Forsaken Hunger

by Nikki McCoy

  “All right, your way,” Blade said as he walked in. “We’ll work out the details with the others. Meanwhile, you want to tell me just what happened with Serrakus? You told him about the evidence, right?”

  He flexed his jaw as he recalled his conversation with their Drakonem. “He said Gabriel had video footage of the break-in at the facility in Arizona. Apparently, Gabriel submitted this to his superiors and claimed I had originally set up a false accusation against him out of a personal vendetta. That I tried to take my revenge on him by destroying him and his research. Because I couldn’t find sufficient evidence on him at his house, I resorted to the aid of Rakshasas and a member of the DCM to set him up.”

  “That’s bullshit. Serrakus knows you weren’t the one to file the charge against Gabriel.”

  “Doesn’t matter. My involvement with Daneya, Roshon and his crew was enough to have the entire case thrown out. Which is why nothing short of a confession is going to be enough to incriminate Gabriel. It’ll have to come from a high-ranking official. One the Lady trusts.”

  “Damn.” Blade scrubbed his face. “This could get deadly. It may not be right to include Roshon and the others. This isn’t their fight.”

  Saden grabbed an extra pair of boots then made his way back down the hallway outside. “That’s what I plan on telling him. I don’t want to be responsible for his death or anyone else’s.”

  He knocked on the door to Daneya’s old room before entering. Demetrius was dressed and smoothing the wet locks of his raven hair. His visible skin was a deep ruddy color with occasional light abrasions, as if he’d taken coarse sandpaper to it. Saden didn’t bother to ask. He already knew the reason. During his time as Serrakus’ slave, he had scrubbed his flesh raw every time he’d showered. And for years afterwards, trying to erase the memories of Serrakus’ rough touch.

  Eventually, they would fade from Demetrius’ mind, though not without leaving permanent scars.

  He handed the boots to Demetrius then looked to Blade. “I can’t ask you to come either. Serrakus will find out about this and punish anyone who’s with me.”

  Blade snorted. “If you expect me to sit around and let you guys have all the fun, you can kiss my ass. Besides, somebody’s gotta watch your back with Phoenix at your side.”

  Saden smiled and clapped his friend on the shoulder. He led the way up to the weapons room on the third floor to grab extras for Demetrius. The coming night weighed heavily on his thoughts, haunted by Daneya’s last words to him.

  “When will I see you again?”

  At the time, he’d have given anything for one more hour with her. Now, he’d be content to remain indefinitely in Serrakus’ dungeons if it meant knowing she and her daughter were safe. He wouldn’t fail them this time. Even if he had to kill Gabriel himself and whoever got in the way. He would stain his hands with blood before he let any more harm come to them.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Daneya stalked the confines of the small room in her bare feet. Everything she could use as a weapon had been stripped from it, leaving only the twin-sized bed and a metal chest for the plain clothes she’d been issued. The connecting bathroom was no more than a narrow closet with a standing shower, sink and toilet, all within arm’s reach. The mirror had been taken out upon her arrival.

  She glared at the Plexiglas wall, feeling exposed and vulnerable without her guns and knives. Anything she could use to attempt an escape with. Every once in a while, her memories closed in on her, causing a sense of claustrophobia that was almost too much to bear. The oppressing isolation and familiarity of it all wracked her to the core of her being. Made her feel as if she were that frightened child again whom Gabriel had kidnapped so many years ago.

  She was different now. The confidence of her training and experience in combat gave her an edge, yet it wasn’t that which kept her going. It was the thought of Mckenzie doubtlessly suffering far worse than anything she might endure.

  Her Kennie was strong willed and resilient, but this situation was one no nine year old should be forced to comprehend. Just imagining what her little girl must be going through, alone and afraid, brought every motherly instinct to the surface and fueled the flames of her rage.

