Wade and Cassandra had joined them now.
"Aye," Tremayne said as he glanced at the tree house. "Aspen can harm a newly made Vampire. Even an old vampire knows to keep away from it. The wood does not burn as most woods do. It absorbs the heat. So touching the wood would be like touching an open flame."
"In that case, move aside vamps," Cassandra said. "There's only one way to find out if the girl hid in there." She shimmied up the tree, making Derek smile.
He glanced at Wade who threw him a grin before he followed after his sister. "Are you coming?" he yelled over his shoulder to Derek.
"Right behind you, Bro."
A few seconds later, Cassandra opened the shudders and peeked out. "I believe she was here." She held up a blanket in one hand, and a soda can and chips in the other. "The place is littered with wrappers. The poor kid must have been raiding the pantry for days."
"I have to call Tim," Sloane turned her gaze on Tremayne. "Even if he doesn't have her or worse he's changed her, I have to make the call. Besides it'll give us another chance to nab him. Isn't that what you want?" She held the cell phone in her hand and waited for his approval.
Derek jumped from the last step of the latter and strode over to her.
"You do know what this will mean for Tim, right?" Tremayne asked her. "If he's taken the child and harmed her, not only must he be eliminated, but the child cannot be allowed to exist."
"Kylie's only a little girl," she argued the point.
"And she will think like a little girl," Tremayne continued. "She'll be rash and out of control, acting before thinking of the consequences. It is forbidden to change human children. They never age. They never mature to adulthood, and they become selfish and vicious when it comes to what they want."
She didn't bother pointing out if vampires were forbidden to change a human child, how would Tremayne know the outcome of such an act? Obviously, mistakes had been made in the past. She shuddered to think of what became of those mistakes. "I understand, but I have to know for sure. If Kylie is still human, I have to try and save her." She put the call through.
Tim must have been waiting for her call. He picked up on the first ring.
"Ah…so you finally deciphered my message," Tim said. "I knew you would."
"Kylie… Is she all right?"
"Of course. She's my sister. I'll take care of her. Don't you worry."
"Let me speak to her." She wanted proof that the little girl was alive.
"You don't trust me," Tim said and he sounded hurt at the prospect.
Tim had bitten her, and he had killed others to survive. No, she didn't trust him. "If I meet with you, I must know Kylie is…" She swallowed back her fear. "That she remains human."
There was a long pause, but finally Tim chuckled. "Sure, why not. It'll be my gift to you. Kylie's life for yours." There was another pause then hushed tones before she heard Kylie's voice ring through.
"Sloane?"
She gripped the phone tighter. "Kylie. Are you okay?"
"I'm scared." Her voice wavered and she knew the child was on the verge of tears.
"I know, honey. It will be all right."
Kylie didn't have a chance to say more. Tim took over. "It will be all right only if you come alone. No hunters," he warned.
"I'll come alone. Just tell me where?"
"I'll text you the information soon."
"No, wait." But he ended the call without even a goodbye. She closed her eyes, willing back the tears. "He'll text me soon," she whispered, knowing what could happen to Kylie the longer she was with Tim.
"This is crazy." Derek paced in frustration. "The girl is as good as dead." He leveled his gaze on Sloane. "You aren't meeting him. He's only buying some time so he can set his trap."
"I have to go. Tim will kill Kylie if I don't."
"He's going to kill her anyway," Derek insisted. "And if he manages to hold back until you meet with him, he'll make you watch. This is some kind of sick game he's playing and nothing more."
Sloane inhaled sharply. It wasn't as if the thought hadn't crossed her mind, but to hear Derek voice her fears, it made it all so real. "But you're forgetting, Kylie's not dead yet and that's all I need to know."
Silence followed. She glanced at each of the Hayes siblings, so similar with their stances and green eyes. Tremayne didn't beam with hope either, but she would stand her ground.
Wade cleared his throat. "He didn't say anything about vampires tagging along." Wade lifted his broad shoulders in a shrug. "I'm just saying."
