“I’m a Wolf . . . I scented you and you were in distress so I came after you. Those two goons I was with tried to stop me but, hey, they didn’t have much say in the matter.” She laughed, the sound was cold as she looked over at him. “I reminded them who I was and that I’d have them locked up if they stood in my way but I was ready to remove them physically if the need arose.”
“Jana, you’re a tough woman.” Flint winked at her. “I’m glad you’re here.”
“Yeah, well, I’ve got to tell you something, just between us,” she said quietly, turning to glare at Talon. “You don’t say a word to anyone, got that?”
Talon shook his head, obviously terrified as Flint cocked his head to the side, asking. “What’s going on?”
“We’ve had a couple of other reports about Bloodmates and it’s got everyone in a bit of a tizzy. What with them being so rare and everything, and all of a sudden there’s been a surge of them being found . . . well, not a surge exactly, but a few, and that’s got a couple people in the Directive a little nervous. The repercussions could be, let’s just say . . . wide reaching and catastrophic if the word got out about this and into the wrong hands. Magno is going to set up a top-secret division to oversee things to ensure the safety of any Bloodmates, and the Vampires concerned, but that task is going to be damn near impossible. I just thought you’d like to know about it in case you hear of any other cases.”
“Shit, that sounds serious.” Flint thought of the ramifications of someone hunting down a Bloodmate before a Vampire reached them . . . it would be devastating and, as Jana said, catastrophic.
“Indeed, but enough of business, tell me about your woman. What’s she like?”
And so he did. He told her all about what had happened and everything he knew about Kenzie, although it wasn’t as much as he would’ve liked. When he explained that his Bloodmate was injured, Jana hissed, her eyes flashing with anger, her beast rearing and her skin rippled as if her Wolf fought to be free to seek revenge. He knew the feeling . . . he felt the same. He couldn’t wait to sink his blades into the flesh of those that had harmed his beautiful mate and cause them pain, so much pain that they screamed and writhed with agony beneath his vengeful hands.
Chapter 19
They spent the next couple of hours picking weapons with Flint stocking up on a variety of blades that he secreted about his body after he’d changed into black combat gear. Jana was already dressed for business but she refrained from choosing any weapons. Instead she shrugged, tilting her head to the side and cocking an eyebrow. “I prefer going au naturel, my beast is far more lethal than anything I see here.”
Flint had to agree. He’d seen her in action and she was a force to be reckoned with. “I pity the poor fuckers who get in your path. I’ve witnessed the destruction you leave in your wake.”
Jana’s arm raised in a wide arc as she proceeded to do a bow before him and Talon, a wide grin on her face. “Why thank you. That’s high praise coming from you, Flint. I’ve seen you in a fight or two as well and you rarely use those Vampire abilities I know you have. Those dang blades are what you prefer . . . up close and personal at times too. As well as throwing them from afar. The precision you have is, well, quite breathtaking.”
She stopped, turning to Talon who was watching her with a look that bordered on adoration. Jana gave him a wink. “I’ve tried to get him to come and give some classes to the Directive newbies, but the stubborn man won’t hear of it.”
Flint shook his head and gave a theatrical shudder. “No way. I’m not stepping foot inside one of your buildings. I’d be terrified of not being allowed to leave again.”
“Don’t be stupid.” Jana took a swipe at him, hitting his shoulder. “If I wanted to lock you up I would’ve done it a long time ago.”
Talon’s head swung between them, his shoulders shaking as a rumble of laughter erupted. “I can’t believe I’m standing here, with Jana Noskova, and she’s joking around like, well . . .”
She turned around, wiggling her eyebrows suggestively. “A normal person? I’m not an ogre, Talon. Not unless I need to be.”
Flint knew that was true. Jana could be the kindest person alive . . . or the hardest, stone-cold killer out there. It just depended on the circumstances.
“I’m going to call Moira and see if there’s any news on Kenzie. After that, Talon, can we pick up a supply of blood for me? I don’t want to be caught short again, so I think it’s prudent if I keep some with me at all times for now. Then I think we should get back to Quinn and get the introduction over and done with, Jana.”
