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The bridge, bathedin almost a golden light, stretched out in front of them as the bike purred across the bay. The city a glittering array of tall buildings casting their light over the water, offering a bright welcome.
Hands tightening on the bike grips, Hyde let the familiar city seep back into him. The sounds, smell and lights had been his home for more decades than he had ever planned. He knew it now better than he knew himself. But as he maneuvered the Harley off the bridge, he hated the very sight of the familiar streets that surrounded him.
Every turn of the wheels bringing him closer to the Citadel. Closer to Draven.
He couldn’t ignore the sensation of her presence behind him. Her determination to glare at him had faded within minutes of being on the bike. The drugs he had injected into her system, making her more sedated, drowsy as they had weaved through traffic. Her head coming to rest against his back. Her hands snaking around his waist.
He hated how much he had thrilled at her touch. Hated how much his wolf arched towards her. Wanting more.
But his master was waiting.
He could feel the itch of Draven’s impatience under his skin. Could almost hear the irritated tap of his fingers across his wooden desk. There was no fucking way he would take anymore men than he had to. The vampire’s dark mood had been pressing against his mind like a brewing storm all day. an unsaid danger waiting.
Hydes face twisting into a snarl, his body tense, he waved the other bikes off. Their hands raising in recognition, they turned as one towards the barracks.
His gut twisting as he made the last turn towards the Citadel. She was a job, a retrieval that had been slightly more interesting than normal. But just a job.
What Draven wanted with her was none of his business. A new witch seer, a new concubine, or even a gift for one of the many vampire princes that answered to the king. None of it concerned him. All he had to do was finish the job and walk out.
Why did nothing about this seem easy?
He had seen plenty of beautiful women come and go for years. Had bedded plenty of them along the way. Talia was just another pretty face in a parade of faces.
He had watched his king claim young innocent girls from all over the country and never thought twice about it. As long as Draven left his men alone, Hyde had taught himself not to care about anything or anyone else.
But something deep in his core insisted that Talia was different. Something about her called to him, and the significance that his boss had put on her retrieval told him she was more than the usual.
She was important. Hyde wasn’t sent out just to collect anyone.
The pull of his masters will ever twisting through him, calling him forward. Giving off a frustrated low growl, Hyde glared at the large plumes of flames shooting into the air ahead of him. The large gothic club flooding loud music into the end of Saturday night. The ugly old building surrounded by young party goers still keen to get into the club. No idea of the danger that waited within its depths, far away from the lights of the city.
His bike a low purr, he slowed to swing wide through the opening gates.
He finally came to a stop in the empty car park. The gates closing firmly behind him, a reminder that he was trapped just as she was.
For a moment, he sat. Hands on the handlebars, glaring at the club in front of him.
How many people had he dragged through these doors? The cold, hard fact that he just couldn’t remember bothered him.
Fuck, this girl had done a number on his head. Shaking his head, he snorted out a humourless laugh. He was becoming bloody soft.
He switched off his bike, and the sudden silence was almost deafening. They had both run out of time.
“You ready, princess?”
He had wanted his voice to be gentle. But the rough growl that escaped his lips grated across his own nerves as her head lifted slowly off him. For a moment, her hands hesitated before pulling away from him.
She dismounted the bike in silence, ignoring his question. Instead, stepping away from him. Her arms wrapping around her slight frame, she stared up at the building.
The building was impressive with stone gargoyles statues on every level, light and shadow moving over them. Even more menacing in the dark as heavy music made the whole building vibrate.
He had felt the same dread curl through him the first time he had seen it; he knew the taste of that fear. Not that he had ever admitted it.
Getting off the bike, Hyde took her elbow. Guiding her forcibly towards the door.
“Some things are better when you face them,”
Giving Axel a nod as the wolf opened the door, Hyde stepped in behind her. His grip never loosing.
