Blood Hunt (24 page)

Cain didn’t know how he was going to stand losing Sibyl. Caring for her had been his greatest joy in life. And now she was leaving.

He couldn’t blame her for wanting to go, but that didn’t stop the mountain of grief he felt from crushing him.

His baby girl was leaving him. It didn’t matter that she wasn’t his biological child, or that she hadn’t even really been a child for a long time. The only thing that mattered was that he’d felt like a father. And now she was taking that away.

He knew she’d always love him. He also knew that it was healthy for her to move out on her own, but after so many years, he wasn’t sure if his heart could handle the shock.

He arranged for more food to be taken to their suite as he headed for Joseph’s office. He wasn’t sure how he was going to convince their leader to let an unbound female Theronai out on her own, but he had to find a way. Sibyl deserved to be happy. He wanted that for her more than he wanted anything. And if he had to fight Joseph to make it happen, then that’s what he’d do.

A searing pain hit his chest, nearly knocking him over. It felt like something had stabbed him, and he jerked his shirt up to see what it was.

A trio of leaves fell from his lifemark, fluttering down over his skin as they fell.

Cain braced himself against the wall. He’d always had a healthy batch of leaves. His pain had always been manageable.

That had been Sibyl’s doing. She’d needed him, and because of that, he’d stayed strong and solid.

She didn’t need him anymore, and based on the proof gathering at the base of his lifemark, his soul knew it.

Chapter 17

“I
saw two new faces today,” said Sister Olive that night as she loaded blankets into the washing machine. “A man and a young woman. The man was asking some of the others about you. Do you know him?”

Hope stifled a yawn as she folded laundry. The easy, mundane chore helped soothe her nerves, giving her time to think. Fatigue grated against her eyes and ached in her joints.

She’d finished her last appointment and closed up shop early, leaving Jodi to her work. The whole day had oozed by in a fog of fatigue and frustration and she needed to get out and clear her head.

She wasn’t sure if she was going to see Logan again or not. She tried to convince herself that having him out of her life was for the best, but she couldn’t quite choke down that lie.

“I didn’t see a man. I only saw the young woman,” she told Sister Olive. “The pretty one with the dark, frightened eyes. The one in the too-small clothes.” Not only had they been too small, they’d also been slutty, like something a streetwalker would wear. That coupled with the fear screaming through her aura made Hope wonder what had happened to the poor girl.

“I found her something that fits in the donation box. And I called Dr. Oakes to see if she could stop by for a visit.”

“You think she was abused,” said Hope. She’d thought the same thing when she’d seen the small, black-eyed woman stumble in here as if dazed.

“Dr. Oakes will be the judge of that. We’ll get her any help she might need.”

Hope stacked a folded towel onto the pile. “Do you think she’ll stay that long?”

Sister Olive shrugged. “I don’t know. We can only pray she does.”

“Do you want me to talk to her?”

“No. I think she’s too skittish for that. Give her some space and we’ll let Dr. Oakes approach her.”

Hope nodded. “I’m sorry I haven’t been here as much lately.”

“Child, I’m surprised you stuck around this long. Your business is growing. You need to nurture it like a plant or it’ll die on the vine.”

“My business is fine. And I like being here. You’re my family. Besides, I seem to be the only one around here that’s convinced people are going missing.”

Sister Olive smoothed stray strands of iron gray hair behind her ear and gave Hope a hard stare. “People come and go. You know that as well as I do. If you go out there trying to keep tabs on everyone, you’re going to scare them away.”

“What if you’re wrong? What if this feeling I have is right and they’re out there, hoping someone will save them?”

“You plan to save them?”

“Why not?”

“Don’t you think that’s a bit dangerous? You need to leave that kind of work to the police.”

“They’re doing what they can,” said Hope, repeating what the cops had told her over and over.

Sister Olive abandoned the laundry and gave Hope a tight hug. “Don’t you dare get yourself hurt. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“I’ll be fine.”

“You’re going out again tonight, aren’t you?”

Hope nodded. “I have to. I can’t sit around and do nothing.”

