Blood Captive: A Paranormal Vampire Romance (Vampire Huntress Chronicles Book 2)

by Jessica Wayne

  She nods but doesn’t say anything. Not a word, a joke, not even a smile. “What’s wrong?”

  Now, she forces a smile and shakes her head. “Nothing, I’m just tired. Ended up not going to bed until nearly three this morning.”

  “Three?” I gape at her. “You’re usually here at four-thirty.”

  “Hence my exhaustion.”

  “What the hell kept you up?”

  Something passes over her face so quickly I think I might have imagined it. “What else?” She smiles. “A book.”

  Of course. “Must have been some book.”

  “It was. Breakfast?”

  “Yes, please, I left Elijah in bed this morning so I didn’t get a chance to eat anything.”

  With a nod, Jane turns away and disappears into the kitchen. I study the only other patrons inside, a couple holding hands in the far corner. How nice it must be to get to enjoy a nice breakfast with the person you love. Maybe one day.

  “How are things going with Elijah?”

  My wistful daydreaming—something I’ve never done in the past—is interrupted with Jane’s question. “Really great. He makes me happy,” I reply honestly.

  Jane smiles at me. “I’m glad.”

  “How about you? Seeing anyone? Or did that guy fail to live up to your incredibly high expectations?” Jane is always searching for love, but never, in the entire time that I’ve known her, has she come close to settling down.

  She fears commitment even more than I do—or I guess did, since now I’m in a fairly long-term relationship. How long is forever again?

  Not that I’m complaining, of course.

  “Nah, that didn’t work out.”

  “Why not?”

  “We weren’t compatible in bed.”

  “As in—”

  “As in we fucked, and he took off before I had a chance to get any release,” she snaps.

  I gape at her. Jane cusses, but never—in as long as I’ve known her—has she used the word fuck, let alone referred to sex as fucking.

  I do, all the time, but she’s always been a bit more modest when it comes to that. And the anger in her voice? It’s new as well. The Jane I grew up with is always happy. It’s annoying as shit sometimes.

  “What the hell is going on with you?” I demand.

  Jane drops her head and pinches the bridge of her nose. “I’m sorry. It would just be nice to find a fraction of what you found with Elijah. I mean, is it too much to ask for an orgasm? Just a little bit of release? Someone who understands me?”

  Reaching over, I cover her hand with mine. “I understand you.”

  “Yes, but you’re missing a penis.” She pulls her hand out from under mine and disappears in the back, returning with a steaming breakfast sandwich on one of her homemade biscuits.

  My stomach growls, my mouth watering as I watch her carry it over to me and set it down on the counter. The moment it’s in front of me, I dive in.

  “You do know you have to eat. Especially if you’re exerting a ton of energy.”

  I grin up at her and swallow. “There’s the Jane I know and love.”

  “Always present. I’ll grab Ramirez’s muffin.”

  I step into the precinct, completely satisfied, and wishing I knew someone who could give Jane everything she’s looking for.

  Unfortunately, the only single man I know is Elijah’s friend, Tarnley. And hell if I know anything about him. Then, there’s the fact that he might actually eat her, and not in the orgasmic way either. I shelve the idea for now since I probably shouldn’t be playing matchmaker when the world as I know it might very well be facing a modern-day apocalypse.

  Paloma waves at me from her office, so I set Ramirez’s muffin down on his desk and head toward her.

  “Can I come in?” I ask from the doorway, and she nods.

  “Of course.”

  Shutting the door behind me, I take a seat in the same leather chair I was in when she first told me of her ties to my world.

  “Is everything all right?”

  “You asked me to keep you apprised of any threats against me.”

  Her eyes narrow on my face, and she closes the lid of her laptop. “I did.”

  “I was nearly killed last night in my sister’s gym.”

  She pales.

  “A human woman,” I add. “She used bullets laced in neurotoxin, so they made me unable to heal myself.”

  “Shit,” she curses and shakes her head. “How did a human get the drop on you?”

