Devoured

  Chapter Thirty-three

  “Yup, that’s him all right.” The red-haired clerk at the Piggly Wiggly had nodded vigorously when Pierce had showed her the picture of the big Kindred with the blue-green eyes. A stab of triumph that went bone-deep pierced through him. He’d known he was on the right track when he found the pawn shop where the big bastard had sold his shirt. But now he was so close he could taste it.

  Yes! Got you, Princess. Got you now!

  “And he had a girl with him?” he had asked, frowning. “This girl?” He had shown a picture of Tess and the clerk had nodded again.

  “Yes, that’s her—poor girl. I think her man’s reaction kind of upset her—even if he was just trying to protect her. Not that nobody needs much protection from RayJay. He’s just an old drunk that likes to look at pretty ladies.”

  “I’m sorry—her man?” Pierce just couldn’t let that pass.

  “Well, yeah…” The clerk looked confused. “Ain’t they a couple? They sure seemed like it. I mean he was ranting and raving that she was his woman and RayJay better not lay a hand on her or some such. I just assumed…”

  “Actually, we have reason to believe that he kidnapped her,” Pierce lied smoothly. “He’s also wanted for beating another woman to death.”

  At least he was pretty sure that cunt, Di was dead. If she wasn’t it wasn’t for lack of trying on his part. Bitch had point blank refused to give him any information on Tess’s whereabouts. It was only after he’d broken most of her ribs, her arm and her jaw with the bat that she’d mumbled something about “Ashville.” Then she’d lost consciousness and nothing he could do would bring her back. Damned inconsiderate of her, as far as Pierce was concerned. But what the hell—was he a detective or wasn’t he? He’d sniffed around, followed their trail, and now he was so close he could almost smell Tess’s perfume…

  “He…he beat her to death?” The clerk’s eyes had been wide and horrified. “But…isn’t he one of them Kindred? I thought they didn’t hit women.”

  “This one does.” Pierce had put an appropriately grim look on his face. “Listen…” He waved the picture of Tess again. “This woman might be in serious danger. Did you hear them say where they were staying?”

  “No, I’m afraid not.” She brightened. “But I can tell you what they were driving. It was an old Ford pick-up, just like the one Old Man Jackson used to drive. He was this old feller who lived up in a cabin on the mountain for, oh…just ages. Until he got the cancer and had to go down to be with his niece in Tampa.”

  Pierce had been in the process of tuning the silly bitch out but this got his attention again.

  “In Tampa, did you say?” he had asked, frowning. “Tell me, did you ever see his niece—I mean, did she ever visit? What was her name?”

  The clerk had pursed her lips. “Let me think, it’s been years…” Her face brightened. “Oh, yes—Dianna—that was it! And he called her Di for short.”

  “I see…” Pierce had nodded, his pulse pounding with excitement though he never showed it. “And can you tell me where this cabin he used to live in is?”

  “Oh, sure I can—I pass it every day on the way to work. It’s…”

  He had taken the directions but the cabin had been a dead end. Though it was clear someone had been there recently, it was deserted. An APB on the truck also turned up nothing—apparently it wasn’t out on the road, at least not around Asheville.

  Pierce had staked out the cabin all night but neither Tess or the big Kindred she was currently fucking had come anywhere near the place. At last he had concluded that they must have moved on.

  He was pretty certain they must have continued their little road trip but before he left town, he wanted to check the HKR building in downtown Ashville. After all, the bastard with Tess was a Kindred. He could leave the entire planet with her if he wanted to—but Pierce didn’t think he would. Tess wouldn’t leave until she’d checked in with Di. And when she found out what had happened to her nearest and dearest friend, she would insist on attending the funeral.

  I’ll catch you there, Princess, even if I don’t find you here, he’d thought. He was certain of that. Still, he’d decided it couldn’t hurt to take a pass by the HKR.

  And low and behold, what had he seen as he was on his way there? A beat-up old Ford truck with two passengers. One of them was a Kindred with bright blue-green eyes. And the other was…Tess.

