by Kelex
“Your fathers were prolific.”
“My fathers were assholes who used and abused their humans,” Colm said. “None of them actual mates.”
“I’m sorry,” Theis murmured.
“Don’t be. They got what they deserved a while back,” Colm added.
Theis sensed a finality to Colm’s comment and assumed the worst. “Is that why you came here?”
Colm nodded. “Their reputation cast a big shadow. I was struggling to get out from under it and couldn’t. I love Bear Mountain, it’ll always be home to me. But I needed a fresh start. A place where no one knew me. Who knew that would lead me to you and Reese?”
Theis met Colm’s stare and smiled. “What do you think’s going through our human’s mind?”
“If I was him, I might’ve run for the hills. He’s definitely taking all this in stride. But then, he was a strong believer in the paranormal world before he ever got here. So I’m sure that prepared him a little.”
“You seemed concerned that he would tell the outside world about us. Why is that?”
“I met Reese before I ever met him,” Colm said with a grin.
Theis frowned.
“He’s the host of one of those human paranormal shows on TV.”
“I don’t watch human television—only the programs off the PTV on occasion.”
“PTV?”
“Paranormal Television,” Theis said. “It only broadcasts here in the city.”
“I don’t watch much TV, either. I didn’t even know that was a thing,” Colm said. “I rarely watched human shows. I stumbled over Reese’s one late night when I couldn’t sleep.”
“What was the show about?”
“Finding evidence of the paranormal world. He and his friends would investigate haunted houses and different places, in search of us.”
Theis laughed. “You’re not serious.”
“Oh, I’m very serious,” Colm said. “One look at him on the screen and I sensed there was something about him. I was transfixed. Couldn’t get enough of watching him on the screen. I had no idea he was our mate at the time.”
A little worry came into Theis mind. “If that’s his profession, how’s he truly feel about giving that up?”
And what if this was all a ruse to get the proof he’s sought all along?
“I don’t know how to answer that. You’d have to ask him,” Colm said.
“I think it’s important we make sure he’s truly here for us if he chooses to stay.”
“Absolutely,” Colm said. “Why don’t we go back to bed and torment the truth out of him?”
Theis smiled. “Sounds like a plan.”
“After we do this, though,” Colm said.
He dragged Theis into his arms and lowered his head. Colm captured Theis’ lips in a kiss that was hot enough to set him ablaze all over again. When they pulled away, gasping for air, Theis stared up into the man’s handsome face.
A face he could spend the rest of his life waking up to.
“Hey—there’s that sun again,” Colm said, looking over his shoulder.
Theis turned. On the table lay scattered copies of the pictures Solomon had drawn. “What do you mean that sun again?”
Colm lifted the drawing of the tattoo from the vamp’s hand. “I saw that today. As we left the king’s building.”
“Where?”
“On a large box near the entrance.”
“You need to show me,” Theis said before racing into the bedroom to grab some clothes.
He saw Reese asleep in their bed. He was careful about his movements, not wanting to wake their human.
Colm walked in behind him and started grabbing his clothes. “What about him?” he whispered.
“He’s asleep. In a secure building. We’ll likely be back before he awakens,” Theis said before they headed for the door.
Twenty minutes later, they arrived at the king’s building, only to find the box empty. He and Colm searched the sidewalk, the outer parts of the building, and had more guards search the lobby. They had the guardsmen search the video, but found nothing suspicious at all.
“We’ll keep an eye on things around here,” Eilam said. “You’re supposed to be off.”
“We should head back. I don’t want Reese awakening alone,” Colm added.
“Have them call me if they find anything,” Theis said to Eilam, not liking the thought of leaving the building or the king unprotected.
“I won’t let anything happen to him,” Eilam said.
Theis lifted his gaze to Eilam and knew the king was in good hands. He nodded and turned to Colm. “Let’s go.”
****
Reese awakened, his body sore. He stretched, getting the kinks out as he listened for sounds of movement in the apartment.
He heard nothing.
He rose from the bed, took care of his needs in the bathroom, and then headed for the main open space of the apartment.
No one was around.
He heard a knock. Reese walked to the door and peeked out the hole, but saw no one—not that he would’ve opened the door one way or the other.
The knock came again. He turned and saw the vampire from the train knocking on the French doors out to the balcony.
He covered his nudity, his eyes widening.
“Invite me in, Reese,” he said through the glass.
Let him in.
Reese fought the sensation running through him. He knew he was in danger, but struggled against the call from the vampire.
“Invite me in, so we can have some fun.”
Let him in. Let him in.
Two more vampires arrived on the balcony, and they stared in at him.
“Invite us in,” they chanted.
His mind snapped, and he felt his body moving toward the door. One click opened the lock.
“Come inside,” he heard himself say seconds before the first set of fangs pierced his flesh.
Chapter Twelve
Colm froze the second he entered Theis’ apartment. He scented blood. Terror twisted in his gut as he raced to the bedroom—only to find Reese not there.
“Reese?” he bellowed as Theis brushed past him and flung the bathroom door open.
