The wind blew his hair back and chilled the exposed skin of his face and hands as he looked up and down the busy street before turning right. This wasn’t the normal hustle and bustle of a city; this was the movement of people and vampires who skulked through the shadows, studiously trying to avoid the law or death.
“Hey, baby,” a woman with a red-painted mouth and blue eyes greeted him as he walked by. “Fifteen dollars and I’ll make you forget all other women.”
Brian’s skin crawled at the idea of touching the woman, let alone in a sexual way. “Fifteen dollars, and she’ll make you holler,” Declan quipped from behind him.
Brian shot a look at the vampire over his shoulder. In the dim radiance filtering from the few unbroken streetlights, the red in Declan’s dark auburn hair shone like blood. His strange, almost silver, gray eyes twinkled as he winked at the woman who had been trying to pick up Brian.
The woman grinned at him and stuck out a bony hip. “I’ll make you holler for free, baby,” she offered.
“I bet you would,” Declan replied. The woman grinned at him enough to reveal her blackened and missing teeth.
“That is enough to make any man holler,” Brian said before taking a left into another back alley.
Two humans in the middle of going at it didn’t look up as they walked by. All he wanted was to get back to Abby, but before he touched her again, he was going to scrub his skin for an hour. He couldn’t allow her to be exposed to any of this. Right now, he kept her mostly blocked from his mind; he didn’t want her to accidentally glimpse or sense something she shouldn’t.
These two humans and the woman back there were the best of it. In the shadows, he could hear others having sex or fighting. The rancid stench of death emanated from something far larger than a rat or stray dog between the brick walls of the alley. Music played from somewhere, but the bricks surrounding him distorted the noise and made it sound as if it came from everywhere at once.
At the end of the alley, he made a right as he followed the call of a soul he’d only encountered once before, and it was before the man had taken a turn for the worst. It had been fifty years since he’d seen Drake, but he clearly recalled what Drake looked like; there were few as ugly as he was.
Stopping before a warehouse, Brian crossed his arms over his chest as he leaned against the wall. They weren’t in the main part of the city, but a large suburb about a half an hour outside of it. It had been possible for him to track Drake to the winding streets of this forsaken town, but he was still struggling to keep a hold on him.
“What is it?” Killean demanded gruffly from behind him.
Brian glanced back at the other vamp, his gaze remaining steady on Killean’s golden eyes. Many often glanced nervously away from those eyes, if not because of the feral gleam in them, then because of the mask of indifference Killean often wore. The scar that marred his face also caused some to turn away from him. The scar sliced straight down Killean’s right eye from his deep brown hairline to the center of his cheek.
How he hadn’t lost his eye was a mystery to Brian, one he’d most likely never know the answer to. Killean hadn’t been fully mature when the scar was obtained, but it still should have healed and faded away. However, the blow had been deep enough to leave him marked for the centuries of his life. He wasn’t about to ask Killean how he’d gotten it. Killean had the warmth of a tomb, and conversation was often a lost art on him. Besides, Brian didn’t overly care. Many wore scars no one would ever see, including himself.
Brian turned away from him. “Drake’s moved.”
He stood for a minute, searching through the sickly souls in the area. Some of them were still vibrant; he assumed those belonged to the well-fed vampires feeding off the humans and vamps who weren’t as powerful as them.
“Where?” Killean demanded.
“This way,” Brian said with a jerk of his head and led them through a series of more rat-infested alleys. He’d scrub himself for two hours before touching Abby again. He’d never allow her soul to be tarnished by the hideousness of this place.
Stopping in the alley, he stared across the street to a club with a sign that read, Vampyre in dripping red blood. “Humans are so stupid sometimes,” Declan said as he watched a couple hurry down the stairs.
“Not going to argue with that,” Brian replied. “He’s in there.”
Killean cracked his knuckles, the only enthusiasm he showed over finally locating Drake. “Call Ronan.”
Declan already had his phone out and pressed to his ear. He shook his head before sliding it into his pocket. “Voicemail. He and Saxon must still be taking care of that nest of Drake’s men.”
“Sounds like Drake is all ours then,” Killean said and stepped from the shadows. He strolled across the street toward the club.
Brian glanced at Declan who shrugged. “Ronan’s got his own fun right now; we’ll take ours.” Declan grinned as he slapped Brian on the shoulder. “You’ll be back with your mate in no time.”
“Let’s get this over with then.”
Brian walked beside him across the street as Killean descended the stairs. About the only thing Killean did get excited about was killing, but then, so did he. Brian followed him down the stairs and stepped into the poorly lit club. Declan and Killean fanned out, their gazes sliding over the crowd as they searched for Drake in the crush of humans grinding against each other to the rhythm of the sensual music flowing from the speakers beside the stage.
On the stage was a band of vampires with their faces painted white and streaks of blood trickling from the corners of their mouths. The blood was real, but the humans didn’t care or notice as the lead singer swayed back and forth with his microphone. The band members behind him played a keyboard and guitar.
