Hunted

  “Yes. I understand that.” Simone’s shoulders slumped.

  “You love me, right?” Triumph turned Trevan’s face from an intelligent mask to something reprehensible.

  Simone sighed. “Yes. I do.” Her glance cut to Moira and back. “But apparently I don’t know you very well.”

  His chuckle filled the ominous room. “We’ll have to work on that. For now, you need to make sure you understand and accept your path.” While congenial, his tone held certain threat.

  “I do.” Simone straightened her shoulders. “I always have.” She turned toward Moira. “You might want to get ready to face that destiny you’re so proud of.” Her elegant sniff echoed around the cage. “Let’s go, Trevan.”

  He smiled, turning to punch in his code.

  With a breath of sound, Simone was on him. She hit him full in the back, knocking his face into the door. A crunch echoed. Blood sprayed. Her bare arm snaked around his neck and she jerked tight, her knees clasping his rib cage.

  Trevan turned with a dark roar, slamming backward into the wall. Simone’s shoulders hit hard, nearly dislodging her. She cried out in pain, her eyes flashing as she struggled to keep her hold.

  “Dig your knees in harder, Simone,” Moira urged. Could the woman fight? Kell had trained her at some point, hadn’t he? “Good. Now cut off his air supply. Crush his Adam’s apple if you can.”

  Blood dripped down Trevan’s furious face. An animalistic growl escaped through his bared teeth. Grabbing Simone’s hair, he gave a sharp yank, pulling her over his shoulder. She landed on her feet, staggering. She struggled furiously, but he pulled back an arm and punched her in the jaw. She sagged, her hands rising weakly.

  He hit her again.

  “Stop it!” Moira hissed. “Let her go, you asshole.”

  He lowered his face to Simone’s, raw fury etched in every line. “You little bitch. Did you really think you could beat me?”

  “Didn’t see as I had a choice,” Simone slurred. “Not enough time to plan.”

  Moira stomach rolled. Simone was right. It was their only chance to escape before Trevan relocked all the doors. “Let her go, Trevan. Taking the head of the Nine’s daughter will get you killed for sure. Aunt Viv can rip the skin right off your body, and you know it.”

  Trevan swallowed, then he yanked a gun from behind his pressed trousers. “Well now. I guess the Kurjans get two witches and a Kayrs mate.” He jammed the barrel to Simone’s temple. “Step away from the bars, Moira.”

  Dragging Simone across the room, he waited until Moira backed up. He kept the nearly unconscious woman in front of him, unlocked the door, and threw her inside.

  Moira caught her cousin, easing her to the floor.

  “I’m sorry,” Simone murmured. Then she passed out.

  Chapter 28

  Moira smoothed Simone’s hair back from her already purpling face. “I think her cheekbone is broken.”

  Cara struggled to swing her legs over the edge of the bed, reaching for Simone’s arms. “That’s not all he broke.” She grimaced, tugging the unconscious woman up. “Her heart pretty much shattered the second she walked in the room. Set her up here.”

  With a grunt, Moira lifted Simone to the bed, resting her back against the wall. She slumped down, her long black hair falling over her face. “Sometimes I forget you’re an empath.”

  “So do I.” Cara scooted over, sucking in air. “Just so you know. Not for one second did she plan to go along with him.”

  “Yeah.” Moira had known that from Simone’s first shocked look. “She took the only chance she had to knock him out and get us free.” Unfortunately, now Moira had two women needing her to rescue them. She frowned, vaguely remembering she had heard a woman when they’d arrived. “If Simone hasn’t been helping Trevan, who has?”

  Cara clutched her stomach, curling into a ball. A low moan escaped her. The smoky scent of pain filled the air. Brain waves, or maybe life waves, cascaded off her in shades of blue and green. “Um. This baby’s coming.”

  Panic had Moira rising to her feet. “Make him stop.” The words emerged before she could bite her lip.

  Cara gave a strangled laugh. “You know he’s Talen’s son, right? If he wants out ...”

  Of course. Another stubborn Kayrs male. She wished she could communicate with them. “Oh. Okay. Um, lie back and I’ll, uh, take a look.” Whatever force had whipped them there must’ve started labor.

  Simone groaned awake, smoothing a hand over her left cheekbone. “Trevan’s an asshole.”

