling helpless as a dark threatening rage boiled steadily in his gut. With a mighty roar, he felt the burning throb between his shoulders as his wickedly long wings tore through his flesh. His black whispery silk wings extended before he was airborne. He took deep even breaths trying to get a fix on anything unusual stirring in nature. A faint disturbance of violence, weeks old permeated the air, giving him trail to follow. He had to hurry before he lost his only link to find her. Whoever took her was going to pay and pay in blood by the gods!


“It’s time again, my dear,” that smooth hissing voice grated on her frayed nerves and had her belly rolling. “I can feel all that delicious power in you.”
A hard shudder racked her body bracing herself against the horrible pain that was about to scrape through her. There was no way to stop it and if she fought more energy was taken from her, leaving her drained and vulnerable. This wasn’t the fun she had imaged for her twenty first birthday, all bruised and almost broken. She dreamed about caving but each time she weakened she fought to stay alive. Just one more day or so she would tell herself hoping Wicca would find her. Sending out messages like she had been was draining her even faster, but she hadn’t a choice if she wanted to live.
Two formidable minions grabbed her arms forcing her on her wobbly legs. Dragging her out of the cell, they tied her to the strapped medical table in the outer chamber. A large circular glowing light framed just the bed, plunging the rest of the room into a deep darkness. This is where those evil monsters would deplete as much of her magick as they could. She only prayed it would kill them.

The gray horned demons pulled the old leather straps so tightly over her ankles and wrist that the abused flesh painfully reminded her she didn’t have a chance to heal herself. As she lay there, she wondered why she was taken when there were more powerful beings out there to sustain them much longer. Each time they did the ritual the darkness inside of her took a little bit more of her soul.
A low rumbling chant filled the stilled air in some kind of ancient tongue she could almost understand. The words teased her brain and roused a forgotten part of herself she didn’t want to remember. When she was a child she would play with the darkness until Wicca found out and wrapped that ability with the power of the Great Goddess. It hurt worst than these annoying rituals.
The patrician of the clan stepped into the light at the head of the table when the chant ended, looking down at her with a malicious glint in his red eyes. He was dressed in a blood red robe covering head to toe rather than what the demon minions wore. His cashmere robed arms rose to the light, beseeching some unknown god for a boon. The faintly glowing light began to burn the exposed skin her ripped clothes didn’t cover.
“Minions, look upon our savior! She is the key that will free our goddess from her prison. It is time to begin.” With a clap of the master’s hands the two demons who tied her down tore away her clothes with fangs and claws. Tiny ribbons of blood streaked down her arms and legs saturating the dirty sheet beneath her.
She felt the feral eyes devouring her flesh making her skin crawl with shame. It was the first time she was naked before any male and she felt her skin crawling.
“Why are you doing this to me? Just let me go,” her hoarse voice murmured wearily, feeling her will receding making her venerable to her dark nature. Nothing good would come out of this, but perhaps the death of these demons. The more she thought about it the more she willed her sinister temperament from their tight enduring bindings. Perhaps she could save herself after all. The embittered feral of her other half quickly subdued her bright white side, turning her sapphire blue eyes to a crystal icy blue. She felt her eyeteeth sharpen, as her ears reshaped themselves into high points at the top. Her nails strengthened and grew into vicious claw.
“Oh, Great Goddess, help me!” She screamed in agony, the dark stain of her magick seethed through her like a flash of lighting. It was like she was freeing a part of herself she had lost and it felt…awesome!
The rough leather straps holding her to the altar loosened and fell away from her wrists and ankles. She bolted up from the altar, a feral hiss ripped from her throat as she swiped her lethal claws to the closest demon near her. Thick black poisonous blood sprayed from his wounds hitting three other demons as he turned away howling in pain.
“Stop her!” The master cried out, his face molten red with anger. How dare this witch try and escape her fate. His dark robes fluttered while he called out to his dark goddess for more and more power. His beady little eyes glowed to a swirling red, taking the power from his goddess. “Don’t be foolish, girl! There is nowhere for you to run.”
“You have not right to tame me! I am the Supreme Darkness to end all your worthless kind!” Her voice altered to a soft hissing whisper, deeper than her normal voice. This was the voice of her darker side and it relished at being freed. She felt the darkness grow in her too fast to control it and she knew she would destroy them all.
“Calm yourself, little Halfling.” A stunning woman with thick long black hair and dark amethyst eyes suddenly appeared at her side and soothed her raging emotions. “You must restrain your temper or you will kill us all.” Two long wicked swords clutched in each hand, ready to defend.
Haven tried to rein in her panic but once her dark side cam out it was hell to take back the control. Summoning all her white force, she slowly began to tether her malevolent side back into the locked box she kept deep in her soul.
No, do not put me back in there! I’ll be good. Her bad half pleaded deceptively, loathing to get in that fucking little box again. There were no comforts for her and it restricted any movements. Haven ignored that half knowing what it was capable of and not falling for that trick like she had once before. Lesson learn.
“Xandora! Your mother will have you head for this!” The master crowed trying to draw more power from his evil goddess. His long dark hair flew away from his skeleton like face, his red glowing eyes pierced her mother’s displeasure at her.
“Gee, where have I heard that before, priest- man? Do you really think you or she can stop me? If she could have stopped me then she would have long ago.” Xandora chuckled menacingly never liked the pitful man her mother proclaimed as one of her high priests. Turning to Haven, she said, “If you want to live come with me.”
Xandora easily forged a path for them before she shoved Haven out the front door. The bright as day moon gave enough light to see they were blessedly alone, but not for long. She could hear the demons howl their fury as they gave chase. Casting a rather nasty spell on the main double doors, Xandora knew her mother’s goons wouldn’t stop until they had Haven back on that altar.

