A Vampire's Thirst: Flint

by A. K. Michaels

  “Victor . . . you’re not going to believe this, you might want to sit down for this first part.”

  “Flint! Spit it out!” Victor’s voice rose.

  “I’ve found my Bloodmate.” Flint waited, knowing that bombshell would have a host of questions coming at him, and he wasn’t mistaken.

  “What? Did you just say what I think you did? Your Bloodmate? Where? What? Who is she? Tell me, now!”

  “Yes, I did.” Flint couldn’t stop his lips tugging up, even though their situation was grim. “Edinburgh but I don’t have a name, yet, she’s injured and out cold on my lap right now. We’re heading back to Quinn’s as I speak. We had to rescue her from some scumbags and that’s why I need your help.”

  “Who’s we?” Victor asked quickly. “And what scumbags?”

  “Talon, he’s the guy who Quinn assigned me as my driver. He’s a Wolf and he helped me rescue her but he’s also told me that the gang we took her from is led by a guy called Kragen Smithson who runs the biggest operation here and is bad news. He says he’ll come after us to get her back and that we’re gonna need help, a lot of help, so that’s why I’m calling you. I’ve no contacts here that I can call on for that kind of back-up on such short notice, Victor, and I have to protect her. What the fuck am I gonna do?”

  Victor didn’t hesitate, his voice strong and sure as he rattled off instructions. “Go straight to Quinn’s. I’ll call him right now. He has an army of men and I’m going to call in a few favors he owes me. Trust me, Flint. Trust me to do this for you. I’ll make sure you and your Bloodmate are safe. I’ll also call another friend and get him to send a few of his men as back-up, strictly as a guard for your Bloodmate. They’ll stay at her side until this is over, my brother. I promise you . . . I won’t allow anything to harm her. Now, all I need to do is have the jet fired up, I can have it ready to go in twenty minutes and I can be in Scotland in twelve hours. I won’t bring Kimber though . . . I don’t want to put her in danger, not when she’s carrying our child. She’ll be pissed, but I’m sure she’ll understand.”

  Flint could barely keep up as Victor’s words fired out like a machine gun, but he sure as hell heard it loud and clear when he spoke of leaving Kimber and coming to Scotland. That wasn’t something he could allow . . . not happening. No way. “Stop, Victor, just hang on a minute.” He waited to make sure his friend was listening before he carried on. “I’ll accept everything, all you’ve said, except you leaving Kimber. That’s not happening, boss, you stay there. If I need you, I’ll call and let you know. I’ll have Quinn’s men and whoever else it is you’re sending, for fuck’s sake, Victor, you can’t up and leave in the middle of the night. Not on your damn honeymoon . . . she’ll have your balls, and mine. I happen to be attached to them, especially now that I’ve found my own Bloodmate. I’m sure she’ll want mine just where they are, so I don’t want Kimber’s Dragon burning them from my body, thank you very much. Stay there and I’ll keep in touch. Okay?”

  He heard Victor snort and chuckle before he relented and he could envision him running a hand through his hair as he answered, “Damn it, Flint, I should be there, by your side. I feel impotent being here. I’ll be worrying like an old mother hen the entire fucking time. You need to keep me updated . . . and I mean all the time, or I’ll hound you, lad. I’ll hound you . . . do you hear me?”

  “Loud and clear.” Flint’s eyes crinkled at the sides as he smiled, a ton of weight suddenly felt as if it had been lifted from his shoulders. “Now stop blathering like an old woman and make your calls.”

  “On it, and, Flint . . . stay fucking safe or I’ll come over there and kill you myself.” Victor ended the call abruptly without saying another word, leaving a great big lump in Flint’s throat.

  He knew he wouldn’t let him down. He knew he would come through for him. Now if they could make it back to Quinn’s then, hopefully, things wouldn’t look so fucking bad as they had just minutes earlier. Talon’s gruff voice rumbled back to him, “Shit, must be good to have that kind of friend, Flint. He sure came through for you.”

  “You heard?”

  “I’m a Wolf. Of course I heard,” Talon said matter-of-factly. “If you want privacy then don’t make calls when I’m around. But I’d love to know what kind of favors he’s cashing in with Mister Alexander, because he’s not the kind of man to grant them easily.”

