Sari’s encouraging words gave Karein strength. Following his instincts, he flew away from Draechenburg, at one point actually leaving Germany altogether. Right now, vampires pretty much avoided Karein’s country like the plague, but recent information suggested they might have a coven in the Netherlands. Karein had left them alone, because first data showed that they were pretty peaceful and didn’t present a danger for Draechenburg or the Directive. The werewolves tended to be far more rebellious, or so Karein had thought, until now. But Karein wasn’t above using any tool at his disposal. From his point of view, by attacking Sage and Camden, the vampires had drawn the wrath of the entire draechen people upon their heads. This was war.
The coven wasn’t actually very far from the citadel, and while Karein’s choice to fly there in dragon form might have seemed odd, it was much preferable to using another means of transportation. Besides, not all of the members of his special force were assigned to actually joining Karein on these missions. Some of them infiltrated human settlements, making sure the way was clear and that no one would see them approach.
As he finally approached Amsterdam, Karein felt Sari’s anxiety increase. “Just be careful,” the fae sent to him. “These people have weapons that can hurt you.”
“Don’t worry about me, baby. I’m ready for them.”
And he was. In fact, he had a mind to just fly into the Dutch city and hunt down the vampires one by one. But that would jeopardize the secrecy of the paranormal world. As such, Karein landed a few miles away from the actual city. A couple of draechen envoys were already waiting there with equipment, clothing, and cars that would take them through the city.
“We’ve been watching the vampires’ location, General,” one of them said. “They don’t seem to be aware of our presence.”
“Excellent,” Karein said. “Lead us there.”
As he spoke, Karein quickly shifted and pulled on a pair of pants, some boots and a shirt. He slid into the first vehicle, noting with satisfaction that his envoys had picked dissimilar cars instead of identical ones that would draw attention when close together. Another draechen got behind the wheel and quickly started the vehicle, obviously aware of the urgency of the situation.
Once they entered Amsterdam, the cars engaged in traffic, driving through the busy streets. Karein had never had a problem with being in human settlements, but today, he found he felt irritated. Perhaps it wasn’t the city itself that bothered him—Amsterdam was very beautiful, after all—but having to leave his mate, knowing that a dear friend was in dire peril, could put anyone in a bad mood. Of course, Karein had the perfect method to solve his problem. A while back, he’d have taken it out on his foes, but he needed a clear head for this expedition. As always, Sari was there to calm him down. He didn’t say anything, instead just choosing to flood his bond with Karein with love. Karein distantly wondered how he’d ever even existed before meeting Sari. He preferred not to remember.
At last, the car stopped in front of what seemed to be a club of sorts. Karein knew from the files that this was the location of the coven. He stepped out of the vehicle and headed toward the entrance without even bothering with stealth. The bouncers at the doors shared a look, reaching for their guns. “Stop it right there!” one of them called out.
Karein didn’t even bother to answer. Instead, he just cast a spell at the two men, draining them of energy. As they fell, he stepped over them and into the club. No, he hadn’t wanted to be the Dog-Catcher again, but now the vampires had forced him into this position, they would regret it.
* * * *
The small, suburban house was quiet, almost suspiciously so. All throughout Rachen’s extended stakeout of the place, there had been very little motion inside. Only a few shadows moving around the windows revealed that the house was inhabited at all.
It wasn’t right. Rachen might not know much about the Connors family, but his gut told him something was amiss. Slipping out of his hiding place, he moved toward the building, advancing carefully in a crouch. His men followed him, as did Arlen Isaiat.
“Hey, wait,” Arlen whispered, stopping him by pressing a hand to his shoulder. “I thought we were going to investigate stealthily. What if Camden is in there?”
“Then we can go inside and get him out or wait here like idiots while your brother is bled dry,” Rachen blurted out. Arlen’s complexion went pasty, and Rachen would have actually felt bad about being so tactless, but he got the result he wanted. The naga fell silent. They continued advancing toward the house until they finally reached one of the windows.