“Run for the trees!” Pointing one of her bloody swords towards the foliage, she remained by the doors. She would fight them off and pray Mathayus would come for Haven. Hell, she was good but not good enough to destroy the whole demon army chasing them. It was time for a hasty retreat. Anyways, she had a score to settle with her mother and her damned Minions.
“I could help if you gave me a weapon.” Haven panted easily fear still clutched at her gut but willingly to stay and fight.
“Aw, that’s sweet, but no. I have someone that’s coming to pick you up, little Halfling. Now, go!” Xandora had kept tabs on Haven throughout the years, watching over her defying her mother at every turn. Though, Xandora was created by two evil forces she had tried to her best to exist peacefully on Earth. That wasn’t the case a few hundred years ago when she lived to hunt anything and everything. But now she was tired of all the wasted blood on her hands. So she went to the Great Goddess for help and where she made a deal with the devil so to speak. Oh well, she sighed to herself as she always did when she thought of it.
Haven felt guilty for leaving, but pumped her legs as fast as they would go in the direction of the trees. She thought the woman was following behind her, frowning when she only heard her footsteps. Well, the woman certainly knew how to take care of herself. The first thing the demons seized from her where her weapons when she was taken from the Coven weeks ago. Now wasn’t the time for regrets or to mourn over them. She had to get away or the demons would recapture her. Her energy levels were depleting at an alarming rat. She needed to rest soon or her body would give out on her.
A hard arm hooked around her waist plucking her off her feet and high into the air. Luckily she didn’t have the breath to do much than grunt as the air she had in her lungs were forced out. Her thundering heart skipped a few painful beats before it furiously pumped more blood throughout her weary body. She felt so strange like she was going to pass our. Her head numbed her body as her slight dimmed.
No! Don’t let me faint!
But her system didn’t listen to her as it began to shut down and she lost consciousness. She was so close to freedom, so damned close! When was she ever going to get a break?


Mathayus extended his large webby black wings as he flew through the moonlit skies, searching for Haven. Wicca wasn’t much help in leading him to Haven. Frustration built hot and heavy in his veins when he found not a trace of her life essence. Who foolish enough would have taken a young girl front the only home she knew?
The insistent buzz of his cell phone pulsated in his braise’s pocket, drawing his attention again. He landed softly on the roof of an abandoned warehouse just outside of the noisy city. Flipping the phone to his ear he growled, “What?”
“Nice of you to finally answer your phone, Mattie-boy.” The sultry voice of his closest friend purred in his ear. “Whacya doin’?”
“What do you want, Xandora? I’m kina busy right now and don’t have the time for a pissing contest with you.”
A short moody silence crackled over the airwaves as he impatiently waited. He had met Xandora almost eleven hundred years ago while battling demons to save his mother’s precious sanctuaries. She had helped him to destroy the Minions, showing him how to send the damned souls back to the Dark Sphere. He wasn’t sure where she came from but was thankful for the help. Actually, she knew more about him that he did her. Hmm.
“I know where the girl you’re looking for is being held. A rather typical place for the Minions to take her. I thought, maybe you wanted to know. I told her to run for the tress by old man’s Fuller farmhouse by the lake. If you hurry you just might be able to catch her. Damn, Mattie-boy, she’s a fast one. Now you owe me…again.” The line went dead as she hung up on him.
How could the Minions know where to find her? More importantly why would the Minions be after a young witch like Haven? They were only used when that evil goddess, Natas wanted something.
Taking to the skies again, his strong wings effortlessly glided through the heavy turbulence. Heading south to old man Fuller’s place, he prayed he would make it in time to rescue his ward. Although he knew his mother loved him fiercely, she would make his existence worst than hell if he didn’t save this girl. A few minutes later he plunged through the dense tress on old man Fuller’s land. His eyes narrowed when he heard the soft rustle up ahead of him and knew he had found her. He didn’t take time to consider the waves of relief rolled through him when he snagged her around the waist and easily lifted her with him. He sensed her panic, hearing the harsh beating of her heart. Knowing she couldn’t take much more stain, he allowed his magick to flow into her, putting her to sleep.
Yeah, he owed Xandora once again, hated to be beholden to her or anyone for that matter. It seemed whenever she was around she covered his ass more than his did hers. Not only did it chafe his male ego but royally pissed him off because women needed to be protected against anything that could harm them. Thanks to his mother he had to help any damsel in distress, although the rewards usually made up for it.