  Flint gave that matter some thought . . . for all of two seconds. “I don’t give a flying fuck. So long as Quinn helps, that’s all I care about.” He paused, leaning forward slightly. “Tell me though, is it true? Does he have an army he can call on? I need to know, Talon, can he keep her safe from this fucker? If not, then I need to know now. And while we’re at it . . . get on the phone and have a Healer at my place as soon as possible.”

  Talon bristled, the muscles in his back tensing as he swerved the Range Rover around a large semi and onto the highway, speeding up as soon as he could and taking off. The Wolf huffed out his response gruffly, “Aye, he’s got an army, all right. But he rarely has the need to use it, and it’s rarer still that he’ll use it for the good of someone else. His men are there for everyone else to know just how strong he is and to remind them that he’s not a man to fuck with . . . or if they do then the consequences will be dire. He’s a canny man is Mister Alexander, he doesn’t take kindly to being forced to do anything, Flint, and going up against Kragen Fucking Smithson, well, that’s too dirty for him. He likes to keep his hands clean and far away from shit like that. Fuck it . . . I’m happy for you, laddie, I am. And I’m glad your boss has the pull to get my boss involved and help keep your lassie safe, but I doubt I’ll have a job by the time we get back.”

  Flint listened, hearing every word and processing each one. So Quinn liked to keep things on the down low. Not surprising, so did Victor, but it didn’t stop him from getting his hands dirty when the need arose. Also sounded like he didn’t take kindly to being forced into doing anything, again, like Victor . . . or himself, but if Victor was calling in favors then Quinn was being compensated, probably in spades. Quinn wasn’t a man to be fucked with, hmm, who did that remind him of? Again, Victor. Shoot, it sounded like the two men were more alike than they probably cared to admit but it gave him an insight that he could use . . . and manipulate to his advantage. He would also make damn sure that Talon didn’t suffer for his actions.

  “I’ll take care of it, Talon,” he assured him. “I’ll tell him you had no idea what was going on tonight and that you were in the car the entire time and had nothing to do with it. And when I appeared back with my Bloodmate, I mentioned the names and only then did you put two and two together and told me of the threat and that’s when I called Victor. You won’t suffer because of what’s happened, trust me.”

  “Can you do that?” Talon shot a look of surprise over his shoulder. “Lie?”

  Flint chuckled, tipping his head. “Yeah, easily. You stay out of his way though. So he can’t question you about it because he’ll know you’re lying. Or . . . I can compel you. If you’re okay with that? I can compel you before we get back and you won’t know that what I tell you is a lie. That way he won’t know that you’re lying.”

  “Fuck!” Talon let out a growl. One that started low in his chest and rumbled all the way up and out as his fist punched the wheel. “I fucking hate the thought of that but . . . aye, it’s the only way he won’t scent the lie on me and I won’t lose my job over this, Flint. I like you, I do, but I’ve known you for less than a day. So as soon as I can I’ll pull over and you do your thing.”

  Flint understood the spot he’d put Talon in and if were him, he’d probably be mad as hell. He’d make it so the man could keep his position within Quinn’s employ. That was the least he could do for Talon after what he’d done to help him earlier. He’d make it so he’d explained everything after they’d gotten into the car after he’d rescued his Bloodmate and everything after that was as it happened, including his call to Victor.

  “Why are you
so sure they’ll find us? They didn’t get a good look at you and I’m not known to them. But you seem certain they’ll get to us . . . why?” Flint had been wondering about that since he’d got into the car and it had been bothering him. Surely they couldn’t track their scents, not through the multitude of others in the city and all the way out and to Quinn’s property. That would take a miracle or someone with pretty damn good magical powers.

  “The same way I would do it, or anyone else on Mister Alexander’s team,” Talon shot back quickly. “The city has cameras everywhere and it’s not too difficult to hack into their database, or get someone that’s capable of doing so. Soon as that’s done, it’s a simple case of getting the time right, the area and then looking for vehicles and zooming in and seeing who’s inside. Once that’s done, bingo, we’re caught. Then it’s a case of finding out where that vehicle is registered to. Again, it’s not too hard to get that information. Illegal, yes, difficult, no. I’d give them twelve, maybe twenty-four hours at most and then they’ll have our location.”

