Swamp Kings 2 (Bayou Bishops #20)

CHAPTER EIGHT

Beth woke, wincing at the scream going on and off in her ears.

“She’s awake!”

Bishop.

He covered her face in soft, breathless kisses. She moaned from the heavy pressure on her forehead as she realized that scream was just a tiny alert going off in the room.

“You’re okay baby,” he whispered, his hands stroking her face as she forced her eyes open. “You’re at the Creole King facility to get checked out. You fainted.”

She did? “When?”

“We were on the phone, I was on my way to you.”

“How long was I…”

“You’ve been out for four hours.”

That news shocked her as she struggled to remember. “I… thought I went to sleep. ”

“Good, she’s awake,” a deep voice said.

She looked and tried to sit up.

“Go slow,” Bishop admonished, helping her upright.

Well, she was dressed in normal clothes, she saw, trying to connect events to her black stretchy jean selection and mossy colored sweater three times her size.

“How do you feel?” King Thakx asked next to the bed. “Does anything hurt?”

She considered it carefully, then shook her head. “No.”

“You had a nasty bump on your head,” he said, amazed, touching a spot on her forehead. “Feel anything?”

She shook her head again. “No.”

“I got a couple of test results back if you both are ready to hear them.”

She glanced at Bishop, not liking what hid in his tone.

“You ready?” Bishop asked her. “We can wait if you need to.”

She considered that, feeling like it didn’t matter. His tests or the waiting. She wasn’t sure why it didn’t matter, she just knew it didn’t. “I’m ready. Are you?” she wondered, remembering his PTSD with all things her and baby related.

“I have to know,” he said, sounding sorry he did.

“Well, I’ve run blood work, hormone analysis, ultrasound scans,” the giant of a King said, scrolling through an electronic device in his hands. He lowered it and aimed furrowed brows at Bishop. “It’s not bad news, it’s just odd.”

“What is,” he said, his words guarded but calm.

“Some of the data we’re getting is inconsistent. Her blood samples show normal levels of pregnancy hormones, then suddenly, it switches—almost like the markers disappear or shift entirely.”

Beth frowned. “Disappear? What does that mean?”

“It’s hard to say,” Thakx said, back to looking at the device. “One second, the data shows you’re not pregnant at all, and then the next, the hormone levels are elevated again—like something is interfering with the readings.” He regarded both of them. “It could actually be interference with the equipment which is why I’m running manual tests.”

“What do you mean interference with the equipment,” Bishop wondered, back to guarded.

Thakx looked at Beth then him. “You want to speak privately?”

“I want to know,” Beth hurried, swallowing down her pulse .

Again, he looked at Bishop who nodded. “Tell us.”

“Well, we have enemies that know about us, and it makes sense they’d be trying to infiltrate however they can. Especially now. But we’re handling it.”

“8-Bit knows?”

“He’s leading that charge.”

“When did this happen?”

“First sign was last night. And it wasn’t a simple breach. Whoever was behind it had some serious firepower in terms of cyber infiltration. At first, it looked like minor network glitches—fluctuations in system latency, small delays in certain nodes of our infrastructure.”

“And that tipped you off?” Beth wondered, amazed.

Thakx crossed his massive arms, reminding her of Hercules in a lab coat. “8-Bit noticed the irregularities right away. Our systems don’t just lag like that for no reason. When he ran diagnostics, he found signs of man-in-the-middle attacks—someone was intercepting data packets between our nodes and re-routing them, trying to filter sensitive information through their own cloaked system.”

Bishop shook his head, eyeing him. “What kind of information?”

“They were digging in the geographical cloaking which implies they want our exact location.”

“Fuck,” Bishop grit, lowering his head. “And how far did they get?”

“They never breached our core systems,” Thakx assured him. “8-Bit spoofed their attack, creating a fake network overlay and funneling them into a false pathway.”

“Why would any of this affect medical equipment?” Bishop asked, highly doubtful.

Thakx took in a deep breath, his handsome features mirroring the sentiment. “I don’t think it would, but I’m not leaving out the possibility. They could be shooting in the dark, hoping to hit anything they can.”

“How long for the other tests?” Bishop demanded, his effort to be nice an obvious strain to Beth. “And what about the ultrasound, what did it show?”

“Ultrasound was the same kind of interference. Static or no signal at all.”

“So, how the fuck do we know…” Bishop caught himself, then leveled his hard face at Thakx. “What do you know about the health of our baby?”

“Well, I know he or she is alive and strong.”

“How,” Bishop demanded .

Thakx produced a stethoscope from his coat pocket and handed it to him. “Listen for yourself.”

Beth’s excitement sprouted wings till she saw the sheer look of terror on Bishop’s face as he put the tool on and helped her lay down. “The baby is fine,” she assured.

