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When the man was gone, Nate went to shadow Nicholas once more, catching him in his fifth favorite spot: the party room where the man held most of his blood feedings. Inside, two women writhed and moaned as he drank from them. They arched into hands that pawed and kneaded, naked bodies flushed as they fought for attention. One snagged it better than the other and the latter was pushed back to pout, blood trickling from her neck. The other cooed in celebration over being chosen, pressing her body against Nicholas and offering her free neck.
“Drink, your highness. Take your fill.”
Fangs glinted as Nicholas took what was offered. The moans became louder…then, transformed, as the woman’s haze flared into a fear. She struggled, but it was too late as Nicholas was already ripping her to pieces while groaning in ecstasy.
The woman not chosen watched on, pleasure morphing into horror and screaming. Nicholas didn’t notice, still drinking as the woman scrambled back and slipped over a pool of blood. When she was out of the room, Nate pushed at her pulse point and caught her unconscious form. In the ensuing silence, he sprinted away as fast as he could, aware of the blood he was trailing behind but refusing to stop.
Flying was the only option, so he flew to the nearest balcony, careful to stay against walls with no windows until he saw her wound healing. He returned to the castle in the same room he had cuffed Winter in and kept going until he found Maddox.
“Dress her up and find out where she comes from. If it’s a good house, return her there and make sure they don’t see you. If not…”
“House Chatterley,” Maddox confirmed, already taking the woman. “Blood party?”
“My brother’s doing,” he said.
Maddox’s jaw clenched, but he didn’t comment. “I will keep her safe.”
“Thank you. Also, send a warning to House Rue and make it anonymous. Tell them there’s a hit out on Stephanie’s head, and she needs to be careful, including her father. Tell them it will be coming from a more powerful house.”
Maddox gawked at him, understanding he was still talking about Nicholas. At least that would slow down his brother in the meantime until Nate found another way without putting the blame on the whole of House Hendricks. A sickening sensation came that he hadn’t been able to save the other human, but he couldn’t stop, already divesting his bloodied clothes and grabbing new ones before he was out again. He risked a peek in Nicholas’s spot and found his brother gone while a servant cleaned up his mess. Then Nate was hurrying towards the party hall, coming to terms with a few key points.
One, his brother had sinister plans beyond hunting humans. Two, other names were involved, their purpose not revealed yet. Three, he needed more than what he overheard, and there was only one person who could help him out.
“Nate.”
Matthew’s call was mild, coming at the entrance door. But the severe expression stopped in his tracks.
“What?”
And the answer had his heart dropping.
“I’m sorry, but Winter’s missing. She slipped out from under our noses. Rebekah’s trying to find her now.”
Chapter 5
Guilt charged through Winter’s body as she walked the hallways as quietly as she could, keeping to the dark and recalling Hilda’s instructions about the safest paths. Matthew and Rebekah were lovely people for vampires, keeping her entertained and not asking uncomfortable questions as they shielded her from the more intrusive, dominant party guests. But neither they nor Nate’s warning could prevent her from leaving once she had her eyes set on someone.
Avoid the party halls and private bedrooms. There are a lot of common ones, but there are also secret ones for the blood parties. Memorize this list and make sure you are not seen in any of these locations. If you sense trouble, run away from it.
She read the nerves and impatience, twin emotions that assaulted her despite the excitement radiating in the party venue. She tailed after those emotions when they began to fade, catching a glimpse of who they belonged to--the vampire who had blocked her and Hilda from passing while one of Nicholas’s blood parties had been ongoing. It was yet another stupid idea in the making, but she was already here committing to that decision and determined to know where those emotions would lead her.
The vampire passed Hendricks's halls, then more halls leading downward. Hesitation came when the vampire went outside one of the castle’s back exits, where no guard was posted at the moment. But the determination pushed through at the sound of voices floating in the air, and she flattened herself against the wall on the inside when they got louder.
“I just got away. The party’s still happening, but I couldn’t wait.”
“It’s okay,” another male voice answered, soft and jolly. “I didn’t mind waiting. Are you sure no one followed you out?”
Instinct had her holding the panic tight so that her heartbeat wouldn’t make a commotion.
“I’m sure. They were too busy enjoying the party. What do you have for me?”
“Something you have been waiting for.”
Her ears perked. What was the vampire waiting for? Another victim? A package? Their voices went softer, then it was quiet. For a second, she wondered if she was about to be trapped until a sound interrupted the silence, piercing the air with its abruptness. Was that a cry?
She risked some movement, peering through the open door without exposing herself. Then she retreated, heart pounding in her throat and the visceral image embedded in her mind: that of two males intertwined and humping each other on the other end. Clarity rocketed at the next cry, then the soft moans they tried to hide. But there was no hiding the sound of skin slapping against skin and the breathy tones when they spoke next.
“Your father will be so mad.”