  Moira huffed out a laugh. “I’m worried he broke your face.”

  “Feels like it.” Simone blinked twice, focusing on Cara cringing at the end of the bed. “Ah, you’re not ...” She tugged herself to her feet, getting out of the way. Her heeled boots slid through the water and her arms windmilled as she regained her balance. “Ug.”

  “Yeah.” Cara stretched out, her eyes wide in panic as she kicked her underwear across the cell. “I can’t do this. I mean, I really can’t do this. A vampire baby for goodness sakes. I need Talen.”

  Moira needed Talen, too. She shared a panicked look with Simone.

  Simone cleared her throat, spreading her hands out. “This is fine. I lived on a farm once.”

  “A farm?” Cara nearly shrieked.

  “Yes.” Simone rubbed her palms together. “Trust me. So long as the little vamp doesn’t bite you on the way out ...”

  “What?” Cara did shriek this time. “Talen said the fangs didn’t come in until they were around ten years old.”

  Simone snorted, dropping to her knees at the edge of the bed. “That’s true.” She rolled up Cara’s skirt. “I was just kidding. Okay, let’s take some deep breaths here.”

  “Funny. Very funny.” Cara threw an arm over her eyes. Pain vibrated from her in waves. “This hurts.”

  “Go see if there are towels in the bathroom,” Simone murmured to her cousin.

  Moira ran inside the bathroom, flinging open a cupboard and yanking out two white towels smelling of a spring breeze. Clean. Good. She hustled back, towels in hand. “Got them.”

  Fear clogged her throat. Cara had the virus and needed a doctor. The woman was in a weakened condition. What if she died the second the babe came out? What if the baby had problems?

  “Ah, we don’t have much time here. This baby wants out.” Simone placed one towel over Cara’s bent knees. “Moira, I need you to pin my hair back.”

  Moira scanned the cell, panic jerking her movements. She spotted the black cord holding Simone’s Celtic knot pendant around her cousin’s neck. She had the exact same one. A while back, Kell purchased birthday presents for all his cousins in bulk, doling the same pendant out all year. They’d given him a hard time, but really, the guy had tried. With a sob, she unlatched Simone’s cord, winding it through her hair to secure. “There you go.”

  “Thanks.” Simone took a deep breath. “Okay. Now we’re just going to breathe deep and focus.”

  Focusing took minutes. Then an hour. Then two more hours. Moira jerked with each contraction as Cara’s entire body went rigid and she moaned. Then, when each pain subsided, Moira sagged against the wall in relief.

  Finally, Simone settled the towel more securely across Cara’s knees. “Cara, it’s time to push.”

  “No. God no.” Cara’s body trembled. “I’m not pushing. He’s staying in until Talen gets here.” Terror filled the woman’s voice.

  Moira bent down, her face next to Cara’s. “Your babe needs to breathe, Cara. Push him out so he can. I promise you it’ll be all right.” They couldn’t let the baby die. Or Cara for that matter.

  Tears filled Cara’s eyes. “You promise?”

  “Yes.” How she’d keep such a promise, she didn’t know. But she would.

  Simone grabbed a towel to place on the bed. “I think he’s ready. With the next contraction, bear down.”

  Cara nodded, sweat pooling on her forehead. “Simone? I’m sorry about Trevan.”

 
A sad smile lit Simone’s battered face. “Thank you. No worries, he’s not the first mistake I’ve made.”

  Cara stiffened, groaning. “I’m sorry ... about Dage ... too.”

  Simone glanced up. “Oh, I didn’t mean the king. We weren’t in love.” She rolled her eyes. “Though I would’ve made a hell of a queen.”

  Moira frowned. Who had hurt Simone in the past? Was it the mysterious demon?

  Simone drew in a deep breath. “I, ah, wasn’t very graceful when we met at the colloquium. Sorry.”

  Cara hissed out. “No worries. It had to be weird seeing your ex with someone else.”

  “Yes, well.” Simone placed a hand on Cara’s stomach. “I’m often the most beautiful woman in the room. It pisses me off when not everyone notices.”

  Moira grinned, smoothing Cara’s hair off her face. “I’ve always admired your keen sense of self-awareness, Simone.” She sobered, realizing the truth in the statement. Whatever faults Simone possessed, she accepted and discussed them freely. “I shouldn’t have thought for one second you would align against the Nine.”

