Forsaken Hunger

by Nikki McCoy

  He gazed down at the driveway of the mansion below. A family of four was loading into their car accompanied by two poignots. Five minutes later, a prominent official came out with his mate hanging on one arm and what appeared to be their teenage son at his other side. The four leisonguardes and two poignots flanking them told Saden they had to be closely related to the royal family. He sensed a slight difference in the boy. A less complex field of energy that could only be the result of partial human genetics.

  “That’s our target.” Saden pointed to the departing group. “He has to be one of the officials on the list. Phoenix and I will go after him and drive his limo back around to the servants’ main entrance. Blade and Demetrius will come with us to confront the Lady. Roshon, I need you and your team to find and guard all access ways to the second floor. Make sure none of the leisonguardes downstairs interrupt us. Remember, we want to keep this as covert as possible. I don’t want anyone following us to the facility once we’re done here.”

  Roshon dipped his chin in assent. “I’ll have the geis watch the outer perimeter. They’ll inform us if anyone fitting Gabriel’s description leaves the mansion.”

  He gripped the chief’s arm, silently giving thanks for his presence even after he’d been informed of the odds against them. “Be careful.”

  “And you. Now let’s go piss some people off.”

  Saden nodded then turned to Phoenix only to find him gone. The Drakon was already flying swiftly along the road leading away from the mansion. “Damn it!” He took off in the same direction.

  Five miles out, he caught sight of the target’s limo pulled over onto a narrow dirt path a short distance from the road. The leisonguardes’ vehicle was lying upside down ahead of it with smoke coming from the engine. Phoenix was like a deadly wraith in the circle of men surrounding him. His movements were a blur of lethal precision, his body in constant, sinuous motion. So fast, it was hard to distinguish him from the others.

  One by one, the guards fell at his feet. The last let out a choked howl as Phoenix kicked his knee, bending it an unnatural angle. Almost simultaneously, the man was lifted by the throat then slammed to the ground on his back and finished off with a solid punch to the head.

  Saden surveyed the damage as he landed next to the wreckage. “You were supposed to wait for me.”

  Phoenix casually dusted off his shirt. “I got bored.”

  He eyed the other Drakon warily then looked at the guards. Not a single one moved or so much as twitched. “Are they still alive?”

  Phoenix shrugged a shoulder. “Technically.”

  The indifference in his voice was unnerving considering their circumstances. Saden quickly re-evaluated the man who stood before him without a scratch on his body. If he hadn’t just seen Phoenix take out four highly trained leisonguardes in less than a minute and before they could attempt to use their powers, he’d never have believed it.

  He was beginning to think the man was still alive not because of the Djinn, but because Serrakus really didn’t want to lose him.

  The front doors of the limo opened and the two poignots stepped out, each holding a gun that shook in their trembling hands. Saden took pity on the servants, knowing they were only following the orders of the coward who employed them. A simple spark of blue flames at their fingers had both shrieking and dropping to the ground in terror. He gathered their weapons and told them to stay put.

  Phoenix walked to the back of the limo and began yanking the family out. When he dumped the woman unceremoniously on her rear end, the teenaged boy seemed to grow a spine and attacked him. Phoenix snatched one of the kid’s wrists and wrenched it behind his back then shoved him against the side of the limo. “Make another move and I’ll rip your arm out of its socket.”

  The kid’s face blanched under his mop of brown hair.

  “Phoenix, take it easy—” Saden started before he was interrupted by the blustering official.

  “Release my son immediately! You have no right to treat us like this. Do you know who I am?”

  Saden approached with his teeth bared, causing the portly official to stumble backwards. “No, actually. Why don’t you tell me?”

  The man’s face flushed a deep crimson and his jowls flapped as he sputtered indignantly. “I am Reginald Crenshaw, second cousin to the Rei’jin of the house of Avram and a board member on the council. If you think to kidnap me and my family for ransom, you won’t live long enough to regret it. I’ll see that you suffer before you pay for your crimes.”

