Rook’s knees buckled under her and Samuel caught her before she hit the ground. With worried eyes he called to her, “Rook? Rook?”
He cradled her in his arms and ran at full speed back to Alfrigg’s. Samuel busted through the door yelling, “It’s happening again.”
He rushed her to the couch, laying her down. “Rook? Wake up.”
She didn’t respond, he turned to Alfrigg. “She’s still breathing.”
“What happened?” Alfrigg asked, peering around Samuel to get a look at her.
“We were resting, I said let’s get back and when she stood up, she got dizzy, said she was hungry and passed out,” he said, never taking his eyes off her.
“Very peculiar.” Alfrigg folded his arms across his chest.
“Let’s try to wake her up and feed her. She said she was hungry, maybe she needs to eat. You know how humans are,” Samuel suggested.
Alfrigg’s entire body sparked with an idea. “I know how to wake her up.” He hobbled to his potions table.
“What was that?” Samuel asked cautiously.
“It’s wake up juice.” Alfrigg wedged his way between Rook and Samuel. He slid his hand under her neck and tilted her mouth open to pour the liquid in. “And three, two, one . . .”
Rook shot up on the couch. “Jesus God what the fuck?”
“Rook?” Samuel watched in shock.
She tensed, “Sorry. I just . . . what is that?”
“Wake up juice.” Alfrigg nodded quickly. “You awake?”
“Um . . .” She swallowed several times, smacking her tongue, trying to get the taste out of her mouth. “Yeah.”
“Okay, so food.” Alfrigg headed for the kitchen. “I’ll make you something light.”
“Okay.” Rook rubbed her stomach. She leaned forward to Samuel apprehensively and said, “I have this weird craving.”
“Craving?” Samuel questioned, looking down at her belly, “Are you pregnant?”
“Gross! No,” she said as though he just insulted her.
“Just asking,” Samuel defended. “What are you craving?”
She looked around the room and leaned in closer and quietly muttered, “Blood. I want to hunt, like go out, kill something and drink its blood.” Concern riddled her expression. “Part of me is utterly repulsed, the other part is . . . excited.”
Samuel considered what she was saying and called over his shoulder, “Hey, Alfrigg, are you aware of vamp bites causing blood thirst?”
“Only if they’ve been turned.” Alfrigg came from the kitchen and asked, “Why?”
“She wants blood,” Samuel said in a confused tone.
“That’s very odd, there are no documented cases of a rook being turned.” Alfrigg squinted his eyes, looking her over. He leaned down and shoved his fingers in her mouth.
She struggled to get away. “What are you doing?”
He righted himself. “No fangs.” He pulled his lips to the side in thought. “Very strange.”
Rook blew out an audible breath. “Damn.” Her lids were heavy, and she felt herself falling back into a daze. “Don’t let him give me that crap again . . .” Rook voiced her last wish as she fell back on the couch.
“She’s out again,” Samuel said, alarmed.
“This isn’t possible.”
“What’s happening to her?” Samuel’s brow furrowed with concern.
“I don’t know.” Alfrigg’s hopelessness leaked into his tone. “If that potion didn’t keep her up that means there’s something magical keeping her down.”
“Do you have anything for that?”
Alfrigg shook his head slowly. “Maybe, but I’m reticent to give it to her. I think we need to bring in an actual healer, figure out what’s wrong.”
“Vivienne?” Samuel offered the idea.
“She’s such a curmudgeon.” Alfrigg bristled.
Samuel slowly turned his head to him. “Really? She’s a curmudgeon?”
“Yes, and bitter,” he said, moving to the alchemy table.
Alfrigg peered over the bubbling tubes full of multicolored liquid. “I vote you go.”
“I don’t want to leave her.” Worry clouded his expression.
“Well, I’m not going,” Alfrigg declared. “I’m going to work on something here. She’ll be fine for now, but you should get a move on.”
“Okay.” Samuel stood reluctantly. “Look after her.”