  “You know what I don’t like about you, Moira?” Simone kept her gaze under the towel.

  “The fact that I’m the Seventh?”

  “No. The fact that you’re the Seventh and can tell everyone to kiss your ass ... yet you don’t. You’re worried about being the right Seventh, of doing what you should. Stop sniveling. Step up and be the Seventh, whatever the hell that means.”

  The statement held enough truth to make Moira’s temper raise its head. “What, are we bonding now?”

  Simone glanced up with a smile. “God help the world. We are.”

  Cara gave a strangled cry, her body going rigid. “Enough bonding. Here he comes.” She clutched onto Moira’s hand with white knuckles. “Oh my God, this hurts.” A contraction rippled down her stomach. “Talen?” She gasped, half sitting up. “I can hear him.” She shut her eyes, concentrating. “Somehow, through the baby, I can reach Talen.”

  “You can reach your mate telepathically?” Simone’s head snapped up. “Tell him we’re in the Cascade mountains in California. And to bring help.”

  Most people didn’t know about the vampires’ ability to telepathically reach their mates. Moira shut her eyes, searching for Conn. Nothing. She tried again. Only breezy silence met her call. She flipped her lids open. “I can’t reach Conn.” Cara’s gift must be because of the labor, because the baby was coming. Or maybe through the baby. “Does Talen know where we are?”

  Cara bit her lip, lifting her body off the bed, her face contorting in pain. “Yes,” she panted. “They’re on the way.” Her hold tightened on Moira. “I’ve got to push.”

  “Here he is,” Simone said in a hushed voice. “One more push. Come on, Cara. One more.”

  With a high-pitched yelp, Cara bore down. A scream escaped her. Simone reached forward, grabbing the baby. She swaddled him, wiping him clean. Moira’s eyes misted over. Just then, the babe opened his mouth and gave one short, irritated cry.

  Cara laughed, tears streaming down her face. “Sounds pissy just like Talen.” She reached out, taking the baby and holding him close. Her face fell. “I can’t reach Talen anymore.” She uncovered her son, checking him over. “That’s okay. Daddy will be here soon.”

  Moira focused on the newest Kayrs, ignoring whatever Simone was doing under the towel. The baby looked just like his father. High forehead, tons of black hair, strong features with sizzling, metallic gray eyes. She gasped at the vampire colors. “Look at those eyes.” The babe focused on her, reaching out with one chubby hand. “Are babies supposed to focus this fast?”

  “No.” Cara tried to smooth wild hair back from his little face. “But he’s a vampire and Talen’s son, so who the heck knows.” She nuzzled his cheek, one hand supporting his head. “Ten fingers, ten toes, no fangs.” Her smile lit her face. “He’s perfect.”

  Simone tossed the second towel into the bathroom. Her smile made her appear even more beautiful, if that was possible. “He is perfect.” She raised both eyebrows. “His eyes. Very unusual.”

  Cara turned the babe to face her. “Talen’s eyes turn metallic when he’s, ah, emotional.”

  Simone shook her head. “I’m sure. The vampire colors don’t usually show up until puberty. I wonder if that stunning gray is his normal color. Intriguing.” She hustled into the bathroom and the sound of running water echoed. She emerged, drying her hands on yet another clean towel. Apparently Trevan had prepared for an extended stay. “So. What now?”

  Chapter 29

  Conn fought to keep his face stoic as the helicopter banked hard to the right. His bones had healed, but the internal organ damage shot shards of pain through his nerve endings. He settled next to Jase, closing his eyes, forcing all sensation into a box. Dage and Talen took up the front seat, while Jordan and Kane followed in two more low-flying Black Hawks.

  The sun lowered in the west, bright rays of reds and golds reflecting inside the vehicle. Jase tapped keys on his laptop. “Are you sure you’re up to this, Conn?”

  “Yes.” Conn sought his mate, scowling when there was no response.

  Jase nodded. “I’ve brought up Trevan’s place in the Cascade Mountains. He’s prepared for us.”