If there was going to be anyone who would backed her up, she hadn't expected it to be the hunter who wanted her dusted.
Derek cursed under his breath, but then threw up his hands and nodded. "Tremayne could shadow you and we could keep a safe distance away."
"I have earpieces stashed in my truck," Wade offered.
All eyes were on Tremayne then, waiting for his stamp of approval. Finally, he gave in with a sigh. "It's not the worse plan I've been party to and it just might work. Tim won't pick up on my heartbeat like he would a human's—at least not until it's too late."
"We could put a tracking device on Sloane," Cassandra said, coming to stand beside Tremayne. "This will ensure we don't lose you," she said to Sloane.
"Even with all the precautions," Derek leveled his gaze on her, "it could all go to hell."
She understood the odds, but she couldn't give up hope. "I'm doing it." She met Derek's gaze head on and didn't back down.
Wade let out a low whistle and flicked the rim of his Stetson. "You've met your match, brother." He actually threw her a smile.
Derek shook his head. "You're crazy, Sloane." His hand snaked out and he pulled her flush against him and kissed the top of her head. "But so am I." He looked at her with a half-tilted grin. "Let's do this."
As the others headed toward the house, Sloane held Derek back. "I have to ask something of you."
"Anything."
Her lips twitched. "That was easy."
He smiled. "What can I say, I'm a push over when it comes to you."
She didn't know how she'd lucked out. If it had been one of Derek's brothers who had found her first, she wouldn't be having this conversation.
For a moment she wished they'd met again under different circumstances. They could have been good together. "When this is over, will you look in on Lad, make sure he's okay." She licked her lips that had suddenly felt dry. "He's my dog and I—"
He placed a finger on her lips to silence her. His gaze swept over her with longing and maybe a little of regret. He had to know when this was all over they would have to part company. "You have my word. I'll take care of Lad as long as it takes until you can take over the job." He tucked her hair behind her ear. "You're strong, Sloane. You'll get through this. And when you're ready, I'll be waiting for you."
She was about to protest that he didn't have to promise her anything. She didn't know how long it would take for her to learn all there was to know about being a vampire. She doubted there was a crash course. However, Derek wasn't interested in her reply. He swallowed her words beneath his lips. His kiss was tender, yet demanding that she yield to him. She stepped into his embrace and let him take her under his spell.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Waiting for Tim to text her the location of the meet proved the worst kind of torture. She glanced at Derek's journal. He'd been noting the differences of each vampire sept he came across, trying to update the old journals his family had in the archives. She wanted to read it, but right now she couldn't concentrate. She'd only skimmed over a few of the entries, but retained none of it.
Cassandra and Wade were in the kitchen, chatting as they drank coffee. She wasn't sure if Cassandra needed another caffeine fix. She was already revved with energy. Wade and caffeine seemed a lethal combo, too, but in taking down Tim maybe it wasn't such a bad idea. Tremayne and Derek made a quick trip to Derek's parents' house. They needed a vehicle that could take the mountain roads with eas
e and had room to seat everyone.
Bliiippp… Sloane jumped at the sound of her phone alerting her to a new message. She grabbed the phone resting on her thigh and stared at the screen. "Tim's text is in," she shouted and everyone halted what they were doing and rushed into the living room, looking at her expectantly.
"Well?" Wade asked. "Where's the vamp hiding out?"
She placed the journal to the side and stood. "He's at his family's cabin." She'd been there once—way before Kylie had been born, when Tim's father had still been married to Tim's mother. She didn't realize the family still owned the cabin. She assumed it had been sold when the divorce became final.
Derek strode over to her and she handed him the phone. "I know this area—mountainous with thick forest," he said. "Easy to get lost there." Derek glanced at Tremayne who stood with his arms folded over his chest and looking grim. "It's about an hour and a half drive from here," he added.
Sloane knew she hadn't had nearly enough training, but they had run out of time. Tim had summoned her.
"You can still back out?" Cassandra offered.
She met the hunter's concerned gaze and shook her head. "No, I can't. I won't," she said more firmly. "Let's do this."