Sister Olive gave her a maternal smile. “I understand. You have a calling you need to answer. I won’t stop you.”

That was good, because while Hope desperately wanted Sister Olive’s blessing, she knew she’d continue on her chosen path even without it. She didn’t need anyone’s approval to do what she thought was right. Not Sister Olive’s and certainly not Logan’s.

 

Tynan had done what he could for Grace and was on his way out to finally meet Logan when Nika stopped him in his path. Her white hair and pale skin made her blue eyes stand out in stark contrast. She was dressed from head to toe in black leather, and Tynan would have bet his fangs that Madoc had made sure it was imbued with the strongest protective wards the Sentinels had to offer.

“You have to do something,” she said, hands on her hips, her booted feet braced apart.

“I am doing something. You’re getting in my way.”

“You have to do something about Tori,” she clarified. “She’s slipping away.”

“I saw her last night. She’s suffering, but she’s not getting any worse. I’ve done all I can.”

“She is getting worse.” Nika frowned in confusion, shaking her head. “I can’t touch her mind much anymore. She keeps me out. But sometimes, I get a glimpse of her thoughts and they’re not healthy. She’s consumed with thoughts of revenge.”

“I’d say that’s good. She needs something to work toward, and while I’d rather she be pushing herself to become well enough to take her place among the Theronai, I won’t complain about her choice of motivation. So long as she stays motivated.”

“Your efforts to clean her blood have failed.”

“I can only do so much for her at a time. You have no idea how exhausting—how painful—it is to fight back the taint that’s in her.”

Nika stripped off her leather jacket and tossed it on the floor. She shoved up her sleeve and offered him her delicate, pale arm. “Go ahead. Chow down.”

Tynan shook his head and backed up a step. Not only would Madoc kill him—again—if he touched her, he didn’t want her blood inside him. It would give her too much power, allowing her to see into his thoughts.

Tynan had far too many secrets to keep to let that happen. His as well as those of others he’d fed from. “No, thanks. I’m on my way to meet Logan. He’ll give me what I need.”

“You’re not leaving. Not with Tori like this.”

Frustration grated along his nerves. He knew better than to let it out on Nika, but the urge to vent at someone was nearly overwhelming. “I’ve been stuck here for days, taking care of both your sister as well as Grace, who is, by the way, much worse off than Tori. I have done everything within my power to see to it that they both recover. Logan has found a new source of power, and if you value your sister’s life, you will step out of my way and let me pass.”

“Not until you promise me you’ll fix her.”

Tynan had no idea what kind of control a promise like that would hold over him, so he refused. “You’re only standing in the way of what you want most. Please, step aside.”

“Is there a problem?” boomed a deep voice from behind Tynan.

Madoc.

Tynan’s neck tensed involuntarily. Madoc had broken it only days earlier, and it was going to take a lot longer than that for Tynan to forget.

He spun around to face the warrior. “Nika has decided I should take her blood rather than go out hunting for it. I was explaining to her that you would not approve.”

“The leech is right,” said Madoc. “He’s not getting another fucking drop of your blood, Nika.”

Nika glared at Tynan. “He’s leaving. Tori is still sick and he’s going to walk away. We can’t let him do that.”

Madoc picked up her jacket and draped it over her slender shoulders. With a touch so gentle that Tynan wasn’t even sure Madoc was capable of it, he lifted Nika’s chin. “He’s been busting his ass, love. I know you’re worried. We all are, but what’s wrong with Tori is going to take time to fix.”

Nika’s eyes flooded with tears. “She’s in pain. I have to find a way to make it stop.”

Madoc pulled her against his body, wrapping his thick arms around her. He held her head against his shoulder, smoothing her hair with comforting strokes.

He looked at Tynan over Nika’s head. “Is there anything else you can do?”

“The only thing left is to put her to sleep while we work on driving the Synestryn blood from her system. I offered her the option and she refused.”

“We’ll talk to her about it. If she agrees, will you do it?”

“As soon as I return,” said Tynan. “But I need to go now.”

“Go,” said Madoc. “We’ll talk to Tori.”