  “Cameras everywhere?” Flint asked, “I didn’t see any, not in that alley. No way, Talon.”

  “Aye, there was. There was one at the beginning, and there are cameras everywhere in Edinburgh. The police use them to help with dealing with drunks, but that’s not all, ordinary folks have them too nowadays to protect their own property and a lot of them use their Wi-Fi and store their stuff in the cloud. If you walk around you can see them and it’s simple to hack in, if you know what you’re doing that is. And every pub, club, hotel, boarding house, parking lot, shop and, hell, I could go on, but they all have them. If you have an area to start it’s easy, really easy, to find a vehicle and they knew we had one . . . they heard us getting away. They had the same hearing as you and me so, there you go, Flint. Easy as fucking pie for them to track us and find out exactly where to come hunting.”

  Damn it. He was right and if he hadn’t been so focused on the beauty in his arms he would’ve known it too. His mind was so fixated on his Bloodmate that he wasn’t thinking straight and that had to stop. How he was going to do that he had no fucking clue because he was totally consumed with her. Her scent, her beauty, her perfection . . . but he had to push all that away. Even though all he wanted to do was curl around her body and protect her with his own. Flint knew he had to hand her over to the Healer and the team that Victor was sending and then do the job he was born to do . . . serve and protect. And he’d do it and do it fucking well.

  He’d protect her with every last fiber of his being and hell mend anyone who dared cross him because his fury burned brightly in his soul for those that posed a threat to her, and he’d set it free to ignite and obliterate anyone who came near his soulmate, his love, his Bloodmate.

  Chapter 14

  Flint was so engrossed in his thoughts, of his feelings for the woman who lay unconscious in his arms, and the wrath that raged through him for those that dared to threaten her safety, that he jerked in surprise when Talon spoke.

  “All right, let’s do that mumbo jumbo mind stuff of yours.” The Wolf didn’t sound happy. In fact, he sounded pissed off and angry as he spun around in his seat, faced the back and stared hard at him. “But no messing around inside my head other than to do what you need. Okay?”

  Flint gave him a sharp nod, leaning forward to gaze intently into the man’s eyes he reassured him, “I won’t. I promise. I rarely use this, Talon. It’s not something I like doing at the best of times, so rest assured, I won’t mess around with you . . . ready?”

  Talon cracked his neck from side to side, scowling. “No, not really, but it’s the only way for the boss not to catch me in a lie. So, aye, go ahead.”

  Flint took a deep breath, centering his power and allowing it to flow from him, gently so as not to overpower the Wolf and spook him. The last thing he wanted was for Talon to freak out in the confines of the cabin. His dark eyes zeroed in on Talon’s, capturing them and freezing them in his enthrall as his power flowed effortlessly into the Wolf, his brown eyes glazing over and his jaw slacking as Flint compelled him. “You drove me to Edinburgh and I ordered you to stay in the car. You didn’t get out but I did. You remained there until I returned with the injured woman and I told you to drive quickly away and I told you that I’d rescued her from some thugs with the names of Kragen Smithson and Stelian. I told you about a Vampire’s Thirst and that she’s my Bloodmate. You told me who they were and that they’d come after us and I called Victor for help. Got that? Talon, tell me . . . you’ve got that?”

  Talon’s voice was robotic as he murmured, “I stayed in the car and you got out. You returned with an injured woman and said you’d rescued her from Kragen Smithson and Stelian and she’s your Bloodmate. I told you they’d come for her and you called Victor for help.”

  “That’s right, Talon, you didn’t come with me. You stayed in the car. Now, wake up.” Flint pulled his power back, slowly, watching as Talon’s eyes refocused and blinked.

  “So, the Healer is already there,” he said, checking his phone as if nothing had happened. “She’s waiting at your cottage and I’ve used her before, so I know she’s good, Flint. She’ll take care of the lass as soon as we arrive, oh, and I’ve also had a text from the boss. He says to get to the big house as soon as we can. It’s not a request, it’s an order.”

