Chase was ramrod stiff in his seat, and yes, Kayden stood in disbelief across the room. It all fell into place. Chase's first instinct when he met Danielle was correct. That hadn't been a fake ID used for getting into clubs. Her last name really was Vaughn, as her driver's license stated. Chase shared a glance with Kayden and knew they remembered the same thing and added up the facts. Danielle was the child from the House of Vaughn who would join the House of Deidrick. Together, they would stop the deaths of the children and bring their families back together. She was his soul mate. They were meant to walk together throughout life. That was why they shared such a strong mental and physical connection.
In his daze, Chase missed Danielle walking to meet her father, until she spoke to the crowd. Jeez, it wasn't that bad. He had to get it together. He rushed to stand behind her and support her in any way he could. Chase missed everything she said, until the end.
"I have an announcement of my own to make. Chase Deidrick has asked me for my hand, and I am honored to accept him as my one true mate. We will be bonded as soon as we are able." She took his hand and dazzled the crowd with her smile.
The crowd reeled. Most were happy and cheering; some were less enthusiastic. Debbie jumped up and darted to her son and hugged him. Danielle had just told the world she belonged to Chase, and his heart was so filled with the rightness of it he could hardly breathe. Griffin put a hand on Chase's back to steady him, and Danielle wrapped an arm around his waist.
"Isn't this what you wanted, boy? Don't you want my girl to love you the way you love her? Isn't that what you told me?" he whispered.
"Yes, sir. I just didn't know she was your girl. It would have made for a much less stressful day for me had I known." And with that, Chase's world righted itself, and he wrapped his arms around the star that his life would forever revolve around. Soleil. He never wanted the embrace to end, so he carried her back to their table, refusing to release her. She was forced to sit on his lap.
"Debbie, my dear, would you like to put the icing on our family cake?" Griffin gave her the floor and went to stand beside Mason. When Debbie began to speak, Griffin had to put a hand on Mason's back to keep him in his seat.
"My news is a surprise to everyone, except my new daughter-in-law-to-be. She was with me when Doc called yesterday to inform me that Mason and I are expecting our second child." Debbie beamed at her mate, who was grinning from ear to ear. The room engulfed their table. The well-wishes and expressions of welcome overflowed.
Dani managed to get in a dance with her fiancé and several with her date, who had been patiently waiting for his sister's attention. She stepped away from the floor for a breather and a drink. Darren grabbed her arm and quietly pulled her to the hall, practically propelling her with the force of his movement down the corridor.
"I just got a call from the perimeter team. The rogues are moving in right now. We have to move. They're coming for you," he demanded.
"Wait, what? They're coming now? We have to warn everyone. I need to get Chase." Danielle tried to go back, but Darren stopped her.
"They are after you, not everyone else. If they all stay where they are and don't have a reason to panic, they won't get caught in the crossfire. What do you think Chase is going to do if he goes with you? That's right. He is going to get hurt trying to defend you. But it's up to you. Go get him if you like." The sarcasm was thick and annoying.
"No. Let's move. Do you have a gun I can use?" she groused, and gathered up her flowing gown to continue in the direction he pushed her. Damn it! Why couldn't she have this one night to celebrate with Chase? She moved faster to keep up with Darren. She'd never forgive herself if anyone at the gala was hurt because of her presence at the event.
"Just stay close and I'll keep you safe." The place was like a maze. They made so many lefts and rights, she was lost. Finally, he stopped by a set of heavy double doors.
"In here. It will all be over soon." She walked through the door first. It was dark and it smelled like mildew. The door banged loudly shut behind her and she jumped. Something didn't feel right. She saw movement in the corner and knew they weren't alone. Dani turned to run. Immediately both of her arms were grabbed and restrained. She stunned her attackers with a mental surge of anger and put them down in a flash.
"Run, Darren!" she shouted, not wanting him to be injured, or worse.
"You behave, and no one else will need to get hurt! You don't want me to hurt your mommy, do you?" The voice echoed around the room and froze her in her tracks. It looked like a locker room of some sort. An oddly familiar-looking man stepped out from behind a wall. She was sure they'd never met, but she couldn't shake the feeling of recognition. He had her mother by the neck. Tessa was bound and gagged, and he held a gun to her head. She wasn't struggling, and she looked vacant. She was enthralled.
"This puts a damper on your party, doesn't it?"
He looked over her shoulder as Darren entered the room. "I'm impressed, Darren. You got her here so fast I wasn't quite ready for you. You're right. She really does trust you, or at least she used to. I bet you'll have a hard time getting her to follow you anywhere, after this. Though I couldn't have done it without you."
"Shut up!" Darren shouted at the stranger.
Dani looked into Darren's anguished eyes. He was so handsome. The spiked blond hair and the scar that ran down his cheek belonged to her friend and protector, but he was a stranger. He'd brought her to the monster, the rogue.
"You did this to me? How did you find my mother?" she asked while sending out major distress signals. She might not be able to fight physically, but she would do all she could to get her mother out of there alive. Chase had already heard her call and was getting the others. She was so close to his mind that he watched flashes of the action through her eyes, and she could feel his rage.
"I thought your parents died." Darren was truly confused. "We'll discuss that later. It's going to be fine, Danielle. I can explain." He pulled her to him and began stroking her hair. She flinched. "He says if we give him the power he wants, he will leave you alone. He will go away, and we can be together. He will leave you alive, and I will feed you my blood, until they bring the blood bags I already have on standby. We will be mated and live in peace together. You will forgive me for this, once we are bonded and he is no longer hunting for you. I have to wait in the hall, until he's done, but I will be back in a moment."
"You have lost your mind. Don't you know he has to drain me completely to take my power? He is going to kill me." She shook her head at his stupidity.
"He has to drain you to take all of your power? You are very strong. He doesn't need it all. You have me to protect you." Was he seriously trying to soothe her? He actually believed that shit?
"And you think he's going to stop at some of my power, when he can easily take it all?" She extracted herself from his arms. "As soon as you step out that door, I'm as good as dead!"
He caressed her cheek. "You'll see, Dani. It will all work out. And I know you care for those two boys, but the life I will give you, the passion I have for you, is far beyond what a pup can offer. When you wake later, we will talk more. Now it's time to get this over with, so I can take you and your mom home." He stepped out into the hall, leaving her to her death.
Two men stepped up and took Tessa from the rogue. Tessa's eyes stared off into the distance, unseeing. They could do anything they wanted to Dani, and she wouldn't fight. She couldn't fight.
The man was tall and brooding with dark hair, broad shoulders, and sunglasses. He was every bit as large as Vince. He waited for Dani in the darkness of the abandoned locker room. His voice made her skin crawl. It was the man who'd killed so many young vampires, and that night it would be her life gushing down his throat.
"Come now, sweet. These men have been instructed to kill her if you so much as think of fighting me. I will do my best to leave something for Darren to work with, if you don't struggle. It won't take long."
He manhandled her to her knees before sinking his fangs into her neck. His bite was excruciating. It wasn't sensual and hot, like it should have felt. It burned like fire, spreading out from her neck. He tried to make it as painful as possible. She could hear his thoughts, as they were connected. He was full of rage and vengeance. She didn't want it to be the last thing she heard. Her world was too full of love to allow the end to be so tainted.