by Amber Kallyn
MacDougal sat straighter. “Does this vampire have a name?”
“More than one. He’s currently going by Jeremy Oakdale, but Niki knew him a few hundred years ago as Thomas Montgomery.”
“Interesting.” MacDougal stared into the fire. “A few hundred years ago, aye? That would make this vampire her sire?”
Shane didn’t answer.
“And yet, she plans to kill him.” MacDougal nodded to his guard, who strode over. “I’ll ask around, see if I can find anything.”
“I appreciate it. What about the two you took from me? They working with this guy?”
Jordan shook his head. “Their answers revealed them to be nothing more than drifters out to make a buck... or get drunk on someone.”
“You’re sure?”
MacDougal glared.
“Just checking.”
“Besides, they’ve already been dealt with.”
Which meant Shane needn’t ask to requestion them. They were already dead.
“I assume,” MacDougal added in a chilly, hard voice, “you will be speaking with the shifters. Let them know I will take personal offense if they attack another vampire—mine or not.”
Shane shook his head. “You know I’m not going to take a command like that to the pack.”
“Put it as delicately as you wish. It is still fact.”
Sighing, Shane said, “You really willing to start a war?”
“Start the war?” MacDougal grinned, fangs flashing as his eyes reddened. “No. Finish it on the other hand...” He rose and strode out, leaving a young guard to escort them back outside.
Once more in the truck, Chase shook his head. “I don’t envy your position, Sheriff. How’re you gonna keep the peace?”
“Any way I can.” He took one last look at the castle before heading back to town for his talk with the alpha.
* * *
The boy screaming next door jerked Niki awake. Something thudded loudly against the wall. Glass shattered with a crash.
She grabbed her short sword, slammed outside, and burst through broken pieces of door into the boy’s room.
Two stout men held Robby against the wall. Their unwashed stench proclaimed them vampires. A third man stood in front of the boy, his broad back almost blocking the kid from view, but the hands wrapped around Robby’s throat stood out below his harshly purple face.
Niki cried out, racing forward.
The man choking Robby spun, just in time to meet the edge of her blade as she sliced it across his arm. He stumbled back, growling, eyes blazing light blue.
The scent of his blood told her the same thing as those glowing husky eyes.
Shifter.
Wolf.
And working with vampires? How? Why?
The two vampires dropped the kid and advanced on her, along with the wolf. Behind them, Robby slid to the floor, gasping and coughing as he rubbed his reddened throat.
“Now, boys,” Niki drawled. “This here’s my runt. Why do you want to go beating him up?”
Three predatory gazes watched her cautiously.
“Kill her,” the wolf growled.
She braced herself. Her attackers jumped forward. She spun, sword flashing in the thin sunlight leaking in through the doorway.
Steel met flesh.
Wishing she had her daggers, she ducked beneath the shifter’s ham-sized fist. One of the vampires caught her hair and yanked her upright. Tears sprung to her eyes from the sharp pain in her scalp, but she bit her lip and held in the cry. With her free hand, she raked her nails down his arm.
He let go. “Bitch!”
She slashed her sword at the nearest man, received a satisfying scream. The scent of his blood spilled into the air.
Robby stumbled to his feet behind the men. She jerked her chin, motioning him to run. Instead, the stupid boy raced at the wolf’s back, jumping on him and yanking at the shifter’s blond locks.
A brick-like hand struck her across the cheek and she flew onto the bed.
The wolf growled, ripping Robby from his back and tossing him aside. Then he advanced on Niki.
She stared at the three men, anger rushing through her along with a throbbing pain from her cheek. She embraced her power. Her fangs extended and she hissed.
The two younger—and much weaker—vampires sensed her magic. They jumped back, glancing from each other to the wolf.
“I said kill her.” The wolf reached to grab her, but she jerked her sword up and impaled his shoulder.
He cried out, stumbling back. Yanking her sword from his body, she surged to her feet, facing the vampires.
“You gonna to try to kill me or not?”
The guy on the left had a bit more courage than his buddy. He raced around the bed. Niki met him with a kick to the groin.
As he dropped to his knees, she moved behind him, grabbing a handful of hair. Tipping his head back, she held her sword to his throat.
Staring at the other two, Niki grinned. “Do either of you value your buddy’s life?”
They didn’t rush her, which meant they must.
“What do you want?” The wolf’s voice was partially garbled. He was ready to shift.
That would be bad. Vampires didn’t have an easy time negotiating with shifters in their animal form. It was more a ‘fight to the death’ mentality.
“I’m taking the boy and we’re leaving. Try to stop me.”
His eyes flared at the challenge. Well, she’d never claimed to be a good negotiator.
The other vampire pushed the wolf back and waved to the door.
“Go outside,” she told Robby.
The kid looked dazed, but this time, he did as she commanded.
“We’ll find you. Kill you,” the wolf said, his voice sounding a touch more human. She hoped.
“Oh, good.” Niki kicked the vampire she held at the other two, raced outside, grabbed Robby’s hand, and they fled the motel.
Niki led the kid down alleys and back streets, making their way into town. When she was certain they weren’t being followed, she headed for the diner. Robby’s face was flushed, eyes tempered red. He needed to eat before he lost control.
