Taste of Darkness (31 page)

Bran straightened as an SUV jerked to a halt in front of the locked down village, clasping the file he had in his hand against his side. He’d wanted to see Conall in person because he wasn’t sure who he could trust. Not with the information he’d found. He wasn’t going to pass it off to anyone and he wasn’t emailing the male. This intel was going directly from him to Conall.

Conall and Drake exited the vehicle at the same time, both moving like warriors on a mission. If he was going to pursue Keelin—and he planned to—he would have his hands full with her brothers. Not that she should be his concern now. But she was. Something about her had affected him and he wanted—needed—to know more about her.

The gate opened as the two males reached it. Bran guessed someone was guarding it from a location not visible to outsiders and opened it when anyone wanted to leave. He didn’t wait for them to reach him, but strode over the asphalt, his rubber soled boots silent.

“The rest of the Veles warriors have been eliminated, including the clan leader,” Bran said. A small part of him felt guilt that the female mates of the warriors also died but the clan had declared war, knowing what would happen to them if their attack failed.

“You could have told me that over the phone.” Conall’s gaze flicked down to the file in Bran’s hand for a moment.

“We received interesting intel from one of the Veles warriors before he died. My warrior agreed to put an end to his suffering for any information about why they attacked and how they knew where to attack Drake the first time. Their leader received an anonymous tip on where to find Drake the first time. That was all the warrior knew, but he gave me the date and time the call was made so I had a contact retrieve the leader’s phone records.”

“Contact?” Conall asked.

Bran nodded. That was all he was saying on that subject because he wasn’t telling anyone he’d called his former boss in black ops for a favor. Getting phone records was fucking child’s play for his old team. “Yeah. Cross-referenced all the calls with any connection to any known dragon clans. The call was made from a burner cell and pinged off a tower down in Biloxi.” Which would have left them screwed in locating whoever had bought it because the male had purchased the thing in cash. “But the guy turned the damn thing on which makes it traceable. Tracked the signal back to an address in your village. It’s in the file.”

Conall’s and Drake’s eyes flared silver, the deadliness rolling off them both a palpable thing. After seeing Drake in action Bran was tempted to tell his old boss about the male’s abilities, but wouldn’t. The guy could be a valuable asset in the protection of all supernaturals, but after being locked up in Hell, the male deserved a break. And to live in peace with his mate.

“Just thought you’d want to know,” he continued. He didn’t have the name of whoever lived at the address because the Petronilla clan purchased everything through a corporation and no one’s names were listed. Would make it impossible to plan a specific attack unless you knew where someone lived. But he had no doubt that Conall knew the name and address of every one of his clan members.

Jaw tight, Conall flipped open the file and his eyes burned supernova before returning to gray. He nodded once at Bran. “I’ll need to verify this, but thank you.”

Drake was simply silent, his dragon visible in his silver eyes and pushing at the surface. Not that Bran blamed the guy. Anyone stupid enough to fuck with a dragon’s mate deserved to die. Bran just nodded at Conall and started to leave. He knew the male would be in touch soon enough. They had more to talk about after Conall cleaned house. Like creating a solid alliance between their clans.

As he reached the driver’s side door, he paused and gritted his teeth. Looking back at the males who were already heading back to the gate he cringed at his fucking stupidity, but he couldn’t stop himself. “Conall.”

The male stopped and glanced over his shoulder. “Yeah?”

“Is…Keelin being protected?” Fuck his pride, he had to know. Needed to know she was safe. If the Petronilla clan had a traitor in their midst, the female could be a target considering she was part of their royal line.

Drake’s eyebrows rose just the smallest fraction, but Conall’s expression didn’t alter. “Yes.” He turned away without another word.

Good enough for Bran. Hell, it’d have to be. As the gate started to close, he slid back into the driver’s seat and reversed. He hated the thought of not being able to protect Keelin himself, but knew there was no other option. For now.

