The Rise of Vlad (The Seeker Series Book 3) (11 page)

Chapter Twenty-Four

Nita had never been so grateful for her mother’s interference than she was in that moment.

Virginia’s call to the Shaman had changed everything. She’d confided in the old man about Nita’s vision, opening his eyes to the truth and convincing him that Nita Franks was born to be the Kiana leader, no matter whose blood flowed through her veins.

The Shaman had revealed his vision as well, vowing to right the wrong that had been done to his alpha. He’d gathered the remaining pack members who hadn’t betrayed their alpha and headed to Martha’s Café to meet up with Nita.

“You have to go back,” Nita insisted, staring into the Shaman’s faded brown eyes.

The old man shook his head. “I do not die on this day.”

Uncertainty warred with urgency. “Okay, but no matter what happens, Vlad must live. Do you understand?” She glanced around at the fifty or so pack members. “Do you all understand?”

“You both will live,” the Shaman interrupted, his wise old eyes never wavering. “I am only sorry that so many of our people will not.”

Sorrow settled in her chest with the thought of losing members of her pack.

The Shaman touched her on the cheek. “Betrayal from one’s own is a bitter pill to swallow, sweet Nita. But you will rise above and be stronger in the end.”

Taking solace in his words, she covered his hand with hers. “I pray you are right.”

* * * *

Nita ran like the wind, allowing her wolf free rein, following the pull of her blood in Vlad’s veins.

Ten minutes later, she burst from the trees into a clearing, her gaze zeroing in on a large building situated in the center.

The sounds of battle reached Nita’s ears long before the scent of blood. Vlad’s blood.

At least a hundred of her previous pack members surrounded the building, snarling and clawing, itching to get inside.

It hurt Nita to see how many had betrayed her to follow Miles.

All eyes turned in her direction as she slid to a stop, growling low in her throat. Nita knew they couldn’t resist the challenge. It was born in them.

She pawed the ground in front of her, releasing another vicious growl. Vlad was in there somewhere, injured and bleeding.

Nita’s eyes began to burn in their sockets, and her vision sharpened with an intensity that amazed her.

Power unlike any she’d ever known thrummed through her veins, lending strength to the bloodthirsty beast now roaring to life inside her.

Thrusting forward, Nita exploded into action, her paws eating up the ground as she ran toward the dozens of wolves now racing in her direction.

The pounding of Nita’s heart could be heard over the thundering of her pack now flanking her, hell-bent on protecting their leader.

Nita launched at the last second, sailing over two smaller wolves to slam into a larger one.

The sounds of fighting exploded around her, melding together to form a chorus of snarls and teeth clashing.

She focused on the wolf beneath her, savagely ripping out his throat before tackling the next one.

Nita wasn’t sure how long she’d fought when a shout rent the night, a voice she would recognize anywhere.

Miles Castro rose from the midst of the battle, resembling Thanatos, God of Death. And in his hand rested a revolver, aimed in Nita’s direction. “You betray your own people for a bloodsucking demon?”

Nita quickly shifted, oblivious to the ongoing fighting taking place around her, and faced Castro in human form. “You are the betrayer here, Miles. And a coward.”

“Coward?” he sneered, taking a step closer.

Nodding toward the weapon he held, Nita lifted her chin. “Ever hear the old cliché, only a coward would bring a gun to a knife fight? You’re afraid of me.”

Hair sprouted along the sides of his face, and his voice rumbled with an inhuman sound. “Your eyes gleam black in the darkness. And your body, as beautiful as it may be, houses an evil that I can smell from here.”

Miles waved the gun toward the parking lot. “My car is over there. Get inside.”

Nita glanced around, taking in the dead, the blood seeping into the ground around them, and the droves of wolves still fighting their way toward the building.

She swallowed against the emotions warring in her heart: the loss of so many of her pack members, hope that Vlad still lived, and fear that he didn’t. “I’m not leaving.”

“Bring the mother,” Miles abruptly shouted.