Wade sighed heavily. He didn't particularly like the idea that she would lead this excursion into hell, but he proved to be a team player when push came to shove. "I suggest we get a move on then," Wade said as he holstered his dagger. "Time's a tickin' and we only have so much night to play with before the vamps get smoked by the sun."
She did so love his snarky comments.
"I will have a word with you," Tremayne drew her attention.
"Let's load the van," Cassandra said to Derek, obviously, wanting him to follow her so Tremayne could speak to her alone. Derek looked hesitant to leave her side, his gaze shifting from her then to Tremayne.
Her hand brushed his forearm and his gaze returned to her. "I'll meet you outside," she said with a reassuring smile.
He gave her a curt nod and followed his sister.
"So we're alone," she said, turning to face Tremayne. "Why the privacy?"
"It would make this easier."
Her brows furrowed. "What would?"
"You need to feed and it would be better if you fed from me than from the bottled blood."
She shook her head. "I don't think that's a good idea." She remembered feeding from him the first time and it had been way to intimate for her taste.
"My blood will make you stronger," he told her. "It's pure and taking it from the vein will give you a surge of energy."
"Did Cassandra know you were going to suggest this?"
"Aye, she knows." He didn't push. He just stood there and waited for her to make the decision.
"I want to have the best chance to save Kylie," she said.
"As do I," he agreed.
"Okay." She glanced at his neck, wondering if she was supposed to bite him there and if she would hit the artery on the first try or end up making a muck of it by biting him like a mad dog.
"I'll walk you through it." Tremayne's voice drew her attention and she felt the heat rise in her cheeks. He obviously realized what she'd been contemplating.
"That would be good." He took the steps separating them since her feet suddenly felt like they'd been cemented to the floor.
He rolled up a sleeve, revealing his forearm. "You'll sink your teeth in here?" His fingers rubbed the flesh a fraction of an inch below the palm.
At the thought of blood, her teeth lengthened. Her hand flew to her mouth in an attempt to hide her desire to feed.
Tremayne's lips curved.
"I know, I know." She waved him off. "It's another thing I'll get used to."
"Aye, you will." He bit into his flesh and offered his arm to her. Blood pooled where he had torn his flesh.
A growl escaped her before she could stop herself. She grabbed his hand and forearm for leverage. Her fangs latched onto his torn flesh and immediately blood flooded her mouth with sweetness, so warm and pure she couldn't understand why she had hesitated. His blood was not at all like the bottled blood that held a tang to it and left an aftertaste. Derek's blood was sweet, too. Startled where her thoughts had wandered, she tried to pull away, but Tremayne held the back of her head.
"It's all right," he said. "Relax. The blood does not control you. Don't think of Derek. Think of how you shall defeat Tim and save the child."
Tremayne hadn't spoken out loud. She'd heard his thoughts as he had heard hers. His love for Cassandra flooded her senses, but the images were fleeting and she wondered if she'd imagined them.
Once finished, she closed the wound like Tremayne had taught her. She met his gaze and his eyes glowed with a reddish hue. "Do my eyes…uh..." She waved her hand in his direction. "Do they turn colors?"
"Aye. They are a deep reddish hue because you just fed. They will return to your normal shade in a moment."
"But yours are red, too."
"You fed from me. It's a bond. I don't know how to explain it other than it's something like how a mother feeds her newborn child."
She chuckled at the thought of this warrior-size man being anything like a mother with a babe to his breast. "Sorry." She pursed her lips, trying to quell her smile.
His lips curved. "Perhaps I should come up with a different analogy." His gaze swept over her. "How do you feel?"
Her heart beat faster, her body felt warm and her limbs… She straightened her arms in front of her, wondering if she could see as well as feel the difference. "It's like I have pent up energy just bursting to be let free." She lowered her arms and peered at him.
"That's perfect," he said.
* * * * *
Sloane drove her own car, but Derek was in the van behind her with the others. They were her backup, if she needed them and she had a sinking feeling she would. An infusion of ancient blood running through her veins, and a few days of training didn't make her an expert on taking down vampires and rescuing young children.