* * *

Joy spread through him as blood slowly pooled over the bathroom tile, but there was no time to enjoy the beautiful sight of Keelin and Victoria bleeding.

He had to move quickly.

Conall’s house was under watch, but he’d used a combination of his camouflage and knowledge to gain entrance. Even with the guards, the home’s security system had been armed. Except there were two small windows not linked to the rest of the system. The stained glass windows had recently been installed and he knew Conall hadn’t had the system updated yet. He’d been too busy searching for his brother.

All it had taken was camouflage, patience and skill. He might not be as strong as Conall or Drake, but he was gifted in other ways. The stained glass windows were two of the highest windows in the house so he’d had to shift to his human form at the last minute, midair, and clutch onto the frame, balancing himself before popping the window free. Not all dragons could do that.

He’d been feeling smug at his genius but he’d never imagined he’d see his target ducking into one of the bathrooms as he’d come downstairs. He’d wanted to know what the hell everyone was doing here. Conall had put his home on lockdown with the shifters and his sister in it.

For all he knew they were on to him. His dragon pushed roughly against the surface, begging to be freed, to take over completely. He shoved it back and stayed on task.

The wolf shifter was bleeding faster than Keelin so he grabbed a towel and tied it tight around her middle to staunch it. He didn’t want her dying or losing too much blood. Not when he could still use her. She didn’t move or utter a sound as he shifted her body. Good.

Keelin’s eyes were closed but she was moaning softly. That wouldn’t do. He needed her quiet and he needed to get out of here unseen.

Unfortunately he’d have to set off the alarm to do it. The only good thing was, the guards would be looking in the house for the break in, not for someone escaping. He’d be gone by the time they discovered the blood.

There was no shower curtain in the bathroom and he needed something to help him transport the females. Blood pounding in his ears, he cracked open the door. The hallway was empty.

Using stealth, he hurried down the hall toward the main sitting room. There was a huge afghan throw in there that would be suitable for his needs. On silent feet he hurried to the room but paused when he scented one of his clan mates.

Peering inside, he saw Cody, his cousin by marriage, standing by one of the windows, hands shoved into his pockets. Right next to that damn blanket. He didn’t want to hurt Cody, but it looked as if he had no choice. There wasn’t time to race around looking for another blanket. He had to be out of here in the next sixty seconds.

Moving quietly he went to one of the open displays of swords over the fireplace mantel and gently lifted it. His steps were silent as he navigated around the couch, but his blood rushed impossibly loud in his ears.

His cousin suddenly stiffened, faintly inhaling. He must have scented his presence. As Cody started to turn, he dove the last few feet, sword raised, and plunged it into his cousin’s back.

The male let out a grunt of surprise, quickly followed by a shout of pain as he stumbled forward, catching himself on a high-backed chair before he fell to his knees, gasping.

Ignoring Cody, he snatched the blanket. “I’m sorry,” he muttered. It wasn’t as if his cousin would die from the wound. But it would give him enough time to get out of the house undetected.

Racing from the room, he didn’t bother with camouflage now. He’d need to save all his energy for when he made his escape.

Back in the bathroom he found nothing had changed except Keelin was now unconscious too. Even better. But he needed to make sure she was alive. Her and the shifter. At least for now. Tossing the blanket out on the ground, he rolled them into it then tied it securely at both ends so that they were wrapped up tight. Wasn’t perfect but it would have to do.

Now came the tricky part.

He’d have one chance to do this right. First he dragged the females to right below the bathroom window. Unlocking it, he took a deep breath then slid it up.

The alarm blared.

His heart pounded wildly in his chest, a shot of energy slamming through him as he grabbed the bundle and shoved them through the opening. They were on the first floor so the drop wasn’t far. Quickly following, he jumped through and didn’t bother shutting the window. One of the guards or even Conall himself would soon figure out where he’d escaped from with the females. The scent and pools of blood on the tile guaranteed that. It wouldn’t matter by then, if he played this right.

