Cain's Identity (Scanguards Vampires Book 9) (30 page)

His eyes wandered to the place where the secret door was hidden, but it was closed. Had Faye not been here yet? Or had she simply closed it behind her to make sure nobody found it? It was the more likely scenario.

Desperate to stop her, Cain walked to the wall and laid his hand over the hidden mechanism.

“Your Majesty, wait!”

He swiveled and saw David hurry into the cell. Cain breathed a sigh of relief. Faye hadn’t made it into the tunnel yet.

“Oh thank God!” Cain let out, almost wanting to hug David. “Faye?” He looked past the older vampire to search for her. “Where is she?”

David lowered his lids. “Somebody took her.”

Cain’s heart stopped and inside him the beast roared. “Who? Who took her?”

“Your brother. I heard her say his name.”

“Fuck!” Why hadn’t she called out for help to him? Why hadn’t she used their telepathic bond to communicate that she needed help?

He sucked in a shaky breath and with it the bitter smell that lay in the air. He recognized it now. “Wesley’s potion.”

He stared at Gabriel and Eddie who were now crowding into the cell.

“He knocked her out with Wesley’s potion.”

Cain whirled to the secret door in the stone wall. “I have to save her.”

43

Even though Cain had been able to figure out which branch of the vast tunnel system Abel had taken by following his brother’s and Faye’s scent, he’d lost their trail when they’d surfaced in a wooded area about three miles from the palace.

Cain cursed and turned to John. The leader of the king’s guard looked agitated and Cain knew why.

“Abel will have had ample time by now to arrange for his jailor to hurt Nicolette,” John said, his eyes pleading.

“Wesley put the protection spell on her, didn’t he?”

John nodded. “But we have no way of knowing that it worked. Please, give me a couple of men, and let me free her. Wesley has her location.” He shoved a hand through his dark hair. “And who knows? Maybe Abel is on his way there himself. Baltimore was guarding Nicolette when they caught me and, knowing that you banned Baltimore from the palace after he got back, we must assume Baltimore returned there again and relieved his men. He’s Abel’s closest confidante. If anybody knows what Abel is planning, then it’s Baltimore.”

Even though Cain knew that John would say anything to make his case for a swift rescue of his lover, he couldn’t deny that John had a point about Baltimore. If anybody knew where Abel could be hiding, or where he was heading, it had to be his right hand man.

It was the only lead they had. Faye was still not responding to his telepathic calls and he had to assume that she was still unconscious from Wesley’s potion, though it was strange that the witch’s punch was having such a lasting effect. With the defanged vampires the potion hadn’t lasted longer than fifteen minutes. The thought that Abel had more than just knocked her out made a chill creep into Cain’s bones. He didn’t want to think of what Abel could have done to her.

“Let’s make this quick.”

It took twenty minutes before two dark SUVs headed into the bayous. One of them carried Cain, John, Wesley, and Eddie. Gabriel, Blake, and Haven rode in the other. Thomas and Maya stayed back in the palace to maintain order and control.

“Has Thomas started grilling the guard who indicated to the Mississippians that the two defanged vampires were in the kitchen?” Cain now asked.

Eddie nodded. “He’s just started.”

“What will that serve?” Wesley asked.

John, his entire body coiled with anxiety, answered in Cain’s stead, “I’ve always suspected that Lee is loyal to Abel. Most likely he was told to give David and Kathryn’s hiding place away to cause trouble. In fact, Abel only invited the Mississippian as a diversion.” He sought eye contact with Cain. “And to make sure he can claim the throne as soon as you were dead.”

Cain nodded, immediately understanding what John alluded to. “If he could blame the Mississippians for my assassination, there would be outright war, and he would become king instantly without having to wait out the mourning period once more.”

Wesley whistled through his teeth. “Nice brother you have.”

“We can’t choose family,” Cain agreed. “But we can choose our friends.”

“How many more guards do you think are on Abel’s side?” Wesley, who drove, asked.

Cain shrugged. “Hard to say. Simon for sure, but he’s dead. He was the one on duty in the cellblock when Abel came for me and Robert. But when we escaped through the tunnels, Abel must have realized that he had to cover his tracks and couldn’t rely on Simon not giving him up to save his own life. So he killed him.”

“Lee’s a coward,” John added. “He’ll give up whoever else is loyal to Abel. We’ll clean house when we get back.”

Cain nodded to John. “I should have never doubted you.”