“I will.” Alfrigg didn’t look up from his work.
Chapter 15
Hunter paced the sidewalk with the phone to his ear. “It is imperative that I speak with Samuel immediately.”
Hunter’s jaw popped with tension as his wild eyes scanned the area for an answer. The streets were bustling to life with the night crew. The smell of fresh blood filled the air, tantalizing his senses. He was doing all he could to maintain control. One moment he wanted to drain everyone he saw, the next he wanted to fuck them.
A woman with long blond hair walked by him donning an alluring smile.
“Hunter? Are you still there?” the voice on the other end of the phone called out.
“Yeah,” Hunter answered distracted. “I gotta go.”
He turned and followed the woman down the street.
“Hunter!” Camille scolded, but it didn’t stop him.
The blond woman turned around with bedroom eyes. “Hey there.”
Hunter smiled and leaned down closer, taking in her scent. Before he could speak, a sour expression crossed his features. He’s disgusted by her scent and couldn’t hide his repulsion.
The woman’s face screwed up with anger and said, “Creep, what’s wrong with you?”
“I’m sorry.” He shook his head and walked back toward Camille.
“What are you doing?” she questioned, taking hold of his hand. “Do I need to put a leash on you?”
“She wasn’t the one,” Hunter said absently.
“Well no shit,” Camille snapped. “You need to control yourself.”
Camille turned to Henry. “I think we need to get him off the streets.”
“I think you’re right.” Henry saw Hunter watching another woman. “Hunter, let’s go. I know a safe place.”
“I have a home here, it’s not far.” Hunter started down the sidewalk but was distracted by another woman. His erection just wouldn’t quit.
“Hunter!” Camille scolded again, feeling his tension.
Hunter raised his hand to Camille’s cheek. “I just need a release.”
Camille swatted his hand from her face. “Stop it.”
“I think we should get an Uber,” Henry said, rolling his eyes.
“It’s just a block away,” Hunter explained, continuing forward. “I’ll control it.”
They reached a modest house, Hunter trotted up the front porch and punched a code into the security panel.
“Come in.” Hunter gestured through the door. The air was stale from sitting closed for so long.
“How long has it been since you were here last?” Henry looked around the small living room.
“I’m not really sure. I don’t spend a lot of time away from my work,” Hunter explained.
Camille lifted a jacket off the coat rack. “Not since white suit jackets with rolled up sleeves were in style.”
“Don’t judge me, you know how hard it is to change with the styles for so many years,” Hunter said with a laugh. “It’s probably been since the eighties. But I have a crew that comes in once a month to check on the place, dust. It was completely restored after Katrina, I honestly don’t know how the jacket survived.”
Camille moved to the windows and threw them open. The sheer white drapes blew in with the breeze.
Henry turned to Hunter. “Tell me more about Alfrigg, maybe some of my contacts will be able to find him.”
“No. No Directive. I need to find her before Augustus does,” Hunter insisted.
He perked up and stilled.
“What is it?” Alarm crossed Camille’s features. Hu
nter had become so unpredictable, she didn’t know if she was ready for his next move.
“It’s her,” he whispered before darting out the door and onto the street.
Hunter looked around frantically and filed between the few people walking on the street.
The scent was coming from a large man walking down the street. His being filled with desire and rage. Using his vampire speed, he grabbed the man and dragged him into the house. “Where is she?” he bellowed at the man he threw to the floor.
Hunter’s breathing was labored, his fangs fully extended, and the veins pumped visibly in his forehead.
“Hunter!” Camille screamed, running to him.
The man on the floor shifted into a large white wolf. He took a defensive stance, bearing his teeth, snarling.
Camille took the place at Hunter’s side, ready to fight with him. “What’s going on?”
Hunter’s lip curled upward in a snarl. “He’s been with her.”
“Who is he?” she asked, never taking her eyes off the menacing wolf.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa.” Henry stood between them, holding his hands up. “Everyone calm down.”
