Jeremiah threw her up against the side of his car and she sank to the ground in
relief, but it was short-lived when she heard him open the trunk. "In you go." Grabbing
her around the waist, he heaved her up and dumped her into the trunk of his vehicle.
The lid thumped down a moment later, leaving her in utter darkness. She tried to
scream, but nothing came out but a whimper.
Stefan! In her mind the scream was loud and long. Someone is coming to hurt you.
Wake up! You have to wake up and protect yourself. Stefan! There was no time to try and
reach him. No time to tell him how much she loved him, how much she wanted to
spend eternity with him.
It was close to sunset and she had to trust that he would hear her. She knew he
would come for her. Anything else was unthinkable. She would not even entertain the
notion that he wouldn't live. He had to live! She felt the vibration as the car started and
she was thrown to one side as Jeremiah jerked off the road and sped down the
mountain. Her head hit the side of the trunk and pain shot through her entire body
before the darkness swallowed her whole.
Stefan could hear the voices just outside his truck. They'd been searching the area
for a few minutes now and had just discovered his vehicle hidden among the trees.
"Well, lookie here, Clem. I wonder who owns this nice new truck." Stefan could
hear the sound of something scraping the side of the vehicle.
"Must belong to Laurel Rose's new man." Clem's high-pitched voice grated on
Stefan's nerves. The sun was already starting its descent in the sky and soon it would
sink behind the mountains. Then it would be night. His time. They just needed to keep
talking a little bit longer.
"He's got to be around somewhere. It shouldn't take us long to find him and take
care of him." Stefan recognized the deeper voice and knew it belonged to Aaron
Higgins. "We get paid when we get him out of the picture. I would have rather had the
chance to get my hands on Laurel Rose. Too bad someone else gets that sweet job."
Stefan stiffened and gasped as Laurel Rose's scream echoed in his soul. Her anguish
and pain shot through his mind before blackness replaced it. Rage unlike anything he'd
ever felt in his life consumed him. Someone was trying to kill his mate.
The sun had not yet set, but that no longer mattered. Fury fed Stefan's strength as
he shook off the remnants of his deathlike sleep. A low growl vibrated in his chest,
growing louder as it finally became a roar of anger. The forest around him shook as his
cry vibrated through the mountains, rocking its very foundations. The door blew off the
truck, exploding into dust as he launched himself out the back and straight at the two
men standing there with their mouths gaping open.
Before they could even move, he was on them. Ripping the rifles from their hands,
he smashed their weapons against the trunk of an oak tree. The sun's fading rays
burned Stefan's face and arms, but he ignored the blisters and the growing pain. It was
nothing compared with the agony of his soul.
Both men turned to run, but Stefan was on them before they could move more than
a few steps. Grabbing Clem by the back of his shirt, he flung the man against a tree.
Clem bounced off the trunk with a hard crack and slid to the ground moaning, but he
didn't move. Aaron glanced over his shoulder, his eyes widening and his face paling as
he saw what was chasing him.
Stefan smiled, his fangs gleaming in the growing darkness. Growling, he raced
ahead of Aaron, cutting off his retreat. Every way the other man tried to run, Stefan cut
off his escape. Finally, Aaron fell to his knees and began to pray. Reaching down, Stefan
wrapped his hand around Aaron's throat and lifted him high into the air as if the large
man weighed nothing at all. Holding him easily in his grasp, he shook him like a rag
doll.
"Who sent you and where is Laurel Rose?" Aaron choked and squirmed and it
occurred to Stefan that if he weren't careful, he'd kill the other man before he had
answers. Opening his hand, he let the body drop to the ground.
Aaron rolled around in the dirt, coughing and choking. Stefan used his boot to
shove him onto his back. Sweat poured down the other man's face and in his fear, he'd
soiled himself.
Stefan absently beat at his shirt, which was still smoldering. His face and hands
burned, but he felt instant relief the second the sun finally sank behind the mountain.
Dusk had arrived. Planting his feet on either side of Aaron, Stefan struggled to control
his temper. "Who sent you?"
Now that he had better control over himself, Stefan used his mind to control Aaron.