They parked the van snuggled within the pines and foliage, but within walking distance from the cabin. She continued on in her car, making her way down the winding gravel road that led to the cabin's door.
She turned off the engine and sat there for a few moments, silently giving herself a pep talk. She could do this. She could meet with Tim and save Kylie.
The crescent moon sat low in the sky with very little stars to brighten the path and yet with her new vampire status, her eyesight was as keen as an eagle's, and her hearing was just as impressive. She could make out sounds of a squirrel scrambling up a tree and she picked up the flapping of wings—perhaps an owl or another nocturnal creature. "Like me," she murmured.
"Are you going to sit in your car all night?"
For a moment, she thought Derek had spoken to her. She tapped her earpiece, but then she realized it wasn't anyone from the van. Tim had spoken to her within the cabin, and her keen hearing had picked up his question. Of course he'd known the moment she arrived since his hearing would be as good as hers. Without acknowledging Tim with a response, she opened her car door and strode forward.
The cabin door flew open before she attempted to knock, revealing Tim standing in the archway shrouded in darkness. He hadn't turned on the lights or bothered to start a fire in the fireplace. The day had been cool, but now that the sun had set, the temperature had dropped even lower.
The cold didn't faze her at all, but before her vamp status, she would have been snuggled in a down jacket. She'd never be cold again, she thought, but a human in this weather would be chilled to the bone. Had Tim thought of this when he took Kylie?
Tim stepped aside to allow her to enter.
"Why haven't you turned on a light?" she asked in all seriousness, making him chuckle. She hid her annoyance with a shrug. "I was just asking."
He pursed his lips before he shook his head. "Why waste the electricity when we don't need it?"
She may not need it, but she wanted to hold onto her old
life. She wouldn't give everything up because of a bite that changed her world. She spotted the light switch and flipped it on. Tim hissed and squinted his eyes as if the light physically hurt him. She had to admit her eyes stung, but they adjusted quickly enough.
"Where's Kylie?" A quick scan of the room, confirmed the child was not present. She relied on her other senses and then she heard the distinct sound of a heartbeat—a human heartbeat—well, at least a heartbeat that didn't thump as hers or Tim's did.
"She's in there." He pointed to the closed door. A bedroom, if she was not mistaken. She took a step only to be halted by Tim's words.
"We could share her," he said and his meaning was not lost to her.
She whipped around to face him. "She's your sister, Tim. You love her and I know if you search deep down you'll remember that affection."
Tim shook his head. His hair fell across his forehead, giving him a boyish and unsure appearance.
"We have to keep her safe," she forged on. "Send her away from all this. Then we can be together." She hoped the lie sounded sincere. Kylie's life depended on Tim believing her.
"We have to drink blood," he insisted.
"We do," she agreed. "But not from Kylie," she added firmly. "Not from your sister."
He glanced at the closed door. Indecision flashed in his eyes and for a moment, she caught a glimpse of the Tim she knew and cared for, but then a shadow seeped into his gaze like a dark stain and his expression hardened. "Her blood…" His eyes closed as he inhaled deeply. His lips tilted into a grin that sent chills down her spine. When he opened is eyes they flashed red. "A child's blood is rich and untainted."
She had only been around adults and though each scent had a unique difference, none of them smelled as enticing as Kylie's blood did right now. It smelled…fresh. Just another question she would need to discuss with Tremayne.
"We'll drink then we can be on our way." Tim flitted to the door where he held Kylie prisoner.
She followed suit, her movement surprisingly smooth. She was getting the hang of this. She felt Tremayne's blood coursing through her veins, giving her strength. "No," she said firmly. She leaned against the door, putting all her weight against it. "You will let her go or I won't go with you." She wasn't sure if the threat would work, but she had to hope it would for Kylie's sake. She was stronger, but so was Tim. If he wanted to fight her, she wasn't sure she could stop him.
Flowers and Fangs (Stake and Dust series, Book II) Page 16