Rachen’s senses screamed that there were enemies nearby. He stole a look into the building and saw a young man and a woman bound on the floor. A third person, a somewhat older man, lay fallen with his head in the female’s lap. They were guarded by two tall strangers. Meanwhile, several other individuals followed an older couple around the house. The haggard duo appeared to be packing various pieces of equipment in boxes under the careful watch of the dark-clad group.
It seemed obvious that the vampires had somehow found out about the benandanti and had used their knowledge against Rachen’s people. They likely planned to keep them alive for the purpose of more research.
Either way, Rachen recognized the prisoners, and not only from the files. They’d been the so-called police officers who’d once intervened in the fight between him and Talrasar, back when Rachen had tried to convince Talrasar they were mates. He supposed that, in a way, he owed them for that.
He had to get them out of here safely. But how? The vampires would sense him if he tried to get in the house, and they’d kill the benandanti. And no matter how blunt he’d been about it with Arlen, Rachen wanted to avoid unnecessary bloodshed. It was very strange, but he didn’t think he could return to Alwyn’s side in good conscience if he didn’t try his best to save these people.
As he struggled to come up with an idea that would help him, Arlen poked his side. “I have a plan,” he mouthed.
Rachen arched a brow, waiting to see what the naga would suggest. He knew that Arlen’s people were very resourceful, and he wasn’t arrogant enough so as to believe only draechen could come up with good ideas. He began to doubt his assessment of Arlen’s abilities, though, when the naga suddenly retrieved a knife and slashed a cut against his palm.
It wasn’t a huge cut, but nevertheless, the scent of blood filled the air. Rachen couldn’t imagine what Arlen had been thinking. It was like broadcasting their location to their foes. And indeed, inside, all the vampires tensed, their nostrils flaring. Strikingly fast, Arlen moved away from Rachen and his group and went to the other side of the courtyard. So, he was creating a distraction. But what guarantee did they have that enough vampires would leave the house, allowing Rachen to burst inside with no risk to the benandanti?
Still, he had to admit that it was a good plan, far better than he’d originally thought. Much to his surprise, every vampire in sight, including the ones who had been watching over the older couple, exited the house, their focus fully on Arlen. They didn’t even see Rachen and his men at all, which was a little ridiculous and quite confusing, given that vampires had great senses. Not to mention that just to be out in the daylight, these particular ones had to be old and very experienced, not new fledglings who lost their cool over a drop of blood.
But Rachen wouldn’t question his good fortune. As quickly as he could, he slid into the house, finding the older couple already working on the bindings of their companions. They were very tired and clearly injured, however, and couldn’t move fast enough. Rachen intervened, ripping the bindings with a few simple gestures. The couple gaped at him and stumbled away. The man looked around, as if seeking a weapon, but Rachen didn’t have time for reassurances. He cast a quick spell, draining just enough of his energy to make him completely cooperative, and did the same with the woman. They swooned and would have fallen on the floor had he not been there to catch them. His men joined him and took hold of the unconscious trio.
&nbs
p; Rachen also handed them the older couple. “Take them to safety and confiscate the items they meant to take away,” he ordered. “I have some vampires to hunt.”
“We’ll come with you, Your Highness,” one of his men quickly offered.
Rachen shook his head and grinned. His magic danced inside him wickedly, just begging to be let out. “That’s quite all right. I think I can handle this on my own.”
Turning on his heel, Rachen followed the scent of blood and the trail of vampires. On the whole, he had to say that this entire operation had gone far smoother than he’d expected, largely because of the naga’s contribution. But Rachen had his own stake in this—no pun intended—and if there was one thing he knew how to do, it was getting information out of people who were unwilling to reveal it. Sharing a body with his twin had not only modified his magic, but it had also taught him a lot of things. Rachen couldn’t wait to prove to the vampires that they’d messed with the wrong family.