“Damn, I suppose you’re right,” she acquiesced as Talon also agreed.
“Sounds good and there’s special backpacks we can use for you that’ll keep the blood supply cool too.”
“Okay, give me a moment to make the call.”
He stepped away, wanting the illusion of privacy, even though he knew full well that they would hear every word as he called Moira, her phone ringing for several beats of his heart before she picked up. Those few seconds seeming to last an eternity as he pressed his phone to the side of his head anxiously. When she finally barked at him, he guessed by the tone in her voice that the news wasn’t good, but that didn’t stop him from being hopeful as he asked, “How is she?”
“I’m still working on her. She’s no worse is about all I can give you right now.” Moira let out a long sigh before continuing, “I don’t suppose that’s what you wanted to hear, but it’s all I’ve got right now.”
No. It definitely wasn’t what he wanted. Hadn’t Talon told him this woman was good? Why the hell hadn’t she healed Kenzie yet? He bit his tongue and didn’t say that aloud, instead he waited a beat before responding, “I see. Is there anything I can do to help? Another Healer perhaps? I’ll do whatever it takes, Moira. I can fly someone here from wherever they are. Just say the word and I’ll make it happen.”
A long silence met him down the line. All he heard was Moira’s angry breathing. Yeah, he could tell just by the sound of her inhaling and exhaling that she was pissed. The noise exploding against his eardrum for seconds that dragged on until she finally answered, “It’s not that I’m incapable of helping her. It’s her body taking the time to heal. Plain and simple. She’ll wake up when she’s good and ready and I’ll keep working on my granddaughter until she does. I’m the person that’s loved this lass since the day she was born. I’ve no intention of leaving her, or allowing anything bad to happen to her. I’ll let you know when she wakes up.”
And before he could say another word the old coot hung up on him. Actually hung up! Flint lowered his hand, looking at the screen, dumbfounded. “You did not just do that?” he snarled angrily.
Did that old woman not realize who he was? What he was? He could snap her neck like it was a fucking matchstick and not think twice about it. He could rip her heart from her chest and crush it in the palm of his hand while her eyes watched. He could—
“Flint.” Talon’s hand landed on his shoulder, the Wolf chuckling merrily. “You don’t want to get on the wrong side of Moira McBride. Trust me. She might look like an old woman to you, but she’s one of the oldest of her kind that I know. She’s powerful and she’s not to be messed with. She’s rare, she’s a pure, one hundred percent Faery and she’s the best Healer I know. Your mate is in good hands, especially with her being Moira’s granddaughter.”
His anger was still coursing through him, seeing red he shrugged off Talon’s hand, spinning around he growled at the man. No words, just a thunderous sound erupting from him. His fangs pressing against his gums as he fought to tamp down the fury inside him. His skin felt too tight over his bones, as if it had suddenly shrunk over his frame, his muscles taut and his mind was . . . well, it was filled with visions of ripping someone—anyone—apart.
Jana stepped forward, pressing between him and Talon, who now glared angrily back at him. Her dark blue eyes sparkling with amusement as her hand rose, a finger running down his tightly clamped j
aw. Her voice soft as silk as she leaned toward him. “Flint, Flint, Flint. You need to calm down. All that anger needs to be directed at the people responsible for your Bloodmate’s predicament . . . not towards the people who’re helping her, and you. Now, be a good boy and compose yourself, before I have to kick your ass and embarrass you in front of your new friend.”
He couldn’t help himself, a ripple of laughter breaking free as he shrugged away from her. “You know you can be a bitch at times . . . right?”
“Of course.” She shrugged. “Now, let’s get going. Shall we?”
“Yeah,” he sighed, looking at Talon and apologizing, “Sorry, I’m wound a little tight.”
“You can say that again,” the shifter grumbled as he left the room first. His body language screaming that he was still pissed off.
Flint had a fleeting moment of remorse but it soon passed. He had too many other things on his mind to worry about hurting Talon’s feelings right now. When this was all over, he’d talk to him but he was too worked up at the moment to even try. He shook his head, trying to clear it, Jana falling into step next to him and whispering, “He’ll get over it.”
