Sinful's Desire (7 page)

It seemed like days since Sin began looking for Marlee, but reality was it had only been a few hours. But anything could happen to her in a few hours. He had looked over all his journals and diaries that could hint to this Dante. He had no recollection about this vampire, nor the type of people he might have. He had been lord for a long time, and even then he helped bring peace to Ireland and had even helped other countries out. He was tempted to phone Jager, but thought against it. He didn’t need to bring any unwanted attention to his territory with Marlee still in danger.

“Sin, did you hear me?” Cillian was looking at him expectedly.

“No, I didn’t. My head is elsewhere, what have you found?” he asked.

“Nothing we can use. We have gotten a trace on the vans that were outside the castle gates, we have a few trusted vampires who are going there now.”

“Trusted. I trusted Patrick too.”

“Sire, it is not your fault the boy was infatuated. She spoke nothing of being claimed by another, you did no wrong.”

“I can’t help but wonder, did they have the bond like I share with Marlee. Was she his mate?”

“Sin, look, I am going to be honest with you. I don’t think many of us find a mate, hell, we never knew it existed, and if she is having issues like you are being apart, then I would assume that this Tara didn’t have it with Patrick. We will get Marlee back.”

“Yes we will, however, my concern is what state I will get her back in.”

*****

Marlee woke, her head throbbing, trying to focus on anything that wasn’t spinning. She reached up and felt a nasty knot on the back of her head.
Damn that freaking hurts.
She went to look around the room and was shocked she was in a weird bedroom of some sorts. She went to stand, but found her feet were unsteady, and one leg was shackled to the bed, she fell backwards.

“So glad they didn’t do any permanent damage. I told them that you were my guest and should be handled with care. Seemed they got a little over zealous with their kidnapping. Then again, what do you expect with lazy vampires.” A man with dark red eyes and a leering smile looked at her when he stepped out from the shadows. Had he been there the whole time watching her?

“What do you want with me?” backing herself far away from him and against the brick wall.

“What I want, oh that is a loaded question. But since I am in a good mood I will enlighten you.”

Marlee once again watched as he started to walk around the room, almost as if he was stalking his prey, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

“I want Sin, well, I don’t really need him alive, but I want to take all that he values and crush it. My plan had only included taking his territory, but my man on the inside said he had grown this fascination with you. Something about forbidden fruit. Honestly, I don’t see the attraction. I would have picked a blood bitch that would have had more meat on their bones. They can take a thorough pounding. Granted, I admit you’re pretty to look at, but looks fade and soon you are left with an outer shell. But enough with the dramatics. Sin will come for you and trust me, I know he will, so when he does, it will be all too great to watch his face as I drain you dry and then kill him, taking over his territory, and all that lie within it.” The twisted bastard had made his way around to her, grabbing her hair right above where her nasty knot was, yanking her head to the side, then rubbing his nose along the side of her neck as he took deep breaths. When Sin did it, it turned her on, but now all she wanted to do was vomit. “I admit you do smell delightful, but not enough for me to keep you.” He threw her back in disgust while she scurried back against the wall.

“You’re a twisted son of a bitch you know that right?” She would normally not antagonize a vampire, but he down right pissed her off. She was not some damn pawn in a game of who is the better vampire.

“Yes I know, and it's kind of you to realize that. Just be patient, your time is almost up, and I won’t have to worry about your filth anymore.” He walked out the door without a second glance, leaving her alone to ponder her thoughts. Well the hell with that, she wasn’t going to sit back and let Sin rescue her yet again. She tugged more on her restraints and found that it was a solid metal chain, and it wasn’t going to come off with simple tugging.

Come on, Marlee, think, use your brain, dumbass.
She went to stand and that’s when it hit her. Her bed. She could break it and free herself, now to do it without anyone else hearing her.