* * * *
A few days later
When Sage cracked his eyes open, the first thing he did was to reach out with his mind to Camden. He was surrounded by darkness, and he had no idea where he was, but as a soldier, he’d been taught to think on his feet. Flashes of memory assaulted him, reminding him of the vampire attack, and he experimentally tried to move. He found with relief that while he was weak and still in pain, he had no trouble with maneuvering his body.
That glee came with a measure of terror, because he soon found that his bond with Camden was strikingly quiet. “Camden, beautiful, can you hear me?” he insisted. “Are you there?”
Nothing. With a panicked growl, Sage attempted to get up, only to realize that he was bound in strong chains. At the same time, his senses finally cleared and he realized he wasn’t alone in his strange cell.
His gaze scanned the darkness until it finally fell on his captor, the same vampire who’d shot him. “Welcome back, Sleeping Beauty,” the man said.
Sage growled, straining against the chains. “Who are you, and what have you done to Camden?”
The vampire ignored the question. Instead, he analyzed Sage’s naked body from head to toe with lascivious interest. “The draechen body is quite fascinating,” he mused. “It managed to push out the bullet even if I aimed to incapacitate you completely. And it’s certainly very appealing to observe.”
Sage took a deep breath, struggling to calm down. The only thing he wanted to do right now was to pounce the vampire and turn him into an icicle, or rip his throat out with his bare hands. Both options appealed to him in equal measure. But he was still weak, definitely not strong enough to engage in a magical battle.
“What do you want?” he asked, keeping his voice level.
“I already have what I want.” The vampire chuckled. “And to answer your first question, I am Fallon. I haven’t done anything to your beloved naga mate. It’s what he, and you, can do for us that matters. And he was so kind so as to come directly to us. An unexpected prize.”
Sage didn’t understand any of it. He just knew that he had to see Camden. “Where is he?” he inquired. “Take me to him, or else—”
“Or else what?” Fallon snorted, interrupting him. “There’s nothing you can do, draechen. You’re only alive because I wish it.”
As Fallon stepped closer, Sage noticed that the vampire had the gun in his grip. He pointed it at Sage, and when he grinned, his fangs glinted. “I know who you are, Lieutenant Zager, and I know of your role in the draechen army. I should have killed you. Be content that your mate gave me what I wanted, because otherwise, I’d have drained you dry by now.”
Just the thought that the vampire had placed his filthy hands on Camden made Sage’s control snap. He lunged at Fallon, grunting when the chains held and he nearly broke his own arms through his efforts. Still, Fallon wasn’t completely immune to it, and he stopped his approach, actually taking a step back.
“Now, now, don’t be naughty.” He tsked. “Be good, or this time, I’ll go for the kill. I assure you that even with your abilities, a bullet to the brain would end your life.”
The threat wouldn’t have deterred Sage. He was already in the process of gathering his magic, focusing it not on the vampire who could dodge, but on the cuffs. Once he froze them, he’d be able to escape. The shackles seemed crafted from special material, resisting Sage’s magic, but Sage thought that he could circumvent it regardless.
But then, Fallon straightened his shoulders and added, “Now, if you play nice, I might allow you to see your dear mate.”
“Don’t attempt to deceive me, vampire,” Sage answered. “I might be in chains now, but I will get out eventually, and you wouldn’t want me as your enemy.”
Never mind the fact that they were already enemies, and had become so from the moment he’d dared to touch Camden. But Sage had to keep a cool head, because his mate was relying on him.
“Perhaps I don’t,” Fallon admitted, much to Sage’s surprise. “This is my proposition to you, Sagenamadeen Zager. You will contact Draechenburg and tell them to cease their attacks on vampire covens. In exchange, you will be allowed to see your mate and stay with him in relative freedom. The rest of the naga will be freed, but Prince Camden will have to stay as a blood donor.”
Sage almost wanted to laugh. So this was it. This was the true reason why Fallon had approached him. Overlords, Sage had known Karein wouldn’t just abandon him. And Emperor Hareematek wouldn’t just let the situation slide. Likely, the vampires now realized they’d bitten off more than they could chew. They simply weren’t ready to take on Ornoz, no matter what weaponry they had at their disposal. The last ace up their collective sleeve was having Sage and Camden as captives.
