“That’s enough,” I said in a voice I knew Elias would understand. Even though I wasn’t his master, he knew I was willing to destroy him for my mate. His eyes opened and he looked at the two of us before springing out of Blake’s arms and onto his feet.
“I didn’t mean to betray you,” he said.
“Tell us exactly what happened,” Blake said.
“They found me in the woods and somehow forced me to do what one of the women commanded. She told me to let them take some of my blood, that it wouldn’t be enough to hurt me, but it would help them.”
“Did you know them?” I asked.
“No, but they knew exactly where to find me. Once they took my blood it was like I was her puppet. I had no mind of my own and even though I didn’t want to do as she commanded, I was helpless to resist. I allowed them to restrain me and drain my blood even knowing what would happen.”
“They’re witches,” I said. Elias sprung into a crouch and hissed at me.
“That cannot be,” he finally said.
“What other creature could do such a thing?” I asked.
“They will pay for what they’ve done,” he growled.
“We think they may have been involved with Marlon being drained and buried and Josiah using his blood to be turned,” Blake said.
“Then we’ll destroy them,” Elias said.
“Who are the other two vampires they have?” I asked.
“I don’t know, but I can lead you to where they keep them,” Elias said.
Blake’s eyes met mine and I nodded. The witches would find an end soon but not until we released the vampires they held.
Twenty-Seven
Blake
For the first time since my human life had ended and this existence as a vampire began, I was scared. Marlon didn’t know much about witches, but what he did know was bad. He was hesitant to get close to them to rescue Elias, even knowing they were human, or maybe only part human. “I thought nothing could hurt us except another vampire,” I finally said as the three of us walked back to the truck.
“Witches are very different from us. They’re human, but they can use spells to compel and to destroy. We can give them power through our blood, and they’re not willing to take only what they need. They want it all,” Elias said.
“We need to feed if we’re to go against them,” Marlon said.
“Thank you for what you gave me,” Elias said. “I still need more.”
“You’re lucky we found you when we did and we were able to get you away from them,” Marlon said. We were close to the road now, and I wondered if we’d hunt now or find some place safer. Elias was weak and pale, and I wasn’t sure it was only from being drained.
“What did they do to you?” I asked and stopped walking when we were within sight of the truck.
“I was in the woods when they found me. It was as though they knew I’d be there, when I didn’t know it myself. As I told you before, the woods are comfortable to me, but that day something drew me to them. I remember walking away from you and nothing more until just before you found me. They had been draining me slowly until then.”
“Do you know who they spoke of holding?” Marlon asked again.
“No, I did not recognize their scent,” Elias said.
“We have to find them, Marlon. I know what you’re thinking, but you can’t always run away,” I said, and knew it would both anger my mate and open his eyes. He’d spent most of his time as a vampire hiding from both humans and his own kind. Only feeding when necessary and avoiding anything and everything. Which is what had led him to follow the wagon train that was headed west.
“Are you calling me a coward?” Marlon asked, his eyes full of disbelief and rage.
Stepping close enough to touch him, I cradled his face in my hands. He was perfect in a way that made it hard for me to imagine being attracted to anyone else, be it man or vampire. He thought it was the bond he always spoke of. But it was more. “You survived being poisoned by silver, drained of your blood, and buried for nearly a century, and that was after leaving your homeland and venturing to a country you knew nothing about and traveling the width of it alone. All while knowing if you were unfortunate enough to be trapped outside when the sun rose, you would burn. You’re the bravest man I know,” I whispered.
“I’m not a man,” he said, his eyes softer but still hesitant.