With ragged breaths, she moved around and was happy that even though she had the headache from hell, she had working movement of her hands. Grabbing onto the old bed, she moved it up and down, trying to get the old wood to break. If the wood splintered enough she could use it as a stake and kill the fucker herself. If he didn’t show, she would use it on whomever was stupid enough to try to hurt her. She wasn’t a damn victim, she was a mate to some hot as hell vampire, which reminded her she needed to have a seriously long talk with the hot as sin vampire when she got her ass out of the hellhole she currently resided in.

Voices could be heard outside her door as men walked back and forth complaining about dinner plans.
Damn, do these guys ever think about anything other than food?
she thought as she worked the wood some more. The bed creaked and moaned in protest as she kicked the wood some more. She had a small gleam of hope when she spotted the crack running along the board.
Watch out, because I am going to kick ass and take names later, s
he thought as she proceeded to break the wood more.

*****

“The men found the vans but they were empty, had been stolen, and we are still no closer to finding her, Sire,” Cillian stated as he snapped his cell phone shut.

“I didn’t think so. The key is this damn Dante. Who is he?” Sin growled in frustration as he threw the paperwork off his desk. He was tied to his damn office, his castle keeping watch of all while his men searched for his mate. His mate, not theirs. He started to pace back and forth knowing that all eyes were glued to him. Tension radiated off him in waves, some of his people whimpered with fear and pain. He needed Marlee, she had a calming effect of him, unlike any other.

“Sire, I think you might want to take a look at this,” Cillian turned on the TV and reports started to come in on a serial killer killing woman and leaving a wake of bodies in dumpsters in the lower end of the town. All woman appeared to have been beaten and then killed by the snapping of their necks.

“Lower end, could he be down in that area?”

“We found the vans down there, I can send the men.” Sin nodded to Cillian before clicking off the TV and reading more. He pulled out his own notes and small journals of things he did before. He wasn’t much a note person, but after meeting with Cillian, he decided he needed to understand and appreciate everything he did to get to where he was.

Sin read over and over about various towns and nothing. He couldn't remember a Dante in any of it.

“I feel like I am beating my head against a wall, Cillian. Nothing makes a damn bit of sense. I don’t remember this boy, or his maker. I feel I should, but I cannot remember each life I took. If I killed his maker, there was just cause. I had reasons for each vampire I killed.”

Cillian only nodded and nothing else was exchanged for the longest time. Sin sat in his chair, frustration radiating off him. How could he have been so complacent with his life that he let others do his work while he stayed safe and locked away. Not happy at all, he picked up his phone and headed out the door.

“Sire, where are you going?” Cillian called after him.

“I am going to find Marlee and end this once and for all. I am so damn tired of waiting and not doing anything. If I am out there, I will have a better sense than any other. I can feel her, Cillian. I can feel her fighting spirit, so I know she is alive, and right now she is pissed. It seems this mating thing is going to come in handy right now.” He rounded the corner to the security men. Tomas looked at him before bowing his head.

“Sire, I think we found something.”

“Show me,” Sin snapped.

Sin and Cillian followed Tomas into the small room that housed several cameras and security systems. He watched as Tomas hit many buttons on his computer before clicking a screen.

“There, we found the vans, but one of the men found a few things, and we might have figured out where he took her. You see this is for three vans, but only two were discovered. When we did a trace on vans going through various locations we found they made a purchase of gas just outside the territory. I did a location search and found only a few older houses were out that way. No one lives there. The town was destroyed some years back. So it would be my guess.” Sin watched as he brought the town up on the map, and then it hit him. Not even thinking he ran back to his office looking for something.

“Sin, you have this look on your face like you know something others don’t.”

