Faith Revisited (34 page)
“Son of a bitch.” Bale met Remy's look of disbelief. If either Raym or Beelzebub thought they could reverse their inability to procreate, then that meant the brothers had been following the wrong assumption all this time. The tribute had never been one of the brothers, but a brother's mate. And Faith had stepped right into their eager hands. “Jesus. They must not know vampires can't conceive.”
Prue was shaking her head. “Oh, Faith can conceive. She will just suffer miscarriage after miscarriage, carrying each baby until around the fifth month, only to lose it.”
“It will kill her,” Bale whispered. He shook his head. He wasn't going to consider what Raym might intend, because he was going to get her back. He wasn't going to allow that sick little bastard to hurt Faith. As soon as nightfall hit, Garrett's vampires would be scouring the city, each holding a leash as the wolves on the other end scented for any trace of her. They were going to find her.
“It's crap, Bale, and you know it. There is no cure to the curse.”
“And exactly how do you know this?” Prue folded her arms before her defiantly as she stared Zeke down.
“Believe me, doll, I know. Those demons don't have a snowball's chance in hell. They haven't for centuries.”
Prue's eyes narrowed even farther as her gaze swept over Bale and his brothers, leaving him feeling slightly unsettled. Hoping to divert the female's attention, he nodded at the wolf by her side. “What can your friend tell us?”
With that gentle reminder, Charity began to walk slow circles around the parking lot, nose to the ground, until she came to a stop where Faith had been hit. Then she seemed to follow a trail to the street. She remained in the area for several minutes, sniffing the ground, then the air, and then the ground again. Barking once, she scented the air one last time before startling Bale when she shifted.
She remained on her hands and knees, seemingly unconcerned with her nudity, but embarrassed, Bale had to look away.
“Faith was dragged here and placed into an automobile. There is something odd about it. It has its own distinct scent.”
Bale's gaze returned to the female. He thought Prue had looked haggard, but Charity appeared unwell, and Bale felt instant guilt for the crap he had given Prue. He caught how Prue was watching the werewolf with a look of pity. He thought to pursue it, but then Charity's next statement caught his attention.
“I might be able to follow the trail.” She paused a moment, glancing at the ground, and released a shuddering breath, which traveled down her spine.
“Sweetie, are you sure you are up to this?” Prue stepped closer to Charity, resting a gentle hand on the other female's head.
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“Yeah. I need this, Prue.” The other female nodded and stepped back, and Charity centered her attention again on Bale. “I can't make any promises, and I would really hate to send anyone on a wild-goose chase.”
“Right now that's all we have. Wild-goose chases. A chance is better than nothing.”
Charity gave him a small smile, then shifted back to wolf. Prue placed a collar loosely around her neck, then clipped a leash to it. Holding up the other end, she said to Bale, “Would you like to do the honors?”
Zeke stepped forward. “Let me. If we find anything, I'll let you know immediately. But if it doesn't pan out, there's no sense you wasting time better spent.”
“As soon as you know,” Bale repeated before watching as the red wolf led Zeke down the street. He would have continued to observe them if his attention had not been immediately captured by a moving mass out of the corner of his eye. Two beefy vampires—Faith's bouncers—wanted to help in the search, so coordinating with Remy, Bale sent them to Arak, who was heading the search north of downtown. Once he returned his gaze to them, the pair was out of sight.
* * * *
She knew the other had to be Bale's missing brother, Raym. He wasn't as tall as Bale, nor did he have the overall mass of her mate, but what he lacked in physique, he made up for in beauty. His hair was cut to his ears, sweeping around the crown of his head in a mass of black curls. His olive complexion only served to highlight the blue-green of his eyes and enhance his white teeth. He smiled as he looked down at her, revealing a dimple in his left cheek. Standing beside the Lilu demon only further emphasized how wrong this situation was. He was far too lovely to be a demon, and he should be helping her, not looking upon her with that wicked gleam in his eyes.
“Balam does have exquisite taste,” he murmured, running a finger lightly down her cheek.
“If only I did not have loftier goals, I would keep you for myself.”
Faith turned her face away, her stomach clenching at his touch. He only chuckled as the finger continued to trail down her neck, tracing a circle around her nipple before he tugged on it roughly. She bucked, a protest lodging in her throat as she tried to break free. Laughing at her feeble attempts, he pinched the nipple harder.
“Stop playing with my gift,” a voice commanded from behind the pair.
Raym immediately stepped aside, allowing the newcomer to come forward. A gasp escaped Faith's lips as she caught a glimpse of him. And she'd thought Raym was beautiful; this new male was several inches taller than Raym but carried himself with a gracefulness Raym lacked. His long silver hair framed a pale face and shimmered around his shoulders as he moved.
He was definitely not human. And he was not a demon.
“My gift is lovely,” he purred, “and I shall put my new pet to good use.”
“Thank you, master.” Raym moved back, knocking the Lilu demon out of his way as he turned from the bed.
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“I am Beelzebub,” the newcomer murmured as he began to roll up his sleeve. “And you, my pet, shall come to enjoy your new life. But first you must feed so you are strong enough for our journey.”
He slid his arm under her nose as if that was all it took. She didn't know what this asshole was thinking, but she'd rather die than feed from him, even if she could. Faith turned her head to the side, ignoring Beelzebub's
tsk
.
“Naughty, naughty.” He grabbed her by her hair, forcing her eyes to meet his. “I am told you have to feed every twelve hours. You have been unconscious for fifteen. You will eat.”
His comment surprised Faith. She'd only been out fifteen hours? Her body was telling her it had been much longer, and that confused her. She considered that, maybe because of her injuries, her body was out of whack.