  “I was distracted,” I admit. “And she walked right up behind me. I didn’t know she was there until I heard the first gunshot.”

  “If it made you unable to heal, how are you here?”

  “I managed to call Elijah. He got to me in time and took me to a supernatural healer.”

  “Bronywyn?”

  Eyebrow raised, I nod. “You know her?”

  Paloma smiles. “We have drinks on Wednesday nights. She happens to be a close friend of mine.”

  “Really?”

  Paloma chuckles. “From your confusion, I’m assuming she did not treat you warmly.”

  “You can say that again.”

  “Probably has something to do with Elijah. He did a number on her a couple centuries ago.”

  I can’t imagine Elijah ever purposely breaking a heart, but from what he’s confided in me, he was nothing like he is now. “He seemed pretty upset about it.”

  Paloma nods. “How are you now?”

  “Fine.”

  “Did you have an opportunity to talk to Elijah about…” She trails off so I nod. I’m not sure when I became gal pals with her, but I’m so damn happy I’m not alone in this office that I don’t care.

  “I did. We talked things out.”

  “Good. Hell of a night you had.”

  “You can say that again.” I yawn as I get to my feet.

  “Tired?”

  “Exhausted. I haven’t been sleeping well.”

  “Can’t say I blame you there, you do have a massive bounty on your head. Speaking of—I’m assuming you’ve taken precautions, which is why you feel safe coming into the precinct? Harrie pointed out that it may be best if you hide. Something about supernatural trackers?”

  “I’ve taken precautions,” I confirm. “As much as I hate to admit it, I think it was pure chance I happened to be at the gym last night. My gut tells me she was waiting for me.”

  “Okay. I don’t want anyone in this precinct put in danger, Rainey.”

  “Neither do I. But you can’t ask me to sit this out, not when I’m this close to it and probably the only damn cop here who stands a chance at figuring it out.”

  She nods, the movement strained, and I’m pretty damn sure she’s one more near-death experience away from locking me out of here. “Let me know if you need anything.”

  “Will do.” I’m heading out into the bullpen just as Ramirez is sitting at his desk. He sets my mug of coffee down and grins at the muffin.

  “You spoil me.”

  “I try.”

  Removing the wrapper, he takes a bite of the blueberry muffin I grabbed from Jane’s on my way in this morning. “I hate that Kamie is not a good cook,” he says after he’s swallowed the first bite. “She tries so hard.”

  “That’s what counts. And she has someone like you who eats her food and tells her how perfect she is.”

  He raises an eyebrow. “Someone’s feeling rather swoony today.”

  “What the hell does that mean?”

  “Usually you tell me I should just be honest and live on takeout for the rest of my life.”

  I shrug, and he grins at me.

  “Is it possible that the mysterious boyfriend has made a believer in the power of love out of you?”

  Heat rushes my cheeks, but I don’t bother denying it. “Maybe.”

  Ramirez throws his head back and laughs.

  “Keep laughing, and that’ll be the end of muffins for you,” I tell him as I lift my coffee and take
a drink.

  “Nah, it won’t be. Because then you’d either have to drink the piss coffee they make here or figure out how to carry a steaming mug on your bike.”

  “That is true,” I admit. Trying to appear nonchalant, I pull up the database and start to type in Lucy’s information. After meeting with Aoife yesterday and talking to Elijah last night, we’ve decided she’s our next best bet. Trouble is she’s very well protected by the guards who keep watch over the council.

  Getting her alone is going to be impossible. At least I enjoy a challenge.

  “Astor.” I glance over as the captain calls my name.

  I log out of my computer. “Be back,” I tell Ramirez and stand, crossing the room to her. Expression grim, she’s the complete opposite of what she was only a few minutes ago. “What is it?”

  “You’ve got more dead witches. A lot of them.”

  “Where?”

  “Downtown. Warehouse. The pack found them this morning.”

  “How did the pack find them? I thought they were in hiding?”

