Bound By Blood

“Something about the way they smelled—not human, but not like us. It was weird.”

“You were right. They’re vampires, only a different breed. I’ll tell you all about it when I see you. Everything else okay?”

“Jackson’s been seeing this woman, Adele. She works the late shift at the hotel in town. He turned her earlier tonight. He was afraid to tell you.”

“Smart boy.”

“Do you want him to leave the club?”

“No, but let him worry about it for a few days.”

Scherry laughed. “You are evil.”

“Yeah. I’ll call you in a day or two. If you don’t hear from me, don’t worry.”

“I always worry about you.”

“Yeah, well, stop it.”

“Take care, boss.”

“You, too.”

Zack closed the phone. So, Nadiya was sending her people out to look for Daryn. “Well, good luck with that,” he muttered.

And wondered if he would have any better luck finding Kaitlyn.

Chapter 31

Elena sat on the sofa in front of the hearth, a furry blanket wrapped around her shoulders, a cup of cocoa in one hand.

For Drake’s sake—and to hang on to her own sanity—she forced herself to stay positive. She told herself over and over again that there was nothing to worry about. Drake would find their daughter and bring her home.

In an effort to keep from sinking into despair, she thought about what Zack had said the night before. He could make her a vampire. It troubled her that she found the idea so appealing. She had lived with Drake and his people for over twenty years but if the truth were known, she had never truly felt like she belonged. Oh, the people treated her well enough. They were as much a part of her life as she was of theirs. And yet she couldn’t escape the fact that she was different. What would it be like, to be able to will herself into the city whenever she wished to go? To be like Drake? To share his whole life? To see the world the way he saw it? Even the blood part no longer repulsed her. She had been drinking a little of Drake’s blood for years. What would he think if she told him she wanted to be a vampire? What would Kaitlyn think?

“Kaitlyn.” The tears she had been holding back flooded her eyes as she murmured her daughter’s name. Where was she?

Elena stared into the flames, her heart aching. She hadn’t been up this early in the morning since Kaitlyn was an infant. She smiled, recalling how thrilled she had been the first time she held her baby daughter in her arms, how impatient she had been for Kaitlyn to wake up so she could hold her again. Her miracle baby. All babies were wonderful, of course, but Drake had told Elena there was little chance they could have a child, so when Kaitlyn was born strong and healthy, it had truly seemed to be a miracle.

She remembered the early years, when she had worried that Kaitlyn would get sick or hurt, and how she had prayed every day that Kaitlyn would be happy, that she would be able to accept her heritage. She recalled her bittersweet feelings when Kaitlyn went to kindergarten and how she had worried that her daughter might not fit in with the other children. So many foolish fears. None of the things she had worried about had come to pass.

She wiped her tears with a corner of the blanket. Her little girl had grown up into a beautiful young woman—sweet-natured, kind-hearted. She had never given them a moment’s worry.

Until now. Of course, she wasn’t responsible for the trouble with Nadiya. The blame for that lay squarely on Nadiya’s shoulders.

She drew the blanket around her, cold in spite of the fire. Where was her little girl now?

Kaitlyn woke feeling groggy. There was a horrible taste in her mouth. When she tried to sit up, the world spun out of focus. Feeling like she was going to vomit, she quickly closed her eyes again.

When she opened them a short time later, she felt a little better. When she sat up, an ominous clanking drew her attention. Looking down at her foot, she saw that a thick cuff made of silver circled her left ankle. A long silver chain was attached to the shackle, which was linked to an iron bolt in the wall. Taking hold of the chain, she gave it a tug, thinking she could easily dislodge it, but nothing happened. Apparently, silver negated her preternatural power, just as it did her father’s, though it didn’t burn her skin.

Fighting down her fear, she glanced at her surroundings. She was sitting on a mattress in the corner of a small basement, or maybe an old wine cellar. There were no lights, no windows, and only one entrance.

Rising on shaky legs, she staggered toward the iron-barred door. The chain on her foot drew her up short. Try as she might, she couldn’t reach the latch. Not that it would have done her any good. Still, pounding on it might have brought help. Now, more than ever, she wished she had her father’s ability to transport herself wherever she wished to be. Or to dissolve into mist so she could slip her bonds and gain her freedom.

But wishing was a waste of time.

