Drawing Blood (33 page)

“I understand your point of view and you make perfect sense, but my position still stands. Tell him, if he wants to tell me, I’d be happy to listen…and forget all that stuff about him knowing where I live. If he’s prepared to share with me, trust me, I’d make the trip into
Toronto
.” Even as she said the words, Holly knew she would not hear from her father on the subject.

No further discussion was possible as the phone rang. Holly barely had the receiver against her ear when she heard Avery’s voice.

“Arnie’s been taken to emergency. His mother isn’t sure what’s wrong, but apparently he’d been expecting this new girl to come to the house last night and she never showed. I knew something was wrong when I talked to him this morning. Damn it, I should have taken the time to talk to him then.”

Holly did her best to comfort her friend. “You couldn’t have known. What happened? How’d he end up at the hospital?”

“According to his mother, he grew more and more agitated as the day wore on until this afternoon he had some kind of seizure and was rushed to the hospital.”

“What’s his condition now?”

“He’s in a coma.”

* * * *

“It’s your decision.” Declan said. “You’re the best person to judge whether we should pull out.”

“A lot of help you are,” Stryker said. “What’s the point of having your brother be your fearless leader if he’s not prepared to be fearless and make the tough decisions?”

Declan knew the question was rhetorical. “What you’re doing there is important. It’s the first settlement in
Canada
, a vast country, sparsely populated, but rich in natural resources, resources that must be preserved if we’re to make any inroads in saving this planet.
Canada
is key. Your position right now is pivotal.”

Stryker knew everything his brother said was true but it was proving almost impossible for him to rein in his own rage. He’d stood on that cliff and tasted the bloodstalker’s pleasure in the kill. Stryker longed to lash out. He wasn’t so evolved that he didn’t long for revenge. A biblical eye for an eye felt right to him at the moment. The people he’d brought with him to
Canada
were the most committed people he’d ever known and now they’d lost a child, one of their own. He couldn’t pull out without at least trying to fight back. If they gave up, their enemies would win.

He said, “We’ll stay. I’m going to ask you for a few more men for back-up. It might get dirty here and I want to provide our people with some kind of protection.”

“What about Holly and her friends?”

“Holly is my concern alone.” He said the words flatly. He’d tolerate no argument on that point. In a less harsh voice he continued. “Her friends will have protection. Stephen is a brilliant doctor who appears to be more and more committed to our cause.”

Stryker knew the conversation had ended. He’d made his decision and Declan would abide by it. He’d just needed to talk it over with his brother…bounce options and possibilities off each other like they’d done for hundreds of years.

* * * *

Alone, Holly got ready for bed. She knew she’d get no sleep, but there wasn’t much she could do. Arnie was in good hands. Bracebridge hospital had a stellar reputation and if his condition worsened, they’d airlift him to
Toronto
where some of the best doctors in the world would tend him.

Lying on her side, she pulled the cotton sheets up and tucked them under her arm. Holly looked at the pillow next to hers. Grabbing it and pressing its softness to her face, inhaling his scent. The fragrance would make a great men’s cologne. She’d call it
Stryker
. Of course it would never be mass produced because she’d see to it that she was the only consumer. She sighed, wrapping her arms around the pillow and squeezing tightly. Somehow she knew she would not be sleeping alone. Stryker would come to her soon. Her blood told her so. She was more certain of this than anything else ever.

Chapter 25

He was there beside her. One moment she was alone and the next she was in his arms. She glanced at the clock on the table beside her bed.
2:00 am
.

She snuggled closer to him and said, “How’d it go?”

He sighed heavily. “
Lydia
’s daughter Candace is dead.” Holly tensed and he squeezed her tighter.

“The scene mimicked your drawing perfectly. The killer stood at the top of the cliff looking down at his handiwork just like in your sketch. I got there as fast as possible. Caught his scent. It was definitely a bloodstalker. I could smell his pleasure. It was unmistakable.”

Holly could hear his teeth grind. She lifted her head from his chest and looked into his rage-filled eyes.

“I’m so sorry. You know I’d rather my drawing were very, very wrong.”

He tried to smile down at her but only managed a grimace. “I know.”

“How is
Lydia
?”

“Shattered. She’s been sedated, but I’m not sure how much that helps anyone. When she comes to, she’ll still feel the emotional pain. Medication just postpones the inevitable.”

Holly muttered her agreement and he continued to talk.

“She’s blaming herself for not explaining to Candace why she wasn’t allowed to use the car. They’d been butting heads recently like all mothers and teenage daughters. When Candace demanded an explanation,
Lydia
refused to give her one. She expected her to obey without question.”

“Oooo. Not a good thing to tell a teenager. Poor
Lydia
. I can’t imagine what she must be feeling. Does she know it was a bloodstalker?”

“I didn’t talk to her about that, but I’m sure she has her suspicions. When she volunteered to join me in this mission, she knew the dangers, but knowing that doesn’t help.”

“Do you have any leads?”

He shrugged and Holly’s head moved as the muscles in his chest contracted and released.