“Do you remember the small town where we took down Mathis? He had created many children, and while most of them didn’t survive, they were not strong enough, a few did. Mathis had believed that blood and dominance over all equaled power. He had a twisted sense of humor, and took several children from small towns and villages making them his slaves for a time before he turned them to do his dirty work. That village Tomas showed me is where I killed him. I think I know who Dante is, and if he survived this long, I don’t know his power, but then again, he doesn’t know my wrath and the wrath he brought on his people by taking my mate,” Sin said with an icy chill. He didn’t need to say more as Cillian knew all too well what the score was going to be. Together they prepped his team. They were going to get Marlee back.

*****

“Come on you stupid ass board.” Marlee was almost done with breaking the post when a commotion started to sound outside her small door. One more kick and she could make it out of there. Taking a deep breath, she reared her leg back and kicked with all her might and the post broke just right. Sighing in relief, she pulled the metal ring off the board and went to the window, making sure she didn’t jingle the chain too much. The window didn’t look too bad, she was only two stories up, but the fall was going to hurt. She banked on the hurt being nothing compared to what awaited her if she just sat around twiddling her thumbs. The window's base seemed to be rusted shut, and Marlee did her best to start to move it up. When the window budged a small amount, she almost wanted to jump in excitement. She worked the window up inch by inch until she had it completely open.
See you can save yourself.
The window sat next to a small ledge, but as she looked at it, she thought she could climb onto the next roof and wait to give herself some time to rest before she jumped down and headed out of dodge. As her leg went out the window she felt someone grab her arm yanking her back.

“So glad you’re a feisty one. This is going to be so much fun, but, my dear, I fear it is show time.” He took a piece of hair that had fallen in her face, tucking it artfully behind her ear. “See now you’re all pretty for your big debut.”

Fuck me, I’m too late.
Marlee sent a silence prayer at whoever the hell was listening because this time she was in deep shit.

Sin had made it to the small village that housed several disheveled houses. It was dark and only the moon lit their way. His vampires paired off in every possible area of escape. Sin could feel the tension in Marlee escalate as he got closer. It seemed she too was on edge. He wanted to send comforting feelings back to her, but the truth was, he needed to concentrate on what he was going. Watching with his keen eyesight he spotted two of his men take out three other vampires as a wake of dust filled the air. He wasn’t sure what house she was in when he got closer to the larger ones. His heart broke as he walked around remembering the devastation that was thrusted upon these poor people and the many who died because of a hungry vampire on a power trip.

“Stop right there.” His head shot to the right as someone in the shadows spoke.

“Come out and face me, coward, and meet your fate.” A deep chuckle resonated as Marlee soon became visible as the soft delicate moonlight shown on her face. A mix between fear and anger filled her eyes.

“You don’t seem to understand, I have something you want. But I don’t seem to understand why? She is a skinny, tiny, little thing with a smart mouth. I think she is better gagged.”

“You will not hurt one hair on her head,” Sin said through gritted teeth.

“Oh, come now, you don’t mean that. Who says that nowadays? Hurt a hair on her head and I kill you, what, like you're not going to kill me if I do. See this is why I need her, I want you to see the life leave her face.” Sin moved to try to get a better look at the man who was holding Marlee captive as the fucker's teeth glinted in the light dangerously close to her neck.

“What’s wrong? Too afraid to come out of the shadows and face me. Only a true coward would stay hidden and not face me. And a coward you are to hide behind a woman.”

“I’m not a coward.” Sin watched as a vampire he had never seen before step out of the shadows. He had always assumed that this unknown threat would be someone he knew, not this half of a man. “And we are not alone either.”

Just then, a group of vampires appeared out of nowhere and started to attack them. Cillian shouted as one jumped out of the window above him with a stake aimed at him. He moved with quick speed, but just as he did, Dante moved once again in the shadows, pulling Marlee with him.

