Captivated (Deep in Your Veins 6)

I was about to leave, having no thought in my head other than to search for Lexi, when Sam and Jared materialised beside me—both looking ready to shit fury on someone’s ass.

“Ava gave me a heads-up,” Jared explained. “We can find Lexi, Damien. I’ll help you. Just tell me what direction she’s in, and we’ll take it from there. If that means teleporting from spot to spot until the tug you’re feeling in your blood gets stronger, then we do it. Now, point me in a direction that will take us to her.”

I drew in a breath. “North,” I ground out.

Jared nodded. “Then we go North.”

(Lexi)

I was released with a shove and almost tripped over a fallen tree. Wings fluttered rapidly as a bird shrieked in what seemed like surprise at our abrupt arrival. It disappeared into the canopy of one of the many, many trees.

I whirled around and found myself facing both Castor and Colm. Well no wonder Castor wasn’t leaving trails all over the place. He had his very own personal teleporter. And they’d brought me to the fucking rainforest.

“Oh, feel free to run,” Castor invited, his smile all teeth. “It will be most fun to hunt you.”

Like I’d give him the satisfaction. If he’d been human, I’d have taken my chances. But it would be pointless to flee from one vampire, let alone two. I’d never outrun them. Just as I’d never overpower them. Calling out for help … well, that might do some good, considering there were people out here searching for signs of Castor.

“No one is around,” said Castor. “This area has been searched. The hunting parties have moved on. And even if someone did come into view, Colm would teleport the three of us out of here so we can continue this in private. But scream if you’d like.” His smile widened. “I do enjoy hearing a woman cry out in terror.”

Colm chuckled, a cruel glint in his eyes.

Panic beat in my chest and made my stomach bottom out. Castor might not scare me, but the thought of breathing my last breath sure did. Dammit, I was not going to die here. No way. I would not lose my life to these two fucking assholes. I also wasn’t going to let them see just how much I was pissing my pants right now. They’d no doubt get off on it.

Adrenaline pumped through me, readying me to … what? What could I do other than try to distract Castor from making my death a quick one?

Silently cursing, I made an effort to keep my breathing steady, digging deep for a calm that sadly eluded me. Someone would find me, right? Maisy would have told Damien that I’d been taken. He would have contacted Sam and Jared. They’d do their best to locate me, and they had plenty of people to help them with that. I just had to stay alive until they got here.

I folded my arms so that Castor wouldn’t see how badly my hands were shaking. “What’s your plan? To leave me here? To kill me? Or something else that’s equally stupid?” I gave myself a mental pat on the back for managing to keep my voice steady.

“What makes you think it would be stupid to end your life?” asked Castor.

“Sam and Jared wouldn’t exactly condone it, would they?”

“I suppose not, but they do not concern me,” he said with a dismissive wave of his hand. “They may be experts at torture, but Colm and I will be gone from here very soon. The Grand High Pair will never find us.” He genuinely seemed to believe that.

“They have trackers,” I reminded him. “One in particular is good at what he does.”

“Ah, Sebastian, yes. I don’t doubt that he will search for me. But when that search comes to nothing, he will eventually give up and turn to tracking the other many vampires who are on Sam and Jared’s hit list—many of whom have committed terrible crimes. Locating a vampire who killed one measly human will not be their priority.”

“Maybe not.” Probably not, actually. “But they also can’t be seen to let such things slide—it would encourage others to pick off humans. It would also be seen as weakness on Sam and Jared’s part if they fail to enforce their laws. The Grand High Pair can’t afford to be weak, so don’t be so sure they’ll one day stop hunting you. Or your friend there.”

Colm gave me a look that was all arrogance. “It is difficult to capture a teleporter.”

“But not impossible,” I said. “Hoyt subdued one the first time I saw him. And I would imagine he’s subdued many other teleporters before that.”

Colm’s eyes flickered.

“We appreciate the warning,” Castor said to me, his voice dry, “but we’re prepared to take our chances.”

“I see that. Or you wouldn’t have taken me from the club. What I don’t get is why you brought me here. You could have taken me anywhere in the world. Why here?” Why to a place where he’d have a better chance of being caught?