  Conn opened his eyes, glancing at the screen. “The house stands in the center of about twenty-five acres. At first glance, I see land mines, external traps, and sensors. Thirty guards, teams of three sweeping the perimeter.” He’d kill them all. “The house is shielded—I can’t lock on any heat signatures.” Chances were Trevan stashed the women in the basement, somewhere secure. He shut his eyes again, searching. “I can’t contact my mate.” Anger mixed with an unfamiliar fear in his gut. Why couldn’t he reach her?

  Jase frowned. “How do you contain a witch?”

  You knock her out or kill her. “I don’t know.” The heaviness of the weapons arranged throughout his vest centered Conn. “Demidov is a dead man.”

  Dage banked the copter in a sharp left turn. “I assume yanking an unwilling person through dimensions and time to land somewhere else would short-circuit anyone’s abilities. Even a witch.” His silver eyes shone with pure shards of vampire blue. “Demidov doesn’t have long to live. But I need him alive for now.”

  “He dies.”

  “Not until we figure out how he’s transporting people against their will.” Dage glanced out the window. “Then you can kill him.”

  “No promises.” Conn settled back into the seat. The only question would be who got to the witch first, Talen or Conn. “If Cara’s hurt, you won’t be able to stop Talen.” None of them would. Conn wouldn’t even try.

  “I know.” Dage’s knuckles went white on the controls.

  Conn fought the dread in his gut. Cara was pregnant ... being forced to travel dimensions couldn’t be good for her or the baby. His nephew. She’d only had seconds to communicate with Talen ... because the baby was coming.

  Talen’s growl came through his earpiece. “Kell just checked in. There was an advanced tracker on Brenna’s computer. That’s how Trevan zeroed in on Moira’s position before taking them.”

  Cold. His brother’s voice was low and cold ... a tone Conn had never heard from him before. Learning his mate had reached labor while being held captive had almost sent the vampire over the edge. “Moira’s the Seventh, Talen. She’s strong and smart and incredibly gifted. She’ll protect Cara and your babe.” As he spoke the words, Conn realized the absolute truth in them. His woman was a fighter, and a damn good one. She knew her job.

  He’d better do his. “All right. I want four teams. We hit them from the north and the east. Dage, drop Talen and me on the roof of the house. You go make sure the soldiers don’t close in on us.” Conn needed to have Talen’s back and keep the man from getting killed with his focus so completely on his mate.

  “Got it,” Dage said.

  Conn flashed his teeth. He liked keeping the king close in any battle situation, considering he’d n
ever let his king fall. Much less his brother. “Stay safe, King.” He wasn’t looking forward to the day when he and Talen put their feet down and told Dage he couldn’t go into battle. At least not while the war was heating up and their friends were turning into enemies. The king had to be protected at all costs.

  Dage lifted an eyebrow. “Good luck with that.”

  “Stay out of my head.” Prick.

  “Sorry. Your thoughts are screaming.” Dage banked left. “On the ground in three minutes.”

  Jase tucked the laptop under the seat, sliding open the side door. Conn followed suit, his gaze tracking the pattern of trails winding through the pine trees below. He’d memorized the layout of land mines, as well as the last soldier positions. The wind whipped into his face, carrying the scent of pine and spruce. “Keep in mind the power necessary to forcibly transport members of the Coven Nine. Demidov is probably working with someone.” He glanced at Jase. “I want a storm. Massive, powerful, and dangerous. As big as you can make it.”

  Jase’s eyes lit up in anticipation. “Hurricane or snowballs the size of basketballs?”

  “Hail. Sharp and deadly.” Loud enough to cover their movements through the forest.

  “No problem.” Jase leaned out the opening, holding the bar. “But you know I can’t easily turn it off if I make a storm that size.”

  “I know.” An issue Conn would deal with later. For now, they needed the cover.

  Missiles shot from the earth. Dage evaded, swooping in toward the roof of the sprawling house as the other two helicopters returned fire. “Get ready.”

  Conn grabbed the doorframe, leaning out. When the copter perched about ten feet from the roof, he jumped. He landed in unison with lightning rippling across the sky. Clouds formed out of nowhere, throwing hail the size of basketballs. Damn, Jase was good.

  A dark form caught Conn’s vision, and Talen slammed boots on the angled shingles, snagging the pitch to hold on. “Let’s get this bastard.” His eyes glowed unearthly in the night.