“Stalled.”
“Why?”
“The Thirst.”
“Another one?”
“Pardon?”
“For something supposedly so rare, its rate of occurrence is gaining shocking rapidity.”
“I’m not sure what to say to that, but our situation is dire.”
“Why? What happened?”
“Gunner’s Bloodmate has been abducted.”
Jana sighed and ran her fingers through her blonde tresses.
“Let me make a few calls.”
“I believe this is absolutely tied to District 7 and the person in charge.”
“You must have some evidence to make such a claim. It’s a serious accusation.”
“I don’t. Not yet. But I will.”
“Blaine.”
“Yes?”
“Better hurry. I have the same feeling.”
Once she hung up, she flipped through her contacts until she found the name Delia Costanzo. Selecting it, she slid the button to make the call.
After a few rings, a female said, in a clipped tone, “Pronto.”
“Buonasera, Signora Costanzo,” Jana replied in Italian, Delia’s native language.
“How can I assist you, Ms. Noskova?”
“We have need of your, and your team’s, services. How quickly can you, Mac, and Henry be here?”
“Allow me to bring up your coordinates through the locator installed on your phone.”
A couple of seconds passed, and then Jana heard the fast clicking of her fingers on a keyboard.
“Henry and I can be there in six hours and seventeen minutes. That’s my best approximation of arrival. I’ve messaged him to meet me in exactly one hour, so we can be in the air as soon as possible.”
“And Mac?”
“He’s on another mission.”
“Are you curious about why I called?”
“Obviously, we’re dealing with a Bloodmate situation. Why else would you contact this division?”
“Indeed.”
“Send me the details and whatever notes you have, and I’ll review them in flight.”
Delia ended the call, and Jana couldn’t help staring at her phone in her hand.
“Buonasera,” she said to the empty air.
Though Jana was technically Delia’s superior, Delia didn’t treat Jana any differently than she did her subordinates. Delia was all business, which was a good thing, but she’d lost some key assets with her no-nonsense approach. Her partner Mac was the opposite, always cracking a joke, trying to get Delia to laugh but failing. In the grand scheme, they were the perfect pair for the department they ran. She reined them in when they strayed from their main objective, and he brought a lightness to the group in their darkest hours.
Glancing at her watch, she muttered, “Six hours and eleven minutes.”
Chapter 26
Imogen awoke, clad in a sheer white gown. Moving up on her side, using her arm to support her, she pushed her hair off her face with the other. Only the faintest light shone from dim sconces on the walls in the room.
“Hello?” she whispered, terrified of who or what might answer her.
No response came, and she shook her head to clear it from the grogginess enveloping her, while she tried to recall exactly what had happened. Her memories were fuzzy for a few minutes, until whatever was in her system cleared.
As she thought back, she remembered a woman, Reina, had come to Gunner’s house for some sort of registration, and after some back and forth, Imogen talked her into leaving the documents in the mailbox. Then Imogen ate her breakfast, and when she went out to find the papers, that was when she was abducted.
Her mind went to Gunner and the horrible suffering he must’ve been going through. She shuddered at the implications of her being absent from him when he awoke, as she recalled his confession to her about the misery the Thirst had thrust upon him and what he’d done to try to abate it.
Looking down at what she was wearing, Imogen was filled with anger at the thought of somebody undressing her, viewing her in her most vulnerable state without her permission. Considering how translucent the material was, she might as well have been nude. She knew that Gunner would be enraged at what they’d done... whoever they were.
When she sat up, she paused before making another move to let the dizziness that had replaced the haze in her mind pass. Though she wondered if they’d shot her up with something while they were in transit or once they arrived, something deep inside her told her that wasn’t the cause of her discomfort.
As she licked her lips, the memory of the taste of blood flooded her mouth, causing pangs of yearning for Gunner. She had to get back to him and complete the mating!
Suddenly, an energy born of desperation burst through her limbs, and she shot up from sitting. Though the light was dim, she was able to make out the door, and she sprinted across the room to it. Grasping the handle, she yanked it over and over, and when that didn’t work, she felt around the sides. Once she found the hinges, she tried to ease the metal connecting rod upwards, but it was thick, wedged in tight, and wouldn’t budge.
The idea hit her that maybe Gunner had been taken when she was.
“Gunner!” she screamed at the top of her lungs, as she pounded on the door. “I’m here!”
When he didn’t answer, she lowered her arms, hugging herself at the slight chill in the room.
“Can you at least give me a blanket?” she murmured to the entrance of where she was being held.
As a dirge began streaming through the space, she turned her head to the corners and saw small speakers set into them. The somber tones and cadence filled her veins with dread, as she realized what it was—funeral music. And then she noticed that they’d dressed her in something similar to a shroud.
A spotlight then shone on her, and she squinted her eyes against the brightness, while covering herself with her hands.
“She’s perfect.”
Then another man said, “One more week until the blood moon.”
“And her blood shall run and pave the way.”
“What?” she asked. “Can someone please tell me what’s going on?”
“Look around and see your fate.” She recognized the voice as Terrance’s. “That’s the night on which the last sacrifice will be made that shall ensure our victory.”