“I’ll fucking kill you,” Nita snarled, her gaze scanning the numerous bodies to land on her mother.

Virginia stumbled into the clearing, falling to her knees as she was dragged across the field by her arm. Tears swam in her eyes as she sought out her daughter. “I’m sorry, baby.”

Nita’s gaze slowly swung back to Miles. “If you touch her—”

“You’ll what?” he barked, cutting her off. “You are in no position to make demands. Now get in the damn car before I take the top of the old lady’s head off.”

It took everything Nita had to keep from shifting. “Let her go first.”

Miles shook his head. “Not until we are safely away from here.”

“Nita, don’t!” Virginia pleaded. “He’ll kill you.”

Unable to look at her mother’s terrified face, Nita kept her gaze trained on Miles. “Tell him to unhand her.”

Miles tilted his head toward the shifter that gripped Virginia’s arm.

Nita cried out as the guy pulled a pistol from his belt and slammed it into the back of her mother’s head. Virginia fell unconscious to the ground.

“Mother!” Nita cried, taking a step toward Virginia’s crumpled form.

The monster standing above Virginia pulled the hammer back on his gun and pointed it down at her head. “Not another step.”

Blinking back tears of rage, Nita beseeched him with her eyes. “Okay, I’ll go. Just please don’t hurt her anymore.”

With one last look at her precious mother, Nita spun around and numbly marched toward the car without a word.

Miles Castro would pay for what he’d done, she silently vowed… He’d pay with his life.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Vlad stared up at the ceiling in a rage. Bound in silver and strapped to a table, he listened intently to the continuous fighting still taking place outside.

Something pulled at his gut, nearly turning him inside out. Something beyond the silver cooking his flesh, beyond the pain and agony.

Nita!
Vlad pulled on his bonds, hissing as the silver burned deeper into his wrists.

“Ah, you’re awake,” Declan acknowledged, stepping into the room, holding a container in one hand and a knife in the other.

Vlad didn’t have to ask about the objects to know what Declan had planned. He needed Vlad’s heart. “Do you honestly think Lilith will allow you to live once she’s resurrected?”

Declan gave him a pitying look. “Of course she will.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“I have a chance to purge the world of the half-breeds, the corrupt and diluted vampire blood. To give our race a fresh start. To do it right this time.”

Understanding dawned on Vlad. “You think to breed with Lilith.”

Declan nodded. “The earth will once again be populated with purebred vampires. The way it was meant to be before our race began consorting with humans. We’ve lost our power, our purpose.”

Vlad took a painful breath. “History always repeats itself, Declan. You’ve been alive long enough to know this. No matter what you do, it will come back around to this in another two hundred years.”

“You’re wrong,” Declan snarled, moving to set the container on the bed next to Vlad’s chest. “With Lilith and I ruling together, we’ll be unstoppable.”

Vlad studied Declan’s eyes. “And if you’re wrong? What’s to stop Lilith from destroying you and summoning Vrykolakas from the pits of hell to reign with her?”

Uncertainty flickered in Declan’s eyes. “That’s not going to happen. Not after everything I’ve done to raise her up. What has he done? I don’t see him out here fighting for her.”

“Lilith wasn’t a vampire, Declan. And you don’t possess a third of the power it takes to produce a pure bloodline. Only Vrykolakas is capable of it.”

Declan leaned over Vlad’s face, their noses nearly touching. “She will be a vampire once your heart is pumping inside her chest. The most powerful vampire in the world.”

“I’ll see you in hell,” Vlad murmured softly.

Declan gripped the knife by the handle and ripped Vlad’s shirt open before pressing the blade against the Impaler’s chest.

“Forgive me.” Declan sank the knife deep, dragging it downward to sever the bone as he went.

Vlad’s back bowed off the table in agony. He locked his teeth together to keep from crying out as the elder continued to carve out his heart.

Declan’s eyes suddenly grew wide, and his head arched back, exposing the cords of his neck. Blood seeped through his shirt, spreading across his chest to disappear inside his silk jacket.