  Pierce had made a U turn to follow them and now they seemed to be headed back to the cabin.

  Oh, Princess, he thought, a grim smile growing on his face. You don’t know it but you’re in so much trouble…you’re in for such a punishment tonight…

  Chapter Thirty-four

  “There is no need for you to sleep on the couch. It does not look very comfortable,” Garron said, frowning.

  “I want to. I’d rather sleep here.” Tess began pulling the extra set of sheets over the scratchy plaid cushions. To be honest, she couldn’t stand sharing a bed with the big Kindred the way he was now. She didn’t want to lie beside him and think about how they had slept entwined the night before and how they would never sleep that way again. The couch, lumpy and scratchy though it was, was preferable to that.

  Garron simply shrugged, his broad shoulders rolling with the gesture.

  “If it pleases you.”

  “It does,” Tess said. “Besides, Yipper told you to avoid stressful situations tonight.”

  “And sharing a bed might be stressful because…?” He frowned, clearly uncomprehending.

  Tess bit her lip, remembering the way he had wanted her. How desperate he had been to touch her, to taste her. And now the idea of lying beside her completely naked probably wouldn’t even make him break a sweat. Hell, she was wearing the sexiest nightgown she had—it wasn’t very risqué but at least it was made of lace and it molded to her curves—and his eyes had never even left her face.

  “It just would be,” she said, turning away to tuck a corner of the sheet around the cushions. “Or maybe not. But it doesn’t matter—it’s better this way.”

  “As you wish.” He shrugged again. “I will take a shower and get to bed. Unless you would like a shower first?”

  “I’ll take a bath later—after you finish.” The way she felt now a good long soak in the tub was about all she had to look forward to. “Just leave me some hot water.”

  “Certainly. Good night, Tess.” He nodded in a completely civil manner, as though they were casual acquaintances who meant nothing to each other.

  Which is basically what we are, now, Tess thought. And all we’ll ever be again.

  She waited for him to walk away but he didn’t. Instead he stood there frowning.

  “Garron?” she asked after a moment. “Is everything okay? With the, uh, implant I mean?”

  “I think so.” He sighed and looked at her. “I want to say something but I don’t know how.”

  Her heart began to thump even though she knew it was stupid.

  “Yes?” She tried to keep her voice even and steady. “Just say it.”

  “I…” He shook his head. “I hardly know how to put this. I know—I remember—that we were…close to each other. That we cared for each other and had…sexual urges to be together.”

  “Yes,” Tess said carefully. “We did. Do you…are you, uh, feeling any of that now?”

  He shook his head. “No, I feel nothing. Except…”

  “Except what?” Tess leaned forward, hoping against hope.

  A frown creased his face.

  “Except that it…bothers me to know that the cessation of our mutual urges upsets you. I know it isn’t logical or right but it does.”

  “Oh, Garron.” She went to him and put her arms around his waist but it was like hugging a block of warm, breathing wood. He simply stood there and let her hug him without moving. After a moment she looked up and saw a look of confusion on his face.

  “Tess…” he said at last.

  “Do you want to hug me back?” she as
ked, trying not to cry.

  “I…I’m not sure.” Slowly his large, muscular arms came around her shoulders in a tentative embrace. He dropped his face to her hair and inhaled deeply. The arms around her tightened. “Your scent,” he whispered. “It…makes me remember…so much.”

  “Do you feel anything now?” Tess asked, looking up at him hopefully.

  “I…do. Something strange. Something…” Suddenly he stepped away from her, out of her embrace.

  “Garron?” she asked, biting her lip.

  He shook his head. “I think…I begin to see what you meant when you said sleeping in the same space would be stressful. I believe I should go take a shower now. Perhaps a very, very cold one.”

  “You think so?” Tess took a step towards him but the big Kindred took a step back.

  “I’m sorry but I think it would be better for us to stay apart.”

  “Of course,” Tess backed up at once.

  “I…” He closed his eyes for a moment as though collecting himself. When he opened them, the cool, impassive expression was back on his face. “I will leave you now.”