  In the two days since she’d been imprisoned in this barren room, she’d had only one visitor. Gabriel had wisely stayed on the other side of the Plexiglas and only long enough to assure her that Mckenzie was unharmed and bunking with one of the other women. When she had demanded to see her daughter, he’d merely laughed, saying she would have to prove her loyalty to him first. Adversely, it wasn’t his words that had shaken her. It was her sudden impulse to do what he wanted.

  She had to see her daughter. Had to hold Kennie in her arms and know for certain she was all right. Their separation was like a living shackle around her neck growing tighter with each passing second. Problem was, Gabriel had never been fooled by her false intentions.

  For the first time in years, she found herself wishing for the protection of another. The man who shadowed her thoughts and filled her dreams. Saden was like an aching hole in her heart. An anchor no longer within her reach. She longed for his cool confidence and strong arms. She… The island of self-imposed solitude, as Cherri had so often labeled her.

  Cynical laughter bubbled up in her chest at the thought of her best friend. Of all the people to betray her—Saden and Blade with their criminal backgrounds and the Rakshasas with their mysterious appearance—it had been the one person she’d trusted most.

  Cherri had come to see her multiple times to explain and beg her understanding. Even with all the facts, she couldn’t fathom how the woman could fall for such a twisted web of lies. Or how Cherri’s loneliness had grown so great that taking a Vampyre lover in league with their enemy had become a viable option.

  Daneya recalled her friend’s increasing strange behavior over the past month. How Cherri’s normally excessive optimism had turned to long periods of brooding and occasional outbursts. Had she missed all the signs? Was it her fault for not seeing what was going on? Perhaps. But none of that could account for Cherri’s actions.

  The door to her room opened slowly and in walked the devil herself. Cherri’s expression was pensive, her eyes flicking back to the door before settling on Daneya. In her hands was a tray stacked with finger foods, which she placed on the chest. Not even silverware was allowed in Daneya’s presence. Cherri offered a watery smile as she sat next to the tray. “Have you thought any more about what I said?”

  Daneya took a breath to steady her nerves, resisting the urge to strangle some sense into her friend. “There is nothing to think about. I will never accept Gabriel. You should know that by now.”

  “I know you have plenty of reasons to hate him. I do, too. He wants to change, though, just like my Rhys.”

  She glanced at the glass and saw Cherri’s new boyfriend waiting outside as he always did during their visits. “I don’t get it. Why are you still here? Didn’t he promise to take you away from all this?”

  Disappointment flashed across Cherri’s face. “Gabriel won’t let us bond until he knows you’ll listen to him. He wants me to convince you to give him a chance. That’s all he’s asking for. Can’t you agree to at least that?”

  Daneya let out an exasperated huff. “People like them don’t change! They’re murderers and rapists. Is that the kind of father you want for your children? Damn it, can’t you see? He and Gabriel are using you to get to me.”

  Cherri pursed her lips, her cheeks reddening with anger. “You always were so high and mighty. Only ever thinking of yourself. How dare you pass judgment on me when you were the one to lust after a Drakon. For all you know, he could’ve filled your head with lies just to get a piece. And you fell for it after the first day. Don’t think I didn’t notice the way you would look at him. At least Rhys loves me and can give me a future.”

  “Saden is nothing like Gabriel or your precious Rhys,” she said through gritted teeth. “If he had wanted to take advantage of
me, he wouldn’t have pushed me away after you accused him of tricking me into his bed. And in case you don’t remember, he can’t give me a future because of Gabriel!” Her shout rang out in the ensuing silence. She lowered her voice and tried again. “Saden wasn’t the one who took my life from me. He saved it, and yours.”

  “If he’s so great, then why is he being punished now?”

  Daneya sat on the edge of the bed and shook her head. “I don’t know. Something went wrong. I’m not going to condemn him for it, though.” Especially not when she might have been partly to blame.

  “Please, give Gabriel the opportunity to explain himself,” Cherri said after a period. “I’ve spoken to him and he promises to release you and Mckenzie in a month if you still feel the same way. You can go back to your normal life and forget about all of this. If you ever cared for me, you’ll do this. It’s the only way Rhys and I can be together.”

