Page 60 of Blood

The world tilts. It’s colder, harsher, all of a sudden. I squeeze his hand back, trying to offer comfort. But inside, my mind’s racing. I thought the bond Kole and I shared was unlike anything either of us had experienced before.

I knew he’d been with other women, but I never thought about him drinking from one the way he drinks from me.

The image of a super-hot, dark-haired vampire queen, straddling my viking, pummels my brain.

“Can you tell where she is?” I ask, trying to focus.

He closes his eyes, concentrating. “Can’t be sure where. Just… close.”

I turn to Kim. “What about you?”

“The energy is swirling,” he says, looking around and narrowing his eyes. “There’s a lot of it. It’s hard to pin down. Whatever she’s using to try to shield herself, it’s confusing things.” He holds up his index finger then says, “One minute.” And paces away, tilting his head as if he’s listening very hard for something.

The others circle around me, faces grim.

I take a deep breath, steadying myself. I can’t afford to get lost in my feelings about Kole and Zephyra. Not now. “Okay,” I say, more to myself. “Kole, Mack, Snow head back and tell Thornfield we think we’ve located Zephyra. When Kim’s pinpointed her location, Tanner and I will go in.”

Kole’s about to protest; I see it in his eyes, that protective glint. The feeling that he needs to be with me even though he knows it could break him to be so close to reminders of his past.

I raise a hand, stopping him before he can start. “No arguing. Mack and Snow aren’t well enough to fight.”

Mack rubs his palm over his face and turns away from me. He feels useless. I know he does. But I don’t have time to pander to his ego. I meet his eyes and give him a defiant stare.

His lips twitch into a smile, understanding what I’m telling him. Then he raises his hands and says, “All right, Little Star. Whatever you say.”

Next to Mack, Kole clenches his jaw, clearly not happy, but he nods.

“When we find her, how exactly…” Tanner trails off, his words drowned out by the sound of footsteps racing toward us.

Emerging from behind an abandoned hot dog stand, Kim waves his arms frantically. “Run!” he shouts.

My heartbeat thunders in my chest. At the same moment, the sky rumbles and the rain starts to fall. Properly now. Large, hard, droplets that land with purpose on my skin.

“It’s a trap!” Kim skids on a slippery patch of ground. He tries to steady himself but falls forward. His glasses tumble from his nose and skid across the floor toward me.

He’s scrambling to his feet when I hear it.

Laughter.

My blood runs cold.

31

LUCIEN

In the dimly lit grandeur of my study, surrounded by antiquities and rare tomes, I find myself facing the glow of the computer screen. Shadows dance upon the walls, animated by the flickering flames from the fireplace.

It took little time to find out where and when the auction was to take place.

The very fact I am being forced to do this, to claim back that which was stolen from me, is an insult. More than an insult.

But, for now, that cannot be my concern.

The vow that runs in my family’s blood – to protect the scepter at all costs – runs hot and furious. I failed. I allowed it to be stolen from me. I shall not fail again.

I grit my teeth and take a sip of whiskey.

The Scepter of Dissolution, a relic of unfathomable power and dark lineage, is to be sold at auction. A relic my family kept safe for centuries – about to be offered to the highest bidder.