Terrified at what she would be able to make out in the dark space, Imogen followed Terrance’s order. Open dead eyes stared out into the room from the bodies she was entombed with, which were stacked on top of each other. The scent of aged decay hit her, and she doubled over, vomiting on the floor until her stomach was empty. Even then, she heaved, only bringing up bile mixed with saliva. After a time, the convulsions stopped, but the music droned on.
Covering her ears, she screamed until she could no longer make a sound.
Chapter 27
The doorbell at Gunner’s house rang, and he lifted his head, as Jana glanced down at her watch.
“I can’t believe she’s early,” she muttered.
Delia came through the entryway, sliding her black gloves off her hands, and then she gathered them together to hold in her left.
Gunner stood on shaky legs, thinking she would address Jana first, but she stalked towards him, looking him over from head to toe. When she reached him, she peeled his lips back and did a cursory inspection of his gums and then his eyes.
“You’re obviously the one affected. Gunner, is it?”
“Yes,” he said, rubbing his mouth to remove her invasive touch.
“Blood intake?”
“Pardon?”
“How much?” she snapped. “Ten pints a night? Twenty?”
“I’ve lost count.”
“I see.”
Blaine went to stand beside Gunner, and then Lee joined them.
“And you,” she said to Lee, “smell of yours being spilled.”
“Huh?” Lee asked, shifting on his feet.
“Blood!” she sho
uted, throwing the accusation into the air.
“Oh, yeah. Cut myself shaving.”
“That explains the stains on your shirt, shifter?”
Lee glared at her, though he didn’t say another word.
“Henry!” she called out.
A man shuffled through the door, his jaw ticking with nerves. He had a medium build, and his blonde hair was unkempt and looked as if he ran his fingers through it constantly. In that instant, the man did just that and then glanced up and away.
“Who’s that?” Gunner asked, wondering if his new guest could read his mind. “Can he help?”
“As you have, no doubt, been informed, I am Delia Costanzo, and I work with a select few operatives to locate Bloodmates. Henry Grimes is with me, and he brings his special expertise to these cases.”
Henry snorted and then covered his mouth.
“Can he assist us, or not?” Gunner asked, raising his voice.
“Would I have brought him if he couldn’t?”
Stepping forward, Jana said, “Delia, perhaps you could fill them in on what they can expect and what is needed.”
“Right. Henry has the ability to locate—home in on, you might say—the location of missing persons.”
“Success rate?” Blaine interjected.
“Enough to be on my team,” she answered, cutting him off.
“What do you need us to do?” Lee asked, directing his question to Henry. “I’m Lee, by the way. This is Blaine, and Piper here is my mate.”
Henry nodded at each of them but didn’t say anything, canting his head towards Delia.
“Gather items that she.... This is a woman, correct? Gender wasn’t listed in the casefile, and I don’t want to assume.”
“Yes,” Gunner said. “Imogen is a female.”
“You’ll need to bring objects to Henry which are special to her.”
“I... but... I... don’t know—”
Lee said, “On it.”
Delia looked at her watch.
“The time is now 8:30. Go get the items, and we’ll reconvene here at precisely 10:00.”
Lee grabbed Piper’s hand, and they took off out the door at a full run.
“You,” Delia said to Gunner, “sit with Henry and tell him about her, whatever it is you do know. We understand the Thirst and how it operates—the overwhelming drive for blood and sex. Nothing you tell us will be shocking in the least. I’ll be sitting in, taking notes.”
“I’ll attend, as well,” Blaine said, “as his legal advisor.”
“This isn’t a deposition, counselor. Your services are not required.”
“All the same....”
“As you wish.” She shrugged. “Where should we go?”
“My study.”
Gunner waved in the general direction and walked towards it, as they fell in step behind him.
“I’ll join you in a minute,” Blaine said, as he headed towards the kitchen.
“I don’t know what I would’ve done without him,” Gunner said, as they crossed the threshold of the richly furnished room.
It was filled with dark leather couches. Bookcases lined the walls, and plush rugs were underfoot.
“He cared for you when the Thirst hit?”
Gunner nodded, as he eased himself down into a chaise. His veins were on fire, and his throat was parched as if he hadn’t fed in weeks rather than mere minutes.
“You would’ve most likely died or gone insane if he hadn’t. You could still.”
“That’s become abundantly apparent to me, Delia,” Gunner replied, not sure if he should be grateful for her frankness or annoyed at it. Blaine walked quickly over to where they were sitting and set a cooler at Gunner’s feet. “Thank you. I owe you, man.”
“Nah. You would’ve done the same for me had the Legendary Hunger hit me.”
“It could,” Delia said, as she took her seat across from Gunner. “There’s been a rash of them recently.”
“You wanted Gunner to relay whatever info he had?” Blaine prompted.
Delia pinned Blaine with her eyes in assessment, and Gunner’s normally calm and steady friend shifted from foot to foot.
Turning her attention to Gunner, she said, “Yes. Anything you have to share. Begin.”