  The news about the Healer settled him, somewhat, he was still concerned that there was no sign of his Bloodmate waking but the fact that she was going to be taken care of as soon as they got back definitely was good news. However, he wasn’t leaving her alone with just a Healer. Not happening. “If your boss wants to see me then he’ll need to come to the cottage. Until my Bloodmate has guards, I’m not leaving her side. It’s just not happening, Talon, so you can either tell him to send men to my cottage, or tell him he can meet me there.”

  Talon looked around, as if just realizing they were no longer moving. His skin puckering beneath his brows as he frowned. “What the fuck? I canny remember why we stopped?”

  “You stopped to check your phone . . . jeez, you’re losing it.” Flint chuckled. “You getting too old for this game, or what, Talon?”

  His insult did the trick, Talon’s shoulders straightening as he glared at him, grabbing his phone up and firing off a text. “There! I’ve let the boss know to send men to guard the lass. Satisfied?”

  He turned away and without any further preamble the Range Rover shot back onto the road and on its way. Flint looked out the back, checking over and over for the telltale sign of them being followed, even though it wasn’t likely, his worry was growing by the second and he couldn’t wait until they were back within the confines of Quinn’s estate with the back-up of his “army.”

  Maybe then he wouldn’t feel like someone was trying to rip his heart out of his chest with their bare hands or gut him with a thousand silver daggers. Because that’s how he felt with every passing second his Bloodmate wasn’t surrounded by a bevy of men ready and able to keep her safe. Fuck! He wished it were his own men. Then he’d know for certain that they’d fight to the death for him . . . for her.

  As soon as the Healer gave her the all-clear they were going to be on the damn jet and heading home, back to the US where he could keep her safe. Make sure that each and every guard knew the consequences if even one damn hair on her head was damaged. He gulped in a great gasp of air, trying to calm down before he lost himself to the anger that was growing inside him . . . instead he turned his focus to the woman he held. He adjusted his eyes, poring over every detail and then some more, trying to figure out exactly what she was.

  He hadn’t even tried before, so intent on everything else that he had overlooked that basic fact. He knew she wasn’t a Vampire, he’d known that immediately, but what was she? He appraised her more fully, sending his powers out to discover what secrets she held within her frail, beautiful form. There was a good portion of human in there but that wasn’t all, no, definitely not. There was something else within that he caught a g
limpse of . . . it glinted beneath the surface, peeking out at him as if she were trying to hide it from the casual observer, but she couldn’t keep it from him. No, he was her Bloodmate and she could hide nothing from him. He’d seen it, caught a hint of a gleaming light that twinkled and sparkled at her core . . . what? Fae? Faery? He wasn’t certain but it was something along those lines he was sure, but why try to hide it? She was definitely doing that, for sure she was. It was hidden deep inside her, masked even, but he wasn’t sure why, and she was only part of whatever it was too.

  Never mind, he’d soon find out when she woke and he could ask her directly. He didn’t care either way what she was. She could be a Demon from Hell and he’d still worship her with his entire being from here to eternity. He just wished she’d wake the heck up and show him some sign that she was okay. So far she’d not moved a muscle, not a twitch, not a moan, not a damn thing and that had emotions firing up inside him that he wasn’t even aware he was capable of. Anxiety, fear, and an agony that was almost crippling ran through him in waves that rippled one after the other. He wished they’d fucking stop so he could concentrate properly, but his mind was having trouble focusing, flashing from one thought to another and back again.

  He breathed in and exhaled loudly, Talon glancing over his shoulder. “Not long, we’re almost there.”

  “Thanks,” he said, knowing he’d relax . . . slightly, when they crossed the threshold onto Quinn’s land.

  And when they slowed to take the turn, Talon cursed loudly, setting him on edge until he looked out the window to see a large contingent of men armed to the teeth as the shifter rolled down the window in greeting. “Hey, guys, glad to see you. I’m grateful you’re all here.”

  One stepped forward, a huge hulking man dressed like he was in the middle of a fucking war zone, resplendent in black military fatigues and weapons. “Talon, are you okay? How’s the guest and the wounded passenger? Were you tailed or do we have time to set up another perimeter? How many can I expect and who are we up against? I’ve not been passed details yet, I’ll be grateful for anything you can give me.”