“Kill them, kill them all, but Dante is mine,” Sin growled to his men as he ran around the building, unable to find him. Another vampire, this one with short blonde hair, ran to him. Sin moved, but not soon enough as another came behind him biting into his arm. Sin howled in frustration, but he knew no one was coming. They might be outnumbered with manpower, but he and his team were very skilled and capable of handling this situation all by themselves. He grabbed the head of the one biting him, and with one swift twist, managed to pull his head off. No sooner than his opponent turned to dust, the other lunged toward him with his arms stretched wide to grab Sin, instead Sin swung around, grabbed the other's wrist of each arm, spreading them as wide as he could move them. The vampire grunted in pain, but his shrill scream could be heard over the other fighting noises when Sin sprung over him in a flip, landing behind the man, bringing his arms with him in the move and tearing them from their sockets. Throwing the wounded one to the ground rolling in pain, he turned to watch Cillian get a spike shoved into his leg. Sin ran to his second, killing every vampire that got in his way. Once the vampires who attacked Cillian were dead, he faced his friend.

“You okay?”

“Never better, feels like old times, old man. I will be fine. We will clean up this mess, you find Dante and get Marlee back.” Sin nodded and took off, trying to follow the faint scent of his mate.

*****

Marlee squirmed in the freak’s arm. He spat on and on about getting revenge and taking out Sin, but when the opportunity came, he did nothing—the chicken shit. Either way, Marlee needed to find a way to get away from him or at least lure him back to the fight so Sin could totally kick his ass.

“What’s wrong? Did you get too big for your britches and get scared. Are we running back to mommy now?” Marlee saw the location he was taking her, and suddenly a thought popped in her head. It was an old paper mill, and if paper was made there then surely she could find something to kick this sorry ass’s ass.

“Shut up you blood slut. You are nothing but a pawn. I have every intention on killing your beloved vampire, though I must say you both have terrible taste.” He had a hold of her waist lifting her around like a damn rag doll. Marlee tried to take a few steps but her feet didn’t seem to touch the ground to get any momentum.

As they entered the building, it was easy to tell it hadn’t been used in a really long time by the sight of several spider webs and the musky smell. The dust tickled her nose and she couldn’t help but sneeze. He seemed to be disgusted by this and released her, only holding her arm while she covered her sneezes with her hand. She bent trying to get some control over her sudden active allergies before she spotted an old screwdriver on the ground. With planned precision she sneezed, bending over just enough and picked it up before he saw her.

“Oh, he is good, finding you already. But there is something you should know, I’m so much better.” She cringed at his words, trying to get him to release her arm once again.

“Come out. Come out. Wherever you are,” he cooed in her ear, knowing Sin would hear him.

“Just finding a more scenic place to die, is that it, Dante?”

“You might say that, or maybe I want to avenge my master who you killed, before I take everything away from you that you care about. Starting with this dessert here.” He grabbed her hair with lightning speed, forcing her neck to the side, exposing the main vein to him. She whimpered enough to make him think he had the upper hand while the sicko ran his teeth against her skin.

“Let her go, you have me.” Sin was negotiating with him, well trying to anyway. She knew Dante had no plan on letting her go. She had had enough of this shit, when Dante moved and started to bit her neck, she screamed, brought her arm up with the rusty screwdriver in her hand, plunging it deep into his chest, at least she thought it was, until she noticed she hit his shoulder. He hissed in frustration, stopping to look at her, but it was just enough time for her to push away and take off, away from everything.

Sin watched as Marlee brought an old tool up and stabbed into the shoulder of Dante. He howled in pain, pulling the tool out before he lunged for him. Sin was ready and braced for the impact. Dante hit his chest, sending them both flying back into a small beam that supported the building. He reached up and punched Dante in the face, as Dante struck him in the side. Blow after blow, both seemed evenly matched in hand to hand combat, but Sin had the advantage of being a lord and used his power to add to his last punch, sending Dante soring across the room.

