Forsaken Hunger

by Nikki McCoy

  “Tell me.” Whatever it was, it couldn’t be as bad as what he’d already confessed to. If she was willing to forgive him for that, Gabriel’s condition should be a breeze.

  “He says he wants your roommate, Daneya. That they were involved at one time and had a child together.”

  Cherri jerked out of his grasp. The elation she’d felt just a moment ago splintered like shards of ice. This couldn’t be. There had to be another way.

  “It’s the only way he’ll let me bond with you,” Rhys rushed on to say as if reading her mind. “He wants you to prove your loyalty to our race. I’m aware of what he did to her in the past, but he wants to change. You have to believe that. He regrets treating her badly just as I regret what I did to those women before I met you. When I told him you wouldn’t put your friend in danger, he swore to me his only concern was for Daneya’s welfare and that of their child. I can’t fault him for wanting to make amends and the child deserves to be brought up in a Vampyre community where she can learn to use her power.”

  Again, his argument made perfect sense. Even in the small town where Vincent wanted to take Mckenzie and Daneya, Mckenzie would still be an outsider. Possibly an object of ridicule and hatred if the humans there ever found out about her. No matter Gabriel’s intentions, however, Daneya would view it as betrayal if Cherri were to turn her over. It could cost her their friendship.

  On the other hand, she could lose Rhys and all that he offered if she didn’t. It all boiled down to how far she was willing to go to hold onto her dreams.

  “Daneya won’t accept him. She’s built her life around protecting herself from him.”

  “Gabriel has agreed to let her go with the child if she refuses him,” Rhys said. “After a certain amount of time, of course. It’s all taken care of. Give her a call and tell her to meet us here with the kid so I can talk to her.”

  Cherri’s brows shot up. “Now? I-I wouldn’t know what to say. Daneya won’t bring Kenny out this late. She won’t even come herself after what happened.”

  He stepped close again and feathered his fingers through her hair, lowering his voice a few octaves. “It has to be now. Gabriel wants an answer by tonight. I know you can think of something. Do this for me, for us and the children we’ll have.”

  Her next argument was swallowed in a searing kiss. When he crushed her to him, her thoughts scattered and her heart beat wildly in her chest. This was what she had been waiting for. A lover and provider. A man who could make up for all those years of loneliness and suffering. Who could give her the life that had been stolen from her so long ago.

  Was it so wrong to want it at the price of her friend’s freedom for a short while? Surely, Daneya wouldn’t begrudge her a lifetime of happiness if it meant spending a few weeks with the man she abhorred.

  Just a little while. That was all Gabriel was asking.

  An idea was forming before Cherri reluctantly broke away from Rhys. “I think I know of a way to get her here. I’ll need you to keep quiet while I call.” As soon as he gestured his approval, she pulled her phone from her jacket and dialed the new cell Vincent had provided Daneya with.

  “Cherri?” Daneya answered. “What’s up? Is everything all right?”

  Cherri altered her voice to a hoarse, wavering whisper. “I need you to come get me. I’m hurt and can’t make it back to my car.”

  “What? Was there a break in?”

  “No, I… I lied to you. I’m sorry. I went to Two Pines Park to get some air.”

  “Don’t move,” Daneya said quickly. “I’ll call an ambulance—”

  “No ambulance. It was a demon attack. The hospital will ask too many questions and I don’t want anyone at the compound to see me like this. Just bring Kenny, please. She can heal me.”

  Dead silence filled the line for what seemed an eternity. Cherri chewed her lip nervously, certain Daneya would see through her ruse.

  “Okay,” Daneya said finally. “We’re on our way. Try to get to a safe spot. I’ll find you.”

  Cherri’s hand trembled as she put away her phone. Doubts wove through her mind, spreading a chill that encased her entire body. There was no turning back now. Whatever happened next would be on her. “Promise me she won’t get hurt. This is only a meeting, right? To explain to her why we’re doing this.”

  Rhys gathered her in his strong hold and rubbed her back soothingly. “You’ve done the right thing. I’m so proud of you, and I can’t wait to make you my mate. This will all work out, you’ll see.”

