The Vampire Who Thirsted for a Wolf (15 page)

guards, the vampires destroyed the alarms first, then took out the

security. No draining, very little bloodsucking at all. They moved with

intent to take Sophia out, which was why they didn’t bother to finish

everyone off.”

“Or perhaps they just wanted to leave witnesses,” Noah suggested.

“If Yamamoto-sama is right about this whole thing being planned to

sabotage vampire-shifter relations, it makes sense that the brains

behind the operation would want to make sure everyone knew

vampires were the guilty party.”

“We must make haste,” Byron added. “This will probably not be

an isolated attack, so we must find the person or persons soon.”

As they spoke, they rushed toward the waiting helicopter. It was

late afternoon now, the sun beating mercilessly over Kaname. For

Derek, it was hard to believe that, hours back, they’d been in clouded

Tokyo, and even more so that he and Kaname had shared that mind-

melting episode of lovemaking while heading this way. It seemed so

distant now, too distant, the concern for Kaname’s brother and the

realization that they might be running out of time even now

encroaching on their beautiful memories.

They climbed into the aircraft, and as soon as they buckled in,

Byron gave the pilot indications to take them to Sydney. Everyone

else was still waiting there, as Byron had earlier explained they might

have to leave once again after viewing the scene and checking out the

situation.

92

Scarlet Hyacinth

As the helicopter took off, Derek gazed upon the quiet building

once again. He wondered who exactly had betrayed Kaname and what

they were aiming to prove. Where was Sophia anyway? Who else was

involved in this ploy? So many questions, so few answers. Derek took

Kaname’s hand and entwined his fingers with the vampire’s. They

needed to remain steadfast and trust in each other if they were going

to beat this. And they would defeat their unknown opponent, because

the alternative was simply to horrible to contemplate.

* * * *

“I’ve told you a million times now.” The female shifter crossed

her arms over her ample bosom and frowned fiercely. “I don’t know.”

Kaname suppressed the urge to bare his fangs at her. Ever since

she’d opened the door to her lavish home for them, Lauren Bristol had

been supremely uncooperative, something that didn’t surprise

Kaname in the slightest. She seemed to want to forget that she’d ever

birthed a child or had a husband.

“When did you last see Sophia?” he insisted, relaxing against the

comfortable couch he was seated in to point out he had no intention of

leaving anytime soon.

“Five years ago…Maybe.” Lauren shrugged. She reached for her

cup and gently took a sip of tea. “I’m not sure, really. We weren’t

close.”

“What about Sophia’s father, then?” he inquired. “Could he have

had any connections in the vampire world?”

Kaname doubted it, and truly, he hated admitting that his

information regarding his people was lacking in any way. However,

not even the elders of nations knew everything about each individual

person, and Lauren appeared to be aware of it.

“Silas was an unstable man,” Lauren replied, placing the cup back

on the elegant coffee table so hard Kaname wondered how the

porcelain didn’t crack. “In the last years of his life, he became

The Vampire Who Thirsted for a Wolf

93

increasingly arrogant and self-absorbed. It was a never-ending source

of frustration for him that Malcolm was the one who inherited most of

the Bristol properties. As far as I know, he had no link with other

species. The most contact we got with people outside our immediate

circle was through the Cunningham family.”

In spite of her clear reluctance to discuss this, Lauren seemed

honest. Kaname allowed his mind-reading ability to briefly skirt over

the edges of her consciousness, seeking any sign of deception. He

found none. She might have been a terrible mother, but in this respect,

she had nothing to do with Sophia’s escape and she just wanted to get

this whole thing over with so she could return to her normal life.

Kaname stole a look at Rhys Whitaker, who gave him a barely

perceivable nod. Rhys and Noah were leaning against the wall to

Kaname’s left, having remained almost completely silent since their

arrival. Brody and Carson had also decided to come with them, while

the other members of their groups had been left behind in an attempt

to ensure this meeting went as smoothly as possible. However, in

spite of staying out of the conversation, the four men were

scrutinizing their hosts with keen eyes. Brody’s lower lip lifted

slightly, as if he was about to snarl. Both he and Rhys apparently

agreed with Kaname’s opinion on Lauren, and seemed much more

interested in the second jellyfish-shifter present, elder Lou Figgs.

Lou Figgs was a tall, willowy man with eyes the color of the

darkest depths of the ocean. He never once left Lauren’s side, sitting

with her on the couch opposite Kaname’s all throughout the

conversation. Kaname could easily tell the two were lovers. Beyond

that romantic link, though, Kaname detected something else. Like

Rhys, Kaname sensed the elder wasn’t being as honest and

straightforward as Lauren.

“If I may ask, what exactly happened to Silas Bristol?”

From the armchair situated to Kaname’s right, Byron Cunningham

narrowed his eyes at Kaname, perhaps not understanding why

94

Scarlet Hyacinth

Kaname was questioning things that had happened decades back. “He

committed suicide shortly after Sophia’s fifth birthday,” he replied.

That honestly didn’t sound like something a self-absorbed,

arrogant person would do. Kaname’s mate seemed to agree.
“There’s

something suspicious here,”
Derek told Kaname through their bond.

Like Rhys and Noah, the wolf had spoken little so far, content to

silently watch and assess Lou and Lauren from Kaname’s side.
“The

elder knows who was at the compound. He has his own reasons for

getting rid of Sophia, I think.”