  “All right,” she whispered.

  “Good night.” Garron sounded cool and collected again—utterly in control. Apparently the moment of emotion—if that is what it had been—was over.

  Tess watched him go, the silver and black button of the implant winking at the back of his neck. As he left, the little spark of hope inside her died.

  Don’t be stupid, she told herself sharply, brushing away the useless tears that rose to her eyes. What were you hoping for—that his damn implant would fail? And where would that leave you? As dr’gin chow. You have a suicide wish or something?

  “Or something,” she muttered to herself, wiping her eyes again on the sheet.

  She got settled on the couch and then listened to the water running in the little bathroom. She could imagine Garron in the shower—she knew how mouthwatering he looked when he was nude. If he was himself she would have gone to join him. But that wasn’t possible. He’d asked her to keep her distance and that was what she had to do. The possibility of any kind of romantic or sexual relationship between them was over—over for good. It would be better if she just accepted that and moved on.

  Sighing, she turned over, facing the back of the couch, and waited for him to be done. When he was safely out of the shower, she intended to take a nice long bath. Maybe it would make her feel a little less like crying. In the mean time, she would close her eyes and rest, just for a minute…

  A quiet scratching sound from the direction of the front door woke her. Was it her imagination? Maybe some coons digging in the trash outside? They were always a problem around this area. It was quiet for such a long time she almost fell asleep again. Then, just as she was nodding off the scratching resumed.

  Tess frowned and forced herself to wake up enough to stumble up and off the couch. The little cabin was a box of shadows with only a few bars of light coming in through the cheap Venetian blinds over the windows. She padded over to the door and put out her hand, intending to open it and scare away the raccoons that must be digging around out there.

  Except what are they digging in? whispered a little voice in her head. You and Garron grabbed a bite to eat at the HKR building. It’s not like you brought any food home for them to smell. So what are they doing scratching around the front door this time of night?

  The thought stopped her cold and she suddenly felt much more awake than she had been. She drew her hand back from the knob. The little voice made sense. What were raccoons doing outside her door in the middle of the night? And was it really coons making the noise?

  The scratching sounded again—very loud in the quiet cabin. This time Tess realized that it was coming from the lock. It was a metallic sound, almost as if someone was scratching something metal with a wire.

  Like maybe someone scratching the inside of a lock, trying to pick it? whispered the little voice again.

  Tess went cold all over. This isn’t right. Have to get out of here. Slowly, quietly, she began backing away. But before she could get two steps back from the door there was a final sounding click and it suddenly swung open.

  A big dark shape which had been crouched in front of it rose slowly. The moon shone behind him, making him nothing more than a black silhouette but Tess would have known that shape anywhere.

  “No,” she whispered, backing away.

  Suddenly the shadow was on her. One hand grabbed her wrist and the other slapped something sticky over her mouth. The scent of too-sweet, cloying aftershave filled her nostrils, making her want to gag.

  “Hello, Princess,” a familiar voice hissed. “I hope you’re ready for your punishment because you’ve certainly earned it this time…”

  Chapter Thirty-five

  Garron woke suddenly from a sound sleep with the feeling that something was very, very wrong.

  It was a scratching or clicking sound that woke him at first but then the scent reached his nose—or rather, a mixture of scents that set off all kinds of alarms in his head.

  The first thing he noticed was a sickly-sweet smell. Where had he smelled that before? It seemed somehow familiar—suddenly it came to him. He’d smelled it faintly—very faintly—coming from the domicile of Tess’s ex-mate when he’d gone to rescue her.

  The second smell was instantly recognizable—the bitter scent of Tess’s fear was floating to him from the living area of the small cabin. The short hairs at the back of Garron’s neck stood up and a low growl began to build in his throat. Somewhere deep inside him, his dr’gin stirred, stretched, and began to come to life.

  Suddenly he realized what was happening and what was going to happen if he wasn’t careful.

  No! he told himself sternly. Don’t give in to emotion—don’t let the implant fail. Just take care of the situation and remain calm.