“Get out of the way, Henry,” Hunter warned.
“This is Samuel.” Henry pinned Hunter with a glare. “He’s been protecting her.”
Realization softened his stance slightly. “Samuel?”
Henry nodded slowly. “Yes, he’s okay.”
Henry turned to Samuel. “It’s okay,”
Samuel shifted back to human form. “It isn’t okay to grab someone off the street.” He stalked closer to Hunter.
“Hold up,” Henry said, trying to keep the peace. “He’s not in his right mind, we have to find Rook.”
“Rook?” Samuel eyed Henry suspiciously. “What do you want with her?”
“I’m Henry Grimes.” Henry dug his wallet out of his pocket. “I’m with The Directive.”
“There are lots of people with The Directive.” Samuel glanced at Henry’s credentials.
“We don’t want to hurt her, we just need to find her,” Henry said, widening his eyes.
“Who are you?” Samuel motioned to Hunter.
It was taking every last ounce of control in Hunter not to slam the wolf against the wall and demand Rook’s whereabouts. “I’m Hunter Webb.”
“Why do you need to find her?” Samuel asked, still suspicious.
Hunter doubled over in pain, letting out a howl.
Samuel took a step back. “What’s wrong with him?”
Camille put her hands-on Hunter’s back. “Do you need to feed again?”
Hunter tried to stand up, revealing his eyes going black. “I need Rook.”
“If you think I’m going to let you feed on her, you’ve got another thing coming.” Samuel shook his head. “You can die for all I give a shit.”
“Samuel, perhaps you need to put in a call to the home office, speak with Clarence. He’ll vouch for my credentials,” Henry explained. “But please be quick about it.”
“I don’t give a fuck if Clarence Collins was standing in this room, until I know you aren’t going to hurt her I’m not telling you where she is,” Samuel said, looking around and digging through the scraps of his clothes littering the floor.
Henry moved closer to Samuel. “Are you familiar with the Thirst?”
Samuel looked at him like he’s crazy. “Bloodthirsty vamps? I’m familiar.”
“No, I mean . . . bloodmates,” Henry said, cringing with fear that he’s saying too much.
“No, I have no idea what that is.” Samuel found the remnants of his pocket and pulled his cell phone out.
“Talk to Jana or Clarence, they’ll explain all you need to know.” Henry urged him to make the call.
“I don’t care what this is, I’m not letting anyone use Rook to cure this vamp’s ailment.” Samuel motioned to Hunter.
“I don’t want to use her,” Hunter sputtered out.
Camille gave Hunter the last of the blood from the bag she picked up at the local blood bank.
Henry shook his head. “It’s not just his ‘ailment.’ It’s going to be hers, too, and I’m not sure how much longer before it starts affecting her. He’s already had a taste of her blood, it was enough to bond them.”
A realization struck Samuel. “Shit.”
“What is it?” Henry probed.
“Rook, she’s sick.” Samuel was working it out in his head. “It all makes sense now.”
“There is no precedent for this, but it does make sense,” Henry explained. “Because the bond was partly formed, it would affect her.” Henry ran his fingers through his hair, blowing out a breath. “We have to get to her, they have to finish the blood ritual, or she could die.”
Hunter pushed aside his pride and said in a weak voice, “Please, I have to be with her.”
“I can’t exactly leave like this.” Samuel waved his hands at his naked body.
Camille looked him up and down. “Lucky for you a big ass Viking lives here. I think we can find you something to wear.”
Camille watched Hunter for a moment with worried eyes. “Are you going to be okay? I need to find him some clothes.”
Hunter nodded with a grunt, “Yeah.”
“Hurry, if she’s already sick we don’t have much time. She’s human and can’t withstand what’s happening,” Henry warned.
Samuel nodded and followed Camille down the hallway.
* * *
Camille came out of the bedroom with her hand over her mouth snickering, “He’ll be right out.”