  She stared at the woman she’d known for a decade. The one she’d convinced Marco to take with them from the first facility. The friend who had been at her side through thick and thin over the years. And realized she didn’t know her at all. Not anymore.

  The person in front of her was just another seeker willing to give up everything and everyone in her life to create a new one. Nothing Daneya said was going to make a difference at this point. So she said the only thing she could without losing her temper. “I want you to leave.”

  “Come on, sweetie, be smart. Fake interest if you have to. You’ve been doing it with Vincent for long enough. It should come naturally to you.”

  “Get out!” she snarled.

  This time, Cherri reared back in fear. She got up, knocked on the door then slipped out as soon as Rhys opened it for her.

  Daneya put her head in her hands and fought the tears threatening to spill over. It seemed her life had come full circle, landing her in the same position as when this had all started. Alone and under the control of a madman. Blade was still out there somewhere. Her only hope of getting out of this alive. However, there was no telling how long it might take him to find her and Mckenzie and get them free, if he tried at all.

  Daneya couldn’t blame him if he decided the consequences were too great. Marco had saved her and earned a permanent position as a warder on another continent for his troubles. How could she expect a man who barely knew her to risk that kind of penalty?

  The door opened again to admit the last person she wanted to see. She jumped to her feet and backed up to the wall as Gabriel sauntered into the room. His dark brown eyes fixed on her intently, a thin smile curving his lips. “So, it’s true. You did fall in love with my nephew. I didn’t believe that little whore at first. I thought you had better taste.”

  It took all she had to keep her expression impassive. She should have known he’d been listening in on her conversations with Cherri. All of the rooms were equipped with cameras built into the ceilings.

  Gabriel walked closer until only a few feet separated them. “Don’t worry. I’ve chosen not to hold it against you. We all make mistakes. As long as you understand you’re mine now.”

  She jerked away from his hand on her waist then stilled when his fingers dug in hard enough to leave bruises. A wave of nausea hit her when he leaned forward to whisper in her ear.

  “Easy, wildcat. I’ve waited a long time to get you back and I’m not going to let you or anyone else spoil this for me. From now on, you will submit to me. Or you can choose which one will die for your disobedience. Your best friend, or our daughter.”

  Blind fury coursed through her. Out of pure, gut reaction, she brought her knee up in a vicious blow to his groin. He twisted a fraction of a second before it connected, taking the brunt of the blow on his inner thigh. Not quite her mark but still high enough to send him reeling back in agony.

  Gabriel gradually straightened and cast her a leering glare that sent a chill racing down her spine. “Just like I remember. We’re going to have so much fun.”

  The back of his fist cracked along the side of her face, bouncing her off the wall to the hard floor. Pain exploded in her skull and the taste of coppery blood filled her mouth as she struggled to regain her balance. Above the ringing in her ears, she heard Gabriel calling out orders. The rough hands of two leisonguardes gripped her and tossed her onto the bed. Her arms and ankles were tied down in the leather straps attached to the metal frame.

  Gabriel pushed the guards out of the way then hovered over her, caging her in with an arm on either side of her head. “Tell me. Is our daughter as feisty as you are?”

  Daneya wrenched at her restraints. “If you hurt her, I swear to God, I’ll kill you!”

  He chuckled deeply and tangled his fingers through her hair, pressing his weight on it. “She’ll learn to obey me as well if she ever wants to see her mother again.” He crushed his mouth to hers, grinding her teeth into the cut on her lower lip.

  She turned and spat when he finally let her go.

  “Give her two cc’s of Rohypnol,” Gabriel said to one of the men. “Keep her sedated until I get back. I want her ready for transport by then. Are the preparations complete at my house?” When the guard nodded, Gabriel sent one last glance at Daneya. “Good. I want her comfortable.”

  Daneya fought against the restraints on a sudden rush of panic. She couldn’t go to his mansion. No one would find her, let alone think to look there. If Blade or Vincent did search for her, the facilities would be their first choice, giving Gabriel all the warning he would need to make sure she stayed hidden.

