The back of a van emerged as he revved the bike to get over the top of a hill. It was dusty gray with the last three digits of the license plate 515. It surpassed the speed limit but remained within a safe range. How like them to keep a low-key appearance to avoid attention.
Vicq flipped the visor on his helmet up and adjusted his irises to focus on the van. His fangs threatened to descend, but he took deep breaths despite the excessive speed, holding his frustration inside. They wouldn’t get away again. Not with his mate.
Vicq adjusted to a standing position and jumped off the bike to lunge for the van. He grasped the metal ladder attached to the back, his boots only centimeters away from hitting the pavement.
The unmanned bike flipped onto its side and skidded across the highway. Bright white sparks lit the path before the bike collided with a road sign and exploded. Flames shot up, illuminating the night sky.
The van swerved sharply, and he gripped the bars firmly with sweaty palms. After steadying himself, he lifted the helmet from his head and threw it out into the field. Derrick and Brad moved into position on either side of the van.
Vicq climbed up onto the top of the van and crawled across it until he reached the middle. There was no doubt that Elaina’s kidnappers knew they’d been found, for he heard their frantic voices coming from the inside of the vehicle. The dent Vicq had put in the van during his first attempt to save her remained as a taunting reminder that he’d failed. This time, he wouldn’t.
Ripping the van in half would suit his mood, but no...Elaina was inside.
The driver sped up and swerved into southbound traffic. A sharp jerk threw the van across a lane. An eighteen-wheeler came in the other direction and the trucker blared his horn as it sped past.
Vicq slid down the side of the van until his boots connected with the metal support bars on the bottom. Gripping the handle of the sliding door, he shoved it open with no regard to what danger might meet him on the other side.
“What the hell?” Two sets of eyes widened at his presence.
“Always remember to lock your doors.” Vicq’s gaze shot through the two men to the corner of the van where Elaina was bound and tied to the interior. His heart twisted and writhed in his chest, and he ground his teeth together. He’d never wanted this for her...to be tied up like a prisoner. It brought back memories of his assault in the prisons from his own kind. Now her organization had turned against her, treating her like she’d never worked for them.
“Vicq.” Her eyes swirled with confusion and panic.
It looked like she’d literally given up. Her shoulders were slouched over. Very unlike Elaina. He jumped in the van just as a slim man crawled across the floor and reached for the rifle lying amongst some duffle bags. Vicq lunged toward him and grabbed the back of his head, holding him up and vertical to the floor.
Vicq willed the rifle to gravitate toward his outstretched hand. “You plan to shoot at me again?” After snapping the weapon in two, he tossed it out of the van. “Didn’t work last time, won’t work this time either.”
The van heaved forward, sending everyone but Elaina in a tumble across the floor. They came to a stall on the freeway as the driver fought through the window with Derrick who’d tried to get inside. Brad entered the van through the passenger door, lunging himself at the driver to help Derrick out. The young Dresdan had already dropped fang well past the feeding mode. They were all focused on the mission and hungry for the kill.
Vicq turned back to the man who’d wriggled from his grip to find that he held up a metal pole. The man swung at Vicq, missing his face by a hair. Hissing, he took a fighter’s stance. He simply didn’t have the time or patience for this shit. Teleporting behind his attacker, he jerked the pole away and used it to hold the man immobilized. He pushed the pole tighter against the tracker’s throat.
“You’re a lousy batter.” Vicq used his powers to lift the rope from the floor and into his palm. He tied the man’s arms against his sides.
“You stupid bloodsucker.” The man thrashed against the ropes.
Vicq cringed and tossed him face first onto a pile of luggage.
Two bullets whizzed by Vicq’s ear, and he ducked out of the way so the third would miss him. A burly man crouched behind Elaina while firing shots. Elaina wriggled against the rope, but it had her bound to the panel. When the gunman realized that all the rounds had been fired, he chucked the empty gun aside.
“Come any closer—,” the burly man poised a large needle near Elaina’s neck,”—and I’ll inject her with poison. Even you won’t want her blood then.”
