by Stormy Glenn
Dominic landed with the ease of a wolf shifter and went to Bax. The multi-pierced bunny was struggling to sit up, but once Dominic pulled him onto his lap, the slim man calmed.
Alberto came through the opening next. When Salvador slipped through, Alberto caught him and eased the struggling wolf to his feet, making sure their bodies touched and rubbed together. Once Dario saw that Salvador was okay, he turned away and went over to Barclay. Salvador was going to have to handle his inevitable future on his own. Right now they had more pressing problems.
Crouching down, Dario touched a fingertip to the bunny leader’s shoulder. Being a vampire prince had a few advantages—sensing health problems and giving a boost of energy among them.
“Can you sit up?” Dario frowned. He could sense that the Taser blasts had messed up Barclay’s organs and neurological system. Even now, he could feel the man’s body struggling to heal itself. He sent a soft wave of healing through his fingertip to help things along.
“Just give me a second.” Barclay fought to raise up on one elbow.
Through the rips in the bunny’s black clothing, Dario spotted multiple red-and-black burn holes in Barclay’s skin from the Taser stick. Anger surged through Dario. A glass beaker sitting on a work table exploded into a million pieces, sending shards of glass in all directions. More beakers began to tremble.
A smaller, sweet-smelling body pressed against Dario’s side, and just like that, his anger drained away.
“Dude, anger management classes help with that sort of thing,” Bax muttered from the next cage over as Dominic helped him to his feet.
“Are you okay?” Beau asked as he laid his hand on Dario’s arm while staring at the spot where he was touching Barclay.
Dario held back a smile. His one and only had a possessive trait. Dario loved that. “I am fine, my darling.” Dario stopped touching Barclay and laid his hand over Beau’s. “We need to get your brothers moving around and find a way out of here.”
A hiss caught Dario’s attention. Down the wall from them, Salvador was trying to ease a limping Basil from a cage. It seemed Alberto wasn’t pleased with his one and only touching another.
Bailey’s voice broke through all the drama. “The building just went quiet. Nobody is moving, but I can feel something. Holy shit, whatever it is, it’s powerful. We’ve got to go now. It’s coming this way.”
Dario hauled Barclay out of the cage and half-dragged him to the center of the lab where he met the others.
“How are we going to get out of here?” Basil asked while frantically looking around.
“Laundry chute?” Baxter pointed to a smaller square door on one wall. The sign above it said “Dirty Cloth Only”.
“That’s a dumb idea,” Clay snapped, standing up under his own power.
Bax winced, rested a hand on his belly, and leaned heavily on Dominic. “If you have a better idea, say it. Otherwise, I vote laundry chute. And you better hurry, I don’t feel so good and whatever is heading this way has my senses screaming in alarm.”
As one, all the brothers headed toward the laundry chute, leaving Barclay standing there. Frowning, the leader followed with Dario at his side making sure the bunny’s body didn’t give out suddenly.
By the time they reached the chute, Dominic and Bailey had already disappeared. There hadn’t been much discussion, but Dario didn’t blame them. The entity moving their way was almost upon them. The pulsing Dario felt was evil, giving off a thick, heavy feel.
“Bailey says all is clear,” Beau whispered to Dario. “They landed in a big container filled with towels and stuff. At least that’s what Vey described.”
Dario blinked. The bunnies could mind speak to each other. How fascinating.
Clay insisted on being last, so Dario climbed on the edge of the chute before snagging Beau’s hand and tucking the wiggling bunny into his arms. With a push off, they were freefalling through a pitch-black tunnel.
The landing snapped Dario’s teeth together and Beau’s elbow in his stomach took his breath away. With the grace of a dancer, Beau regained his footing and leapt from the container. When Dario followed and landed on the hard cement floor, he was met by his very worried one and only.
Chapter Four
“Bax, where’s Dominic?” Beau asked his brother through their link.