From his belt he procured a knife and passed the sharp edge across his wrist, slicing it open. The scent of blood hit her nostrils, and she fought her body's reaction. But her teeth would hear none of it. Her fangs dropped as Beelzebub shoved his bleeding arm into her mouth. As she choked on the blood running down her throat, Faith's head thrashed about, seeking freedom, only to find her chin imprisoned in his steely grip.
As soon as the bastard released her, Faith turned her head to the side. “Oh God,” she sobbed, her stomach beginning to burn, and her back arched off the bed. Through a fog, she heard Beelzebub ask the other two males what the hell her problem was, but she was too consumed with agonizing pain.
If she could have moved, she would have curled up into a little ball. Instead, the silver handcuffs around her wrists sliced through her skin as she shifted about restlessly. Then her stomach began to heave, and blood rolled down her chin as she emptied all she'd been forced to consume.
Finished, she sank back into the mattress, her body still spasming from the assault and her skin drenched in sweat.
“What the hell have you brought me?” His face lit with anger, Beelzebub turned to Raym.
“You said she would be the one to end the curse.”
A laugh trickled from Faith. She didn't know what the bastard had planned for her, but she hoped she'd seriously fucked them up. It would serve the son of a bitch right. “Mated. Only Bale's blood.”
“What did you say?” The archdemon turned his eyes, flashing red, on her. The sight almost had Faith peeing her pants.
Closing her eyes, she fought for her last ounce of courage. If she was going to die—and she figured either way she would, because she was no use to them now—she'd at least make Bale proud. She opened her eyes and met his gaze. “Without Bale, I'll die, so kiss your plans good-bye.”
Beelzebub's fists clenched at his sides before one connected with her cheek. “Then you are worthless.”
Her cheek throbbed, and tears leaked from her eyes. “Yeah, I kind of already figured that,”
she whispered, turning her head away. She didn't have to hear his next order to know what was going to happen. She was going to die.
“Kill her,” Beelzebub commanded Raym. Then he blinked out of sight.
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Chapter Eighteen
Zeke allowed the wolf to drag him down the street, wondering how the hell it had come to this. Had he sunk so low that he was now following a mutt around?
He snorted when she came to a halt, her tail wagging happily as she sniffed the tires of an old, beat-up, black utility van. If she pissed on them, he was so done.
When the wolf was quickly replaced by a very nude female, Zeke almost stumbled back in surprise but caught himself just in time. Averting his gaze, he shrugged out of his coat and shoved it toward her.
“That is amazing.” He peeked from the corner of his eye, making sure she was covered before he turned to face her.
Charity smiled softly. “Thanks.” She reached through the open driver's window and snatched something from the rearview mirror. “This is what I smelled.” She held the air freshener to her nose. “Baby powder. How odd.”
“Well, I'll be damned.”
Zeke glanced around, taking in their surroundings. Charity had led him a good five miles from the club to the old Rainier Cold Storage complex. The parts that had not been ravaged by a fire years ago stood dilapidated and in ruins. The truck was parked behind the old brew house, and he was unable to get a glimpse of the occupants inside due to the boarded-up windows.
“I can't guarantee it's the right truck, but…” She shrugged. “I'm going in with you.”
Zeke had been trying to contact Bale, but her statement captured his full attention, causing a smirk to break out across his face. Charity was tall for a female, probably around five feet ten, and still she did not reach Zeke's shoulders. He scoffed at her fragility. She was such a little thing despite her height. He could probably span her entire waist with one hand. And on top of that, she was nude. If she planned on distracting Faith's kidnappers, it would be one hell of a disruption.
“No, you're not.”
She arched a brow before slowly discarding his coat. Zeke watched as it cascaded to the ground. Then she turned into the ugliest damn thing Zeke had ever seen—something from horror flicks. She still had the appearance of a human, only one covered in thick red fur and sporting the wickedest set of claws. Growling at him, she made sure he got a good glimpse of her razor-sharp teeth.
“It's your funeral.” Zeke wasn't about to argue with the Sasquatch, not when she could probably eat him and use his bones to pick her teeth.
Charity growled, and Zeke could only assume that was a good thing. With one last wary glance in her direction, he reached out to Bale.
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“The wolf has led me to a van behind the old Rainier Cold Storage complex. I think we've
found them. And let me just add, your mate has some interesting friends.”
Bale appeared to his left, then stopped short when he saw Charity. “What the hell is that?”
Zeke shrugged, amused by the look of horror on Bale's face. “Apparently werewolves have more than one form.”
Charity growled again, this time deeper…annoyed. She obviously didn't like their talking about her.
Bale threw his hands up defensively. “Well, shit,” he mumbled.
The rest of their brothers blinked in behind Bale, each just as stunned when they caught sight of the werewolf. Several minutes ticked by as Zeke was flooded with a flurry of silent questions until Bale barked, “Enough!”
He yanked his sword from the scabbard hanging at his side. Then raising it high, he said,
“Let's do this.”
* * * *
Breathing became difficult as fear seeped into her bones. She saw no way out of this, no way to save herself from the death Raym planned to inflict. Desperate to reach out to Bale, to at least tell him she loved him, Faith tried to mind-link with him. To no avail, she searched for the link Bale seemed to think they should share. And as tears streaked down her cheeks, she knew even if she did possess such a connection to him, she would never figure it out in time. She was going to die.
“It's a shame the condition you are in now. I would have loved to have sampled you before you died.” He sighed, and Faith released a grateful sob. At least she didn't have to suffer through that indignity. “Oh well. I still get the pleasure of seeing Bale destroyed.”
Rage, sure and swift, consumed Faith, drowning any fear or good sense. “You can't harm Bale, you pitiful little shit. That's why you sent the Rabisu demon to attack him. Against Bale, you don't stand a chance.”
