Forsaken Hunger Read online

  Saden snatched his hand back and jumped off the bed, horrified by his actions. What the fuck am I doing? Bile churned in his stomach and rose like acid in his throat. He more than anyone knew what it felt like to be molested. Yet, here he was taking liberties with the only person who kept his insanity at bay.

  He looked away in disgust, yanking at his hair with both hands and relishing the pain it brought. Maybe he was a soulless monster after all. To turn what had started out to be an attempt to make her more comfortable into some sick and twisted desire. He was no better than Gabriel. No better than…

  Saden tore his thoughts from that path. The water in the bathroom shut off, bringing him back to reality. He looked back to Daneya’s mostly naked form and swore. No matter what he’d done, Mckenzie would think worse of him if she saw her mother like this.

  He hastily stripped the bottoms from Daneya then dressed her in the gown Mckenzie had retrieved for her. He’d just pulled up the covers when the girl came out of the bathroom. She’d chosen a T-shirt for herself that fell down to her shins. The comical appearance she gave helped to soothe Saden’s frayed nerves.

  He cleared his throat and jerked his chin toward the bed. “I thought you might want to sleep in here tonight. Your mom might be out of it for a while so come down for breakfast in the morning when you’re ready.”

  “How long will we have to stay here?” Mckenzie inquired as she climbed onto the bed.

  Saden didn’t want to lie to her. Serrakus had given him two weeks for his assignment, and Daneya’s involvement with Gabriel only made things more complicated. “Until I can be sure you and your mom are safe. Probably a week or so. Is that okay with you?” He didn’t know why he asked. It was inevitable. But her opinion mattered to him.

  Mckenzie seemed to mull over this then tilted her head. “I guess I don’t mind.”

  That triggered another question he had. “You’re awfully calm about all of this. How are you doing?”

  She shrugged and slanted her gaze away. “I’m kinda used to this. Mom’s been hurt before and we move around a lot. Hazards of her job. I know she feels bad for not giving me a normal life but…she does what she does for a good reason, right? She’s like a warrior. Are you one, too?”

  Saden smiled sadly at her innocence and candor. It would be gone tomorrow when her mother told her what kind of creature he really was. For now, though, he cherished it. “Something like that. Go to sleep. I’ll see you in the morning.”

  He shut the light off on his way out, half dreading what tomorrow would bring.

  Chapter Five

  A warm breeze wafted over her face, bringing with it the scents of evergreens and clean earth. Daneya blinked open heavy lids and looked around in confusion.

  She was in an expansive room made of smooth, stone walls and hardwood flooring. Sunlight streamed in from an open pair of French doors leading to a balcony on her right. White lace drapes billowed in the breeze, seeming to dance to the song of birds outside. The tapestries covering the walls to provide warmth held beautiful scenes of nature, lending the feel of freedom to the room.

  The overall effect would have been captivating if not for the strangeness of it. Daneya shot up in alarm then fell back on a wave of dizziness. Her head swam and nausea threatened her stomach. When the disorientation passed, the events of the night before came flooding back. The attack at Vincent’s house. Mckenzie’s terrified scream and…

  Gabriel.

  He’d been holding her daughter when… Daneya struggled to remember what had happened. There had been a piercing burn at her side then…nothing. She shoved a light blue comforter from atop her then scrambled to inspect her midriff.

  What the hell am I wearing?

  It appeared to be some kind of white gown fashioned from the early fifties. She yanked it up from around her ankles and found a thin, puckered scar on her side where before there had been smooth skin. That was impossible. Gabriel didn’t have the kind of power to advance healing.

  She climbed out of the bed and fought against the feeling of weakness in her limbs. Whatever he’d done to heal her wound apparently hadn’t extended to her health. The injury had taken more out of her than she was wanted to admit, but she couldn’t focus on that now. She had to find Mckenzie. If that bastard hurt her daughter, she would skin him alive. Balls first.