  She nodded, more to convince herself than him. It didn’t take long for the sedan they’d used to escape Saden’s house to pull into the parking lot. Daneya got out with Mckenzie, grabbed her daughter’s hand and started running into the park toward them. Cherri could tell the moment her friend suspected something was amiss when Daneya’s steps faltered and slowed significantly.

  From ten yards out, Daneya asked, “Cherri, what’s going—?” The rest of her sentence never made it out as she stiffened then toppled to the ground.

  Sooner than Cherri could react, several figures shrouded in black clothing fell from the nearest trees and jumped out from behind bushes. They crowded in around Daneya’s prone form and rolled her over. One of them snatched up Mckenzie and stifled her terrified scream.

  “No!” Cherri cried.

  Rhys caught her from behind and trapped her in his arms. “Shh. It’s okay. They won’t be harmed. It had to be like this. You know Daneya wouldn’t have come willingly if we’d given her a choice. Let the men do their job.”

  She struggled for only a few more seconds then slumped in Rhys’ hold. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she knew he was right. Daneya wouldn’t have listened to reason no matter what Cherri might have said. Her hatred of Gabriel went soul deep. Maybe this was a mistake. If only she could have more time. Possibly ease Daneya into it. There had to be a better way. “Rhys, she won’t understand.”

  “Calm down, mon cheri. You have to trust me. It’s already done.”

  She watched with tense remorse as Daneya and McKenzie were carried to Rhys’ suburban. “What do we do now?”

  “We’ll follow them in your car. Is it equipped with a tracking device the DCM might be able to find you with?” When she shook her head, he gave a smile that seemed a little too satisfied under the circumstances. “Good. Let’s begin our life together, shall we?”

  Cherri took his hand and went with him to her car, silently telling herself everything would turn out all right. It was all happening so fast, but it was the only way, wasn’t it? Daneya had to forgive her eventually.

  At least that’s what she hoped, and repeated to herself over and over again as Rhys drove her to her new future.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Saden hung suspended from the ceiling by thick, iron shackles around his wrists. Pain lived in every fiber of his being. Not an inch of his skin was unmarked and his shoulders throbbed from having to support his full weight. They would dislocate soon, as Laurs had intended while chaining him up two nights ago. A particular cruelty considering Serrakus was the only one with the power and authority to heal and he would be gone for several days more. Off on his vacation enjoying the most depraved sins humankind had to offer.

  Sweat trickled through layers of dirt into his countless wounds, some fresh and others caked over with dried fluids. The heat of the windowless cell was near suffocating, scorching his bruised lungs with each breath. Complete darkness was his only comfort, for the coming of light meant another round of torture.

  This punishment was only the beginning of his suffering for the offense of using his power to heal Daneya. After a month or two, Serrakus would begin punishment for the second crime of failing his assignment. The third was for interfering in and endangering the lives of humans and Rakshasas, for which he would pay most dearly.

  The Drakonem had gleefully refused to listen to the evidence Saden had found on Gabriel. If Saden hadn’t already been expecting that response and aware of the reason why, h
e’d have earned himself another penalty for trying to strangle Serrakus. As it was, he consoled himself with the knowledge that Daneya and Mckenzie were safe and that Blade wouldn’t stop until he found new evidence to incriminate Gabriel with.

  The quiet of his temporary solitude was disrupted by the constant dripping of blood from his lacerated back. Time was irrelevant in the dungeons. Days and nights bled together, marked only by the appearance of the Drakon whose job it was to supply water to those in confinement. Saden had learned early on that the gift of water was simply another form of torture. The single cup provided was enough to wet one’s throat and leave them yearning for more.

  His thoughts turned to Daneya and their last night together. Her fiery resolve to be with him despite what he or anyone else thought had meant more than she would ever know. She’d taken him from a lowly criminal forsaken by his own family and kind to a man worthy of respect with just her words. Her touch. Even now, in the depths of his prison with the additional years he faced under Serrakus’ control, he couldn’t regret giving up his death for her. Or enjoying every moment she’d given him a measure of peace.