“It helps if it’s against her skin,” Thakx suggested, earning Bishop’s glare. “I’ll step out for privacy.”

“Thank you,” Bishop muttered, raising her sweater and lowering the stretchy part of the pants.

“I don’t need tests to know he’s okay,” she whispered.

He suddenly paused his search for the heartbeat with a demanding look.

“I dreamed about him,” she said with a smile.

He returned to hunting. “Him, huh? Tell me.”

“Well, I was standing in this… nowhere place. He was maybe ten feet in front of me. Building something.”

He paused briefly before moving the cool disc over her belly. “Maybe wishful thinking. The him part.”

“I don’t think so,” she said, very sure somehow.

“What was he building?”

“I don’t know, but he was using all sorts of things, things I didn’t recognize. Tiny. Odd shaped.”

“A baby building things,” he muttered, not convinced.

“Oh, he wasn’t a baby,” she remembered. “He was like… six. And there were crows and ravens flying above in a dark sky.”

Bishop’s hand froze.

“You found it?” she wondered, wanting to hear it next.

“You sure it was crows and ravens?”

“Yes,” she said, eyeing him. “Why?”

“What else was in the dream?”

She thought about it, digging around in the memory. “He was calm. Our son was. Very focused on building. But the crows and the ravens were not, they were… agitated. And the sky was black, and I felt like… something was coming.”

He moved the tool slowly and again stopped. His gaze flew to her with a sharp breath. “I found it.”

Her joy surged at seeing the awful look he’d had on his face instantly transform into a look she’d never seen on him.

“How is it?” she eagerly asked.

He gave another gasp of joy as he looked at her. “Eel-eh tell-mah- fortd,” he whispered, hotly .

“What does that mean?” she cried when his tears fell.

He hurried to her and grabbed her face, kissing her softly, over and over. “It means he’s so strong , baby.”

Emotion choked her as she kissed him back, nodding. “He’s very strong. I can feel he’s okay,” she said on his lips. “I think he knows we worry and gave me the dream to comfort me. I know that sounds stupid, but I can feel it’s true somehow.”

“I believe you,” he swore, pressing his lips firmer. “This bite shows me crazy things too.”

“Yeah?” she wondered, suddenly unable to think around the feel of his lips. “I need you,” she gasped, holding his face and thrusting her tongue in his mouth.

“Fuck, baby,” he said as she lay back and pulled his head with her, using her legs to rope his body onto hers. “We can’t do it here.”

“Lock the door,” she demanded, sure there was one.

“They have cameras.”

She froze, breathless, then frustrated. “Where then?”

“Let me take you home.”

“Home?” she hissed. “That’s a million miles from here!” And a hell no. “We can find a place here. Ask King Thakx for a spare room or… closet !” she shot out, sitting up now.

He snatched her hand and pulled her off the table, hurrying to the door while she praised God on trembling legs only to have them knocked out from under her when they entered the hall.

“Seer,” Bishop said, startled.

“They said you were here,” he muttered, casting an urgent blue gaze to Beth. “I had a vision. Maggie drew it.” He pulled a paper from his pocket and opened it, handing it to Bishop.

Beth angled her head at the paper, confused. It was just words.

“What the hell am I even looking at?” Bishop muttered.

Seer shook his head, stumped. “Was really hoping you’d know.”

Bishop showed Beth. “You get anything from this? You mentioned ravens and crows in your dream, does anything stand out about them?”

Now she was really confused. “Stand out how? It seems pretty straight forward.”

He stared at her, brows drawn. “How?”

“I'm... not following your confusion, it just says ‘leave at midnight tonight?’”

“What?” Seer and Bishop said at once, looking at the paper .

“You don’t see that?” she worried.

“I see nothing but microscopic birds,” Bishop said.

“You see birds?” Seer said, shocked.

Bishop snapped his gaze to him. “What do you see?”

“Dots!” he whispered.

Bishop looked at Beth. “Show me the words.”

“Well it’s… I mean how would I—”

“Draw it,” Bishop said, pulling her back in the room they’d just left. Seer followed as Bishop hurried to a workstation, searching for a pen. He snatched one from a cup and handed it to her, placing the paper on the desk.

She took the pen and began tracing the words, seeing they were sort of embedded in a flock of ravens and crows.

“Holy shit,” Bishop muttered. “I only saw birds in chaotic formation.”

“And I saw dots,” Seer repeated, astonished. “Now I wonder what Maggie saw.”

“Do you even see the ravens and the crows?” Bishop asked her.

“I see them flying around the words, yes.”

He seemed a little relieved at that as Seer took the paper, looking again.

“Still only dots.”

“What does this mean?” Beth wondered.

“It means just what it says,” Seer assured firmly and calmly. “We leave tonight at midnight.” Seer regarded Bishop’s shaking lowered head. “The Lord goes with us, brother. We have nothing to fear.”

