Captiva Capitulation (6 page)

“My thanks.” Heath didn’t look grateful in the least. “I’m sure you know that our Pack has tripled its efforts in findin’ our unmated lasses, particularly mixed bloods.”

“You want them under your Pack’s protection.” Common knowledge. “Can’t blame you there, and?”

“We assign an unmated male to any lass we find. Of course, she wouldna’ know she’s bein’ watched.”

“And I’m sure she wouldn’t sense it, either.” Maestru rolled his eyes. Even humans sensed when monsters circled, however, mixed blood werewolves weren’t his problem. “Land this plane, Heath.”

“One of our youngling females spotted an unfamiliar mixed blood on the university’s campus. Immediately following protocol, she phoned our security office. From there, Bane secured an unmated male to watch over her. That chosen male misted to the campus within fifteen minutes. Fifteen minutes
too late
, that is.” Heath’s jaw clenched, eyes closing briefly. “The male got in touch with Bane, claiming he smelled the mixed blood’s trail and a serious overload of her adrenalin threading through it. When our team arrived, they confirmed she was nowhere in sight. Her trail dropped off in the parking lot.”

“I’m sorry for your Pack’s loss.” He shrugged. “If you have a photo, I’ll make sure Qudir sends it out. Maybe someone will spot her.”

“We want more than that.”

Of course they did. “More?” Maestru shook his head, dumbfounded. “We’re stretched. Rock and Bane know that.”

“Allow me to explain myself, then. I just came from the university.” Mercurial eyes moved within themselves, his Beast’s agitation rising. “Know what I picked up? Dynasty hunters, your Lovci were in action,” he stopped, gauging Maestru’s reaction.

“A visual on Lovci?” Maestru scoffed. “Even I find them hard to spot.” No one alerted him to any hunting in the area, as usual.

“Visual, no,” Heath explained, “you’re not the only one who can scent ‘em, Coven Master.”

If Heath expected him to be shocked, he’d be sorely disappointed. Maestru knew a certain number of werewolf trackers could scent hunters. “They’re not my Lovci. None of the creatures from our Dynasty are
mine
,” replied Maestru wearily.

“They’re securin’ Donors to feed your empire, usin’ our lasses as their dinner!”

“And Rock knows
rogue
hunters have recently been in this area.” All Donors were fair game to the vampire monarchy, not that they should be. And the werewolves would be flabbergasted if they found out how many werewolf Donors lived behind royal walls.

“What’s convincin’ you that our female was taken by rogues?”

Nothing. “Lovci would be idiots to come against your Pack this precise way, don’t you think?” Maestru lifted a shoulder and let it drop. “Common courtesies between factions keep down friendly fire.”

“With all due respect, Coven Master, I’m no’ lookin’ to hear a public service announcement and I’m no’ a fool.”

He pulled his phone out, calling his Commanding Vojak. Three rings sounded before a weary Qudir greeted him. Maestru said cheerily, “You’re on speaker with one of Rock’s trackers named Heath and your Master. How are you fairing this lovely mid-morning, Qudir?”

An impatient hiss and then, “My Master, I just went to bed an hour ago.”

Ignoring that. “Commander, the Pack is requesting our help with a missing mixed blood who was last seen on the local university campus. They insist the Dynasty’s involved.”

“Kash reported that intel sometime after three this morning,” answered Qudir with a yawn. “He found a halfling strung up inside Ryan's dungeon, whipped by a male youngling. She was enjoying herself. Case closed.”

“A werewolf in the dungeon?” Maestru shook his head. “I would have punished her myself, if I’d been there.” He sighed. “Youth and foolishness go hand-n-hand.”

“Yeah, Kash texted Bane and Ryan’s dungeon masters had the female ready to go when Bane misted to the club. She’s in Pack custody.”

“Good. Later, Commander.” Maestru ended the call. He hated having his time wasted, but that was a werewolf for you. “You heard him. Tracking is part of security. Why are you out of the loop?”

“I’m no’, Coven Master. Although we are grateful for Kash alertin’ us to our female’s mischiefs in the dungeon, she’s not the one who was taken from the university.”

