Claimed And Marked By Her Stepbrother Mates

Norman:

I heard screams outside, and I already knew what it was, the sound of an ogre. I ran to the bed in my room where the babies were, just to make sure they were safe. The girls were taking care of them.

But Lucy had rushed past me, so I knew she'd seen something from the window that shook her.

Standing at the window with a three-faced sword in my hands, I watched my brother fight the ogre. I had to stay back, to keep guard from here in case Kaye couldn't stop it in time.

The ogre lunged at him. Kaye dodged, rolling to the side, and the beast slammed face-first into the ground again.

"Keep him still!" Gavin shouted from the side, his bowstring snapping as he fired. The arrow cut through the air and buried itself in the ridge between the monster's brows.

But the ogre swung its arm, flinging the arrow aside, and charged at Gavin instead. That gave Kaye enough time to get back on his feet. He hacked at the ogre's legs, trying to cut them down. Smart move. I could tell the creature knew its weakness, he wasn't letting anyone near his eyes or brow again.

My chest tightened as I watched it unfold, stuck inside and unable to help. We couldn't abandon the mansion. At this point, it was just me inside, holding the line.

Penn and Lamar were outside with the other warriors, fighting zharns at the front and back. This ogre had come from the side, which meant the father had caught wind that his wife and daughter were in our custody.

Gavin launched another arrow as the ogre closed in on him. The arrow struck its right eye, and it screamed in rage. Still, the beast managed to swing its arm at him.

But Lucy suddenly burst from the side, throwing her arms around Gavin and yanking him out of the way, saving his ass. I had no clue when she had run out of the mansion.

As Lucy saved Gavin, I saw Kaye sneak up from behind, leaping onto the ogre. He locked his arm around its neck while the beast thrashed, swinging wildly to throw him off. Kaye had only seconds to act.

He drove the three-faced sword into its other eye, blinding it completely. The ogre went crazy, shaking its head, roaring in agony. Kaye released his grip and jumped down from its back.

Then, almost casually, he stepped forward to face it. The ogre dropped to its knees, shrieking in pain, clutching at its ruined eyes.

And then, in one swift and brutal motion, Kaye launched himself into the air and drove the blade straight into the center of its brows, silencing the monster's struggles and cries at once.

Finally, once it was done, I yelled to get my brother's attention.

"Great hit, Kaye!" I yelled, and he turned to the window, giving me a full, dramatic bow.

"I didn't know I had an audience," Kaye yelled back, smirking, before he walked over to Lucy and Gavin and offered them a hand.

"Nice job, Gavin. I didn't know you had it in you," I teased, and Gavin shyly scratched the back of his neck.

"Nice job, Lucy. I thought you'd run and hide somewhere," I added, commenting on how she always acted like she couldn't do anything but when she was under pressure, she did amazingly.

First, she'd helped us by killing two entities. Then she'd helped with the babies with a zharn, and now this. She was truly impeccable, if only she could explore her strengths.

I noticed the way Gavin turned to look at Lucy, all smiles and nothing else. I guess the break in their relationship is what I'll call their breakup. They'd grown up together, so they probably thought they were meant to be together, since they'd never faced much hardship, or maybe their relationship had just gone boring.

This would probably spark something between them, I could tell. I'd seen people end up as mates before, and they had great potential. They had a very sad history, but hopefully they'd find comfort in each other's arms. That's what I hoped.

Ever since I got Helanie, I've been a hopeless romantic.

"I bet she still likes him," Jenny said from my side.

I turned from the window and looked at her.

"Otherwise she wouldn't have run out like that. She's scared of ogres," Jenny went on, lowering her head and pouting. "You should've seen her face when she heard it was an ogre. But she ran when she saw Gavin."

"The past happens for a reason, Jenny," I added, trying to be gentle. "If you've redeemed yourself, and I mean mistakes, not crimes, then redemption matters. If people really change, they deserve a second chance. But second chances can also lead to bigger disasters if someone isn't serious about it." I finished.

I glanced at my phone, it was beeping on the bedside. I'd shoved it aside when I rushed in. I'd restarted all the signals and reception in the rogue community after Helanie went in, and I'd done it partly because my father had been having trouble reaching us.

"Hello, Dad?" I answered, my voice filled with concern. On the other end, my father's breathing was ragged. It wasn't a good start.

"Dad, what's going on? Say something. Are you okay?" I asked, my heart hammering in my temples. All I could hear was him panting and that made everything worse.

"The ogres and giants have attacked the hospital," he said finally, the urgency audible in his voice. "I'm pretty sure the father is sending them here for a specific reason."

The words landed like sharp daggers into my ears. As soon as my father said that, I realized what was happening.

"Dad, I'm sending my warriors there. In the meantime, I'm coming too," I announced, cutting the call. I turned to the girls, who already knew it wasn't good news.

"Is Helanie's mother okay?" Jenny asked, making me face her.

"She'll be fine. We have warriors at the hospital," I replied.

But as soon as I said that, I noticed Sage crinkle her brows. I sighed and explained what was really happening.

"Zharns and the ogres have launched an attack on the hospital."

My words drained the color from their faces.