“He’s not here,” Theis said.
Colm walked back out to the living room. He bent over and picked up the human’s shirt from the floor. “His clothes are here.”
Theis returned to the living room. “I’m calling the desk downstairs. No one should’ve been able to get in or out without them seeing. Especially a naked human.”
Colm inhaled, the aroma of blood causing more fear to race through his veins. He looked at the floor… and found a drop.
And then another.
And another… leading him to the doors. There were more drops on the balcony. “He didn’t leave that way.”
Theis lowered his phone and came to stand beside Colm.
“I thought you said the building was secure?”
“It is,” Theis said. “There’s a spell safeguarding it. No one should’ve been able to get to the balcony or inside this way.”
“You don’t think—”
“He wouldn’t have done this to himself,” Theis said. “At least. I don’t think he would’ve.”
Colm opened the French doors and walked outside, his stomach in his throat. He went up to the edge and stood there a moment, afraid to look down. Taking a deep breath, he found the courage and peeked down.
Nothing but a normal street below.
No body. No signs of a bloody impact.
He let out a shuddered breath.
“Is he down there?” Theis asked, his tone numb.
“No,” Colm said, turning to face the panda.
Theis let out a sigh, closing his eyes.
“That doesn’t help us,” Colm said. “We still don’t know where he is.”
Theis stepped out onto the balcony. “I wonder if Solomon can see anything from Reese’s blood.”
“Solomon?”
Colm nodded and headed out.
Theis grabbed Colm’s arm as he passed. “We’ll find him.”
“We will,” Colm said, his voice more confident than what he felt inside. He leaned in and gave Theis a brief kiss before heading down.
They had to find Reese.
Before it was too late.
****
“Thanks for coming,” Reese said as he stepped back and let Solomon in.
“I don’t know that I’ll be much help,” Solomon said. He searched the apartment, his nostrils flaring as he scented the place. Without a word, the dragon went straight to the balcony, following the trail of blood.
Once outside, Solomon knelt and placed his hand on two of the drops.
“Fear,” the dragon said. “I sense fear.” He closed his eyes. Theis watched emotions erupting over Solomon’s face. “Yet there’s a peace of some kind. Forced.”
Theis frowned. “What do you mean?”
“The sensation of peace was forced on him. A spell of some kind to calm him, but underneath that spell, he was terrified.”
Theis almost couldn’t breathe. His lungs burned as he forced a breath. After a few seconds, he steadied himself. “Can you… see who took him?”
Solomon lifted his stare. “I’m sorry. I can’t.”
Colm came rushing out onto the balcony. “Vampires.”
Theis frowned. “What?”
“A gargoyle lives on the roof across the street. He saw vampires go into one of the apartments in this building via the balcony and come out with a naked man. They flew toward the east end of the city.” Colm ran back into the apartment.
Theis trailed behind him. Colm sorted through Solomon’s sketches on the table and picked out three.
“I’m going to go show the gargoyle these sketches and see if it was the ones who nearly attacked him on the train,” Colm said.
“I’ll go with you,” Theis said before turning to Solomon. “Thank you for your help.”
“I’m not done giving it,” Solomon said. “I’ll fly toward the east of the city and see if I can pick up on your human’s scent.”
“Thank you,” Theis said.
Solomon nodded. “Thank me if I find him.” He exited onto the balcony. Seconds later, Theis saw the huge shadow of the beast begin to fly away from them. He shut the French doors and locked them before turning back to Colm. “Let’s go.”
Not long after, the gargoyle confirmed it had been the trio who’d taken Reese. They exited the building. Theis stood on the sidewalk a moment, his mind whirling. His normal logic had flown out the window. They had what was his, and his mind was struggling to determine what to do next.
Already, Reese was a weakness.
Theis saw a shadow on the ground around him. Lifting his stare, he saw Solomon flying above. He dropped to the street—with several vehicles coming to a screeching halt, the drivers leaning out of their windows to scream obscenities. Solomon shifted back to his human form and headed to the sidewalk, ignoring the middle fingers and taunts coming from the cars moving on past.
“I think I might’ve found where they took him,” Solomon said. He walked over to the edge of the street and hailed a cab. One pulled over for him, and the dragon opened a door to let Theis and Reese scramble in.
“Where to?” the driver asked.
“Ambrosio Street and Morganna,” Solomon answered as he got in on the front passenger side.
Theis shook his head.
“You sure you wanna go to that part of town?” the driver asked.
“I’m quite sure,” Solomon said, glaring at the driver. “Or I wouldn’t have asked.”
“You got it,” the driver said before taking off like a bat out of hell.
“I take it this isn’t a good neighborhood we’re going to?” Colm asked Theis, his voice low.
“Ambrosio Street is well known for a multitude of sins. The Midnight PD gets called there nightly. Everything we’ve done to try and clean up the place failed. As soon as we clear out one problem, two more emerge.”
“And you’re sure he’s there?” Colm asked Solomon.