  “Reggie—one of the younger ones—ventured out. They went to find him.”

  Her expression says it all. That they did find him, and that he was about as lucky as the witches.

  “Reggie was seeing a witch, and it looks like she is among the deceased.”

  “I’ll get Ramirez. We can head—”

  Paloma shakes her head. “This is supernatural business, Rainey. If we can keep Ramirez out of it, that will be best for him.”

  I nod in understanding. “Guess I should start coming up with an excuse. I’m fairly sure he thinks I’ve been sneaking out to have afternoon sex with Elijah.”

  “I’ll take care of Ramirez.”

  My phone dings.

  “That will be Cole with the address.”

  I check my screen and see a number I don’t recognize. “Who the hell is Cole?”

  “The shifter meeting you onsite. Josiah and Harrie are with Reggie’s parents.”

  After firing back a quick, on my way, I shove the phone back into my pocket. “Anything else I need to know?”

  Her jaw tightens, eyes narrowing. “There are over a dozen bodies.”

  My stomach churns at the thought of that many dead, the guilt stifling.

  The end begins with dead witches.

  How many more are going to die before we figure this shit out?

  24

  Elijah

  Waiting for Rainey to come home is going to slowly drive me insane. She’s barely been gone an hour, but just knowing she’s out there, being hunted by who the fuck knows, is hard enough. Especially now that we know it’s not just supernaturals after her.

  She was nearly gunned down in a semi-public location by a human.

  And after what Jane told me about the box, coupled with the warnings from both Stella and Aoife—let’s just say I fought the urge to cloak myself and follow her.

  There’s no telling what happened when Rainey cracked it open in Salem. What if we’re too late? What if that power is already corrupting her? What if I lose her to it? Somehow, that would be worse than her actually dying.

  I shake my head and continue reading through one of the old texts I keep hidden away in my library. No matter what, I won’t give up on her.

  She’ll have to kill me first.

  No more secrets, Elijah. I close my eyes as her words ricochet through my mind. I understand the reasoning behind Jane wishing to remain hidden. After all, if the magic does begin to corrupt Rainey and we need a way to temporarily incapacitate her, the witch could end up being the card we need to play.

  I even understand why we can’t tell Rainey of the risk she’s facing. If she knows about the power—she’s more likely to attempt to use it. Her reasoning would be to do good, I know that much.

  But I also know how corrupting dark magic can be. I’ve seen it destroy more lives than I care to admit. And there was none darker than the original witch. It’s better to keep things hidden until we know exactly what we’re dealing with and how to correct it.

  All of that doesn’t make it any easier to stomach breaking my promise, though.

  A bell chimes, so I get to my feet and head into the den. After punching in a code, I pull open the heavy silver-lined door, not surprised in the least that Tarnley is standing on the other side. He’s the only being, aside from Rainey and me, who know about this house. It’s hidden away on the outskirts of the city, far enough to not garnish any attention and close enough that I was able to connect the tunnels below to the secret entrance Tarnley is standing in now.

  It’s my backup plan, my fortress, my escape, and the place where I retreat when existing has become more of a nuisance than I can handle. And now, it’s a place where Rainey is shielded away, sleeping peacefully in my arms.

  “Tarnley,” I greet, stepping aside and shutting the door behind him.

  The den has no windows and requires a code to open the tunnels as well as the door that leads to the rest of the house.

  As I said, it’s meant to be a personal fortress.

  “How’s Rainey?”

  “Back to normal.” Or as normal as one can be when they’re missing half of their soul.

  “Glad to hear it.”

  I make my way over to the minibar. After opening the fridge, I withdraw a blood bag and pop the valve, squeezing it into a glass and handing it to my oldest friend. Then, I pour a glass of whiskey for myself.

  I turned Tarnley over two centuries ago, and he’s the only vampire in this entire bloody world I trust. He takes a seat in a leather armchair, and I follow suit, sitting across from him with a glass of whiskey. He takes a greedy drink and swirls the remaining crimson around in the glass.