  At the other side of the room she found a spacious bathroom full of gleaming porcelain and gold-veined marble. She was about to dismiss it until she saw the toiletries lined up on the sink counter. They were all hers, down to the exact floral scented shampoo she used. Even Mckenzie’s personal effects were there next to hers.

  Just what was Gabriel trying to do—bribe her with kindness while holding her hostage in his house? Did he think she would be grateful?

  It wasn’t his MO, yet she couldn’t deny those were her belongings. The very idea sent a sickening chill through her. That’s when she turned to find a set of her clothes laid out on the foot of the bed. Her mind whirled at the disturbing implications but she pushed them aside. She’d take whatever advantages she could get.

  She threw on her black jeans and V-neck sweater then crossed the room to a walk-in closet. It was packed with men’s and women’s clothing hanging from both sides, none of which were hers. After searching the top shelves for anything she could use as a weapon and coming up empty, she pulled down one of the metal rods holding the clothes. It was solid and roughly the length of her arm. Heavy enough to do serious damage despite her weakened state.

  The outer hallway extended some distance to the right, and the left side opened to a wide stairwell that went down as well as up to a third floor. The steps were carpeted in red velvet and the banister intricately carved from thick mahogany. It was appalling to see such beauty wasted on a madman like Gabriel. And even more so that it was paid for by the success of his experiments on humans.

  As far as she was concerned, the entire ruling house of Vampyres in this area deserved to die for supporting his cruelty. Whether they were aware of his operations or not.

  The faint sounds of a television drifted through the air as she made her way down the curving staircase. They were coming from a room to the right of the massive foyer she came to. A different sound drew her to the left down an arched corridor. Through glass walls on the right she could see a large dining room with white sheets draped over what appeared to be a long table and chairs. The furniture against the walls was also covered as if the room were being renovated.

  Another sound snapped her attention to the open door on the left that led to a kitchen. It was big enough to accommodate the entire living room at her house twice over. Daneya’s heart beat faster at the sight of a man washing dishes over the sink. His back was turned to her, offering an easy target. Noiselessly, she crept on bare feet past the island in the middle of the room and swung the rod at his head. At the last second, the man spun around and caught it in one hand.

  It was the Drakon!

  Daneya’s mouth fell open in shock. She couldn’t believe she hadn’t recognized him sooner. The broadness of his tall frame, the black hair that fell in waves to his shoulders. And his eyes as they stared at her now. Such a vibrant green they seemed unreal. The strong angles of his features were striking and set in a calm expression. Almost as if he’d been expecting her.

  A flare of disappointment struck her unawares and she drove the ridiculous emotion away. It didn’t matter if this creature was in league with Gabriel. He was a threat in and of himself.

  “Take it easy,” the Drakon said in a cool tone.

  Daneya stepped in and kneed him as hard as she could between the legs. He went down with a loud grunt, the plate in his other hand shattering on the tile floor. She struck him with the rod on his exposed ribcage with enough force to crack ribs then aimed for his skull again.

  “Mom!”

  She whirled around and nearly dropped her weapon in relief. Mckenzie stood just inside the doorway with Cherri at her side. Behind them was a man wit
h spiked blond hair dressed in loose shorts and a T-shirt. Unlike the others, he didn’t look surprised. In fact, he crossed his arms over his muscled chest and leaned casually against the doorjamb.

  Daneya backed away from the Drakon then motioned her daughter over. “Come here, baby. Cherri, are you all right? Where’s Gabriel?”

  Mckenzie walked to her with hands raised. “Mom, it’s okay. They’re not going to hurt us. They saved us.”

  “It’s true,” Cherri chimed in. “They stopped Gabriel from taking us. Just let them explain.”

  As soon as Mckenzie was within reach, Daneya pulled her close then focused on the Drakon. He was on his feet again, holding his ribs with one arm and watching her warily. “They’re lying. This is the Drakon, Cherri. The one I told you about. He can’t be trusted.”

  Her friend glanced uncertainly at both men then cast a look of guilt to Daneya. “I know. They told me.”

  “What? Then how can you stand there defending them?”