“What happened back there?” Henry asked, amused by her laughter.
“You’ll see.” She struggled to hold back the giggle.
Samuel stalked down the hallway, unamused. “Seriously?”
Hunter was sitting on the love seat hanging his head. He glanced up, his eyes were dark and sunken in. A flash of delight crossed his features, he couldn’t contain the chuckle. “I haven’t been here in a long time.”
“Apparently,” Samuel said with tight lips, looking down at his white parachute pants and neon pink Polo shirt.
Hunter smiled, shaking his head. “That’s all they could save after the storm?”
“The acid washed jeans were too small.” Samuel headed for the door. “We’re stopping by my house, so I can change.” He adjusted his man-junk.
“Suck it up, we have to get to the rook,” Henry said, following behind.
“He’ll survive twenty extra minutes,” Samuel’s voice graveled out.
“But will Rook?” Hunter asked, defeated. “She’s mortal, I can hardly bear this pain.”
Samuel gave it second of thought, “God dammit, let’s go.” He tried to slide his cellphone into his front pocket, but it was too tight. He managed to get it into one of the pockets on the leg.
Chapter 16
Rook’s howls of pain echoed throughout the enchanted sanctuary. Alfrigg was trying to comfort her, think of anything he could do to soothe her pain. She was on her knees, holding her midsection. Her hair was damp with sweat, her skin red with fever. He knelt beside her, worry filling his being. “Tell me exactly what you’re feeling.”
She stared up at him with dark eyes. “Thirsty, like I’m turning to dust on the inside. Hungry, so hungry I feel like my stomach is trying to eat me. My skin is on fire, everything touching it hurts.” She tugged at her sweat-soaked tank top.
“Let me get you something to eat then.” He straightened, turning for the kitchen.
“We’ve tried that,” she growled through dry, cracked lips, motioning to the vomit stain on the floor. “It didn’t quite work out.”
Alfrigg stared at the alchemy table, trying to think of anything he could give her to soothe her pain. “We have to approach this differently. None of the potions I’ve given you have helped for long.” A streak of worry ran through him, wondering if he made it worse.
“Jeziah,” she grumbled.
“What’s that?” Alfrigg knelt by her.
“I don’t know of anything he could have done, I’ve thought of every possible spell and trust me, I know of many,” he said, still searching his mind for answers.
“If I’m going to die, I wish I could just die.” She whimpered, falling to the fetal position.
“You’re not going to die.” He didn’t believe his own words.
“I feel like I already have.” Her body rocked with her sobs.
Alfrigg sparked with an idea from her words. “Rook.”
She didn’t respond.
“Rook, you said you’re thirsty.” He waited for her to acknowledge him. “And hungry, but you can’t eat.”
She nodded.
“Let’s go outside.” He started to lift her dead weight.
“I can’t move.” She was defeated.
“Don’t give up on me, I have an idea. Please, you’ve got to try,” he pleaded.
She pushed herself up from the floor but collapsed immediately and screeched in pain.
Bells began to ring in the house, Alfrigg hissed, “Swina bqllr!”
Rook barely noticed his dismay. She rolled over, watching him take a sword and a dagger from a cabinet.
“What?” was all Rook could manage to ask.
“Nothing you need to worry about,” he said, shifting his glance between her and the door.
“Alfrigg . . .” She couldn’t continue.
“Vamps. They’re trying to get in.” He was hesitant to tell her.
She pushed out a half-hearted laugh.
Alfrigg’s expression screwed up, wondering if she was getting better or more delirious. “Are you laughing?”
She smiled, her head flopping to the side. “You call vampires pig penises?”
He stopped in place. “You speak old Norse?”
She shook her head. “Old what?”
Alfrigg shook the thought from his head, “Never mind. I’ve got to take care of this. You sit tight.”
“The furthest I’ll be going is back on the floor.” She held herself tighter and let out another howl. “Alfrigg.”
He stopped. “What is it?”
“Don’t leave me.”
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