  “And how are things with Aoife?”

  “Haven’t seen her since the day with Rainey. You might as well get after it, Tarnley. I know you didn’t come by to simply have a drink.”

  He nods. “We were unable to identify the woman who attacked Rainey. She has no fingerprints.”

  “Burned them off?”

  “Looks that way. Whoever she is, she’s invisible. We ran her DNA, and nothing popped.”

  “Dental?”

  “Nothing.”

  “So she was a professional.”

  “One hell of a professional,” he confirms. “We’re still looking into her, but I’d be surprised if we found anything at all.”

  “That’s unfortunate.”

  “My team took care of Salem. Figured I’d let you know we wrapped up the rest of it.”

  “They take anything?”

  He glares at me. “I wouldn’t have hired them if I couldn’t trust them.”

  “They aren’t my texts, my history—”

  “I understand why you were asking, but it doesn’t make it any less offensive. It was quite a mess you made.”

  “They left us no choice.”

  “Rainey will need new furniture.” He takes a drink. “Between the blood and smell, it was ruined.”

  “Not a problem.”

  He’s silent a moment, staring into space as though there’s something on his mind, but I don’t press. Tarnley always has something taking his attention.

  “There’s more,” he finally says.

  As I said, we’ve known each other a long damned time. “What is it?”

  “The hunt for your Astor has been leveled up. The bounty for her head has been tripled while yours has been completely removed.”

  The blood drains from my face as a chill runs up my spine. “When?”

  “Last night. Apparently, the fact that people keep dying at her hands has made others less willing to take on the task.”

  “They should just fucking quit,” I growl.

  “They won’t.”

  “Do you know who wants her dead?”

  “It’s as you thought—the order was issued by the Immortal Council.”

  Fear settles in the pit of my stomach, acid threatening to burn me from the inside. If the Immorta
l Council are the ones after her, it’s no longer just the humans, witches, or the vampires we need to worry about.

  It’s every single supernatural faction in the entire world. My blood ices as I consider the ramifications of what Tarnley just told me.

  If he’s right, thousands of beings have just been unleashed on one hunter, and there’s no way in hell she’ll survive it. We suspected they had something to do with it, but this confirmation—it changes things. Shifts the focus.

  “And they’ve put a deadline on it.”

  “When?”

  He meets my gaze. “All Hallows Eve.”

  “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.” I push to my feet and begin to pace. “That’s only two days away!”

  “They are going to come after her with everything they have. I know you don’t want to, but have you considered how dangerous this is? Your relationship with her is going to cost you your life.”

  “I won’t leave her,” I tell him through clenched teeth.

  “I never said you should. But I want you to fully understand what you’re up against. Best case scenario? She dies a quick hunter death. Worst case? They torture you both. Make no mistake, they will find her—and anyone who helps the both of you.”

  I whirl on him, rage burning through my body at the very thought of someone putting their hands on her. Based on Tarnley’s startled expression, that anger is clear on my face.

  “You know she’s my mate, Tarnley. You can’t expect me to sit by and just fucking let her die.”

  He stands. “I don’t expect that, brother. But I want to know that if I’m going to leave this earth, it’s for a damn good reason.”

  I cross both arms over my chest, my anger toward him dissipating in a puff of smoke. “You don’t need to be a part of this.”

  Tarnley scoffs. “You know I do. Your reckless behavior is what makes life fun. Without it, things would be rather uneventful.”

  My friend has always been a bit closed off, even more so after his mate was killed. His words might as well have been a declaration of love—of friendship—and they surprise me as much as the thought of him dying over my situation terrifies me.

  “I do not deserve your loyalty.”

  “You gave me life, Elijah. I was nothing before, a drunk man lying in the filth of pig shit. Without you, I never would have met Allison, never would have understood what it felt like to be loved. My brother, I owe you every damn thing, and if dying at your side is the way I go out? I’ll consider that one hell of a life lived.”