His hand slipped off the blade, and his body fell to the floor.

“Son of a bitch,” Angel growled, instantly appearing in Vlad’s vision. He ripped off his shirt and pressed it against the wound in Vlad’s chest. “Hang on, and I’ll get you out of here.”

Vlad’s entire body shook in pain as he stared up into Angelo’s eyes. “Get out of here. They have set the place on fire. I can smell the smoke.”

Angel shook his head. “I’m not leaving without you.”

“You must,” Vlad wheezed, glancing at the smoke now billowing through the door. “Think of your son.”

“Lucius is safe with Ember,” Shon argued, kneeling to search through Declan’s pockets.

Gripping the key, Angel jumped to his feet, unlocking the cuffs with vampiric speed.

He lifted Vlad into his arms and ran for the door.

A giant wolf appeared from the smoke, foaming at the mouth and blocking Angel’s exit.

“Fuck,” Angel barked, backing up a step.

A loud cry burst from the wolf’s throat before his body was yanked backward, disappearing into the dark cloud of smoke in the other room.

Ember sauntered into the room, bloody and confident. “Follow me.”

Vlad watched with no small amount of pride as Angelo’s mate cleared them a path to the main door.

Shon and Laura fought alongside them, covered in soot and blood, nearly unrecognizable.

The five of them burst outside in time to see the wolves fighting next to the flames, running up the structure’s walls.

An explosion rocked the building, nearly unseating Vlad in Angel’s arms.

Stopping next to the SUV, Angel jerked open the back and dumped Vlad, unceremoniously inside before climbing in after him.

The sounds of doors slammed, and the engine hummed to life.

Vlad fought the darkness, staring up at the plush ceiling of his SUV. “Nita…”

“She’s not here,” Angel murmured from close by. “She’s safe.”

Vlad moved to get up. “She’s in trouble, Angelo. I can feel it.”

Angel gently pushed him back down. “We’ll find her, Sire. Once we get the silver out, you can go look for her.”

Fury boiled up inside Vlad at his own helplessness. There he lay in the back of a vehicle, his chest cracked open and silver bullets embedded in his body, unable to do anything to help his Nita. And she was his, he’d come to accept. Whether she wanted to be or not.

Vlad turned his head toward Angel. “Try calling her,” he wheezed, fighting to keep his eyes open.

Angel pulled out his cell phone and dialed Nita’s number before pressing the end button. It’s going straight to voicemail. I’ll try her again shortly.”

Nita’s beautiful face rose up in Vlad’s mind, haunting him in his weakness. If anything happened to her, Vlad would go insane. Of that, he had no doubt.

The SUV bounced off the dirt road and onto the highway, sending agonizing pain tearing through Vlad’s chest. He could feel his heartbeat slowing as his life’s blood steadily rushed from his body.

Vlad would survive his injuries, no matter what. He was the Impaler, Prince of Darkness. But without Nita, he wasn’t so sure he’d want to.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Nita drove along the back roads of her home, staring out the windshield.

Miles sat in the passenger’s seat, holding her at gunpoint.

She could feel his sickening gaze, sliding up and down her nude body. “Where are we going?”

“You’ll see when we get there. Take a left here.”

Doing as she’d been instructed, Nita turned off the highway, maneuvering the car down a long, winding drive.

A cabin came into view a few seconds later with two cars parked out front.

She put the car in park and turned to face Miles. “Now what?”

“Get out,” he demanded, waving the gun for emphasis.

Several burly-looking men filed from the cabin to stand at attention on the porch. Nita recognized them as members of her pack.

“May I at least have a shirt to put on?” she asked through clenched teeth.

“And spoil all the fun? I don’t think so. Now move.”

Nita gathered as much courage as she could muster and climbed from the car.

Whistles and catcalls erupted from the porch, instantly humiliating her.

With as much dignity as she could muster, Nita marched toward the cabin with her head held high.

“Inside,” Miles demanded, the cold steel of his gun touching against her back.

Nita stepped over the threshold, taking in the room with a quick glance.