  He recognized the name from the list and fisted the front of the man’s shirt. “It’s already too late for that, but I promise to return the offer.” After shoving Crenshaw back into the limo, he grabbed the woman by the arm and dragged her over to the poignots. “Unless you want to bury your preyune, I suggest you stay here until someone comes for you. Phoenix, bring the boy over here.”

  “I’ve got a better idea. We can use him as leverage.”

  Saden suppressed the urge to argue. As much as he hated the thought of putting a child in danger, Phoenix was right. After confiscating the rest of the weapons and any cell phones he could find, he climbed into the back of the limo and sat opposite Crenshaw. Phoenix took the wheel with the kid sitting beside him in the passenger seat then headed back toward the mansion.

  “My name is Saden. I’m the Drakon that’s been investigating Gabriel Aikins’ illegal enterprise. I know that you and several others have agreed to keep his secret and fund his operations in exchange for Vampyre offspring. Babies he’s harvested from hundreds of human females against their will with the help of the Djinn. I also know your so-called son is one of those offspring.”

  The kid looked to his father questioningly. “Dad?”

  “Don’t pay any attention to him, Keefe. He speaks blasphemy. Gabriel Aikins was acquitted of all charges to his name. No one will believe this ridiculous story you’ve concocted.”

  “No?” He pulled a folded stack of papers from the inside pocket of his trench coat then found the two he was searching for and handed them to Crenshaw. “Do you deny that’s your name on the list for infants received by Vampyres in the past twenty years? And the receipt for the personal check you made out to Gabriel in 1997 in the amount of one hundred thousand dollars. Sixteen years ago, the same age as your son, isn’t it?”

  Crenshaw’s beady eyes skimmed over the papers then met Saden’s levelly. “This doesn’t prove anything. You could’ve fabricated these out of desperation. It still comes down to your word against mine. Who do you think everyone’s going to trust? Me, or some psychotic killer who’s already failed his mission once?”

  Saden jerked the man forward by the shirt, pulled out one of his knives and pressed it tip first into Crenshaw’s protruding gut. “This psychotic killer has just had a really bad week. I’m tired, cranky and sick of the gods-damned lies people like you base your whole pathetic lives on. Right now, nothing would give me more pleasure than twisting this blade in your fat belly and stringing you up by your intestines. So I suggest you stop fuckin’ around and admit the truth.”

  Crenshaw merely laughed. “You won’t kill me. I know about the consequences you’ll face for taking an innocent life. Just as I know what will happen to me if I incriminate myself. Death would be the better option. You’ve got nothing.”

  Saden flexed his jaw, past his threshold for patience. “You willing to bet your son’s life on that?”

  Apprehension flashed in the man’s eyes then was gone in the next instant. He leaned in farther and lowered his voice, saying, “Go ahead and kill him. This little plan to prove Gabriel’s guilt will fall through, and when it does, I’ll be able to get a dozen more sons if I want to.”

  Saden raised his hand to strike the smirk off the official’s face when Phoenix’s words made him pause.

  “Let me know when, boss.”

  He released Crenshaw to peer over his shoulder and saw the glint of steel Phoenix held to Keefe’s throat. The kid was paralyzed in his seat wi
th beads of sweat forming on his temples. In the rearview mirror, Saden caught Phoenix’s gaze. Instead of the crazed look he was expecting, it was utterly calm and steady.

  “I’ll take care of the bodies while you find another target,” Phoenix said.

  Saden nodded, hoping like hell Crenshaw would fall for the bluff. If it was a bluff.

  Phoenix slammed on the breaks, wrenched the kid’s hair back to expose his neck and brought the blade down in a vicious arc. The boy cried out just as Saden was about to intercept the knife, but it was Crenshaw who stopped all of them.

  “Wait!” The official’s expression held a desperate combination of anger and fear. He swallowed repeatedly, eyes glued to the boy. “I’ll give you what you want. Please, let my son go.”

  The one-eighty in the man’s attitude nearly threw Saden off. As the car started again, he saw Phoenix wink at him in the mirror. “We’re going to keep him for insurance,” he told Crenshaw. “Do what I say and I’ll make sure he gets back to your preyuna. You’re going to work out a deal.