Flint didn’t answer, his mind filled with thoughts of what he wanted to do to the men who’d hurt Kenzie fueling his anger and keeping it simmering inside him.
Talon led them back to where he’d fed from before, silently retrieving an insulated backpack and handing it to him without a word. Flint took it and gave the man a nod and one word before going to the fridge and filling it to the brim. “Thanks.”
“Jeez, hungry much?” Jana quipped, leaning on the counter as she watched him.
“What part of a Vampire’s Thirst aren’t you getting?” he grumbled back at her, hefting the pack up onto his shoulder. “Unless you want me to start feeding on anything with warm blood flowing through their veins . . . this is the safest way to stop me. So just shut the hell up with your sarcasm.”
She held her hands out, standing up and smirking, her eyes doing that sparkling thing they did when she was trying not to laugh. Damn, he hated when she did that. But she held it in, thankfully, as she shook her head at him. Again. “Sorry, it’s just weird seeing you like this. You’re always so full of self-restraint. It’s strange, that’s all, the mighty Flint being so out of control because of a woman.”
Flint’s body started to shake, every cell vibrating with how she spoke about Kenzie being just a woman. Didn’t she know how important she was to him? How she meant the whole damn world to him? Fuck, he was going to explode with rage. Right here, right now, he was going to erupt with uncontrollable fury and wipe that stupid fucking smirk from her face!
“Aah, ah, Flint. There you go again with your anger issues. Calm down.” Jana waggled her finger. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
Sucking in a deep breath he hissed out a snarl, “You’ve no fucking clue . . . do you? What a Bloodmate truly is? You need to do your homework, Jana. Read up on it and know what the fuck you’re talking about before you talk to a Vampire like that again. Because if you ever talk to me about Kenzie like that again . . . I’m gonna lose it. You’re supposed to know your stuff, Second in Command to the Head of the Directive? Shit, that’s right . . . you know jack shit!”
He stormed away, pushing roughly past her and out the door, his body thrumming with barely restrained fury. If he hadn’t walked out of that room he knew he’d do something they’d all regret.
Chapter 20
“Hey, I’m sorry.” Jana caught up with him a few moments later, her hand on his arm. “I do know a lot about the Thirst, but obviously not enough about Bloodmates. I’ll be sure to research the Archives when I return to Rome, and there’s a Librarian I’ve heard of that has a wealth of information that I’ll search out and question at length.”
Flint’s body relaxed, somewhat, at her calming voice and her intentions. “Thank you,”
“It’s just not a common occurrence that it’s not something we generally spend time on. I apologize for joking around about it.” She side-bumped their shoulders. “I’m happy for you, I am.”
“Again, thanks,” he relented, giving her a smile. “Now we need to face Quinn. I doubt he’s going to be happy that you’re here.”
“I’ve told you, I’m not here officially. I’m here as your friend.” She quirked her eyebrow. “We go way back and I know you and Clarence don’t exactly get along, but I’ll always be there if you need me.”
“Clarence, shit, he doesn’t know you’re here, does he?” Flint’s heart sped up at the thought of the stuffy English Vampire appearing to halt their plans of taking out Kragen Smithson and his merry men.
“No, he has no clue. Anyway, I’m pretty sure he’s in Argentina or somewhere like that. They’ve got a particularly nasty problem down there at the moment. A gang of Supernaturals have gone rogue so he’s heading up the local office and helping them to stop the bastards.”
Relief flooded him just as they arrived at the massive doors behind which Quinn would be waiting. Did he already know? Or were they going to blindside him by arriving with Jana? Guess he’d find out soon enough. Truth be told, he didn’t care either way. She was an asset. He’d seen her take down men twice her size, get up, move on and do it all over again. He’d rather have her at his side than any of Quinn’s men. That was for damn sure.
A pang of regret at telling Victor to remain with Kimber ran through him. There was nobody, absolutely nobody that he’d rather have next to him going into battle than Victor, but he’d made the right decision. His friend should be with his Bloodmate, his pregnant mate, and that was the truth of the matter. Now that he’d found Kenzie, he was even more certain of that fact and that he’d made the right decision. Didn’t stop him missing him though. This would be the first time he’d gone into battle without Victor by his side and damn if it didn’t feel strange.