The door opened and they turned, finding Thakx's hard gaze on Bishop. “We need everybody in the Sanctom for an emergency broadcast.”

They all exchanged looks before Bishop asked, “Broadcast from who?”

“A flyer was dropped across the country today,” he said, his hard gaze moving between Bishop and Seer. “They call themselves The Masters of Mayhem. They’re supposed to be telling us what the…” he flashed a look at Beth. “What the hell is going on,” he finished quietly.

“Who are they?” Beth asked. “Are they… good?” She shot a glance at Bishop, then Seer. “I mean are they helping?”

“Judging from the flyer?” King Thakx’s expression said highly doubtful . “But I think we need to know where exactly they are located so we can take them out before they do more damage than they already have.”

“They’ve done more?” Bishop said, alarmed .

“It’s part of the announcement,” he said darkly. “The short answer. Yes. A lot more.” He glanced down the hall. “I’m being summoned. See you there.”

Seer hurried out and Beth let out a relieved breath that she was allowed to go too. She wasn’t looking forward to this trip, but she couldn’t handle another day in some four-walled prison going crazy worrying about him and not knowing what was happening outside the swamp. She got that they needed to be protected, but did they not realize knowing shit was hitting the fan and not knowing what, why, or how bad it was, drove a lot of them crazy with worry?

She needed to prove to Bishop that they were stronger together than apart. He had to know it as much as she did, especially since he’d bitten her. Everything changed, they both knew it, they both felt it. They were closer than they’d ever been. She couldn’t let him forget. She wouldn’t.

****

Bishop’s hunger to protect wanted Beth in his lap, but he settled for imprisoning her arm as the meeting in the Sanctom threatened to begin. They’d rushed in broadcast equipment along with whatever they could use to hack it and find the source.

“Fifteen more minutes,” Beth whispered, leaning in to him. “What do you think we’ll hear?”

He put his mouth to her ear. “Did you know I can perceive all your emotions in waves and patterns? And the ones you try to hide from me are brightest of all?” He placed his hand on her cheek and pressed his lips against her temple, sucking her essence into him. “Every time I see it, I get the odd hunger to paint it. And fuck you. I’m still working out how I can do both simultaneously.”

He groaned when her arousal spiked so hard, it hit like a physical punch in his dick.

She turned and put her mouth to his ear. “I could fuck you while you paint.”

Her words cast a living video across his mind with such a raw potency, he snuck his hand under her hair and slowly closed his fingers in the silk, their pulses syncing to the sudden out of control lust.

“We have a few minutes till showtime,” he whispered, his canines aching for her.

“We can make it,” she said, gasping as he pulled her from her seat and hurried for the exit. In the hall, he opened the first door. Kitchen. He headed for the next one. Office. Empty .

He pulled her in and pushed her against the door, his mouth on hers, hand on her neck.

“No lock?” she gasped as he forced his tongue along hers, hand already in her pants.

He sank two fingers in her, his breaths thick. “I’m the fucking lock.”

“Oh God,” she gasped in his mouth, bucking on his finger. “The cameras,” she moaned.

He devoured her lusty, bold moans. “Don’t fucking care.”

“I need your cock.”

He opened his pants and shoved them to his knees while she yanked hers down enough for him to pin her leg to the door. “You need more than my cock,” he grit, his canines pulsing with her every heartbeat as she clawed his dick to her entrance.

“I need you to bite me,” she blasted, fisting the back of his hair as he filled her in one vicious thrust.

She gave a hot, victorious cry but that changed to stifled screams when he fucked her like a deranged animal, his canines now full-on fangs.

“Bite me!”

The command jerked through him, and he slammed his cock and fangs into her, the double blast of power filling his body and mind with a potent hunger that brought a frenzy to his bucking hips. Boiling essence shot from his fangs and filled her with that glorious power that allowed him to feast on her without fear. The knowledge alone loosened his every restraint, allowing the climax to tear through both of them with no fear, no regret, other than wishing he’d taken the bite sooner.

His mouth hovered near hers when he shoved his last drop of cum into her, catching the final cry of shocking rapture from her lips. He held her pinned, their breaths blasting erratically as he calculated how long it took. Three minutes. Fucking wow.

“I need to tell you something,” Beth whispered, pressing her lips along his as he got himself back in his clothes.

“What,” he said, dropping down and taking hold of her belly in his hands. “Did our son say anything about me?”

“Well… I was about to say he…”

Bishop glided his lips along her belly, the need to feel his baby bringing his gifts to push against the protective barrier. “He what?”

“Well, there’s this… surge of warmth and energy when you bite me. He gets super excited. ”

He rose up and kissed her, holding her face.

“Oh! We need to go, I hear them,” she gasped, pushing off the door.

“I’m not deaf,” he muttered, pushing her back against it. “Or done.” She smiled and he pulled back, giving her one more peck and smoothing her hair. “Now I’m done.”