The other man opened his mouth and began to babble everything he knew. When
Stefan was satisfied he'd been told everything, he reached down and hauled Aaron to
his feet and dragged him back to where Clem was still lying on the ground.
Stefan had the overwhelming desire to destroy these two men. The only thing still
keeping them breathing was that he knew Laurel Rose was still alive. He couldn't quite
pinpoint her location, but he would. Once she was awake, he would find her easily. For
now, it was enough to know she was still alive.
If he killed them, there might be unwanted questions. Besides, he could always kill
them later if he changed his mind. For now, he needed something else from them.
Tossing Aaron on the ground next to his cousin, Stefan stared down at both of
them. They weren't exactly his first choice for sustenance, but he needed to be at full
strength and they both had more than enough blood to give. Crouching down, he
pulled Aaron toward him. The man froze, a look of horror on his face, as Stefan bared
his fangs and leaned forward.
He did nothing to mask his intention or to hide what he was. Aaron knew what he
was about to do. As the other man screamed and struggled, Stefan fed. Aaron passed
out just as Stefan finished. Letting him drop back to the ground, he reached for Clem.
When he'd taken as much blood as he needed from him, he dumped him back on the
ground again.
Standing, he took a deep breath and allowed the blood to nourish his body. The
blisters on his skin were already beginning to heal. Raising his head, he scented the air.
These two weren't going anywhere any time soon. Ignoring them, he stepped over their
bodies and began to run. Using his preternatural speed, he all but flew through the
forest and toward the town of Salvation. Laurel Rose was close and there was a man
there who could help him find her.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Stefan opened all of his senses as he raced toward the small town. He could feel
Laurel Rose's life force, but it was weakening. She was still unconscious and he was
unable to get an exact fix on her location. He cursed the fact that she had not been
converted into a vampire like himself. If that had been the case, he would have no
problem finding her. The link between them was unbreakable, but not as strong as it
would be if she were his true mate in every way. But that wouldn't stop him. He would
find her and God help anyone who got in his way.
On the outskirts of Salvation, he sensed a gathering of most of the townspeople.
There was a huge group of them congregated outside a building. He caught snippets of
thoughts and words, enough to know that a town meeting had just broken up. Good.
Now he knew right where to find the man he was looking for.
Slowing as he entered the town, he stalked down the center of the main street. The
street lamps were just beginning to flicker to life as darkness settled over Salvation. The
wind was whipping up, scattering dry leaves in its path. Some houses and businesses
were decorated for Halloween, which was only a few days away. Scarecrows sat on
haystacks and carved pumpkins grinned from the safety of front porches.
Stefan saw it all, but his focus was further down the street. There was a sense of
expectancy in the air. Each step was measured and sure, and the sleeves of his black
shirt fluttered in the breeze as he walked.
One woman who watched from the shadows of her front porch crossed herself as
he walked by. He caught her thoughts, seeing himself through her eyes. He made an
imposing figure as he strode down the road. Power radiated from every pore of his
body, making him appear even larger than he was. His hair was swept back from his
face, blowing like a dark banner behind him. His face was set in lines of determination
and the corners of his lips were tipped up in a cruel smile. Scurrying back inside, she
locked and secured the door behind her. Stefan snorted and dismissed her from his
mind. No puny lock could stop him if he chose to enter.
He faltered only once. The power struck him from out of nowhere. From both sides,
he felt the ripple of energy as it surged to life. It fed his own freely, making him even
stronger.
As he passed an intersection, he heard the long, measured tread of boot heels
hitting the pavement. He knew it was a deliberate way of announcing himself. The man
coming up on his left could move as soundless as a soft summer breeze or descend as
violently as a thunderstorm, depending on his mood.
Stefan turned his head and nodded, acknowledging his oldest brother. "Cristofor. I
did not expect you."
Cristofor fell into step beside him. "Where else would I be when you needed me?"
Stefan closed his eyes and swallowed back the emotion that threatened to erupt
from deep within him. Where else, indeed? "Thank you." He took a deep, calming
breath and continued down the road.
Cristofor shrugged his massive shoulders. "We are Dalakis. When one is