“It’s where the scent trail ended,” the dragon answered.
Once they arrived, all three of them climbed out of the taxi. As soon as Theis paid the driver, the cabbie took off again. Theis couldn’t blame him. It was amazing the driver had been ballsy enough to come here in the first place.
“It’s quiet,” Colm said, looking around them.
“Too quiet,” Solomon said.
Theis didn’t see one person out and about. The windows and doors were all dark—as if the residents expected something bad was coming. A tremor of fear raced up Theis’ spine.
“I can show you the building I think Reese might be inside,” Solomon said. “Follow me.”
They walked the silent sidewalks, trailing behind the dragon. With each step, Theis grew more fearful they were walking into a trap of some kind.
Solomon paused at a corner, two blocks up. Leaning against the building there, he cast a glance over his shoulder and pointed. Theis and Colm stood beside him as the dragon began to whisper.
“The third building from the left, the one with the mirrored windows.”
Theis scanned the block—which was also silent. No one walked the streets or stood outside the buildings.
“Are the streets usually this empty?” Colm asked.
“No,” Theis said.
“Something’s scaring the hell out of the beings who live here,” Solomon said. “And if they’re scared, it’s something big.”
“Are these vamps a big deal?” Colm asked.
“They’re at the top of the heap,” Theis said. “But I don’t think they would have this kind of impact.”
“So what do we do?” Colm asked. “Do we bust in and search the place?”
“Could get Reese killed,” Theis said. “If he’s not al—”
“Don’t,” Colm said. “He’s alive. I know it.”
Theis swallowed the lump in his throat. “I hope you’re right.”
“I didn’t see anything from the sky,” Solomon said. “Why don’t I walk over to the building and take a closer look?”
“No. I should go,” Theis said.
“If they’ve been lying in wait to get to Reese, they might’ve seen both you and Colm. They wouldn’t know me,” Solomon said. “Let me go.”
Theis met Colm’s stare. Colm nodded in agreement with Solomon. He turned back to the dragon. “Okay. Just… be safe.”
Solomon smiled. “Of course.”
Theis leaned into the spot Solomon vacated and watched as the dragon walked along the street. All seemed well until Solomon reached the building. A bunch of men poured out of the building and surrounded him.
“What are you doing here?” one of the men asked.
“We should help him,” Colm said.
“Solomon can handle himself,” Theis said as he watched Solomon begin to shift. “I have an idea—follow me.”
Solomon began blowing fire around him as Theis dragged Colm across the street. He made it one block and hung a left before reaching the next street over. Theis made for the alley he’d spied beside the building. He raced along the narrow path with Colm on his heels. Fire burned along the other end, and he could hear the screams of the men Solomon fought.
Theis stopped at one of the mirrored windows and waited for Solomon to pour his fire again. He shattered the glass with a fist and lifted himself into the window. The room was empty. Theis turned back to Colm. “Clear.”
He helped the big man climb into the window before heading for the door leading from the room. Opening the door a crack, he spied outside. No one was around. It was a
small apartment that was apparently empty. He raced to the outer door and again peeked through to see men racing toward the front door.
Once it was cleared, he opened it and crept outside.
Colm followed him, scenting the place. “Up.”
The bear’s sense of smell was better than his, for sure. All Theis could scent was the burning flesh and ash outside. They crept down the hall until they saw a set of stairs. Theis scanned the area and didn’t see anyone. They both climbed to the second floor of the building.
Colm drew in a deep breath. “This way.”
Theis followed his mate down an empty, darkened hallway.
The bear stopped before one of the doors, a low growl coming from him. “Here.”
Before Theis could move, Colm shifted. He let out a great roar and burst into the apartment. Theis followed behind him—into a whole nest of vampires.
Theis dodged a clawed hand, sweeping the leg of his opponent and ducking two more vamps that had flown closer. The scent of blood filled the air around him as he attacked the vamp he’d knocked to the floor. He grabbed his short knife and plunged it into the vamp’s heart before spinning and avoiding another attack from the pair who were airborne.
One of the two were dragged away in Colm’s claws. Theis took that moment to leap and dig his knife into the other’s chest.
“You missed, motherfucker,” the vamp said, grabbing Theis’ wrist—the knife still plunged into his chest—and lifting them both into the air.
Claws erupted between them—and Theis realized it was Colm’s paw. A beating heart rested on his mate’s palm seconds before the vamp turned to ash.
Theis dropped to the floor, the ash swirling around him. He leapt to his feet, in a crouching position, only to realize it was only him and his bear in the room.
Colm had taken out at least a dozen vampires within a few minutes.
Theis lifted his stare to the huge beast, stunned.
Colm shifted back into his human form and went to a door, wringing it open.
“Stay back,” a voice from inside said.
Theis moved closer and stood behind Colm.
His heart sank after he saw inside.
****
Colm’s heart beat a staccato in his chest. Inside the room, the vampire with the tattooed hand held a naked Reese against him. Reese stared silently at them, his eyes glassy. Blood dripped from puncture wounds on his neck.