She ordered two thick steaks with eggs, fries and a large cup of coffee for herself. Then she sat, wondering what to do.
“He’s coming after me,” the kid said tonelessly.
“Yes.”
“If he finds me—”
“I won’t let that happen.”
“How? They found me at the motel.”
Which left only one place he’d be safe. She didn’t want to deal with the King again, but no other choice presented itself. She couldn’t take Robby back to the Inn. And even if she found somewhere to stash him, she’d be gone most the time looking for Thomas.
Their breakfast came, but she didn’t have much of an appetite. The boy stared at the food, hunger growing on his face.
“Eat already.”
As if he’d been waiting for explicit permission, he dug in.
Niki leaned back, staring at the lazy ceiling fan turning in slow circles. Could she contact the King? He wasn’t her sire, and she wasn’t his clan, so he probably wouldn’t hear her. She had to try.
In her mind, she pictured the brawny Scot. Jordan MacDougal. Someone needs your help. He’s just a kid. Will you come?
She pushed an image of Robby to the forefront of her message. Then sat back and waited, wondering if the King heard her summons, and would even bother to listen.
The boy finished devouring the food on his plate. Niki pushed her barely touched meal in front of him. He glanced up, shocked. She smiled and he continued eating with the gusto of a staving pup unsure when he’d see his next meal.
The door opened and power blazed through the diner. Robby cringed back into his seat, fork clattering to his plate.
Jordan strode down the aisle, stopping at their booth and staring down at the boy. “This him?”
“Yes,” she replied.
“Scoot over.”
The kid looked at Niki, eyes wide. She nodded. “Go ahead.”
Slowly, he moved to the wall, curling himself into the smallest shape he could. Jordan sat beside him, and turned his blazing gaze to Niki.
“You dare ask me for help?”
“Not for myself,” she retorted.
“It doesn’t matter. You have no right, you’re not clan.”
She smacked her hands on the table. “Look, I can try to protect him, but this is the second time we’ve been attacked by a shifter. This morning, I woke up to two vampires working with a wolf to kidnap this kid.”
Jordan leaned back, face flushing with anger. “A wolf?”
“Working with vampires.”
He leaned closer, holding out a hand. “May I?”
She wanted to refuse. But she glanced at the boy, sighed, and gave in. MacDougal sniffed her hand, leaning over the table to move up her arm. He nuzzled her collarbone lightly.
She barely resisted slapping him. Instead, she settled for pulling away with a glare.
“Sorry. I couldn’t resist.” His dark eyes were amused.
“Do it again, I’ll damage your pretty nose.”
He grinned. “So, you think my nose is pretty.”
She blinked. “They your clan?”
“No. I don’t recognize the scents of the vampires or the wolf. Which is certainly strange.” He glanced at the boy. “What’s your name, lad?”
After a reassuring nod from Niki, he answered, “Robby.”
“And your story?”
“He escaped from the man I’m searching for. Seems like Thomas is keeping young vampires prisoner, though who knows why.”
“I heard.” Jordan’s eyes blazed, red flooding the blue. “How many?”
“A few.”
“And you didn’t tell me?”
She snorted. “As you said, I’m not your clan.”
His fangs flashed behind his scowl. “Yet, you ask for my help.”
“Let’s not talk in circles. I can’t keep an eye on the kid. Hell, he can’t even protect himself. He knows nothing about us or our power—he was afraid he’d burn in the sun until I showed him otherwise.”
Jordan glanced at the boy.
Robby was sitting a little straighter. “You’re sending me with him?”
A sharp pang pierced her chest, but this was for the best. “He can keep you hidden. Do you want to be safe?”
“I don’t want to leave you.”
“I get that. But I need to find Thomas. I can’t do that if you’re with me.”
The boy slumped in the seat again, biting his lower lip and blinking furiously.
She turned back to Jordan. “If you take him, I have conditions.”
The King raised an eyebrow and smirked. “Ah, demands go along with your request.”
“You can keep him safe. Isn’t that your duty?”
“He’s not my clan.”
“He doesn’t have one.”
“Go on. What are your demands, woman?”
She hesitated at the barely controlled anger in his voice, but forged ahead. She was already sinking, might as well go all the way.
“First, you’ll have someone start teaching him about us, and his powers.”
“Next?”
She took a deep breath. “I want your word you won’t force him to join your clan until he has enough knowledge about vampire politics to make his own decision.”
MacDougal’s eyes blazed with fury. “Just what kind of bastard do you think I am?”
Stunned at the ferocity of his reaction, she sat back. “Well, you’re a Master vampire, and a King to boot. You’re probably one hell of a bastard.”
He stared at her for a moment before laughing sharply. “You’ve got balls, lass.”
Either that or she was the biggest idiot around. But, he hadn’t killed her yet.
“I’ll take the lad. And you have my word, there will be no forcing him to join up with my horrible corrupt self.”
Robby’s face was so distraught, she couldn’t stop herself. “When I’m done, he will have the choice of leaving with me.”
They both knew the odds of her surviving Thomas were slim, and if she killed him, she had no future.
