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A heavy sigh from the other end. “I don’t like this.”
At times like this Gabby wished she hadn’t gone aground and left all responsibility to Nikolas.I’ll do better.A promise to herself.
“Me either,” Felix said. “Let’s see what this Ahmed has to say.”
“He should be able to find her. He’s her mate,” Gabby explained for Felix’s benefit.
His darkening expression reflected her confusion.
“Let’s regroup in Haven,” Nikolas said. “We’ll find her, Gabby.”
“Yes, we will.” She refused to entertain any other option. “Safe travels.”
“You too.”
Then the screen went black. Felix slipped the phone back into his pocket. “Would you prefer to fly? Or we can take the bike.”
“I’d prefer to fly.” As much fun as she’d had on the motorcycle, she liked the freedom of flying even more. “Do you have to return the motorcycle?”
“No, I’ll get someone to pick it up, and this too.” He gestured to the table and the picnic before stripping out of his shirt. Her mouth went dry at the sight of his rippling muscles. His wings, dark as the night, spread wide open. When her eyes met his, the smoldering fire in them told her he hadn’t forgotten about their activities before Nikolas interrupted them.
“Turn around. I’ll help with your shirt.” His gruff voice broke the spell.
Right. She hadn’t worn something open backed for her wings. Her muscles tensed as she turned her back to Felix. He was helping her. Nothing to worry about.
She heard a soft, fabric-tearing sound before warm air kissed her upper back. A pregnant silence passed between them as he skimmed a light finger along her shoulder. She resisted the urge to lean into him.
Felix stepped away first. “We should get going. Follow me.”
A whoosh of wind behind her said he’d taken to the sky. Gabby chided herself for feeling disappointed. How could she even think about sex when Maria, her oldest and dearest friend, was missing?
Not to mention all the other missing vampires in Haven.
Gabby unfurled her wings and launched up after Felix.
Maria, please be alive.
They arrived at Haven within thirty minutes of sunrise. Between the nearness of sunrise and the distance they’d traveled, exhaustion weighed on Felix like a stone. After two hours of flight, with Gabby’s strength flagging, he’d stopped at a small town, bought them some bottled blood, and rented a vehicle.
Gabby had made no objections, the depth of her worry for Maria overriding anything he did. Now, she vibrated in her seat from impatience.
Felix stopped the car in front of the imposing black iron gates that marked the beginning of Haven’s extensive grounds. The black fence, electrified during the day, wrapped around the entire property. He had only been to Haven once, about sixty years ago, during one of the darkest days he’d endured in Gabby’s absence. Nikolas had greeted him at the door. The other male had known why he’d come. He’d contemplated pummeling Gabby's resting location out of Nikolas.
He wasn’t sure how he’d pulled himself off the ledge.
Ever since that day, he hadn’t returned, but he’d kept up his surveillance on Haven. After all, as long as either of them was alive, a day of reckoning was coming. If the Council hadn’t forced Gabby’s waking for this Gathering, he wasn’t sure how much longer he would’ve lasted until he stormed Haven’s gates.
Never in all his dreams and plans did he envision bringing Gabby in a car back to her House instead of his.
The small camera mounted on top of the gate turned in their direction. Seconds later, the gates swung open on smooth hinges. Before it was even fully open, Gabby pushed open the car door and then disappeared in a blur.
Damn it.
Felix hopped out and chased after Gabby. Someone else can deal with the car blocking Haven’s main gate.
Tall, imposing trees with their widespread canopies shaded his path for a minute before they gave way to a well-maintained lawn and manicured gardens. He had a few seconds to take in the scenery before bursting through the double doors, passing a marble-floored foyer, and into a room that looked like it belonged to a nineteenth century aristocrat’s residence.
Rich, reddish cherry wood panels with gilded edges covered the walls. Floor to ceiling bookshelves lined one wall, with a three-person sofa before it. The sofa sat on a large Persian rug, along with a coffee table and two Victorian armchairs with the same cherry wood as the walls. Heavy brocaded curtains covered the two windows on the opposite wall while recessed lightings on the ceiling bathed the room in a gentle glow.