  Trying to take his own advice, he climbed out of bed and stalked quietly down the hallway leading to the living area. After a moment, he could hear someone speaking in a soft, hissing whisper.

  “That’s right, Princess, going to punish you good this time. You thought you could run away on me, go off with another man when you’re mine? Oh, Princess, you’re in so much trouble. It’s more than a whipping offense this time. I might have to get a knife…maybe give you a new tattoo, you think?”

  There was a soft, muffled sob that Garron recognized as Tess. He was trying to hold on to his calm but inside him, his dr’gin was fully awake now. It was roaring, telling him that something was happening to their female—that she was in danger, that something must be done…

  Be quiet! Garron told it desperately. I don’t need you—I can handle this. Go back to sleep and let me think!

  He kept his back to the wall and stayed in the shadows as he looked out to assess the situation in the living area. A human would have seen nothing but black, indistinct shapes in the darkness but Garron’s night vision was Kindred sharp—he saw everything in a glance.

  Pierce, Tess’s ex-mate, had her immobile in the middle of the room. He had one arm wrapped around her waist, pinning her arms to her sides. There was a gray rectangular patch—maybe some kind of adhesive—across her mouth so she couldn’t scream.

  In his other hand, Pierce held a knife. It had a long, sharp silver blade that reflected the moonlight coming in from the shaded windows. He was drawing it up and down Tess’s cheek in a threatening way. He hadn’t cut her—yet. But from the way he was talking, he was planning to do that and worse.

  “Maybe if I carve my name where you’ll see it every time you look in the mirror you’ll finally get the picture, hmm Princess?” he hissed in her ear. “I’ll carve it on your cheek, shall I? Or maybe I should just carve ‘whore’ on your forehead. Because that’s what you are—a little whore running off on me. Well let me tell you, you’ll never get a chance to run again. Not when I’m done with you…”

  Tess made a soft, muffled moan. There were tears in her eyes but it was clear she
didn’t dare move. She was trapped and this bastard was about to start slicing her up.

  At the sight of her tears and the scent of her fear, so strong in this room it was almost overpowering, a switch seemed to flip inside Garron. The impassive calm he’d felt ever since he’d been implanted with the emotion damper was abruptly and completely shattered. He stepped out of the shadows with a roar that shook the cabin.

  “What the Hell?” Pierce looked up, the knife in his hand frozen by Tess’s cheek.

  “Let…her…go.” Garron’s voice was hardly recognizable in his own ears. It sounded deeper somehow, more animalistic.

  “Well, well—so you’re the bastard who’s been fucking my wife. Nice to meet you, you son of a bitch,” Pierce snarled. If being confronted in a dark room by a six foot eight massively muscular Kindred with glowing eyes bothered him, he didn’t let it show.

  “She’s not your mate—not anymore.” Garron heard the animalistic rumble in his own throat and knew the dr’gin was close, so close to the surface. Be careful, whispered the voice of reason in his head. If you let it out, you might kill them both. Be careful…be careful!

  “Oh, she’s mine all right. And you’re going to stand there and watch while I prove it.” Leaning over Tess, Pierce licked the side of her face, starting at the edge of her jaw, sliding his tongue up, and ending right at her hairline. Tess moaned and writhed in his grasp but she couldn’t break free.

  At the sight of another male hurting and frightening the female he loved, Garron thought he might go completely insane. A red curtain of rage dropped over his vision and he took another step towards them, his hands flexing into fists. Goddess damn it he was going to rip this bastard into tiny, bloody bits!

  “I don’t think so.” Pierce raised the knife again. “Come any closer and she’ll be maimed for life. Think I’m bluffing? Watch.” He placed the wickedly sharp tip of the silver blade right at Tess’s temple. “Don’t know how much you know about our anatomy, you big bastard, but the human face really isn’t attached to the skull. You cut it just the right way…” He slid the knife down, slicing from her temple to her jaw and Tess gave a muffled shriek behind the gag. “And it’ll come…right…off.” He lifted the knife, preparing to cut some more.