  In his life, it wasn’t the gratification of living up to his parents’ expectations or the honor of serving his race that he would take to his grave. It was the small, seemingly insignificant things that had made it worthwhile. His vow to keep Daneya safe. Their connection, which defied all logic, and the opportunity to help Mckenzie handle her power. It was more than he had a right to claim pride to, and all that mattered in the end.

  The door to his cell creaked open. He cringed away from the torchlight spilling into the darkness and burning his eyes. The tension in his body fled when he heard the bare footsteps of Serrakus’ slave pad across the stone floor. In their Drakonem’s absence, the young Dresidien had been assigned to provide water to those Drakons enduring punishment.

  Saden could tell from these brief interludes that the slave’s spirit hadn’t been completely snuffed by Serrakus’ treatment. There was still fire blazing behind the phantom’s cowed eyes and an edge of confidence to his movements. Sooner than later, Saden was determined to keep his word and show the Dresidien how to escape and make a kill as he’d done years ago. It was the only way to be released from Serrakus’ sick dominance.

  The slave, dressed in only a thin pair of pants, put the torch in a sconce then propped a step ladder in front of Saden’s naked form.

  Saden licked his cracked lips and asked, “What’s your name?” It came out as a barely intelligible croak, better the second time when he tried again.

  The phantom jerked in startlement, spilling some of the water from the cup. Warily, he answered, “Demetrius.”

  “I’m Saden. Do you know how to use weapons? Knives or a gun?”

  “My father taught me how to hunt. I’m good with a bow and arrow.”

  Saden’s lips stretched in a faint grin. He’d forgotten how remote most of the Dresidien tribes were. Their isolation gave them little need to train in the arts of combat. “Good enough. If I could show you a way to prove yourself as a Drakon, would you risk it?”

  Doubt flashed in Demetrius’ black eyes as he lifted the cup to Saden’s mouth. “I don’t think you could do much of anything right now. You look like…”

  He swallowed the stale liquid then said what the Dresidien was too polite to admit. “Shit. I know, but don’t count me out.” With no broken bones and no damage to his internal organs—yet—he could still get around if necessary. “You’ll learn that a little pain doesn’t take you out of the fight.”

  “I haven’t given up,” Demetrius said defensively. “Serrakus says I’m weak but I could do the job if he’d let me.”

  “I know you could.”

  After a heavy pause, the Dresidien asked, “Why would you help me?”

  Saden flexed his muscles to take the strain off of his shoulders. “Because I’ve been in your position. Serrakus will fly off the handle like a little bitch but it’ll be worth it. Are you up for that?”

  Demetrius grinned widely, white teeth glistening against his copper skin.

  The door to the cell slammed open and a loud voice echoed along the walls. “Leave us.”

  Demetrius scrambled to remove the step ladder and gave the newcomer a wide berth on his way out, closing the door behind him. Saden didn’t recognize the stranger. Whoever it was stood with his back to the flames, providing only a tall silhouette.

  Without warning, his shackles unlocked and he fell to the floor in a broken heap. New pain lanced through his body, so fierce it took all he had to keep from screaming in agony. What felt like thousands of tiny blades tearing his skin streaked along his arms as blood rushed back into them. His fingertips clawed inwards, each a blazing pinpoint of fire. He could thank Laurs for that. The sadistic fuck had plucked off his nails with a pair of pliers.

  When Saden could finally unclench his muscles and roll to his side, he took in the sight of the man standing above him with a shroud of silver, flowing hair. It was Lucius…in his cell. What the hell was he doing there in Serrakus’ absence?

  Lucius knelt down, a look of quiet contemplation on his aristocratic features. “It has been a while since we last met, hasn’t it, Saden?”

  He sat up and held his throbbing hands to his sides. The first and last time he’d seen Lucius had been a week after Saden had defied Serrakus and earned the right to become a full-fledged Drakon. In a cell much like this one, and he in the almost same condition. Lucius had come to explain what he’d known Serrakus never would, though why he’d bothered was still a mystery. There’d been nothing to gain from imparting his knowledge, for him or for Saden. “What do you want?”

