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Even now, the vampire cried at the loss of her mate’s presence. Gabby dug her nails into her hands to tamp down the anguish and concentrated on the present. On Nikolas. “You promise you will not stay and fight if more show up? I cannot lose you.”
Nikolas’ gaze softened. “Don’t worry. I don’t have a death wish. I promise escaping will be my priority.”
“Fine. I will meet you in this town.”
Nikolas helped her arrange Felix in the backseat while Ahmed got in the driver’s seat. Felix’s wounds had stopped bleeding, though he remained in a deep sleep while his body healed.
“Stay safe,” Gabby said.
Nikolas smiled. “I will. I’ll call ahead so they will be ready for you.”
“Thank you.”
As Ahmed turned the car around, Gabby watched until Nikolas disappeared in the side mirror. Had she made the right decision to leave Nikolas behind? He would be fine. He’d stayed alive this long without her, and he wasn’t one to give in to his emotions, like Felix.
Please, please let him be safe,she prayed. She had no idea what she’d do if she lost both Maria and Nikolas.
“Did you sense her?” she asked Ahmed.
“No.” His shoulders drooped and he shuddered. She hadn’t paid attention to him during or after the fight. His clothes were torn, the right side of his jeans in particular. Dried blood caked over where his injuries had healed. The physical wounds didn’t matter. It was the aching grief wafting off the man in waves that had Gabby patting his shoulder and injecting confidence into her voice.
“We’ll find her.”
“Do you think she’s still alive?” Ahmed kept his eyes on the road, but his knuckles tightened on the steering wheel.
“Yes.” She wouldn’t believe otherwise until she saw proof. “You know she’s alive. How does the mating bond feel?”
“It’s strange. It’s like the bond is cut off on her side, like some kind of wall is blocking it.”
“Felix is right. It has to be magic. If she’s dead,” Gabby swallowed at the terrible thought, “the mating bond would be completely gone. The fact it’s still there means she’s alive.”
Ahmed took a shuddering breath. “I hope you’re right.”
“I know I am. Trust me, if she were gone, you wouldn’t be able to think straight enough to drive, or even talk.”
Gabby shied away from the all-consuming emptiness and void Alistair had shown her. She glanced at Felix, her stomach twisting into knots.
Nothing.
Soon. Soon he would feed and be back to his arrogant and annoying self.
They spoke little during the rest of the drive. Eventually, buildings appeared at the side of the road, one or two at first, until they reached an area with clusters of them. Gabby was more used to this town compared to Vegas’ immense size.
They passed the main street lined with single-story shops and restaurants. At this time of the night, only a few restaurants were open, with a smattering of patrons eating outside. The streets darkened once they turned into a side street. A few more turns later, Ahmed drove up a circular driveway and stopped before a two-story building resembling the villas she’d grown up in.
A vampire with skin the color of golden honey waited for them, her hair in a long thick braid that fell to her waist. When Gabby stepped out of the car, the woman said with cool politeness, “I’m Eliza. I have the feeders ready inside.”
“Thank you.” Gabby opened the passenger door, slipped her arms under Felix, and pulled him halfway out. “Can you get his legs?”
“Yes.” Eliza came from the side and helped her shuffle Felix out of the car. Gabby then lifted him in her arms.
“I can help,” Ahmed said, coming around the door.
“No, I can do it.” At Ahmed’s hesitation, Gabby smiled. “I’m stronger than I look. Now, the feeders?”
“Follow me.”
They entered the house after Eliza. The entrance opened into a spacious living room and a large kitchen with black marble counters and navy-blue cabinets. Four humans, two women and two men, milled about the area, waiting for them. They all looked strong and healthy, without any hint of the chemicals Gabby had begun associating with some humans.