The vampire lay still for a minute, Sin took the moment to grab a piece of wood from the structure. He was going to end this once and for all, but within a flash Dante leaped up and struck Marlee with something in his hand. Sin watched as Marlee turned to the noise behind her and the piece of steel Dante had launched toward her, was lodged in her chest. A surge of rage soared through him as he watched his mate look at him before falling to the ground. He reached Dante and without a second thought brought the wooden spike down into his heart, creating a pile of ashes before him. He quickly ran to Marlee who was laying very still on the ground. Blood pooled around the steel rod that still stuck out of the upper part of her chest.

“Marlee, can you hear me,
Mo Chroi
?” he whispered, moving the hair off her face. He could hear her heartbeat and knew she still lived. Not sure what to do, he sat there yelling for help as Cillian and the other came.

“Sire, we have to move her.” Cillian went to grab her and he hissed his displeasure. He didn’t want anyone touching her.

“Call the doctor, now. She will live, but we need to hurry, she is losing a lot of blood.” No one said a word as they hurried and followed him as he carried his mate in his arms. He could feel the life in her fading with each step he took, but he would fight for her.

While in the SUV he took a rag out and covered the area he could to keep the blood within her body. Not sure what else to do, he watched her, counting each breath she took. She never once opened her eyes, and he didn’t realize how much he missed staring into their blue depths.

“Please,
Mo Chroi,
stay with me,” he whispered as he kissed her lips softly.

“We are here, Sire.” The door opened and the doctor he used when one of his humans got sick stepped up.

“Shit, she's bad, we need to hurry, and, Sin, I need you to stay with me.” He nodded and followed the good doctor. He walked with Marlee in his arms into his chamber while the doctor started to bark out orders to the others to get him hot water and other items.

“Sin, I am going to need your help. I don’t know how bad it is until I remove the rod. When I disinfect the area, I want you to pull the rod at the angle it entered, nice and slow and I will take a look at the damage,” the doctor commanded. Sin nodded, he was out of his element and grateful he had the doctor here to help her.

Watching with fascination, the doctor went to work pulling on gloves and cleaning the rod and other areas on her body. “Okay, Sin, nice and slow at this angle.” He showed Sin the angle he needed to pull. Sin held his breath while he did it. Slowly the rod was removed from her body. But just as he was happy it was out, the doctor cussed up a storm.

“She is bleeding out. She needs blood, someone get me some.” A nurse he had seen before took off running down the hall and he watched as Cillian too looked concerned. He needed to do something. Marlee was now fighting for her life. He had just found his mate and now he might lose her. That was when it hit him.

“Give her some of mine.”

“What?” the doctor looked at him puzzled.

“She’s my mate, she can take my blood. It should help heal her,” Sin persisted.

“I don’t know. Does she want to be turned?”

“She won’t be turned, she is my mate, not one of my children. She must try—we must try. This may be her only hope.” The doctor seemed resigned to his fate and nodded. Sin once again didn’t waste a moment when he sat down next to her before biting into his wrist and bringing it to her mouth. She didn’t seem to respond. Pushing his wrist more firmly against her lips, he let his blood drip and run along the seam, seeping between her loosely sealed mouth. With a zing she seemed to respond, parting her lips and then she sucked slightly on his wrist. He felt the small pull as blood left his body to try to fix hers. He did his best to try to ignore the sexual feeling that was beginning to pulse through his body.

“That seems to be helping. Her blood is clotting,” the doctor said in awe. Sin removed his wrist from Marlee, licking the wound clean, sealing it. “I am still going to give her some blood just to make sure she doesn’t have any issues with her heart. But it stopped the bleeding and as long as she has no infection, she should be okay. I gave her a shot that will help with pain and will make her sleep for a while. I suggest you too sleep, the sun will be up shortly.

Sin nodded this thanks to everyone, and once he locked himself and Marlee in his chamber, he turned off the light covering them both. Her breathing was steady as was her heart. He lay next to her careful of her injuries.

“I’m sorry,
Mo Chroi
, so sorry.” He never meant for her to get hurt, and yet she had. Closing his eyes, so many things played through his mind before the sun took him, the last one was—Marlee.