Stolen-Kindle1 (4 page)

“Wait a minute.” Pam interjected. “This really doesn’t explain why we need to be locked up. Unless she is one of the most jealous women—err, I mean, vamp lady on this planet, did she really have to go to such lengths? I mean, honestly, Ally, you barely know Benedict. How can you be such a threat in her eyes?”

Ally sighed. “Well, the problem is that Ben has zero intention of marrying Moira now. In fact, he and I, err, had sex and, um, kind of bonded.”

“What?!” Both girls cried in unison.

“You slept with him on the first night? Oh, Ally. You know the rules! No sex on the first date! What will he think of you now?” Trish asked.

Pam stared at Trish in disbelief. “To hell with the dating rules! Didn’t you hear what she just said? The marriage might not take place and we could be stuck in here for a long time.”

Trish eyes widened in fear. How long could they possibly be imprisoned in here? Why would Benedict be so quick not to marry his fiancée? Were Ally and he in love? So soon?

Ally cleared her throat. She needed to get their attention back. Though she knew she just dropped a bomb on her friends, she wasn’t quite finished
yet
. She had to clarify how serious she and Ben were. How things would never ever be the same again.

“Also, um, I’m in mid-transformation and should soon be a full fledge vampire...”

“HOLY SHIT!” Pam and Trish cried.

CHAPTER
FOUR

November 1st

6:41 AM

B
enedict stared absentmindedly out the window of his parent’s library. His mind was too preoccupied to appreciate the panoramic view of the gardens laid below. His family’s residence was a three-story, 50-room mansion built between 1897 and 1899. It was his most cherished place and he hoped to bring Ally here, once they were officiated.

Remembering his dilemma, Benedict rubbed his jaw. He was nowhere near at finding her than he was a few hours ago. He called some key people from the council, but bureaucracy had a tendency of moving at a snail pace. In addition, he was loath to get too many people involved. He remained unsure as to whom to trust and he did not want anything or anyone to alert the abductor. He turned and faced Gabriel with a solemn look on his face.

Gabe returned his gaze. Though he had never bonded with another, he knew what it was like, to lose someone you love. He pushed himself off the plush leather armchair and walked over to Ben.

When Benedict realized that Ally was missing, Gabe was the first person he tried to contact. He quickly brought his friend up to speed on everything that recently occurred within the last few hours. Ben explained that, as of now, he does not have any leads on her whereabouts or knew the people who were responsible for her disappearance.

Gabe scoffed. “Honestly, man, you don’t have the faintest idea?”

“It’s not her. She’s not involved.”

“Truly? Don’t you find it interesting that out of everyone, she is the only one with a motive?”

“And what motive would that be?”

“To get married to you! She probably figured out that you met your mate.”

“For the last time, Gabe, Moira is in Argentina. She is visiting one of her friends as we speak.”

“She’s lying. I bet that she’s nowhere near Argentina.”

Benedict shook his head. Once an idea entered Gabe’s skull, it was hard to get it out. He was truly the most stubborn man he had ever met.

“Gabe, don’t you think that I would have sensed her? After knowing her for all this time, I would have noticed her faintest scent. I can assure you that the smell that I detected was not hers. It belonged to someone else.”

Gabe ran his left hand over his short raven hair, visibly frustrated. Even now, Benedict was astonished that his friend had still managed not to find his mate. Was he doing it on purpose? Human or vamp, Gabe refused to settle down with either kind, which was not easy, since he received numerous offers for dates every week. The man was not even betrothed! Benedict really envied him that part.

Gabriel was not quite sure how Moira could be involved if Benedict failed at detecting her scent. Every vampire carried a unique odor. However, those from the same family had similar scents, but each member had their distinct perfume to separate themselves from each other. Could it be that Moira was able to mask her odor? If so, how did she know of the spell?

“Then who do you suggest it could be?” Gabe questioned.

“That’s what I intend to find out.”

“Do you think it’s possible that Ally changed her mind and left by the balcony?”

“Don’t be a fool. We’re bonded. Trying to be apart from one another would prove to be most difficult.”

“Exactly, and it’s also impossible to break, therefore we can deduct that someone has taken her against her will.”

Benedict slowly nodded his head. Yes, she was taken. Of course, he foreseen this, he knew that it was risky to find his mate, but for Ben, it no longer matter who did what. It was imperative to find Ally so he can assure himself that she was safe. The fact that she was also in transformation made their situation a little trickier.

“Will you assist me, Gabe?”

“Ben, you really needn’t ask. Have I not said, since we were lads, that I would always be by your side no matter what?”

“That was after you stole and broke my wooden train set. You know, I cried for days.”

