Essence (Nectar 3)

“I’m on the board of directors for Kovac Capital.”

“Oh,” Kyla said. Her heart thumped wildly.

“Come with me and this will go simply.” He stepped forward and looked her right in the eyes.

She stared, blankly, intentionally. He was a tall, fair, and handsome man dressed in combat gear. She didn’t know what Brandt Brooks knew about her. She did know that her brother would be mesmerized by these vampires so she was on her own. She’d have to figure things out for the both of them.

The guy on the ground that she’d stabbed with the dagger started to stir.

“Watch out, sir. She’s got one of those daggers,” The guy on the ground said.

“So, it’s true. You’re lucid. I thought maybe my men had just fallen because it was too dark for you to be entranced. Guess it’s true. I saw you at the Kovac sales conference a while back. You probably don’t remember me.”

“What’s true?” Kyla hissed.

“That you’re Tristan’s enchanted pet and that you’re immune to a vampire’s charms.”

Kyla didn’t answer.

“Your sweet smelling brother doesn’t seem to have that same immunity.”

Kyla looked at her brother and he was standing there, dazed, blood trickling down his shin.

The vamp on the ground lunged forward and got his tongue to Kyle’s leg and groaned.

Brandt kicked him before the guy could clamp on with teeth.

The guy yelped, “Sorry, sir. He just smells so…”

“I know. I’m not nose blind,” Brandt said, “Let’s go. Give me that dagger.”

“I’ll give it to you alright,” Kyla threatened.

He snickered, “Please. You have a dagger and I know what that dagger does. But there are eight of us. You really think it’ll help you?

“What do you want?”

“I want your blood, of course. Your brother’s, too. There’s a very anxious female vamp who’s waiting for it. Let’s go.”

Cold shot out of Kyla at Brandt and she sent him flying into two guys behind him, the force knocking all three of them over. The guy on the ground grabbed for her and she kicked him in the face and then fired the gun twice, in front of her. Brandt was up and at her, reaching for her throat, fangs out. She went to jab him but he caught her wrist and the dagger fell, clanking on the stone ground.

“Get the brother,” Brandt ordered and hauled Kyla out of there.

She struggled and dug deep for that icy cold strength but it didn’t come and he was too strong for her.~~~They were on a boat. She, Kyle, Brandt Brooks, and one of his guys. The other remaining guys were on another boat. She didn’t see a third boat.

Kyla had engaged the SOS button on the phone in her jeans pocket. But she’d gotten caught doing it so Brandt hauled her onto her stomach and frisked her and confiscated the phone. He threw it into the ocean.

They were leaving the island.

She’d have jumped overboard and taken her chances if it wasn’t for Kyle, who was just sitting there, staring off at nothing.

She shook her head in dismay and prayed Tristan would find her.~~~

2 Hours LaterThey were inside a motel room. She was sitting on a bed, knees cocked, back against the wall, hands tied behind her back. She’d gotten feisty and punched him in the mouth, drawing blood, trying to stop him from bringing her in here so Brandt had tied her hands, getting right up to her ear,

“Can’t wait to taste you.” He licked the side of her face and she wanted to puke.

He’d been so much stronger than Liam when she’d hit Liam back in that cottage. This guy must be a stronger vampire. And Kyla hadn’t fed in four days, not properly, so maybe that was weakening her.

Damn it.

Kyle was somewhere else, she didn’t know where, but suspected the motel was housing this group with a few rooms.

“I don’t know you but I’m telling you right now, I do know that Tristan is going to turn you into mincemeat with his bare hands.”

Brandt locked the door, seeing his goon out, and turned to her.

“I’ve got this dagger, though. Maybe I’ll put it in him and then while he’s down I’ll turn him into mincemeat instead. And then you’ll be my pet. My unending source of strength. I heard he’s got the strength of a 300 plus year old vamp from having you just the last few months.”

“How do you know all this?” Kyla asked.

He snickered, “I have a sister. She’s on the island. Pretending to be part of that coalition and fucking Sam Jasper plus there are some other bits and pieces through associates, I’ve got a pretty good idea of the picture with that island as well as with you and Tristan. I’m somewhat familiar with Adrian Constantin’s breeding program, as a product of it myself, and as a royal who’s been given his share of enchanted secret pets. Plus, he offered to equip me with those daggers for a price a few weeks ago so I know what they can do. I’m not getting stronger from the blood of my enchanted pets. I’m 122 and Tristan isn’t going to rule over me. He’s a kid, compared to me. Brandy gets Kyle and I get you.”