“Then I’m sorry to hear that,” Maestru offered. “When it comes to stolen females, I have a heart, werewolf. But as I said, we’re pressed. Accept what we’ve already contributed and I won’t seek compensation for my Vojaks.”

“As a tracker, I have no authority to urge someone of your station to aid our Pack in this. I’ll be goin’ back to Scotland soon enough, a place where I do have said authority. So I guess you’ll be dealin’ with Rock then.” Heath’s look said everything: As head of security, Rock carried the Pack’s authority. And if he had a mind to, Rock could nag him in every way, annoying him by the hour until Maestru went ape shit. And Rock had a mind to, all right, considering Maestru and the werewolf had unsettled business between them that went way past Tatum and onto the subject of Dakota. “Very well, I’ll have Qudir contact you before this night fall, offering whatever assistance we can with this particular girl. Nothing additional, though. Qudir has his ways with our Dynasty, we’ll see if she’s inside any Donor holdings. You got a name?”

“Yeah, we got to her car afore any of the local authorities arrived.” He pulled papers from his back pocket. “Copies of her registration, it states her name and address. Nothing more than that, so we’re headin’ to her apartment complex. Word is - lots o’ partin’ going on there tonight. Senior members of our Pack will be there. We’re searchin’ for any clues to her disappearance, and for more of our mixed blood lasses unprotected by Pack. We understand Donors appear to attract one another. Subconsciously, that is. So they’ll also attract the dicks who hunt them. We’ll be ready for them. It’s time we let them know to stay away from our kind.”

They knew too much, and yet. “That’s not going to work, Heath.” Just when Maestru thought Heath was clever, he spewed inane crap. “No member of Lovci, rogue or otherwise, would hunt around Beasts. It’s the first rule taught at their academy. It’s not as if they cannot smell you, so what you’ll find tonight at most is half your quest. Maybe some females will turn up for your Pack to care for. But rogue Lovci? No. They’ll head elsewhere, coming back later when you’re not there, since you’ll peak their interests by your circling.”

“I want that girl found.”

And Maestru needed to find out if these hunters were indeed rogues. He exhaled slowly, rearranging his schedule in his head. Sure, he could do
something
. Since Maestru had a way of hiding his power and scent from the hunters, something he didn’t brag about to many, he could probably scope the party scene out and mend some fences in the process. “This one night, I’ll handle the girl’s hunt.
Personally
.”

Heath couldn’t help but gape. “You, Coven Master?”

“Shocked, I see.” For the second time, Maestru slid his phone from his pocket. “I’ll find out what I can, and if I happen to come across any of your mixed bloods, I’ll let you know. Have Bane arrange a rendezvous with Qudir when he calls. You Beasts may be staying away from tonight’s party scene, but you’ll need to be on the ready.” Once more, he phoned Qudir. “
For anything
.”

“I can ask for nothing more. You have my gratitude, Coven Master.” Heath misted away.

“Qudir,” he spoke into his phone, “soon you’ll be hearing from Bane. For tonight, grab Oycher and you two throw on hoodies and jeans. We’re crashing a college party. You have plans? Change them.” Maestru pinched the bridge of his nose. “Just fuck girls at this party. Seriously? You find
any
female less than three-hundred years of age too young for you. I get that you enjoy experience, man, but you’ve grown far too picky in your old age. You’re unmated. Pussy is pussy. Uh, huh. Well then, take one for the fucking team, Commander. Does it sound like a request to you? Oh, and grab some vodka and beer. Red Bull, too.” Maestru had to laugh. “Why? Damn, you are truly out of touch with the humans. Everyone knows ‘booze in hand’ turns party crashers into honored guests.”

No nightmares tormented her, either.

A slow breath left her, peace rolling over her in languid waves. She wasn’t underground. Her ankle didn’t have a chain attached to it. And instead of spending the day with a stunning maniac intent on erotic punishment, she would be in her husband’s loving arms. Everything else Blythe was determined to forget until she had to face it again. One day was what she would settle for. Just one day where she and Sixten could pretend everything was normal, mundane. That they had a solid relationship unfettered by anything or anyone.

Maybe they could make love on their private beach without someone trying to kill them. 
Probably not. 
But a girl can dream.

“
My
closet,” she said, stepping out of her deep walk-in and tossing her clothes on the bed next to her new boots.