Returning to the mattress, she resumed her seat. Where was she? And how had she gotten there? The deliver yman . . . he had drugged her and stuffed her into a box. She remembered now. Lifting her head, she took a deep breath. Her nostrils filled with the scent of mold and dust and . . . Nadiya.

Kaitlyn fought down the chill rush of fear that rose within her at the realization that Nadiya had been there not long ago. Everyone knew Nadiya hated Drake and would never forgive him for Florin’s death. Did Nadiya know that Zack had killed Daryn and Marius? Was Zack also in danger?

Kaitlyn blinked back her tears. She wouldn’t cry. She wouldn’t panic. Wherever she was, Zack and her father would find her.

Her heart jumped into her throat when the door opened. She had been expecting Nadiya, but it was the man who had abducted her. Seeing him now, she realized he was a drone—a creature whose mind was no longer his own.

Eyes blank, footsteps stiff and unnatural, he walked toward her. She sprang from the mattress, backing away from him, and from the needle in his hand, but there was no place to go.

He backed her into the corner, his hand circling her throat to hold her in place. Had she not been so weak, she would have fought him off, but she was helpless to resist when he jabbed the needle into her arm.

The world swam out of focus, her vision blurring as the room grew dark, darker.

She was vaguely aware of another presence in the room. Words chased themselves through the air, but they had no meaning.

“You will have to feed her soon.” The drone’s voice, empty of emotion.

“She does not need to eat.” Nadiya’s voice, filled with hatred.

“She is not a full vampire,” the drone said. “She must have food or blood if you want her to survive.”

“Oh, very well. Give her something to eat when the drug wears off.”

“Survive.” Kaitlyn mumbled the word. She had to survive. For Zack. It was her last conscious thought.

Zack woke with the setting of the sun, his thoughts turning immediately to Kaitlyn. Closing his eyes, he opened his vampiric senses and tried yet again to connect with Katy, but there was only darkness. He refused to think she could be dead. He couldn’t lose her now, when he had just found her.

After showering, he dressed, absently thinking that he needed a change of underwear and clothing.

When he went downstairs, he found Drake and Elena sitting side by side on one of the sofas. It was obvious Elena had been crying.

They both looked up when he entered the room.

“Any word from Nadiya?” Zack asked.

“No.” Drake’s answer was curt.

“We need to find one of her kids.”

“What will that accomplish?”

“You don’t think she’d tell us where Katy is to save the life of one of her children?”

“Do you?”

Remembering the hint of madness in Nadiya’s eyes, Zack shook his head. “No, I guess not. Dammit, where does that leave us?”

“My brothers and sisters are making inquiries at Fortresses around the world. If they hear anything of Kaitlyn, they will let me know. Until then . . .” Drake let out a sigh that came from the very depths of his soul.

“She can’t be dead,” Elena wailed softly. “She can’t be.”

Drake murmured his wife’s name as he wrapped her in his arms.

Zack clenched his hands into fists. He hadn’t told Drake or Elena about the blood bond between himself and Kaitlyn, nor would he, unless he was able to connect with her. What was the point in telling them unless he had good news? And right now, he feared the worst. It tore at his heart to see the pain in Elena’s eyes. Unable to endure it any longer, he left the castle.

Outside, he drew a deep breath, and then he started to run. He could have easily transported himself to the city, but he needed to feel the wind in his face, needed to unleash the anger and frustration and fear that had been his constant companions ever since Kaitlyn disappeared. And he needed to blow off some steam now, before he hunted, or heaven help the man or woman he preyed on this night.

It was Friday. When he reached the city, the streets were crowded with shoppers and tourists. Zack mingled with the crowd. He ignored the couples and the elderly, the skinheads and the addicts. He wanted someone who was alone and would not be missed. He continued up the street, his senses rejecting this one for being infected with AIDS, that one for being too young. He bypassed a teenage girl heavy with child, a middle-aged man who reeked of alcohol, a woman who smelled of cocaine. Not that the drugs or the diseases or the booze would affect him. He was immune to all of it. But drugs and disease tainted the blood and left a bad taste in his mouth.

When he reached the end of the block, he crossed the main thoroughfare and strolled down a side street. There were fewer people here but he quickly found what he was looking for, a woman in her late twenties who had just stepped out of a nightclub.

She wobbled a little on her high heels as she walked down the sidewalk. She stopped beside a late-model car.

She was fumbling with her keys when Zack ghosted up behind her.

“Here,” he said, “let me help you.”

Startled, she looked at him, her eyes widening with alarm.