  Cherri took a step forward with one hand raised pleadingly. “They might be criminals, but they’re on our side. They protected us against Gabriel’s attack. Think about it for a minute, sweetie. If they’d wanted to hurt us, they would’ve done it by now. They are…” She let out a sigh. “They are the lesser of two evils, I know, but right now they might be our only choice.”

  Daneya couldn’t believe what she was hearing. There was no compromising with demons. It was one of the first rules they learned in the DCM. While Cherri might not be a vigilante, she was still a member of their unit. “And Vincent?” she asked. “How do you know they didn’t kill him?”

  “They said they didn’t, and I think I believe them,” Cherri said hesitantly.

  The blond man straightened with a sneer. “He would’ve deserved it, though. Bastard shot me in the—”

  “Blade,” the Drakon cut in. “Not helping.”

  “Mom, look.”

  Daneya turned when her daughter tugged on her arm. Mckenzie was holding the .22 short pistol Daneya had given her on her last birthday. It had marked her transition from self-defense training to offensive.

  “Saden gave it to me this morning. He said he wanted me to feel safe. And Blade bought me a brand new X-box to play on. An X-box!”

  “How did he…?” She turned on the Drakon. “You were in my house?”

  “I kinda told him where we live,” her daughter admitted sheepishly.

  “Mckenzie!”

  “He saved your life!” Tears were brimming Mckenzie’s lashes now. She swiped at them hastily then said, “You were dying and he healed you. I saw it.”

  Daneya couldn’t speak as she hugged her daughter with her free arm. The raw pain in Mckenzie’s voice felt like daggers to the heart. She wanted so much more for her baby. Not a past that wouldn’t let them go.

  “Let me show you something, Daneya, and I’ll answer every question you have.” Saden’s words were soft and low.

  Daneya considered herself a great judge of character, but for the life of her, she couldn’t detect any deception in his demeanor.

  “No Drakon in the human realm would kill an innocent,” he continued. “The consequences far outweigh any gains.”

  So that was why he’d spared the human guards who had been with Messing. She pointed the rod at the blond. “And what is he? An accomplice?”

  “I’m the worst kind of Drakon there is,” Blade said in a threatening tone. “The kind that’ll terrorize you in your dreams. You haven’t known true fear until—”

  “Blade,” Saden snapped.

  “Oh, for fuck’s sake!” Blade threw his hands in the air then turned to leave, mumbling, “A guy can’t even get his rocks off in this house.” From farther away, he yelled, “Don’t come running to me when she puts a bullet in your head in the middle of the night and warders come to drag your ass back to hell.”

  Saden didn’t seem phased by this. He merely shook his head then pulled a bottle of orange juice from the fridge. When he handed it to Daneya, she took it reluctantly. “Come with me.”

  Daneya looked to Cherri who waved her hand. “Go on, hon. Kennie and I will clean up here. And don’t worry. I won’t let her out of my sight.”

  She gave a tight smile then kissed her daughter. Cherri’s judgment might be skewed by the circumstances, but Daneya knew she would guard Mckenzie with her life. With new determination, she followed Saden up the staircase, trying not to stare at the way he moved with fluid grace. Not even a limp faltered his steps. If he was in any pain from her assault, he didn’t show it.

  He took her to the bedroom where she’d woken up and stopped in front of an intricately carved, inlaid oak dresser. It was gorgeous, like the rest of the furniture she hadn’t noticed until now. What intrigued her most, however, was the fact that everything was covered in a thick layer of dust. As if the room hadn’t been used in years.

  “So this is your house. You do pretty well for a criminal.”

  Saden didn’t acknowledge the comment. Instead, he pulled a cell phone from his back pocket, punched in a number then handed it to her. “You have one minute to inquire about your boss. The phone is untraceable so don’t try to extend your time.”

  Daneya set down the bottle of orange juice then took the phone and saw her friend Erin’s number on the screen. How the hell had he gotten that? She bit back the question and pressed the send button, afraid he might change his mind. Erin picked up the line immediately.

  “Hi, Erin. It’s Daneya.”