“Yes, your closet.” Sixten arched a flaxen brow. “Are you out of room already?”

“Not yet.” Blythe pulled on her clothes. Sixten stopped what he was doing, riveted on her. Flashing him a smile, she finger combed her hair after adjusting her top. “It’s silly considering everything that goes on in my life –
our
lives.” With a shrug, she continued, “I just…I feel like I’m finally home. Honestly, I’ve never felt that way before, even in childhood. Why am I telling you this? You know how insecure I’ve been. Now, I have roots.” They met in the middle of their bedroom, his powerful arms enveloping her. “Six, I know it’s not the
physical
walls of our home safely surrounding me, but you.”

“You see.” His hand slipped behind her neck, rubbing gently. “I was all up for this romantic conversation, ready to explain how I feel the same way – at home with you. But you said walls surrounding me, and all I can think about are your walls,” he leaned down and whispered against her throat, “surrounding me. Hmmm, you are so beautiful. Smell delicious.” Wet fangs scraped her throat, not breaking skin.

Her mind prickled, palms beginning to sweat over thoughts of his hunger. Apprehension of him losing control warred with anticipation for his intoxicating bite. In her mind, she couldn’t win. “For lunch or for other?”

“That would be a two-for-one.” Fingers thrust through her hair, winding strands around his fingertips. Small nibbles trailed across her chin. “I’m famished and horny. Hell, I’m beyond horny. I’m on fire and I have to go to work.”

That put a kink in her normal-day-with-Sixten plans. “You don’t
have
to go to work, do you?”

“Technically, no.” A stronger nip, this one neared her jugular. “I can sweep us away, traveling the world – hiding.”

“Hiding?”

“Don’t like the idea of hiding, my wife?”

“No.” A gasp left her when he bit the tender flesh behind her ear. “You know I don’t want to live my life that way, especially if it means going underground.” A tremor traveled her body.

“Then I must contribute to my Coven, yes?”

“Hmmm, yes,” she answered despondently. “But I just came back to you.”

“I know, yet I owe them a great debt, angel.” His hands glided down, clenching her ass. And she swore she lifted twenty feet off the ground, lost in his touch. “Coven members worked in conjunction with their natural enemies for you. They risked torture and final death from our Dynasty Empire for that ruse Sayer aided us in, all the while dedicating their inherent abilities and time in finding you while maintaining their regular duties. They’ve watched over you non-stop since your extraction from that Dynasty
monster
.” He hissed in the way of agitated vampires, and goose bumps dotted her skin. “They’re exhausted. If they go to work today, then I can, too.”

She said sadly, “I didn’t mean to sound selfish. That’s not what I was going for. I just want you.”
   “You are not selfish, Blythe.” Fangs punched down. “You want the same thing I want, to spend the day in bed, as well as on other horizontal surfaces, with your mate.” He leaned back, pursing his lips in thought. “Though I really do enjoy you against the shower wall, angel, vertical has its moments.
Deep
moments.” 
She grew wet, and he parted his lips, panting through his fangs.

“So mind stalker’s babysitting me again?” she asked. “I swear you always put Oycher on duty so he’ll tell you every thought I had.”

“No Oycher today,” he replied solemnly. “We need all senior Vojaks on full duty, and my options are minimal since I don’t trust the Vojaks-in-training, our younglings, around you. You’re hot and you know vampires are attracted to all things pretty. I don’t think they have enough self-control, as far as you’re concerned. And I’m still working on fully trusting your guards against these rogue shifters. Sure, in groups they can hold them off for a while, but kill them? Nah.”

“Six, when you say younglings, those vampires I saw look like grown men - beyond grown men.” A careful finger traced her ebony eyebrow since his claws had erupted, and her body softened in all the best places under his simple skill. “It’s ridiculous.”

“Are you checking them out?” Another hiss escaped him, rushing breath hitting her ear. “Qudir can’t afford to lose any more Vojaks, Blythe. In the future, think about what you say to me.”

“As if I want anyone else,” she groaned, bringing her lips to his, but he turned stone still. “Wait a minute.” She narrowed her eyes, realizing he hadn’t confessed everything. “All the Vojaks are working, you trust no younglings to guard me, so that means…
werewolf
.”