  And what of Mckenzie? Gabriel hadn’t mentioned moving her as well.

  The guard left with Gabriel then came back with a loaded syringe. The second man held one of her arms still while he plunged the fluid into her.

  Warmth sped through her bloodstream as the drug attacked her nervous system, swamping her with a sensation of weakness. A single tear fell past her control and slid down her cheek. This wasn’t happening again. She couldn’t lose everything she’d worked so hard to get. Her freedom and independence. Her daughter…

  An image of Saden appeared behind her drooping lids and she called out to him. Or thought she had. Her mind was a fog of confusion. Blackness teetered at the corners of her vision, pulling her down into a numbing abyss. The last thing she remembered was Saden’s hand wiping her tear away, or maybe that was a trick of her mind, too.

  * * * *

  “We’ve got to move soon,” Roshon said from beside him. “The guests are starting to leave. Have you been able to find Lady Ilsa yet?”

  From their perch on a hilltop overlooking the mansion, Saden strengthened the net of his power and sent it out farther. It told him how many people were in each room and where, but couldn’t identify them. The royal blood in the Lady’s veins made her life force no more powerful than the rest.

  Dozens of pinpoints of energy were in what had to be the ballroom on the first floor of the left wing. Those moving in a predictable pattern to certain rooms in the right wing and back were poignots scrambling to serve the guests. On the second and third floors were pairs and triplets of Vampyres occupying the rooms for approximately an hour at a time. Probably invigorated by the night’s events and seeking a little private gratification before going home.

  The only thing going in his favor was that he’d spotted Gabriel going into the mansion a few hours ago with an escort of leisonguardes and hadn’t seen him come out since. Which meant the korvaute was still in there somewhere. With any luck, they could kidnap one of the officials, force him to confess to the Lady and apprehend Gabriel before news of their presence reached the facility Daneya was being held at.

  Saden shook his head in frustration and glanced at Roshon. “My power can’t distinguish between the individuals. She could be anywhere in the left wing. All I can recall about her is that she doesn’t like to stand on ceremony.” He was about to concentrate again when he noticed Roshon staring oddly at his eyes.

  “Do they…always do that when you use your power?” />
  Quickly, he withdrew the Drakonem power, realizing the man had likely never seen the glowing white-violet hue it turned a Drakon’s eyes when activated. “Sorry.”

  “No no, it’s all good. Just give me a bit of warning next time.”

  “Don’t worry. You’ll get a heads up when I plan to shoot my laser beams,” he said casually.

  Blade burst into laughter when Roshon inched away, his expression a comical mixture of alarm and doubt. The grin Saden was fighting slowly leaked out.

  Roshon scowled darkly. “See, that’s just not funny right there. How the hell am I supposed to know what you guys are capable of?”

  “Aside from taking dragon form and feeling the presence of others within a few miles radius, we can only call fire and cause explosions,” Saden explained.

  “Only.” He snorted. “I’ll keep that in mind.

  The sky darkened behind them as a large, undulating shadow swooped down. It condensed and reshaped itself into the form of a man until Phoenix’s distinct features became visible. His wavy blond hair was highlighted by the moonlight against his black outfit. The resemblance to Roshon was striking now that Saden knew of the connection between them.

  He strode over and knelt down next to them. “The Lady has gone upstairs to the third room from the left on the second floor with two of her mistresses. Four leisonguardes are standing outside her door. Two guards are at every entrance on ground level and more are standing at the foot of the main staircase. Our best bet would be to sneak in through the servant’s entrance and take their separate stairwell up.”

  “How did you…?” Blade began, then waved a hand. “Never mind. I don’t want to know.”

  Saden inwardly agreed. No need to question how the wizard behind the curtain got his information. Just as long as he was on their side. “Good work. If I remember correctly, it’s customary for the Lady to stay until most of the guests are gone. Now all we need is a viable target.”