Humans danced on the stage amongst them, swirling to the flow of the changing lights and the beat. A human woman with her face painted white and fake fangs hanging over her bottom lip held out her wrist to the guitar player. She cried out in ecstasy when he sank his fangs into her. Brian had heard about clubs where people pretended to be vampires, and he realized that was exactly what these people believed was happening here.
“Really stupid,” Declan muttered.
“This way,” Brian said and shoved his way through the bodies.
Fury ate at his gut as he tried to remain focused on Drake’s soul, but it was difficult to stay locked on him in this crowd of vamps and humans. The asshole was not only risking exposure with this place, but he was also targeting vampires like Abby. If it were the last thing he did, he would make sure Drake died this night.
Walking along the back wall, he continued to search the crowd, but his ability kept pulling him to the center of the wall. He stood before it, frowning as he studied its smooth black surface. “What are you doing?” Killean demanded from beside him.
Brian rested his fingers against the wall, searching for something that would explain why he was drawn here. “There’s something here.”
“A wall,” Killean said slowly.
“My ability has never failed me before. It may not be able to pinpoint someone every time, but it’s never misled me. Right now, it wants behind this wall.”
“Interesting,” Declan murmured and stepped beside him. His gaze ran over the wall then to the end of it. “This way.”
He turned and led them down a hallway with bathrooms and a few backrooms off of it. Drawn to the first backroom, Brian turned the knob and stepped inside. No one was within the room of cleaning supplies, but he instinctively knew there was more to it. Walking around, he searched the shelves and walls for anything that would somehow get them behind the wall.
He was about to go and find a sledgehammer or dynamite when he heard a click. Killean stepped away from the wall that swung open. Dim light, from the room they were in, spilled into the hall beyond the door. Killean reached into his black trench coat and pulled out two stakes. Declan swung a crossbow out from underneath his coat, and Brian pulled his own stakes free.
Adrenaline pulsed through his veins, and his fangs tingled in anticipation. He’d told himself he’d kept Abby shut out because he didn’t want her to experience the places he did, but he knew it was because of this. She couldn’t know how much he enjoyed and thrived on the rush of the kill, no matter how deserving that death may be.
He stepped into the once hidden hallway with the others. As soon as they moved past a certain point, the door began to swing shut behind them. He glanced up in search of cameras but saw none in the hall. The door must close on a sensor or timer. Declan took a step toward it and reached out to stop it from shutting.
“Leave it,” Killean murmured.
Declan’s hand fell to his side as the door clicked shut. Brian didn’t bother to look back; he’d tear this place apart with his bare hands if it became necessary to escape. Voices floated from behind the closed door at the end of the hall. The closed rooms they passed on their way toward the voices all held the faded scent of someone within them, but he detected no heartbeats behind the closed doors. All of the known vampire purebloods had been accounted for as of this morning, so it wasn’t their scents he detected.
Killean was actually smiling by the time they arrived at the end of the hall. Declan’s face had become unreadable as his eyes remained fixed on the door before them. Brian’s pulse thrummed in his ears. He grabbed hold of the handle and looked to the others. At Declan’s brisk nod, he jerked the door open.
The dozen or so vampires within didn’t immediately react when they glanced up from the cards in their hands. One actually lifted his hand in greeting before the smile froze on his face. Before they could react, Declan released a bolt from his crossbow that went straight through the closest vamp’s heart. Startled shouts finally erupted in the room as the vamps leapt to their feet. The card table they’d been sitting around was flung into the air, chips and cards scattered around the room as they charged forward.
Brian swung out, driving his stake into the chest of the one who leapt at him before spinning away to grab another’s head. He yanked back with so much force that the vamp’s spine tore from his body before he collapsed at Brian’s feet. Palming the vamp’s head in his hand, he smashed it against the next vampire who charged at him.
The vamp flew across the room and crashed into the wall across from him. Through the pulse of blood pounding in his ears, he heard the door behind him close.
Where’s Drake? The thought had just crossed his mind when a thick gas began to flow into the room. Brian’s eyes darted up to the vents he hadn’t noticed at the top of the wall when they’d first entered. He stepped to the side to avoid the next lunging vamp and slammed his foot into the man’s back when he fell to the floor. The crack of the spine beneath his foot sounded as more gas spilled into the room.
The vampire wailed beneath him. Raising his foot, he planted his boot into the back of the vamp’s head, driving it into the floor. His throat burned, and his eyes watered as the gray gas filled the room like smoke from a fire. He had no idea what was being pumped into the room, but he could feel a strange lethargy starting to take him over as his head spun.
“We have to get out of here,” Declan choked out and stepped toward the door.
Brian held his breath as he lunged for the handle of the door. He yanked at it as another vampire staggered toward him through the smoke. Before the vamp could reach him, his eyes rolled back in his head and he collapsed on the floor. His fallen form was promptly swallowed by the gas permeating the room. Brian jerked on the door handle again. From the other side of the door, a loud click echoed.