  Lucius wasn’t the slightest bit put off by Saden’s gruffness. “I’ve been intrigued by your exploits on your latest assignment.”

  “You were tracking me?” It was possible, and not unheard of, for Drakonem to use their Drakons as spies. However, Lucius hardly had a reason to take any interest in him. He didn’t even belong to the Drakonem.

  “In a way. Among other things, I wanted to find out what my brother saw in you that was worth invoking the wrath of the gods. You see, he told me about his plan to set you up for failure. I’m sad to find that it worked, although not quite as he or I expected. My curiosity did not go unrewarded, though. It was very entertaining to watch your love for that human female grow. She is a remarkable creature, I’ll grant you that.”

  Saden let out a low growl. “If you think to threaten me by telling Serrakus—”

  Lucius’ brows shot up. “Just the opposite. Informing my brother of this wouldn’t make for a very good ending to your story. He lacks a flare for the finer things in life. A trail of intrigue. An unexpected twist. Events that make our existence a little more…tolerable.

  “Alas, as you can probably guess, it can get quite monotonous being confined to this realm, century after century, for the better part of each year. Trapped in a routine of simple pleasures and death. It isn’t very stimulating, wouldn’t you say? Rather leaves one with no other choice but to live vicariously through others. For a short while there, you were my other. Care to be again?”

  He shook his head in confusion. “What do you mean?”

  “Do you recall what I told you during our first meeting?”

  The memory came to him as clearly as if it had been yesterday. He remembered because it had given him hope until he’d soon realized the odds against him. Lucius had told him there was a reason the gods decreed that the worst criminals in demonkind be made Drakons. That everyone deserved a chance at salvation without the permanency of death.

  Just as Drakonem had been created with the great treasure of worshiping the gods, so Drakons were reborn with the infusion of a Drakonem soul which sealed in their own treasure.

  Every Drakon’s treasure was unique, for it was dependent on the key to their crime. In most cases, it was a sin. Jealousy, wrath, greed. For Saden, it had been his innocence. His blind faith in the good intentions of h
is uncle had led to his undoing. In theory, a Drakon could be released from his sentence and forgiven his crime if someone were to give up that particular treasure for him. For instance, a crime of greed could only be pardoned by the absolute sacrifice of greed in another. The same went for innocence.

  It was foolish to think anyone would give up one of their few cherished qualities that could never be regained for a murderer. And Saden had only been a fool once.

  “You told me my treasure was innocence. That I could be absolved of my crime if I found someone willing to forfeit their own innocence for my freedom.”

  Lucius’ pale eyes glinted with mischief in the flickering torchlight. “Very good. Tell me, would you allow someone to do that if you thought they might?”

  “No.” The answer was immediate. He knew the repercussions of losing such a precious gift. It was a fate he wouldn’t wish on his worst enemy. When Lucius narrowed his gaze, it dawned on Saden what he was implying. “You’re thinking of Daneya.”

  “The woman does seem a prime candidate for saving your soul.”

  And scorpions could crawl out of his ass. “Not a chance. Besides, her innocence was taken from her a long time ago.”

  “Everyone carries a measure of innocence in them. Even you.”

  While that might be true, Daneya was out of the question. His time with her was done. She deserved to move on to a life far better than anything he could offer. “I said no.”

  Lucius breathed a deep sigh, a streak of irritation crossing his features. “Well, that is going to make for a dull ending, but your story isn’t over yet. I’ll give you twenty-four hours to gain hard evidence to complete your assignment. You’ll need actual confessions, not just those files you found. I can infuse you with a piece of my soul to temporarily hide you from Serrakus should he try to track you. There is only one stipulation you must agree to. I want you to ask Phoenix to help you.”

  Saden let out a raw bark of laughter. “Even if I could get it done in one day, Phoenix would never join me, and I wouldn’t ask him. He’s too much of a liability. I couldn’t trust him at my back.” Especially not with that Djinn inside him. There was no telling what he might do when they came face to face with the Djinn Gabriel was conspiring with.