MacDougal stood and winked at Niki. “I’ll take my leave before you add any further demands.”
She shrugged. The boy inched out of the booth and stood next to MacDougal.
Niki watched them go. Just before they reached the door, the kid turned and raced back. He grabbed Niki, hugging her tight.
“Promise you’ll come for me?”
Her heart thumped and emotion lodged in her throat at this kid’s blind belief in her. “If I can,” she finally managed to say.
Robby let go and she met MacDougal’s amused gaze.
After they left, she continued to sit in the booth, wondering how she’d gotten into this mess in the first place. This town was dangerous, full of people who could make her feel. How did it happen? When she couldn’t come up with any answers, she left the diner and headed back to the Inn, making sure no one was watching for her. Everything was quiet. Silent and deserted.
In her room, she strapped on her weapons, skipping the steel and going with silver in case she ran into more shifters. Out in the parking lot once more, she picked up the blood trail of those she’d fought. It was time to find the men who’d tried taking Robby, and the one behind it all.
Chapter Nine
Disgruntled when the Alpha was nowhere to be found, Shane headed back to the station. The sun was setting, and he wanted to get to the Inn before Niki considered going off without him.
He dropped Chase off, but before he could pull out, Becky’s voice came over the radio.
“Sheriff?”
“Here.”
“There’s been a disturbance at the Inn.”
His heart thumped heavily. “What kind of disturbance?”
“A room was broken into and trashed, the lady renting it nowhere to be found.”
His mouth dried. “Room number?”
“113.”
He cursed. “I’m on my way.”
Shane sped down the road, worry pushing him to break all safety limits. When he pulled to a dusty stop at the Inn, Molly hovered near the room’s broken door. She tried to smile when she saw him.
“Sheriff. How are you?”
“What happened?”
Her smile turned to a scowl at his brusqueness, but he didn’t particularly care at the moment.
“I just got here to open for the night and found this mess.”
Shane headed to the next room, banging on the door.
“She’s not there. I checked.”
“Did anyone see her or the kid leave?”
Molly shook her head. “Jimmy’s out with the flu, so no one was in the lobby today.”
“Lock the doors. Call Deputy Campton out to search the room and document the damage.”
Molly pouted. “Where are you going?”
Shane bent down in front of the broken door and laid his hands in the gravel. He unfocused his eyes until the auras appeared.
Almost faded, he caught thin strands heading from the destroyed room. Three were tinged pink with gray flecks, which would have been the maroon of vampires if they’d been fresher. Another dark gray could have been the kid. The last was a silvery-blue.
Shifter? What had one of the pack been doing here?
He followed the aura threads to the trees surrounding the Inn. Taking Niki’s dagger from his pocket, he watched the flickering glow. It was still tied to the stubborn woman who hadn’t waited for him. He’d have to track her again, and she was going to get an earful.
* * *
Niki emerged from the forest on the edge of a small farm. The house looked old, deserted. Dingy gray paint had nearly peeled away, though every window was freshly blackened. Tall weeds wrapped around the porch. The steps were cracked, one missing, two others broken.
She jumped up to the porch, land
ing lightly without a sound.
Inside the house, Robby screamed. It couldn’t be him. She’d made sure he was safe. Hadn’t she? Niki rushed the door, barreling into the dark interior.
More screams echoed below the floorboards.
Her eyes adjusted almost immediately and Niki glanced around the room. Empty but for a few scraps of wood and cloth. She slipped down a hall, into the kitchen. A doorway led into deeper darkness. The musty, damp scent drifting up from a basement told her where to go.
She headed down rickety stairs in silence.
As far as she could tell, no one was there. Yet the screams...
She stepped from the stairs and onto hard-packed earth. A light flashed on and she blinked at the glare. In the center of the room, on a small wooden table, lay a tape recorder, continuing to play. Robby’s tortured, pain filled whimpers filled the basement.
“You shouldn’t steal from other people, m’dear.” Thomas’ voice interrupted the recorded screams, sending shivers down her skin. “The boy belongs to me. Don’t worry, he’ll be properly punished for daring to escape. As for you, we’ll have our showdown soon. I do hope you are as excited as I am.”
The tape clicked off. Niki growled, picking it up and throwing it at the wall. It shattered, bits of metal and plastic and tape scattering on the floor. After a few deep breaths, she studied the basement. Chains were embedded all over the walls.
The stink of vampire was heavy.
But she was too late.
Thomas was long gone. Her fists clenched and she took another deep breath to keep from screaming.
At least her sire no longer had the boy to torture. And Thomas would never get him from the King’s protection. She searched for any clue, no matter how small. But nothing other than the tape recorder and the table had been left.
Thomas was sure to have more hiding places. How was she going to find him?
Steps sounded above, thudding into the living room.
Niki blended into the shadows behind the stairs, waiting for whoever was above to come down. The steps creaked beneath their weight.
A shadow stepped onto the floor and Niki flowed with the shadows, getting close. With a cry, she sprung, grabbing him by the throat and throwing him to the floor. Leaping fast, she pinned him down. Her fingers flexed as she struggled to control her anger.