Elaina shook her head.
Vicq stopped in his tracks.
There weren’t many times he’d seen fear in her eyes, but this time, it existed in abundance. “You don’t want to do that, I’m sure. Why don’t you get up and fight me instead...like a man?”
The gunman’s face reddened. “I’m certainly not gonna sit around and let you kill me, vamp.”
“Who said anything about killing you?” Vicq only wanted Elaina back safely, but if he had to kill, he would. “What are you waiting for? Sitting around as you’re doing now won’t earn you freedom.”
“Vicq, we’ve gotta make moves,” Derrick said from behind him. “The other maniac just notified more trackers.”
Vicq ignored Derrick and the protest from the tied up humans, keeping his eye on the fool threatening his mate. “Hand her over to me willingly and I’ll leave you alive.”
“Liar!” The gunman’s hands shook uncontrollably.
“Maybe you didn’t understand.” Vicq’s fists clenched at his sides. “Hand her over to me. If you harm her in any way, I’ll make sure that your life is worse than a nightmare from this day forward. You will pray for death when I am done with you.”
This only angered him more and he brought the needle closer to Elaina’s neck. A helicopter overhead distracted the gunman. Vicq took that opportunity to teleport toward Elaina. The gunman was quicker, and it only took him two seconds to inject the needle into Elaina’s neck. Vicq grabbed the man by the forearm and threw him across the van like a ragdoll. Bones cracked against the other side of the vehicle just before he landed on the floor in a thud. Kneeling down beside Elaina, Vicq carefully extracted the foul needle from her neck and untied her hands.
Elaina caressed each side of his face with both palms and pulled him down to her face. “Vicq.” Her eyes flooded with relief, but her grip was lax, not firm the way she always touched him. “I thought you were...” She initiated the kiss, snaking her fingers to wind around the nape of his neck.
Vicq moved his hand around her back to support her body, elated that he was with her, but angry that he’d come close to losing her again. Their lips meshed and tongues danced lithely together. He breathed in her flowery scent as their kisses grew demanding.
“Vicq,” Brad yelled from behind him. “We need to go. Right now.”
If that weren’t enough distraction, the sound of the helicopter’s rotors appeared closer than before. He parted from Elaina, but when he did, her body fell limp within his arms.
“Elaina.” He pressed a hand to her forehead, and then bent to bury his face into her neck. Her pulse fought to thrive, and her heart thumped slowly in her chest. His breath caught in his throat and he turned his gaze to the needle on the floor. Green-colored liquid remained in the vial, but some of it had apparently gotten into her bloodstream.
“Let’s go!”
He rose with Elaina in his arms and moved toward the exit where the ladder to the helicopter above waited. Hissing against the nominal sun rays that escaped above the distant horizon, he shielded his eyes with his forearm. His skin burned like fire, but not as badly as his heart wept for the near lifeless Elaina in his arms. He took a deep breath before he dropped his arm again and grabbed hold of the ladder.
“Vicq.”
He turned to see Derrick standing over the three humans and pulling the rope tighter around them, trapping them like worms in a cocoo
n.
“What do you want me to do with them?” The six-feet-five-inches-tall Dresdan asked.
Vicq swallowed and then glanced down at Elaina, whose head lolled back against his forearm. The rhythm of her heart slowed. Her once red, soft lips were now pale, without color. “Check their clothes for wires, then bring them. They will serve time for what they have done. And then they will beg for death.” He used his remaining strength to teleport into the helicopter, where he laid Elaina out onto a soft mat.
Brandon pulled the ladder up as the first helicopter took them away. The young doctor rushed to Vicq’s side, glanced down at Elaina, and placed his palm on her forehead. “Whatever they’ve given her will kill her. I can hear her pulse slowing. If you’re going to turn her, you need to do it now. If you wait too long, your blood won’t be able to reverse the damage, and it’s already started.”
“I know.” This wasn’t the way they’d wanted her transformation to be. She’d wanted to do it in peace, not when she was on the brink of dying as a last resort. He couldn’t lose her now though...wouldn’t let her die without living a life absent of fear.
