Stefan's Salvation(33)

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