“Baxter!” he snapped a little louder when his brother didn’t reply. They had landed in some sort of alleyway, one large enough to drive a vehicle through. It might have been some sort of loading dock at one time, but not anymore. Now, it simply looked abandoned.
“He went to look for a way out,” Bax finally replied.
“Tell them to hurry the fuck up. We can’t wait around here all day.”
“Duh.”
Beau rolled his eyes. This was another reason he didn’t speak up very often. His brothers were his closest friends and confidants. They were also huge pains in the ass.
“We need to get out of here,” he sent out to all of his brothers. “Are any of you too injured to move?”
It was obvious that Clay would need help. Beau didn’t understand why his brother had been tortured the most, but it had often been that way when they were prisoners back in the labs. Part of it came from Clay taunting the scientists, especially when one of the others was about to be hurt.
Beau knew that was why he followed Clay’s lead. His oldest brother always stood between him and danger, at least when he could. Clay was fearless. He was also swaying on his feet, even with his hand braced on the wall. There was no way he could walk out under his own steam, not if they had to hurry, and Beau was pretty sure they would.
“Dario.”
The vampire’s head turned in his direction. “Yes, my darling?”
“I need your help.”
“You have it.”
“Clay can’t walk on his own. Can you—”
“Say no more, my darling.” Dario walked over to where Clay stood. He carefully lifted Clay into his arms and then stood. “We will not be able to hide this time, my darling. There are too many of us.”
“Yes, but…” Beau’s forehead furrowed as he started thinking deeply, turning the problem over and over again in his head. “Maybe if we all hold on to each other, they won’t see us. Kind of like when you hold on to me.”
“Unlikely.”
Dario’s perfectly manicured eyebrow rose to a fine arch when Beau stuck his tongue out at him. What did the vampire know? They were working with a new ability that had yet to be fully tested. Anything was possible.
“I’m not sure we have a lot of other options here, Dario.”
“That is true, my darling.”
Beau was surprised the man agreed with him. It must have showed on his face because Dario glanced down the hallway before staring him in the eyes. “Knowing the truth will not make this any easier, Beaumont. The lack of options does not bode well for our continued good health.”
Beau blinked. “Um, yeah.” He didn’t have time to try and figure out what the man had said. They needed to leave, and now. “Just hold my hand.”
Dario braced one arm around Clay and held the other out to Beau. A whimsical smile graced his lips. “Always, my darling.”
Beau looked at the men waiting around, some injured, some not. He prayed this worked. “Everyone needs to hold hands, or at least hold onto the person in front of you.”
Clay looked at him like he was insane.
“There’s a possibility we might remain invisible if we are all touching.”
His brother’s eyebrows shot up. “A possibility?”
In the distance an engine roared to life. Deep in the corridor Dominic had gone down, lights speared crossways through the gloom.
“Quickly, grab on to one another,” Dario ordered. “It is our only chance.”
Beau rolled his eyes as everyone obeyed instantly. It was the story of his life. No one listened to him, but someone else suggested the same thing and it was a gold-coated idea.
The gear
s of a vehicle shifted off in the distance and the light wavered. Beau tightened his grip of Dario’s hand when the twin headlights turned down the alley and came toward them. As the big vehicle drew closer, Beau could see it was a full-size black SUV. Relief swept through Beau when he saw Dominic in the driver’s seat.
Poor Dominic looked ready to shit a brick. His thick brows were lowered into a frown as he frantically looked out all the SUV’s windows, searching for something. Beau caught a glimpse of a fang hanging over his bottom lip and realized Dominic’s wolf was coming forward.
Beau couldn’t believe it when Dominic started driving right past them. It was Baxter who jumped forward and waved his arms around.
“Dominic, stop!”
The driver’s door opened and Dominic sprang from the vehicle. “Where were you? I couldn’t see you?”
Baxter was scooped up into the big man’s arms and held tightly. Beau saw the look of utter bliss on his brother’s face and wished…
“We need to go. Get in the truck.” Clay’s voice may have been weak and hoarse, but the authority behind it had everyone heading to the SUV.