“Yes, and who was there for you?”

“Bastard.”

“Indeed. Now, where do you want to go with this? And how far do you want to go?”

Benedict shrugged. “I contacted some officials from the High Counc—“

“Right, well, while you go around in circles, I’ll be questioning the Verdons.” Gabe interrupted.

Impatiently, Benedict glared at his friend.

“If you think that I’ll allow you to harass Moira and her family, let me disabuse you from that notion right now.”

The last thing Benedict needed was to upset Moira, who he knew was not involved one way or another. How could she, who was thousands of kilometers away, have known about Ally? She had been visiting her friend for two weeks now.

“I’m telling you, she’s involved!”

“Gabe, what exactly do you have against the Verdons’ House? Why do you have such a grudge against Moira and her family?”

Gabe smirked. How many times had he heard this question? It would have been so easy for him to tell Benedict, to have shared his pain with someone who might understand. To expose the Verdons for what they truly were. But, not today. It could wait. Someone dear to Ben was depending on both of them to get a move on.

He walked across the room. As he reached the door, he shot over his shoulder, “All in due time, my friend.”

Benedict was getting mighty tired of hearing that response.

After Gabriel’s departure, Benedict resumed pacing the lavishly garnished room. He felt helpless, and it annoyed him to no end. With every minute that passed, Ben became more restless and fearful. He knew what could happen to Ally if she was not properly taken cared for during her first few several hours as a vampire.

Maybe it was wrong. The tome he plucked from his father’s ancient library could have had errors. Vampire and human interbreeding was a rare occurrence and little documentation was done on the subject. To make matters worse, most of what was documented was written in the Old Language. Who knew if what was translated was even correct. Perhaps, he was making a bigger deal about this than he should. However, Benedict was never much of a risk taker for the things that were important to him.

Damn it, he muttered softly, taking a seat in the armchair that Gabe once preoccupied. He closed his eyes and tried to focus, tried to reach out to Ally and locate her whereabouts. He allowed his senses to spread outwards, to expand beyond its limit to connect with his mate. Once a vampire bonded with another, the pair shared a unique connection. An ability to sense the other’s presence, emotions, and even, in some rare occasions, to know what they were thinking. However, Benedict was not certain that he could attempt a connection with a transformed vampire. Nowhere was it written that they would be able to share this talent. Yet, he had to try.

Shutting everything out, he concentrated on Ally. Ben squeezed images of her beautiful face, of her intoxicating scent, of the feel of her velvety skin and the taste of her sweet lips. He shook with intensity as he tried to stay focused; he pried, poke and tried his hardest to reach Ally, but he kept hitting a black solid wall. Try as he might, he was unable to connect with her. Was it simply because Ally was not pureblooded, therefore could not be reached, or was someone purposely preventing Benedict from connecting with her? If it was the latter, how were they capable of doing such a thing?

Ben stood and walked over to call an old friend. He needed to confirm what he read earlier was correct, and if it was possible to block a signal. If anyone would be able to give him some advice and answers, it would be the former Historian Archivist from the High Council.

As he was about to pick up the phone, it rang. Puzzled, he picked it up and held it to his ear, listening.

It was Moira.

CHAPTER
FIVE

November 1st

7:41 AM

B
enedict was glad to hear from Moira. Despite what Gabe thought, he was sure that she had nothing to do with Ally’s disappearance. He was absolutely convinced. He remained unsure about her father and the rest of the Verdons’ family, but Moira truly wanted him to be happy. She was like this ever since they were kids.

Eight decades ago, while they were strolling the grounds of his parent’s estate, Benedict confessed to Moira that he wanted to find his mate. Initially, he thought this revelation would upset her. Her family was looking forward to the union. Benedict recalled her father proudly announcing that the two powerful households in their realm would finally be reunited. Instead, he was surprised when she smiled at him, resting her right hand softly on his arm.

“Benedict, you know that I love you like a cherished brother. Nothing would please me more than to see you happy.” She kissed him softly on his lips. She tasted so sweet. She whispered that it was all right and that she would wait for him if ever he were to be unsuccessful in his search. Benedict was mildly surprise how he almost decided that perhaps Moira would make a better mate than any other women.

Recently, Moira even became inspired with Benedict’s dedication and started reading up on vampire and human interrelationships. She told Ben, unbeknownst to her own family, that she, too, was trying to seek her match. It was for this reason why she went to visit her friend in Argentina. Moira was certain that in order to find one’s mate, it was important to visit every major city in the world. To increase one’s odds, she said cheerfully. Benedict remembered how amused he was when he saw the maps of places she visited and would soon go.