A sad smile crossed John’s face. “You had every right to. I was compromised. I understand now why the leader of the king’s guard should never have a family. Why he should—”

“Don’t,” Cain interrupted. “Everybody has a right to happiness. I’m not going to deny you yours. I want you to remain the leader of my king’s guard. And my decision stands. I’ll do away with the old rules.” Lots of things would change in his kingdom soon. Just as soon as he had Faye back. Because, without her, he couldn’t go on.

There was silence in the car for a while and all Cain could hear was the engine, the breathing of his friends, and his own heartbeat.

“We’re almost there,” Wesley announced and pointed to the GPS in the car. “There’s a bend in a few hundred yards. We’ll have to park here, otherwise we’ll risk getting seen from the hut.”

“Pull over here,” Cain instructed.

The moment the car stopped, Cain opened the door and jumped out. His friends followed him. Behind them, the second SUV came to a stop. Gabriel, Haven, and Blake got out.

“This it?” Gabriel asked, pulling his gun from the holster.

Wesley pointed to a spot in the distance. “The hut must be about five, six hundred yards past that bend.”

“I suggest we split up. Gabriel, take Haven and Wesley and approach from the back. Make sure nobody escapes that way. John, Eddie, and I will take the front.”

“What about me?” Blake asked.

“I need you to stay with the cars and alert us if Abel is approaching. His red Ferrari is hard to miss. Have you programmed in all our phone numbers as a group?”

Blake nodded. “Any text message will go to all of you simultaneously.”

“Good, let’s do it. And I want Baltimore alive. He’s no good to us dead. Is that clear?”

All nodded in silence.

With John and Eddie by his side, Cain cut through the thicket, avoiding the dirt road that led up to the hut. He treaded carefully, deftly avoiding any broken branches that might make noise that could be heard in the rickety shack just becoming visible through the trees. It was no larger than five by five yards, with a roof that probably leaked and a door that could be kicked in by a five-year-old.

Cain inhaled deeply as he approached, trying to ascertain if Abel had been here lately. But he could smell neither his brother’s scent nor Faye’s. The various smells coming from the bayou close by were too strong. And only in an enclosed space would Faye’s or Abel’s smell have lingered. Out in the open the scents vanished too quickly.

Cain paused for a few moments, motioning Eddie and John to do the same, while he waited for Gabriel and the others to get into position. When he saw Haven wave to him from the side of the hut, indicating that they were ready, he nodded to John.

Cain noticed him suck in a deep breath. Then John’s fangs extended and he pulled his silver knife from its sheath.

“Don’t kill him, understand me? No matter what he’s done,” Cain cautioned, knowing that John would be unpredictable if any harm had come to his lover.

Sneaking up to the hut, Cain and his friends made no sound. At the door, they stopped for a moment. Cain listened for sounds from the inside and heard a mumbling voice. He concentrated.

“You fucking bitch! I’m gonna get you.” It was Baltimore who spat the words between loud thumps.

A panicked look crossed John’s face, and a split-second later he ripped open the door and charged inside. Cain was on his heels, watching as John barreled toward Baltimore who was crawling on the floor, poking under the bed with a broomstick.

Baltimore was flat on his back so fast, John’s knife at his throat, that Cain barely had a chance to enter the hut. Cain looked around, searching for the woman. He bent down to look under the bed. But there was nobody, though the smell of a human lingered.

“What did you do with her?” John ground out, driving the blade of his silver knife a half inch into the soft spot underneath Baltimore’s chin. Blood trickled from the wound. “Where is she?”

Baltimore glared back at him. “Fucking bitch!”

John growled.

From the corner of his eye, Cain saw his friends charge into the hut.

“You got him?” Gabriel asked.

Cain looked over his shoulder, when John cried out once more. “What the fuck did you do to her?”

“Wes?” Cain glared at the witch. Had Wesley failed again?

Wesley approached. “The spell worked, I’m telling you. She must have escaped.”

“I’m going to kill you, you fucking bastard, if you hurt her!” John yelled at Baltimore, then glared at Wes. “And you’re next!”

A movement from under the bed suddenly caught Cain’s eye and he snapped his head to it. A rat came running out and ran straight to John, jumping onto his thigh. John rocked back on his haunches, but kept his knife at Baltimore’s throat where it continued to make the vampire’s skin sizzle.

“Oh, fuck,” Wes suddenly said and crouched down. He pointed to the rat.