Miles shoved her forward. “First bedroom to the left.”

Stumbling toward the hall, Nita stopped at the door to the room he’d indicated. Nausea rolled through her gut as she took in her surroundings.

Chains hung from the corners of the four-poster bed, leaving no doubt about his intensions.

“You’re going to rape me?” she asked in a wooden voice.

“Don’t flatter yourself, vampire lover.”

Relief was instant.

“I’m going to finish the ritual and become your mate. Whether you survive matters not. I’ll be the Kiana alpha, no matter what the outcome is.”

So much for relief, Nita thought as he gave her another push.

She staggered toward the bed, refusing to give him the satisfaction of hearing her beg. “You’ll never lead the Kiana, Miles. You don’t have the balls.”

A fist slammed into her jaw hard enough that Nita saw stars. She landed on the bed, blinking back tears of rage.

Miles flipped her over and locked her wrists inside the cuffs. He then moved to her feet and spread her legs apart before securing her ankles in the same fashion. “Comfy?”

“Fuck you,” Nita snarled, tasting her blood on her tongue.

“Maybe later, if you behave.” Miles laughed and strode from the room.

Nita tested her bonds. He’d locked her in tight enough she’d never be able to escape.

After everything she’d been through, Nita couldn’t believe it all came down to this. She would die at the hands of Miles Castro, leaving him to lead her people.

If she had any people left, she silently acknowledged. After the battle she’d witnessed back at the Seekers’ lair, she wasn’t so sure.

Her mind drifted back to Vlad. Though she never saw him in the midst of the chaos, she had no doubt he’d been injured. She’d smelled his blood.

The tears Nita had fought so hard to contain welled up to spill down her cheeks. What if he hadn’t survived?

The thought of losing him brought a pain with it so great it felt physical. When had she fallen in love with the Impaler? And she did love him. Of that, she had no doubt.

“Miles?” Nita yelled, pulling against her bonds. “Miles!”

The door cracked open, and Lester, a man she’d grown up with, stuck his head inside. “He ain’t here.”

“Where is he? I need to speak with him at once.”

Lester shrugged. “Said something about going to pick up the Shaman.”

“Will you at least cover me up?” Nita asked, mortified that he stared at her.

With a sigh of resignation, Lester ambled into the room, grabbed a blanket off the back of a chair, and tossed it over her before turning to go.

“Lester, wait.”

He stopped but didn’t face her.

“Why are you doing this? We’ve known each other since we were little kids. Your mom used to bring you over on Sundays for playdate. Yolanda and Mom were close friends.”

His shoulders stiffened, but he continued staring straight ahead. “That was a long time ago.”

“What would Yolanda think if she knew you were involved in this?”

That got his attention. He slowly swiveled toward her. “She’ll never know about it. The chances of you making it out of here alive are one in a million.”

“And you’re okay with that?” Nita pressed, keeping her tone soft.

“It doesn’t matter what I’m okay with, Nita. I need the money.”

Nita blinked. “He’s paying you?”

“I’m done talking.” Lester spun toward the door and jerked it wide.

“I’ll double it,” Nita rushed out before he could leave. “I’ll double what he’s paying you.”

Lester’s head dropped forward in defeat or impatience, Nita wasn’t sure. “I can’t. As long as Miles lives, my family would never be safe.”

“Then we’ll kill him.”

Lester laughed without humor and stepped into the hall, pulling the door closed behind him.

“Lester?” Nita called to no avail. She would get no help from him. Miles had threatened the guy’s family, assuring his cooperation and his loyalty.

Switching her focus back to Vlad, Nita concentrated on the pull she’d felt from him upon entering that clearing. The smell of his blood, the strange feeling that had settled inside her chest.

She relaxed her body and let her eyes drift shut.

Tuning out the sounds coming from the other room, Nita centered her thoughts on the one being that could help her. The one man she trusted with her life. The creature she been unconsciously falling in love with. Her fate. Her destiny. Her Impaler.

“Vlad
…”