“There were no skid marks. As soon as the body is released, we’ll have our doctor do an autopsy to see if there were any drugs in her system. She could have been unconscious or dead before the car went off the cliff.”

Holly said, “Or the brakes had been tampered with.”

“Yes, and if that’s the case, we can narrow down the killer’s window of opportunity to mess with the car, maybe get a timeline.” His voice sounded tight as it fought its way past his constricted throat. “Declan will send me support. I have to protect my people.”

Holly ran her hand over his chest and said, “Your brother’s sending more of those spook-like guys following the kids?”

She didn’t have to look up to know that he smiled. “Yes. More of those spook-like guys.” His tone lightened a little when he said, “One of our experts has interpreted the tarot spread in your drawing.”

She sat up. “That’s great!”

He gently settled her against him once again and said, “Tomorrow, Holly. There will be time tomorrow. For tonight I just want you.”

For the moment, she decided to keep her concern for Arnie to herself. They had enough worries for the night. His mouth swept down and took hers. His tongue traced her lips and he sucked her bottom lip gently. It wasn’t enough for Holly and she nipped his lip in response. Getting the message loud and clear, Stryker raked his teeth over her chin. She arched her neck and offered him her throat. When she felt his lips on her jugular vein, an intensely sweet pleasure sliced through her like a straight razor and she screamed. Not with fear but with passion. He laughed at the sound his lips had inspired and touched his teeth to the same spot. Holly cried out again and grabbed at his hair helplessly.

The sensations were so sharp she wanted to strike out at him, bite him, scratch him.

Looking into her eyes, he smiled smugly and said, “Let it go, Holly. You won’t hurt me. Give it to me. I want it all.”

Perhaps the stress of what they’d had to face recently added to the intensity of their passion but his words were all the encouragement she needed. She smiled and looked at him triumphantly just before she bit his shoulder and dug her finger nails into his back hard, but not quite deeply enough to draw blood. She touched her tongue to the blood that pulsed beneath his ravaged skin. His neck arched and this time it was Stryker who cried out. She was wet and ready for him and he knew it. With unerring precision his fingers found the spot that sent her reeling. He took her with a passion that bordered on violence and she loved every minute of it. Their joining was exhilarating but when they found release, Holly wanted more. She wondered if she’d ever get enough.

He was still inside her when he started all over again, slowly, smoothly. This time he was infinitely tender, drawing out their lovemaking for what could have been hours. Holly lost all sense of time, reality, space. She knew only Stryker and her desire for him. She’d taken ownership of his body as he had of hers and instead of feeling trapped by the phenomenon, she felt freed.

* * * *

She could hear him calling her and as she regained consciousness Holly realized it wasn’t a dream. He was saying her name over and over. She opened her eyes to see him leaning over her, a frown of concern on his face.

“You’re scratching at your hand, Holly. If you don’t stop you’ll draw blood and while that wouldn’t bother me, it might make you uncomfortable. Should I get you a sketchbook and pencil?”

She looked down at her left hand. The vivid red lines marking her flesh made her frown. Under the fingernails of her right hand she found bits of her own skin. Still it itched. She nodded to Stryker and he had her outfitted with drawing materials in less than a second. The last thing she could remember before the drawing took her over was marveling at his swift movements yet again.

* * * *

Stryker thought he’d seen every paranormal ability in action, but just like the first time, the sight of Holly drawing feverishly, completely unaware of his presence, unsettled him.

Weren’t bloodmates who had consummated their relationship always aware of each other? He wondered if Holly’s ability gave her strength beyond the call of her blood. Did this mean she had the resources within to resist the pull of her bloodmate? Selfishly, he didn’t like the idea, but he acknowledged that her ability to resist him might come in handy for her in the future. These were dangerous times for their people. He’d risked his life more than once in the line of duty. So far, nothing had changed in that regard, but now he had Holly to consider.

Patiently, he waited for her to stop sketching. He didn’t dare look at the drawing that began to take shape. Just like Holly, he’d wait until she finished before examining her creation. Instead, Stryker watched her face with an intensity that should have burned her skin. Psychically, she was in a place where he could not reach her and it filled him with a loneliness he’d never experienced before.

So this is what bloodmates feel
. He knew he’d have to get used to it. His long life had forever changed the day he’d walked into that supermarket. He vowed to do everything in his power to ensure that they were never separated for long. His heart beat because he knew she lived. His life began the moment he’d touched her. It was as simple and as complicated as that. He no longer had a choice. She was his life. He existed simply because she lived.

He had an obligation to his people and he’d see it through, but in that moment he understood that he’d give up anything if it meant keeping her safe and at his side.

Holly’s hand stopped moving. She blinked and shook her head in what appeared to be an attempt to clear her vision. He put a glass of water in her hand. She smiled at him and took a deep swallow. With the glass pressed to her mouth she nodded at him.

The hand that held the glass trembled slightly and as soon as she set it down, Stryker took her into his arms. He pushed the sketchbook and pencil aside, holding her tight in his embrace. Neither one of them said a word. Mentally, they’d been separated for only a short period, but it had shaken him and he needed to re-establish their connection.