“If anything happens while I’m away, Alexander is here at Dabyr tonight. I’ll try to be back before sunrise.”

“We’re not going to let anything happen,” said Madoc, more to Nika than to Tynan. “We’ll take good care of Tori while you’re gone.”

 

After dinner, Hacksaw saw the blond woman dart through the swinging door that led to the kitchen. She had her coat on like she was leaving.

He couldn’t let her get away. The master would not be pleased if he failed to bring the woman back. Alive. He had to remind himself of that part so he didn’t accidentally mess up and kill her, no matter how much easier it would be.

He didn’t dare follow her out the back way for fear of being noticed. Instead he hurried through the growing crowd of stinking men, out the front, and ran around the side of the building to intercept her.

She moved between buildings fast, huddled against the cold. She had a bag slung over her shoulder, which meant he had to be cautious of weapons. She didn’t look to be the sort to shoot him, but anything was possible.

The switchblade in his pocket grew cold, reminding him that it was there, waiting to be used. It had been a long time since he’d killed a woman, but he could still remember how easily the knife slid into her soft skin. And that look of fear on her face had been better than any drug he’d ever used.

It wasn’t as good as a word of praise from the master, but it was close.

The woman turned a corner, disappearing from sight. Hacksaw hurried to catch up to her, unwilling to lose sight of her for even a minute.

She was behind buildings now—out of sight of the street and passing cars. It wasn’t dark yet, but that was too bad. He’d have to risk attacking her in what was left of the daylight. No one was out in this cold, anyway. All he had to do was knock her out, tie her up, and drive his car back here and dump her in it. He’d be back to the master in time for him to wake and see the gift Hacksaw had brought him.

The rest of the night he’d spend basking in the master’s praise.

A shiver of anticipation raced down his spine. He couldn’t make that happen fast enough. He had to act. Now. Get the woman and get his reward.

He was only a few yards behind her now. As quietly as he could, he broke into a run.

She glanced over her shoulder. Saw him. Her eyes widened with fear and she froze for a second before she sprinted away.

Hacksaw followed at a dead run.

Cold air sawed in and out of his lungs, but did nothing to cool his blood. He loved the chase. He was going to love catching her even more.

She was fast, but he was gaining on her. He’d have her before she cleared the next corner.

 

Panic pounded through Hope’s blood. The man chasing her was a killer. She could see it in the bleak, empty spots in his aura. Black surrounded them, like the rotting edge of a wound. He looked human, and maybe he was, but not completely. He’d been touched by something dark and malevolent. Infected.

She sprinted, sucking in huge gulps of frigid air. Her feet slipped on the ice. She cursed herself for not calling Nicholas to come with her. It was an hour until dark. She thought she’d be safe until the sun went down.

The man chasing her proved her wrong.

Hope fumbled for her cell phone. Nicholas’s number was programmed on speed dial as he’d insisted. Her gloves made the phone slippery, but she didn’t dare take the time to strip them off.

She tried to punch Nicholas’s number, but her gloves got in the way and she pressed too many buttons.

The phone bobbed in her vision and she couldn’t focus on it, so she went by the feel of the buttons, hoping she remembered right.

Before she could hit send, something hard slammed into her from behind. The phone spun out of her grasp. She landed hard on the icy pavement, hitting her chin. Her teeth snapped together. Her head spun and confusion swamped her.

She couldn’t figure out what she was doing on the ground, especially in this cold.

Hope was flipped over. A man hovered over her. His teeth were locked together in a snarl. His bottom lip was scarred, as if someone had sliced it open and it had healed crookedly. A scraggly beard hid his jaw and a feral light burned in his gaze.

“Got you,” he growled at her. “The master will be pleased.”

Hope didn’t know who or what he was talking about. She’d never seen this man before. She would have remembered his rotting aura if she had.

Blood seeped from her chin, cooling as it ran along her neck. She tried to say something that would stop him, but her mouth seemed to be frozen shut. Whether from the fall or from fear she wasn’t sure, but nothing was working right. She couldn’t figure out how to fix it.