  “I want you to testify in front of the Lady Ilsa. Tell her everything you know about Gabriel’s operation and involvement with the Djinn, including your own. In exchange, I’ll allow you to beg her for mercy and spare you the sentence of a Drakon. Keep in mind, I’m aware of all the facts and I’ll know if you lie.”

  “What makes you think the Lady will believe me? My confession could destroy her standing among the other royal houses in this country, and possibly the two overseas. She’ll be viewed as weak.”

  He recalled vaguely his father’s temper whenever the Lady’s decrees had interfered with his work. The details were sketchy, though one thing remained clear. Lady Ilsa did everything out of personal pride. It was her pride that would demand she take care of an internal issue before the other houses became aware of it. Even if it did jeopardize her reputation. “She’ll believe you. She won’t have a choice.”

  “We’re here,” Phoenix said.

  Saden pocketed the papers then got out with Crenshaw. “You’re going to take us up the back stairwell to the second floor of the left wing. I have men inside and out of the building ready to move on my command, so don’t try anything.” When they came to the servant’s door, he let the official and kid walk through then held Phoenix behind to ask, “How did you know…about Crenshaw?”

  The Drakon’s expression was once more nonchalant, almost deadpan. “That boy is Crenshaw’s biological son. His legacy. There was no way he would’ve given that up.”

  Son of a bitch. No wonder Crenshaw’s payout to Gabriel had been higher than most of the rest. He’d impregnated one of the human females himself to gain an unquestionable heir to his estate.

  It was slightly disturbing that Phoenix had picked up on that so easily. Then again, he supposed that surviving several centuries in their occupation would make anyone an expert on reading others. Grudgingly, he had to admit Phoenix was turning out to be a more valuable ally than he could’ve anticipated.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Blade, Roshon and his men met them at the door. They entered a large kitchen full of poignots who instantly became flustered at their appearance. Crenshaw was surprisingly collected for what he was about to do and ordered the poignots to disregard the intrusion and continue their duties. They found the servants’ staircase without further disruption and climbed it to the second floor.

  Saden tamped down the urge to find Gabriel immediately and take him into custody. His twenty-four hour mark was getting closer and everything was riding on his ability to get the korvaute and the proof of guilt to Lucius in time. There was also the danger to Daneya. If Gabriel discovered Saden was back, he could take her and Mckenzie on the run with him. Saden might not be able to find them before his time was up, but he needed the proof first, and the Lady on his side.

  Roshon and his team dispersed to keep watch over the crowd downstairs and entryways to the second floor. The long corridor remained empty until they neared the end. As Phoenix had said, four guards stood outside the third to the last door on the left. Crenshaw took the lead and approached the group, claiming he had vital business to discuss with the Lady.

  One of the men stepped forward, eyeing them suspiciously. “The Lady is busy. You’ll have to wait downstairs.”

  When Crenshaw tried to argue, the man merely pushed him away then ordered another guard to escort them all to the ballroom.

  “Screw this,” Blade muttered and charged the man coming at them.

  Saden cursed and shoved the official toward Phoenix. He dodged the first guard’s fist then swung his own, hearing the satisfying crunch of the man’s nose beneath his knuckles. The man stumbled back, giving Saden the advantage he needed to take him down with a combination of punches to the face and stomach. Another guard launched at him from the side with a knife in hand. He grabbed the guard’s wrist and twisted then brought his other arm around the man’s neck in a choke hold. A glance in Blade’s direction showed his friend taking on the last guard standing.

  Saden grunted as a sharp elbow struck his ribs. The guard in his hold used the momentary distraction to wrestle out of his grip then spun around to slam the heel of his palm into Saden’s chest. More than simple muscle was behind the force of the blow. Saden crashed through the door at his back, flying with it several feet into a room. He landed hard, the back of his head cracking against solid wood.

  The guard followed him down with his palm reared to strike again and this time Saden could feel the man’s power building for another vicious blow. At the last second, he punched the guard in the throat then shoved him over, switching their positions.