Haven groaned as she woke from her stupor lying on a soft mattress, on a massive bed that could easily fit at least ten people. The firm pillows beneath her supported her comfortably. Her body ached like she got holy hell drunk last night and dealing with a mega hangover. She didn’t dare open her eyes just yet, hoping she had had drawn the thick drapes securely over the windows.
Wait a minute, she wasn’t home nor at the Coven. Where the heck was she? This certainly wasn’t the bed she own because she couldn’t afford the decedent luxury. Let’s see the last thing she remembered was…what?
Gasping, her eyes flew opened and what she saw quickly took her breath away. The room was like an old bedchamber from a castle in India she saw on screen. It was huge with cathedral high with smooth creamy white marble walls. The floor to ceiling windows were opened letting in the scent of the ocean as the heavy drapes fluttered in the breeze. It was so relaxing to hear the waves beat against the shore. “Where am I?”
“Ahh, good you are finally awake.” An accented sweet voice tiled with Ireland proclaimed with a happy clap. “There’s a bath awaitin’ for you and food on the table by the balcony. What would you like first, my lady?”
“Where am I and who are you?” Haven repeated like a broken record looking around the room for the person the voice belonged too. Was she dead after all? That didn’t make any sense if she was because she wouldn’t be in a freaking castle. She was about to throw the light blanket aside when she discovered she was buck ass naked! “Where are my clothes?”
“One question at a time, m’lady,” A middle aged woman came from an opened door into the bedchamber carrying a sinfully gorgeous cashmere bathrobe. The whisper soft material was a royal lavender color with wide sleeves and a belted sash. “I am called Irish…a wee bit redundant being from Ireland . Although, I’m glad my mum didn’t name me Ireland, bless her heart. Though, my twin is named after our home land.” She laughed softly before going on. “I’ve been with the master for ages now. Here we go, if you please,” Irish held out the robe for Haven discreetly averting her eyes to the floor. One thing she knew about mortals of this day and age was their modesty. Well, the master will take care of that in not time. My, she was a wee little pretty thing. Not a’tall what the master usually brought home. Of course, he never put one of his women in his own bed before either. She must, indeed, be special.
Haven decided to bath first then satisfy her growling stomach. She couldn’t remember the last time she eaten, unless it was a moldy crust of bread and a cup of water the demons gave her. The delicious smells of hot food watered her mouth while she soaked in her hot bath. The tub was a sunken pool used for bathing, deep enough to accommodate a large man and wide enough for at least five people! The decadence was a sinful pleasure, something she always wanted to try. The first time she saw a bathpool like this one was when she was in Greece six months ago and her interest was peaked to try it. It was all the salesperson, but she didn’t have enough to buy one for her flat. Hell, she hardly had any money to the basics. That’s what she got when she refused to take anything from the Coven. Wicca was willing to supply for her needs, much like a favored aunt.
Not knowing who her parents were never bothered her until recently. Not until the strange nightmares began haunting her last year on the eve of her twentieth birthday. The search into her past proved frustrating because there was nothing to go on other than what Wicca told her, which wasn’t much. She was found on the Great Doors steps like most of the children before her with nothing but a small baby’s blanket inside of a large white wicker bassinet. That was more than most whom were given to the Priestess without a backwards glance. She had seen it done many times.