Killean elbowed him out of the way and seized hold of the handle. His eyes blazed a fiery red, as the handle remained unmoving in his grasp. All around them, the remaining vamps collapsed to the floor.
Brian’s vision blurred, and he tightened his grip on his stakes as darkness beckoned invitingly to him. He stumbled into the wall, leaning heavily against it as he tried to keep his rubbery legs under him. He had to stay awake; he’d never wake again if he went under now. Declan fell beside him, his crossbow clattering against the tile floor as it skittered away. Killean slumped against the door then sank to his knees as the gas took hold of him.
Unable to withstand the burning of his lungs anymore, Brian sucked in a greedy gulp of air then coughed against the gas searing his lungs. He’d promised Abby he’d return for her. He realized now, he wouldn’t.
Abby, her name was a blaze of agony across his mind as his legs gave out. He’d failed to protect his family again, and now she would lose her life too.
***
Abby bolted upright in bed. Sweat coated her body and her nightgown was tangled around her legs as cold dread slid down her spine. She’d dreamt of Brian the past three nights he’d been gone, but they’d been dreams of longing. This had been a nightmare the likes of which she couldn’t escape. He’d been choking on something, unable to breathe, her name the last thing on his mind before he was dragged away from her.
He was in trouble. She knew it as surely as she knew she was right-handed. Throwing back the sheets, she almost toppled off the massive bed in her rush to get out of it. She snatched at her phone on the nightstand and hit his number. The ceaseless ringing set her teeth on edge. She’d spoken with him earlier and he’d been fine, but she couldn’t shake the certainty he needed help.
She didn’t bother with her robe as she rushed toward the door and flung it open. She ran down the hall, but she had no idea where she was going. No idea which room was Lucien’s.
Finally, she gave up and started shouting his name. “Lucien! Lucien!”
She ran down another hall, her heart thumping more wildly with every passing second. “Lucien!” Her screams were becoming shriller, her voice raw from her cries. “Lucien!”
“Abby? What are you doing?” she turned to find Vicky rushing toward her.
“Where is Lucien?”
“Right here.” Abby spun to find Lucien standing behind her. She had no idea where he’d come from, and she didn’t care. His sandy hair stood up in tussled spikes, and his sweats hung low on his waist. His pale chest was bared as he hadn’t bothered to put a shirt on. His sleep-swollen eyes focused on her. “And not at all pleased about being woken at this hour.”
Abby didn’t give a shit what pleased him. “Brian’s in danger.”
Lucien rolled his eyes. Abby almost punched him in the face for the reaction, but managed to keep herself restrained. “You probably had a bad dream.”
“It wasn’t a bad dream!” she snapped at him. “I have to find him!”
“Abby—”
She shrugged off the hand Vicky rested on her shoulder. “I’m not screwing with you,” she snarled at Lucien. “You have to call one of your friends, now.”
“I don’t take orders from anyone except Ronan.”
He was a good eight inches taller than she was, but they were standing toe to toe as she glowered at him. “Then call Ronan because I am going after him.”
“You’re not going anywhere.”
Spinning away from him, she ignored the startled looks of the other recruits who had joined them in the hall as she rushed by them. She shook off Vicky’s hands again and put her shoulder down to shove her way past Aiden and David when they stepped together to block her way.
“Abigail!” Aiden shouted as she broke through them, adrenaline and panic enhancing her strength.
“Get back to your rooms!” Lucien barked behind her. There were some scurrying sounds followed by the thumps of doors closing and the ringing of a phone.
Abby flew back into her room and raced around it as she tugged clothes on. She didn’t care about her things, but running out of here half-naked in search of Brian wouldn’t do her any good if he were in the city. She didn’t have his ability, but she would find him. She didn’t let herself doubt that; she may lose her mind if she did.
She snagged two stakes and a crossbow from where Brian had stashed them in their room just in case. A shadow fell over the doorway while she was shoving her feet into her hiking boots. “I’ll kill you if you try to stop me,” she spat at Lucien without glancing up at him.
“I’m looking at her right now.” She spun toward him, crossbow raised. She was prepared to fight to the death to get free of this place. He calmly lifted a hand to forestall her trigger finger while he listened to whoever was speaking through the phone. “We’ll be there soon.”
He hung up the phone and slipped it into his pocket. “Ronan wants to see you, now.”
“Where is Brian?” she demanded.
“Brian, Declan, and Killean have vanished. He’s hoping you can help find Brian.”
Abby’s heart sank. She’d known something was wrong, but the confirmation of it was a knife to her soul. Not dead, missing. If he were dead, I would know it. I’d be dying too.
“Let’s go,” she said brusquely and threw the crossbow onto her back.
“Can I get dressed first?” he inquired.
“No.”