  “Stop this, now!” a female shouted.

  The shrill voice rang out above the noise and carried with it a command that seized every muscle in Saden’s body. He was paralyzed from the neck down, unable to move or make a sound. The abrupt silence that filled the air told him everyone else was also trapped in the power of the woman’s voice.

  On a massive four-poster bed in front of him were two women scantily dressed in sheer fabrics that draped over their voluptuous curves. A third was lying on her back completely naked save for her long fall of raven hair and sparkling gold jewelry that hung at her throat, wrists and ears. Obviously the Lady Ilsa. She was a striking beauty with smooth, pale skin and supple legs parted for the stunned mistress who knelt between them.

  When she moved to stand, the other mistress hastily snatched a shimmering gown from the floor and helped her into it.

  Lady Ilsa glared at them imperiously. “What is the meaning of all this?”

  The guard locked in frozen combat with Blade spoke up from somewhere near the doorway. “These men attacked us without cause, Your Highness. There are more out in the hallway.”

  The piercing gaze of her coal-lined eyes landed on Saden. “Is this true? Who are you?”

  Saden felt his vocal cords relax, though the rest of his body stayed in its paralyzed state. “I’m the Drakon who was sent after Gabriel Aikins.”

  “I thought that mess was taken care of.”

  “He lied to you and I can prove it. Your cousin, Reginald Crenshaw, is waiting out in the hall to give you the truth.”

  The very air was still as she mulled over his words. “I’ll give you five minutes to justify your accusation. You’d better make it worth my time. Unlike my commanding leisonguarde, I would have no problem freezing you again and allowing my guards to send you back to your Drakonem in pieces.”

  Her hold on them was withdrawn and Saden gained his feet to take up position on one side of the room. Blade and Demetrius joined him with Keefe in tow while the two leisonguardes still conscious stood at the other side.

  “Did you know she could do that?” Blade asked quietly.

  Saden shook his head. He’d never encountered anything like the Lady’s power. She’d have made an impressive warrior if not for her royal blood.

  Phoenix came in last and shoved Crenshaw to his knees before the Lady. When one of th
e guards prepared to jump in, it was Crenshaw who raised a hand to stop him.

  “My Lady…” Crenshaw licked his lips nervously and glanced at his son. “My Lady,” he repeated, “the Drakon is right. Korvaute Aikins has been lying to you for years. I know because I helped him hide his secret. He’s been kidnapping human females and using them to breed more of our kind. The hybrid offspring are given to those who are in his trust. Leisonguardes and other officials like me. I’m not sure how many there are, but I’ve heard him speak of making deals with officials in the houses of Sekelsky and Nitz.”

  Saden sucked in a breath. He’d had no idea Gabriel’s scheme had spread so far as to include the other two houses of Vampyres in the United States.

  “The hybrids are raised as our own and know nothing of their true parentage,” he looked again to Keefe and said in a strained voice, “My own son is one of them. I…I sired him off one of the humans to produce a blood heir so that he could continue my line.”

  “No!” Keefe cried out and lunged for his father. Saden caught and held him as he struggled. “You’re lying! How could you do this?”

  Crenshaw shook his head pleadingly. “You are my son.”

  “Your bastard son!” Tears of rage glistened in the boy’s eyes. “Does your preyuna know about this?”

  Saden guessed the kid’s reference to his mother as Crenshaw’s ‘preyuna’ was both a way of dissociating himself from his family and an insult to his father. Crenshaw flinched visibly, his refusal to answer confirming the truth.

  Lady Ilsa spoke next. “How is that possible? You’ve been mated for more than four centuries. I saw your preyuna with us earlier tonight.”

  “Gabriel found a way for us to breed without having to bond with the females. It’s very possible with the help of the Djinn.” The Vampyres in the room let out a chorus of gasps. Crenshaw went on to explain the process in vague detail, skimming over the worst of it. He also included the fact that Gabriel was giving half of the offspring to the Djinn to be raised as their willing hosts.