Dominic and Dario ended up laying Clay on the floor behind the front seats. Alberto and Salvador sat in the backseat with Basil between them. Basil didn’t look so good, and Alberto was bent over him and asking questions.
Dario was the last to enter the vehicle. After he shut the back passenger-side door, he picked Beau up and set him on his lap. Beau was about to object, but something hit the door Dario had just shut, followed by a metallic ping.
Dominic floored the SUV as more bullets showered the glass and sides of the vehicle. Thank goodness for bulletproof glass and metal.
“I hope you know where you’re going,” Baxter shouted, and braced a hand against the ceiling and one on the side door.
“Of course I don’t,” Dominic replied. “But I’m heading toward the red exit sign up ahead.”
“Good idea.” By then, Baxter was bracing his feet against the dashboard.
At the end of the narrow corridor, they had to choose between turning left or right. Dominic cranked the steering wheel to the right. Before them was the light of day, blocked by a metal gate and two guards.
Just before Dario’s hand shoved his head down, Beau saw Bax drop to the floor. Over the nonstop ping of bullets, the vehicle’s engine roared and Beau was plastered back against Dario. Metal crashed against metal and the vehicle jerked, almost taking flight as they broke through the gate.
Beau began to struggle, and by the time Dario let him sit up, he saw they were a couple of blocks away from the lab.
“Basil, do you still have the device?” As always, Clay was thinking about the mission.
“Yeah.” Pain radiated from Basil.
“Press the button. We can’t leave any evidence.”
A couple of blocks to the right, an explosion sent fire and acidic black smoke into the air. That was when Beau realized Clay had been talking about destroying their van. That sucked. Beau had liked that van. The SUV shuddered as the building behind them exploded.
Basil’s weak laughter filled Beau’s mind. “I managed to set a few party sticks around the building before they caught us.”
“My darling, I smell blood,” Dario whispered against Beau’s ear. “Are you injured?”
“It’s fetal blood.” Beau felt something dark and disgusting well up in his throat. “It’s from the infant that they killed.” Beau didn’t know exactly what they had done to that poor infant, but it didn’t matter. He’d still deserved a chance to live. Beau felt nothing but hatred for the men that had so carelessly cut the baby and his mother down in a spray of bullets.
“I am sorry, my darling.”
Beau leaned back to look up at Dario, confused. “Why? You didn’t do it.”
“The loss of life, any life, is never cause for celebration, Beaumont.” Dario got a far-off look in his black eyes, one that made Beau think the handsome vampire had suffered a loss that affected him even now.
Beau laid his hand down over the top of Dario’s, wishing to offer him some sort of comfort. When Dario shook himself a bit and then smiled, Beau was pretty sure he had accomplished his goal.
“It is not an easy world we live in, my darling,” Dario said, “but there are compensations that make living worth it.”
The heated look in Dario’s eyes made Beau wonder if the man was referring to him. He was too scared to ask. The feelings Dario created made Beau’s stomach clench with need. He didn’t understand them, and he wasn’t sure he was ready to try.
So much in his life was about keeping his family safe and devoting every spare second to their mission. He didn’t think he had either the time or the energy to try and figure out why the handsome vampire made his insides turn to jelly.
“What’s with the invisibility stuff, Beau?”
Beau glanced over toward the floor of the SUV to where Clay sat up, leaning against the door. “I’m not really sure how to explain it.” And he wasn’t sure he wanted to.
“Try.”
Beau turned his head so his brother wouldn’t see him roll his eyes. “Like I said, I’m not sure how to explain it. I’m not even sure what it is. I just know that when Dario and I were trying to escape a few of the guards, he held on to me and no one saw us move.”
Clay’s inquisitive eyes darted between Beau and Dario before settling on the prince. “Is this something all vampires can do?”