  “Daneya? Oh my God! Are you okay? We thought you were dead.” Erin’s voice fairly shook with relief.

  “I’m fine,” she answered, keeping her eyes on Saden. “Is Vincent with you?”

  “No. He went back to his place after they released him from the hospital. Where are you?”

  “What was he admitted for?”

  “Just a broken arm and a concussion. He was banged up pretty badly, though.” After a significant pause, she said, “Daneya, you’re starting to scare me. What happened to you? And Cherri and Kennie? Vincent is going crazy trying to find you guys.”

  She pursed her lips, tempted to take her chances unarmed with Saden and at the same time knowing it was futile. “I can’t tell you right now. Just let Vincent know we’re all right and I’ll see him soon.” She hung up and handed the phone back to Saden before Erin could start in on another round of questions.

  He tucked it back into his pocket then opened the top drawer and pulled out a black finish Rhino revolver 60DS with a custom etched emblem on the handle. A design she had crafted herself for her favorite weapon. The same one she’d kept locked in a three hundred pound gun safe in the closet of her own bedroom. He opened the cylinder to display the loaded chambers then closed it and held out the gun.

  When she reached to snatch it away, though, he refused to let go. Instead, he slowly brought his other hand to her elbow and slid it down to her grip on the rod.

  Daneya sucked in a breath, frozen by his closeness. She was not intimidated by him. Not by his cool composure, his masculine scent or the heat of his hand on hers. She was in complete control.

  When Saden arched an eyebrow and squeezed her fingers, she flushed and quickly made the trade.

  Control. Right.

  “He’s right, you know,” she said flippantly, trying to cover her reaction. “I may not be able to kill you, but I will put a bullet in your head if I find out you’re lying to me.”

  A corner of his mouth quirked up in a cocky half-grin. “I won’t lie to you, and you wouldn’t come close.”

  While he went to the closet to replace the rod and fallen clothes, Daneya ground her teeth at his infuriating confidence and tucked the gun into her jeans at the small of her back. “I came pretty close in the kitchen, didn’t I?” Granted, the knee to the balls was a cheap shot, but she hadn’t been in the mood to play fair.

  The look Saden slanted her could’ve reflected her thoughts exactly. The top drawer of the dresser was full of the rest of her weapons,
including knives and holsters. All of which had been hidden in several different compartments at her house.

  The urge to feel appreciative conflicted strongly with the anger over her privacy being violated. Not even Vincent had made it past her living room, though it wasn’t for lack of trying. For a killer to waltz into her house and go through her things was…

  A chilling thought came to her and she checked the next drawer down. It too contained her things. Her very private bras and underwear along with more clothes. She straightened with a growl on her lips. “You plan to keep us here.”

  It wasn’t a question, and he didn’t try to deny it. Instead, he finished in the closet then moved closer to her near the open balcony doors. The backlight darkened his face and the five o’clock shadow on his jaw. “Only until I take care of Gabriel. You’ll be safe here.”

  “I can take care of myself.”

  “Drink your orange juice. You lost a lot of blood last night.” His voice was soft and held an indefinable emotion.

  Heat coursed through her at the subtle reminder of what had happened. Her hand went to her side and traced the small scar there. “He saved your life,” Mckenzie had said. It left her feeling humble and confused. What sort of criminal assassin, and a demon at that, went out of his way to save the life of a human? And how had he done it? When she asked him the last question, he shrugged casually.

  “It’s a power of the Drakonem, therefore accessible to Drakons. We cannot heal completely like them, though. You’ll always have the scar.”

  “How did you find me?”

  “I tracked my target to you. Gabriel was recently accused of disposing of a dead human body. I’ve been assigned to investigate him to find out if he was involved with the human’s death.”

  “It was a female, wasn’t it? The human.” She swallowed hard when Saden nodded with a frown. It had found her again. The past she’d spent so many years running from. The DCM was a part of it, the result of it, but separate somehow. With them, she was the hunter. A purveyor of justice who sought out the monsters in the dark so normal people could live their lives in ignorant bliss.