He slit himself across the vein in his neck with his fingernail and brought her body up, pressing her mouth to the fissure. Still, she didn’t move, but he hoped his blood could save her once again before it was too late.
Vicq rested his back against the wall of the helicopter and pulled her against his chest, as he let his blood drain down into her mouth. He estimated he’d have to drain himself almost completely. It didn’t matter--he’d risk everything to save her. Not only would he kill for Elaina, but he would die for her as well. What he prayed for the most was that this would be over soon and that he and Elaina could be together without worry.
Chapter 17
Elaina opened her eyes to silken cloth hanging overhead. Her fingers dug into the softness beneath her. A motor hummed nearby and her gaze landed on the fan swirling on a dresser. The cool breeze fanned her face and neck as she lifted her head off the downy pillows. Unfamiliar smells surrounded her. Freshly cut grass. Spring water. Lavender. And someone...
A sound from the corner of the room caught her attention.
Long black hair cascading down past the shoulder blades captured her gaze. It seemed like a startling contrast to the thin white dress the woman wore. She was also the source of the lavender scent Elaina had detected earlier.
“Should I close the balcony door?” The woman’s voice was soft yet firm.
Elaina waited for her to turn around. Loud clanking noises beat against a glass. The woman’s delicate hand grabbed the pitcher from the dresser. The ice made cracking noises as she poured the water over it. The sounds were too loud, yet clear.
“I thought you might need fresh air.” The woman set the pitcher down. “I was right. It seemed to be the only thing to wake you up.”
Elaina lay on a large, comfortable four-poster bed. The curtains were swept back and tied to the dark mahogany posts. Silk drapes on the balcony door swayed with the evening wind, sweeping against the marble floors. Dresser, nightstand, and chest were all made of either marble or mahogany. It was enough visual to confirm that she was in some bedroom. A rather large one. The walls were a neutral beige color, and abstract paintings hung throughout.
Why was she here? Where was Vicq? Had she been dreaming about Vicq coming to rescue her? No, it had to have been real. Her body still felt restless from the struggles. There were still welts around her wrists from where the ropes had bound them. Her lips were tender to the touch from where the cloth had been tied tight to them. Never had she felt so helpless within the clutches of District members.
Elaina squeezed her eyes shut and willed the memories away. She propped her elbows into the plush mattress and raised herself up. “Can you tell me where I am?”
The woman turned around, smiling, with a glass of ice-cold water in her hand. She slowly approached. Her perfect features stunned Elaina. Her blue-black hair was a strange trait indeed, but her bright silver eyes were even more atypical. “I’m Leila.”
“Leila,” Elaina whispered. She’d heard the name before.
“You’re at our sanctuary. We’re led by Vicq.” She extended the glass out to Elaina. “Brandon was certain that all those nasty drugs were out of your body, but you still look dehydrated. This should help settle your upset stomach a bit.”
“Brandon?” Elaina accepted the glass, and its chilly temperature brought relief to her heated palms.
“Our resident doctor. You were still unconscious when he came to take samples of your blood to find out what drugs remained.” Leila sat on the edge of the bed, her voice consoling and eyes innocent. “Do you still crave food?”
Elaina wrinkled her nose. What an odd question. “I’m not hungry.” She couldn’t remember the last time she’d eaten, but food wasn’t on her mind right now.
“You haven’t eaten in almost two days.”
Leila reached out, but Elaina jumped back on instinct and some of the water spilled over the top of the glass onto the sheets covering her.
Shame washed over her as Leila’s lips turned down in a frown. “I’m sorry.” She didn’t know who this Leila person was, and she was definitely on edge after what had just happened. “How long have I been here?”
“Two days.”
Elaina’s eyes swept over Leila again. Her sun-kissed skin appeared smooth and flawless, just like her well-manicured fingernails. Too perfect. “Are you Dresdan?”
Leila chuckled softly. “My mate asked the same thing when he met me, but does it really matter?”