Beau ground his teeth together. Of course his brother would assume it was a trait only vampires could have. He would never even dream that it was something Beau could do. Beau was so tired of being overlooked, he could have screamed. Except he knew it would do no good. Everyone would just stare at him and wonder if he had lost his mind.
Dario, to his credit, frowned as if confused and then looked at Beau. “This is not an ability common to vampires. I believe it was all due to my little bunny.”
Beau gasped at the man’s words. He knew they had a connection, a strong one, but to be publically claimed by the man was more than Beau dared dream of. “Do you really think of me as your bunny?”
Dario’s smile was devastating. Beau was totally mesmerized. “I do, my darling.” One of Dario’s long fingers stroked down the side of Beau’s face, gently, as if he was precious. “I anxiously await the day when you consider yourself my bunny, as well.”
Oh, boy.
“Uh, hello?” Clay snarked. “Can we get back to the whole disappearing thing?”
Beau was going to punch his brother. He turned a dark glare on the man. “I can’t wait for the day when you find your mate.” Several snickers from the others in the van said they anxiously waited for that day, as well.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Clay snapped.
Beau knew they were all tired and strung a little tightly, so he refused to answer his brother. That would just lead to an argument he would never win. He never did. Instead, Beau turned and rested his head on Dario’s shoulder.
“Hey!” Clay called out. “We’re not done talking.”
“I believe Beau wishes to abstain for any further conversation at this time,” Dario said. “I suggest we resume talking after everyone has had a chance to rest and recover.”
Beau turned his face a little more into the man’s shoulder. He didn’t want anyone—specifically Clay—to see the grin on his face. No one had ever stood up for him like this before. Oh, sure, his brothers always had his back, but that was a family thing. This was someone standing up for just him.
“Thank you,” Beau whispered just barely above a murmur. His gratitude was for Dario’s ears only. The slight squeeze of the man’s arm and the soft kiss pressed to the top of his head told Beau his words had been heard, and appreciated.
“It will always be my pleasure, my darling.”
Beau didn’t have a response to that. He really didn’t. He had never been the center of someone’s attention before and he wasn’t sure how to behave. He was horribly afraid
he would say or do the wrong thing and Dario would no longer want him, and then where would he be?
Invisible again.
“I like your house,” Beau finally said when the silence became too much.
“Thank you.” Dario smiled down at him. “It has been in my family for almost two centuries.”
“It’s very nice.” Beau felt his cheeks brighten as he contemplated his next words. “I especially like my room. Did you know there was a secret room in the closet?”
“I did.” Dario’s smile grew even larger. “You speak of my childhood bedroom. I spent many a night curled up reading in that hidden room.”
That knowledge actually made Beau feel a little closer to Dario, which was strange, considering he barely knew the vampire. Maybe he should try to learn more. Beau’s eyes shot to his brothers as they talked amongst themselves.
Maybe he should just keep his mouth shut and remember that Dario’s interest would be fleeting. Once something new and sparkly came along, Beau would be forgotten as he always had been. Being the flavor of the moment wasn’t worth the heartache he would feel later.
“I can feel you withdrawing from me, my darling,” Dario said. “I do not know what has saddened you, but I cannot allow you to keep yourself from me.”
It took Beau a moment to realize the man was talking to him silently, which had only ever happened with his brothers. His brow creased with a frown when he lifted his head and stared at the handsome vampire. “How?”
“I am a vampire,” Dario replied, still silent. “From the moment I smelled your blood, our souls began to entwine. Speaking to you in this manner is a small thing compared to the joy I have found in claiming you as my one and only.”
Huh?
Chapter Five
Beau was an under-appreciated wonder and Dario was thoroughly enthralled. Not only did merely staring at the gorgeous man fill Dario with more pleasure than all of the treasures in the Musée du Louvre, but listening to him speak was the sweetest of sounds.
That he had met the man at all was a miracle. He wasn’t even supposed to be in the states. He had spent the last seventy-five years in Europe and had only come across the ocean for a meeting with another coven leader.