Not bothering to strip, he underwent the change, letting his clothes and shoes shred on the icy ground. The blare of the alarm seemed intensified as he shifted to his dragon form. Though his adrenaline was high and his concentration was shot he managed to force a faint camouflage in place as he took flight.

He held the bundled females in his talons close to his body, hoping the lower half of him hid most of the blanket as he flew north, heading straight for the mountains and thousands of acres of untamed land.

Soon both females would be dead, but he wouldn’t let their lives go to waste. Not when he could open another Hell Gate using all Keelin’s blood. When he opened the Hell Gate this time, he wouldn’t be closing it afterward.

Chapter Twenty-Six

“Whose address is it?” Drake asked as he and Conall slid into the SUV.

“Cody. He’s our cousin from our father’s side of the family. He’s a little old school, not into inter-species matings, but…” Conall’s expression tightened as he sped up. “Text Lennox, tell him to meet us at Cody’s house. They’re tight.”

Fighting the rage that a family member might truly be involved in all this, Drake pulled out his phone and typed in the message. “You think Lennox’s presence will help?”

“If Cody sold you out to the Veles clan, he’s dead. But I want to give him the benefit of the doubt. We’re family.” His brother shook his head, as if he couldn’t believe Cody was guilty. “And if he was smart enough to use a burner phone, it doesn’t make sense he’d turn it on in his own home.”

Drake was glad he didn’t have strong ties to the rest of the clan right now. “Whoever the guilty party is, I will eliminate them.” That way his brother wouldn’t have to kill someone he was close to.

Conall didn’t respond. When Drake’s phone buzzed with an incoming text he glanced at it and froze. At the same time, Conall’s phone buzzed with an incoming call.

“Head to your house. Now.” Drake stared at his caller ID, his heart caught in his throat. He’d expected a text from Lennox, but it was Gabriel. “Keelin and Victoria have been taken.”

Taken.

His heart froze for a single moment before rage and terror splintered through him. He had to actively control his beast not to take over and start burning everything in sight. A cracking sound rent the air and he realized he’d broken the plastic handle off the side of the door. Releasing the crumbled pieces, he dragged in a breath, forcing himself to remain calm.

Conall cursed as he took a right at the next corner and pulled out his own phone. Drake stayed silent, listening as his brother spoke to one of the guards who was supposed to be watching the house.

“Hurry!” he roared as Conall took another turn. The truth was, they were almost there and his brother was driving at break neck speed, but Drake was too far over the edge.

Conall shoved his phone in his pocket. “There’s blood in the bathroom. Victoria and Keelin’s, according to their scents. Cody is in the living room. He was stabbed.”

Victoria was bleeding.
A scream ripped from his throat and fire coated the dash and glove compartment, the stench of melting plastic an assault on his senses.

“Keep it together,” Conall snapped.

His brother’s voice helped him rein in his beast. Barely. “Who took them?”

Conall gritted his teeth. “Not sure yet.”

“Why the hell had Cody even been at your house when it was on lockdown?”

“He came by because he wanted to see what he could do to help. One of the guards left him alone in the sitting room and went to ask Keelin if Cody was allowed entrance. When he returned, Cody was trying to pull one of my swords out of his back. That’s when the others realized Victoria and Keelin are missing. And…found their blood.” Conall let out a savage curse, his knuckles white against the steering wheel.

Drake only cared about the wounded, missing females. “We’re going to find them.” Or Drake would die trying. But not before he ripped apart every inch of this planet to find Victoria. Fire burned in the back of his throat again, clawing, hungry to make whoever had dared to take his mate pay. He needed her safe, in his arms. With him.

He never should have left her, even under guard. This was his fault. Guilt threaded through every fiber of him. How could he have left her? The passenger window shattered as he slammed his elbow into it. If they didn’t make it soon he was going to massacre the entire SUV.