Taking a deep breath, he heaved the door open and stepped inside . . . finding Quinn pacing back and forth before the massive fireplace, his face cold and angry and with no sign of Thorne. The curtains were open and light shone inside. Well, shoot, it was daylight and that must mean Thorne wasn’t a day-walker. He’d thought he might be. He didn’t get a chance to think about it any longer as his host stormed toward them, stopping toe to toe with him.
“You dare to face me?” His eyes bored into Flint’s, cheeks flushing red and he could see Quinn wasn’t just angry, he was furious, his lips curling back in a vicious snarl as he carried on. His voice thick with emotion as he fumed. “You walk in here like this? As if there’s nothing wrong? And all the time you’ve brought the damn Directive into my home! I won’t have it. I don’t care how many favors Victor is cashing in . . . it’s not enough. I want you gone. You hear me? Gone! I’ve given orders for Ace to go directly to your place and pack up your things and that includes your Bloodmate. He’s on his way now. I suggest you get over there and make other arrangements . . .”
Flint saw red, literally, as Quinn’s words sank in. His muscles tightening and every cell in his body firing up in readiness for battle. His right hand shot out, so fast that nobody, not even Quinn, saw it coming. He caught the man around his throat, lifting him clean off his feet and tightened his grip as his fangs broke free. Looking up at him with a look of unadulterated fury, his voice cold, dark, and fierce, he spat out, “That’s not happening. You agreed to the deal and you’ll damn well stick to it . . . understand? If you renege on it . . . you and I are going to have a huge fucking problem. One that we’ll sort right here and now.”
Quinn struggled, his hands clawing at Flint’s hand ineffectually, but no words could make it past his lips, and that’s when Jana intervened. She stepped up, nudging Flint with her shoulder and shaking her head as she looked between the two of them. “Excuse me, I don’t think we’ve been introduced. I’m Jana Noskova, and I presume you know that I’m Magno Zara’s Second in Command, going by your rather inhospitable tirade a moment ago, that is.”
She turned her attentio
n on Flint, waggling her eyebrows, dramatically. “What?” he growled.
“Please release Mister Alexander, Flint, it’s not conducive to a meaningful conversation having you strangling the man,” she reprimanded him with a glint in her eyes.
He didn’t want to. No, that wasn’t true. He hated the thought of releasing his hold on Quinn. Not after he’d even thought of tossing Kenzie off his property, but Jana was right . . . as ever. So, he slowly, very slowly, relaxed his hold and lowered Quinn to the floor where he immediately swiped Flint’s hands away and snarled over at him.
“Don’t ever touch me again.”
“Don’t ever threaten my Bloodmate’s safety again and I won’t have to,” Flint fired straight back.
“You brought the Directive into my home, you imbecile! Don’t you know what that means?”
“If I’d done that . . . then yes. But I didn’t.” Flint stepped back, running a hand through his hair and exhaling loudly as he tried to calm the tsunami of emotions that were roiling through him. “I didn’t call the Directive, hell’s fire, do you think I’m stupid? They’re the last people I’d call!”
“Thanks, Flint, I love you too,” Jana quipped, her hand on her heart as she pasted a fake hurt mien on her face. “Now stop it both of you.”
Quinn’s focus turned to her, looking her up and down warily. “So you’re the legendary Jana Noskova?”
“Indeed, I am the one and only.” She gave him an appraising look, taking her time as her eyes roamed his body from the bottom up. “And you’re the Quinn Alexander that I’ve heard so much about. I have to say I’m a little disappointed to find you having such a hissy fit and ready to abandon a girl that’s injured . . . you weren’t really going to do that. Were you?”
Jana closed the distance between her and Quinn, standing toe to toe with the man and glaring into his eyes. Flint stopped pacing, enjoying watching him squirm under her inscrutable gaze. He didn’t waver though, and that took some balls, until finally his shoulders slumped. “Probably not. I was upset and acted out of anger,” he admitted. “Ace tried to talk me out of it, in fact, he said he refused to remove the girl. That he’d call me back in an hour and see if the situation had changed.”
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