Unfortunately, hearing out of Fallon’s own mouth what they had been doing to Camden wiped away any possible mirth. “You can’t be serious. You can’t possibly expect that I’ll agree to handing over my mate to you, just like that.”
Fallon snorted. “We already have him, and I can do whatever I want to him. Those chains are enchanted against draechen magic, so you truly have no other alternative but to comply with my request.”
Sage fumed, wanting to rip the vampire’s throat out but knowing that Fallon was truly right in some respects. Even if he did escape this cell, he was probably in a coven filled with vampires that would likely hurt Camden if he tried anything. Sure, Sage couldn’t be certain they actually had Camden at all, but his instinct told him that his mate had indeed come after him. It definitely sounded like something Camden would do. Overlords, Camden had wanted to jump to Sage’s defense even back on the beach.
This brought Sage to one conclusion. The deal he was being offered was actually pretty good, at least from an objective point of view. Sage didn’t feel at all thrilled at the prospect of making arrangements based on his mate’s safety, but if he refused, Camden would still be the vampires’ prisoner, and Sage would be unable to do anything about it.
This option Fallon offered gave him an opening. Sage could exploit their fear. Even with the conditions Fallon imposed, Sage would still have his mate close. He’d be able to attempt an escape. Because Fallon might be aware of the value of Camden’s blood, but he didn’t seem to realize the full extent of its effect on Sage. Of course, that was something Sage couldn’t be sure of, given the comments Fallon had made. Even so, he was still pretty confident that he had what it took to escape a coven of vampires. The important thing was not being kept apart from Camden anymore.
“I’ll consider it,” he said between gritted teeth, “but first, I have to discuss it with Camden. I can’t possibly make such an important decision on my own.”
The vampire just shrugged, having obviously expected this demand. “He’s already waiting for you.”
Sage said nothing, even if he had trouble believing in Fallon’s words. Had they been true, Sage would have managed to contact Camden somehow. If this was some sort of trick, Sage would have the vampire’s head.
“Fine,” he said. “Take me t
o him.”
In response, Fallon opened the cell door. A good number of vampire guards entered the dark prison and stepped toward Sage. Meanwhile, Fallon lingered further back, gun still pointed at Sage. All right, so Sage might have to reevaluate the exact extent of Fallon’s wariness of him. Perhaps the vampire really did realize Camden’s blood had enhanced Sage’s abilities. If so, Sage had to be extra careful, because Fallon would undoubtedly take additional precautions.
For the moment, he didn’t protest as the vampire guards released him from his chains and made no move to attack them. It seemed that Fallon wasn’t the only one armed, as several of the men who’d come to accompany him also had various types of guns. If they all boasted bullets similar to the one that had nearly paralyzed Sage, his best bet was to cooperate.
Thankfully, his choice was soon rewarded. As they left the cell, they passed more doors similar to Sage’s previous one, then went up a flight of stairs. And then, Sage felt it, felt him. Camden was nearby. Sage’s dragon basically roared it, demanding to rush there at once. But as much as he wanted to do exactly that, Sage remained calm and walked at the pace his vampire companions determined.
It seemed to take forever, but at last, they abandoned the building Sage had been in and ended up in a dark courtyard. He seemed to have been held in a warehouse of sorts, and there were other, identical structures all around. It was nighttime, and Sage would have attempted to guess his location by using the stars, but he didn’t have time for that. Besides, he couldn’t have focused on that anyway since his entire being was centered on finding Camden again, on holding him close and making sure he was all right.
With every step he took, the awareness of his mate’s presence grew stronger. It guided him to a different warehouse, one surrounded by even more guards. Fallon nodded at them, and they moved aside, allowing Sage and his unpleasant companions to pass.
Naga's Concubine [Chronicles of the Shifter Directive 4] (Siren Publishing Epic Romance, ManLove) Page 15