“Honestly, I don’t know her very well. Once the urge came, I had to have her or blood. When Lee and Piper introduced us, our connection was immediate, an undeniable thing.”
“Sex?”
“Pardon?” Gunner asked, wondering if he’d heard her correctly.
“Did you have intercourse with her?”
It was Gunner’s turn to feel discomfort at her questions.
“Why is that important?”
Rolling her eyes, she said, “I’ll take that as a yes.”
If the stakes hadn’t been so high, Gunner would have busted out laughing at how absurd the entire situation and conversation was, but his need for his Bloodmate overrode any of his other senses.
“What is Henry doing? He was supposed to be joining us.”
“I have no idea. Preparing himself, I suppose.”
“He went with Lee and Piper,” Blaine replied.
Gunner reached for another pack and said, “I thought they’d already left.”
“They came back, and Piper grabbed him by the arm, dragging him behind her, saying something about taking him to Imogen’s place.”
A hiss erupted from Gunner, as jealousy ran through him at the thought of another man setting foot inside Imogen’s abode, without him there to chaperone him through her rooms.
“Careful, vampire.” Delia wagged a finger at him. “He’s mine, and he’s on a Directive mission on your behalf.”
Shaking his head, Gunner said, “My apologies. I’ve never experienced anything like this before.”
“No, you haven’t, and you never will again.”
Chapter 28
Lee pulled Imogen’s van in front of Gunner’s residence and shut off the engine.
He and Piper turned in their seats, looking back at Henry with expectant expressions on their faces.
“Getting anything?” Lee asked.
Henry gave the slightest shake of his head.
“Well, keep trying!” Piper said, as she flipped down the visor and applied her lipstick. Then she whispered, “He’s not very talkative. I guess he’s trying to pick up Imogen’s scent.”
Lee shrugged.
“Let’s let him do his work his way.”
Piper raised her voice, enunciating every word, as she said, “Should we leave you...” She pointed at him and to the floor of the vehicle. “...here?”
“I don’t think he’s deaf, sweetheart.”
“Oh, I didn’t mean to offend you, Henry. I’m not sure what to do.”
Tipping his head to the side, Henry gestured towards the house.
“That’s our cue,” Lee said, opening his door.
As he rounded the front of the van, he could see Henry running his hands over the sprayer Imogen used to wet the dogs. He stood with his eyes closed, appearing to be in deep concentration.
When Lee reached Piper’s side, he raised his finger to his lips for quiet and eased the door open. Taking her hand, he helped her down from the high seat and then shut it as soundlessly as he could.
“Can we stay and watch?” Piper asked in a loud whisper.
“No,” Lee answered, pulling her behind him, as he went up the walkway back to Gunner’s front door. “I guess we can just go in. No sense in knocking.”
Piper stepped in front of him and turned to face him. A wicked conspiratorial gleam was in her eyes, and Lee arched a brow, as he leaned in close to her mouth.
“Whatever you’re thinking has to wait, babe.”
“Damn. I thought a quickie might relieve some of the stress we’re under.”
He kissed her on her forehead.
“It would, but there’s no time. Come on.”
Delia said, “We’re in here.”
They went to the
study to join the others.
“Oh, my God!” Piper gasped, covering her mouth.
When Lee’s eyes fell on Gunner, whose skin appeared ashen in places that were sunken against his bones, he took Piper by the arm, stopping her from proceeding farther into the room.
Delia stood and said, “This is the first step in his degeneration. I’ve seen it happen many times.”
“Do you have to be so blunt?” Blaine asked, looking her over.
“What will sugarcoating the truth help? You, all of you, especially Gunner, need to be prepared for the worst.”
Jana twirled the stem of the glass of wine she was holding in her hand, as she asked, “How much time does he have?”
“Questionable. I’ve seen vampires suffer for months, as they descend farther and farther into despair from not being with their mates.”
“And others?” Jana asked.
“As little as three nights.”
“What?” Blaine shouted, jumping to his feet. “You can’t be serious!”
“I am,” Delia said with finality. “Since they’ve known each other intimately, the connection cannot be broken for long. The Thirst wants its way and will pursue it at any cost to the afflicted. Hence, we must locate Imogen... and quickly.”
Henry meandered into the room, twisting his neck as he looked around. He wandered about the place, touching things and cocking his head as if listening to someone.
“He’s got something,” Delia said, softening her voice, as she directed her gaze towards him.
A gentle laugh came from Henry, as he stared at a particular spot, while his fingers laid on a vase.
“What is it?” Gunner asked, as he brought another blood bag to his mouth. “Do you have information on Imogen?” Henry nodded, and Gunner exploded off the chaise. “Well?” He strode with heavy steps to where Henry was standing. “Say something, man!”
“He thinks she’s pretty,” Henry murmured.
“Who?”
“Him,” Henry replied, as he gestured to an empty space.
“He’s a witch,” Delia said. “Sees all sorts of things.”
“Does he know who took her?” Gunner shouted.
The pack in his hand burst, spraying blood over them both. Henry jerked at the sound and then looked at his clothes and sighed.
A Vampire's Thirst_Gunner Page 11