Cain exchanged a quick glance with him. Then his eyes went back to the rat. “You’ve gotta be kidding me, Wes. Really?”

Wes shrugged. “Oops.”

Cain put his hand on John’s shoulder. “John, she’s fine. Nicolette is safe.” He motioned to Haven and Eddie. “Tie Baltimore up.”

As the two Scanguards men took care of Baltimore, forcing John to remove his knife from the vampire’s throat, Wes reached for the rat, which was still sitting on John’s thigh.

“Come on, Nicolette.”

The rat turned its head to Wesley.

In disbelief John stared at the rat, then at Wesley. “Oh, my God, what have you done?” His jaw dropped. “Are you telling me this is Nicolette?”

Wes tossed him a sheepish look. “Sorry, just a little mishap.”

“Mishap?” John ground out, murder in his eyes. “You turned my woman into a rat!”

“Kept her safe, though, didn’t it?”

“And now? Fuck, what am I gonna do now?”

Wes stretched out his palm and the rat walked onto it. “No worries. I can turn her back.” More quietly, he added, “I think.”

“You think?” John lunged for the witch, but Cain jumped in between them.

“Let him try.”

Wesley placed the rat on his lap and reached into his jacket pocket. He pulled out a small vial. “This should work.”

“What is it?” John asked, clearly suspicious.

“Sort of a reversal potion. Makes whatever last spell somebody is under go away. You know, like the undo button on a computer.”

Cain rolled his eyes.

Wesley opened the vial and dropped a tiny amount over the rat. A moment later, he landed flat on his back. A beautiful dark-skinned woman was sitting in his lap.

“Nicolette!” John cried out and snatched her from Wesley, pulling her into his arms. His lips were on hers before Cain could even blink.

“Oh, John! You came.” Tears streamed over the woman’s face.

John pressed her head to his chest and stroked over her hair. “Always, my love. I’ll always come back for you.”

Cain rose. He was happy for John, but now it was time to find Faye. He turned to Baltimore who was now tied to the metal bed frame.

“Where’s Abel?”

Baltimore spat. “I don’t know.”

Cain slashed his claws across Baltimore’s face, leaving deep cuts. Blood seeped from them, filling the hut with the scent of vampire blood. “Try again. Where is he taking Faye?”

“I don’t know.”

“He’s lying,” Nicolette interrupted.

Cain spun his head to her. “What do you know?”

“He got a phone call a short while ago. I was already in the form of a rat, so he didn’t think I could hear him.”

Cain’s heart rate accelerated. “What did he say?”

“I could only hear his side of the conversation. Abel must be somewhere in New Orleans.”

“Where?”

Nicolette shook her head, regret in her eyes. “I don’t know.” She motioned to Baltimore. “He asked “which one?”
,
but that’s all I heard.”

Cain felt his heart clench with fear for his mate. He snatched Baltimore by the throat. “Where is he keeping her?”

“Go to hell!”

“You first!”

Baltimore let out an evil laugh.

“Talk or I’m going to kill you!”

“You’ll kill me anyway, even if I talk.”

Cain stared at his adversary, but he knew Abel’s most loyal follower knew the drill: once he’d divulged what he knew, either John or Cain would kill him.

“Fine, have it your way.” He turned to Gabriel. “Use whatever methods you see fit to make him talk. Eddie will stay with you. The rest of us, let’s go.”

Cain looked around the room and spotted what he was looking for. He snatched Baltimore’s cell phone from the table. Then he pulled his own phone out of his pocket and dialed Thomas’s number. Scanguards’ resident IT genius answered immediately.

“Thomas, have you been able to trace Abel’s phone via satellite?”

“Not yet. He hasn’t used it in the last hour.”

“I’ll make sure he does. Hold on.” He put down his phone and started typing a text message on Baltimore’s cell phone. “Let’s see if you bite, little brother.”

44

Faye slowly felt her consciousness returning. A bitter taste was still in her mouth and made her gag the moment she took her first conscious breath. With it, stale air filled her lungs and dust lined the inside of her nose.

Her eyes shot open and she reared up, but something jerked her back. Simultaneously, pain shot through her wrists. To her horror she realized that she lay on a large slab of stone, her wrists and ankles chained to it with silver, the only metal a vampire couldn’t break. The contact with the toxic material made her skin burn. Blisters had already started forming around her wrists, though the skin on her ankles thankfully was protected by her jeans.