“Could we ask what exactly you discussed with Sophia during

your visits there, Mr. Figgs?” Kaname asked the other elder,

following his mate’s trail of thought. The logs of that visit had

mysteriously disappeared, confirming Kaname’s suspicion that the

root cause of the issue might be there.

“She wasn’t being cooperative with her psychologist, and I

wanted to know if there was anything I could do to help,” Lou

answered blandly.

“I see.” Kaname smiled slightly when he caught sight of a ring on

Lauren’s finger. “I assume you were concerned for her due to your

connection to Mrs. Bristol?”

Lou seemed taken aback, but quickly recovered. “That’s one of

the reasons, yes. Even if Lauren and Sophia don’t have a strong

relationship, I wanted for Sophia to at least be safe.”

At that, Brody joined in the conversation, having apparently

realized where Kaname was going with this. “As I understand it, you

and Lauren are getting married soon.”

“It’s so generous of you to aid her with this,” Carson added. “It

must be very difficult for you.”

“Do not blame Sophia,” Lou offered. “You must understand that

for shifters like us, our abilities can be very dangerous and hard to

control. They are not compatible with the way a person reasons and

thinks, which is why it is not uncommon for jellyfish-shifters to

The Vampire Who Thirsted for a Wolf

95

exhibit violent or irrational behavior. I suppose you could say Sophia

also has a background for instability, making it even harder for her.”

Kaname hummed thoughtfully, making a show of considering the

elder’s words. “You’re right, of course. But you see, what puzzles me

is how the vampires even knew to come to get her. What kind of

contact did they have with Sophia? She is too young to have strong

contacts in my world. It’s also worth noting that while the facility is

vulnerable to a surprise attack, I doubt that many people have the

plans for it or would know how to sneak into it from the sewers.”

Lou shrugged. “Everything is on the computers. They might be

behind firewalls, but nothing is impossible to hack.”

“You don’t seem too concerned about the security of your files,”

Carson noted.

“In fact, this attack doesn’t seem to worry you at all,” Noah Hall

commented. “I have to wonder why that is. Do you even care about

the people who were injured there?”

Lou turned to glare at the men. “This is none of your business,

warlock. You should see to your own affairs since a pariah like you

could not possibly understand leadership.”

Noah’s nostrils flared, but Rhys clutched the warlock’s arm,

keeping him from answering. The hostility just confirmed what

Kaname had already suspected. He cleared his throat, and when Lou

turned toward him once again, he fixed the other elder with a steady

glare. “You know what I think, Elder Figgs? Someone asked you for

the files. Sophia had information on you, perhaps regarding her

father’s death. It was inconvenient since I assume it wouldn’t look

good for either you or Lauren if certain things came out now, when

you’re about to be married.”

Lauren went ashen and pulled away from Lou. “What does he

mean by that?” she asked her lover accusingly.

“It’s all nonsense, Laurie,” Lou replied, the denial ringing so false

to Kaname’s ears he was surprised the man even bothered to utter it.

96

Scarlet Hyacinth

“They don’t have any clues, so they’re trying to find other people to

blame.”

Kaname was done playing. He didn’t have time to dance around

the issue. Everything inside him screamed to reach out to Yakumo and

tell his brother to get out of the coven, but displaying weakness would

just destroy everything he’d worked for ever since he’d become an

elder.

“I think we both know someone in my position would never make

wild accusations.” He got up and took one single step in Lou’s

direction. “I don’t have the patience for your lies. I’m going to ask

you nicely once, Figgs-san. Who did you speak with regarding

Sophia’s escape?”

Lou shot to his feet and glowered at him. “I’ve already explained

that this has nothing to do with me. Your people were the ones to

attack us. You’re the one who should be answering questions, not

me.”

Kaname was almost happy at that answer. He had tried this the

nice way, but he could deal with nastiness as well. He’d have liked to

avoid using his abilities, especially given that his mate was present.

He didn’t want Derek to ever shy away from him or be ashamed. Still,

he knew Derek understood the necessity of this. Byron was a whole

different matter, but Kaname would explain the situation to the shark-

shifter should the need arise.

Without allowing himself to hesitate further, he delved deep into

Lou’s mind, seeking the answers he desperately needed. What he

found both shocked and appalled him. He saw a memory Lou had

been desperately trying to hide, that of a telephone conversation that

had taken place mere days back.

A voice that was so very familiar to him echoed in his mind.
“It is

settled, then. My people will attack tonight.”

Lou experienced a feeling of deep, personal satisfaction. Finally,

the problem of Sophia’s frustrating blackmail would be solved, and he

wouldn’t even have to get his hands dirty for it. All he had to do was

The Vampire Who Thirsted for a Wolf

97

to forward the plans for the imprisonment facility to Yakumo

Yamamoto, and he’d be all set.

“Very well, Mr. Yamamoto. It was more than a pleasure doing

business with you.”

The man at the other side of the connection seemed just as

satisfied with the arrangement as him. “Indeed. I expect I don’t have

to stress the need for secrecy any further.”

“Of course not.” After all, Lou had no interest in anyone finding

out just why he was so eager to get rid of Sophia.

Damn her all to hell anyway. Who could have guessed she’d seen

Lou the night he had killed her father? She’d never showed a single