“You’re very pretty, that’s all.” Elaina dropped her gaze to the sweating glass in her grasp. She’d been rude. Perhaps, a show of gratitude for the water instead of demands for answers would have been more polite. She sighed. “Th—”
“So are you.”
“Thank you.” Elaina swallowed. She lifted the glass to her lips and let the water flow down her throat. It only acted to soothe her rising fever, but it wasn’t enough. There was something else she needed. “Have you been...helping me all this time?”
This time Leila looked uncomfortable. She nodded. “I’m one of three women in the sanctuary. I offered.”
“You’re Leo’s mate.” The words came to Elaina’s lips without warning, but her memories came back to her in flashes. “First mated pair at sanctuary, right?”
Leila smiled, showing small but sharp fangs. “So Vicq did share the story with you?”
Elaina sat up straighter. “Where is he?”
“He left your bedside a couple of hours ago. He didn’t even trust me to be alone with you in this state. It took a while, but he finally left.” Leila wrung her hands in her lap. “He won’t feed either. You hadn’t eaten or taken any blood...so he refused what we offered, as well. It’s actually been that way since he escaped from Russo’s prison. He barely feeds. He takes just enough to keep him going and then he leaves for days at a time to watch you. Brandon told us he was lovesick.”
Guilt pinched at Elaina’s heart. She’d never wanted Vicq to feel pain and hunger because of her. Everything was her fault.
“Thank you, Leila, for helping me.” Elaina reached out to grab the other woman’s hand. “Will you let him know that I’m better and that he can go feed now?”
Leila laughed, the soft tone echoing throughout the room. “You don’t get it, do you?” She shook her head. “The two of you are so closely bonded now that he’d think twice about feeding from anyone else but you.”
“He’s been doing it for months without me,” she said.
The other woman shook her head. “We all take blood, but at different times for different purposes. Blood to recoup. Blood to gain powers. Blood to kill our enemies. And blood to form a deeper bond. Right now, Vicq needs you and your bond. Everything else is unimportant at the moment.”
Elaina swallowed. “So, it’s true. Dresdan mates rely on each other in that way.”
Leila nodded. “The exchange between m
ates is very intimate, as most of the feeding between a Dresdan couple is done during sex. When you bite him...when you complete the bond, you will mostly crave him. But there will certainly be times when you must take from those other than him. But ultimately, after the bond, it is his blood that will keep you satisfied.” She leaned in and placed a gentle hand against Elaina’s forehead. “At least you’re not running a high temperature anymore.” Standing up, she ran her hands down the front of her dress. “I think I’m done here. The thing that you need, I can’t give to you.” She turned to leave. “I’ll let Vicq know you’re awake.”
“Thanks, Leila.”
The dark-haired beauty paused at the door and grinned. “We’ll talk later about how you can repay me?”
Elaina laughed under her breath as Leila disappeared back through the door.
In the far corner of the room, she spotted her gray duffle bag. It was the bag with the research papers and contracts she’d managed to swipe while still employed with District 5. The bag also contained what she had left of the District 5 drugs she’d taken during her employment with them. She sighed in relief. This wasn’t over. Yet. She still needed to help all those people who were stuck at research facilities against their will.
How would Vicq take this decision? How would she tell him that she didn’t plan to stand by and watch while others attempted to take down District 5, that she planned to be right there with them?
Elaina ran her tongue along her gums and then over her top row of teeth. They were sharper than usual. She reminisced the taste of blood. The way it pulsed against her tongue in rhythm with the heartbeat of her victim. The way it flowed down her throat like the sweetest wine.
There was a small mirror on the dresser beside her. She picked it up and glanced at it, knowing the transformation had begun. Sure enough, she saw the red flecks in her eyes and the sharp ends of her fangs against her lips.
Placing the mirror back in its place, she glanced about the room, focused on several objects, and noted that her vision was enhanced. She could see every hue and texture. From the fine grain leather of the sofa sitting next to the hearth, to the smooth tan suede of the pillows propped up onto the window seat.
The Dresdan Coven Trilogy Page 17