****

Bishop made his way to the Marsh King side of the room, aiming for Seer in the last row of seats. Fuck, Maggie and Spook were there. He could feel the upcoming confrontation with Spook, and he didn’t fucking blame him. No way would he let his wife leave that swamp without him, pregnant or not.

Seer moved two seats over, and Beth sat next to Maggie.

“What’s up?” Bishop asked, after he sat.

Seer nodded at the group of Kings next to a pile of equipment. “Think they’re gonna try to trace whoever it is.”

“Wouldn’t that be convenient,” Bishop said, nodding at Nitro when he glanced at him over his shoulder from two rows down.

“It would. You ready for this?”

Bishop eyed him. “Hell no,” he said, without even knowing which this he meant. “How’s Cherie and the boy?” he wondered, needing a distraction.

“Real good,” he whispered, sounding sincere enough.

“What about your baby boy?” he asked.

Bishop eyed him. “How do you know it’s a boy?”

He angled his blue gaze and grin at him.

“You saw?”

“I sure did.”

“When?”

His grin slowly turned forward. “He greeted me while I was in prayer. Cute little thing,” he whispered, his awe contagious. He brought his gaze back to his, digging deep this time. “He’s very special, Eveque.”

Adrenaline thinned his blood and breaths when the room suddenly filled with loud, crackles.

“How so?”

“Not sure how. I just know.”

Why would he expect actual answers?

Anthem style music filled the auditorium, the racket piercing his ears as he held Beth’s hand tighter while every nerve wanted to draw blood to make the noise stop.

“Dear Lord, somebody’s tone-deaf,” Beth whispered, right as the torture faded into suspenseful crackles floating in white noise.

“Welcome to your new world,” a deep metallic voice greeted with a kind of calm that drew an instant chill down the spine.

“As you surely now know, man’s wicked reign has been taken hostage by mayhem. Each collapse, each fall, has brought us to our newfound freedom. The thrones of the rich are dismantled. The traffickers of deceit and wicked pleasure yet sway from high places.”

White noise filled the room for several seconds.

“The abusers of power and purpose have been judged. And they were all guilty,” he said with an erotic glee. “Then they were shot. And they were killed,” he assured with that same calm.

“And in case you’re wondering just how… fucked our beloved United States of America is, let me list the heads that are now missing. Literally.” He gave a low chuckle. “I’m kidding, I’m not going to list them, that would be boring. Allow me to summarize the headcount. Starting at the tippy top of the wicked tree, ladies and gentlemen, girls and boys, I give you the President of the United States’ head on a platter.”

“Oh God,” Beth gasped, among shocked breaths.

“Along with his vice, the cabinet members, military leaders, joint chief of staff, the head neck and shoulders of the CIA, FBI, NSA, DNI, and DIA. Homeland Security, all key advisors, military aides, communications, and cyber security,” he concluded with an air of indifference while a blanket of holy mother fuck choked the room in the reigning white noise.

“So yes,” he said, evenly. “Everything is entirely and thoroughly fucked. Factions are rising, criminals are taking over, people are scattered, scared, hungry, and ready for…something new. Oh yes, your houses of religion are all burned to the ground as well. And the truth hidden in their foundations is now purifying the air with its ashes. I also smashed the economy into oblivion and severed connections to all things that must pass away, because…” He took in a deep breath and released it while 8-Bit and the Kings scrambled at the electronics, hopefully getting this psycho’s location. “Because it was required,” he said, like he was picking from a multiple choice .

The white noise took center stage again and this time Bishop heard where it looped. It was a fucking recording.

“But,” the lunatic shot out, startling half the room. “Do you realize what this means? It means that all who hear this broadcast are the founders of this new world. I call it… Ever-Fallen.”

Bishop and Seer exchanged holy shit looks.

“This is not a world of unity,” he droned on. “It is not a world of peace. It is a world where control belongs to the chaos of nature, a world where only the strong will rise. Only the strong will survive. No more states. No more cities. There is only a vast land of chaos before those who remain.

“I am here to make an offer to every person alive today. A chance to have a piece of this new world. A home where you create your own rules. You sustain your own land, defend your own borders. All you have to do is stake a claim to an existing state, fight for it and win it. Then, it will no longer be a state, but a country. Your country."

“Does he think he owns everything?” Beth whispered, sounding confused.

“I’m sure he does.”

“Should you choose to accept this challenge, a Chaos Point has been placed every fifty miles in all directions. There, you will find the laws that will govern the Ever Fallen. Read it carefully. Thoughtfully. In it is the vision of a new path and the steps you must take to join with me.

“I have cleansed with the chaos of ruin. You must rebuild with the chaos of creation. This is your future. This is your new world. Let us ride the chaos together. Let us learn what true freedom is.”