He was gone before Scott could ask him any more questions, and then the diner came to life with customers and the wait staff rushing around taking orders. Loki had stopped time from moving, or the restaurant he’d stepped into earlier was in a different realm. He saw Elizabella speaking with a customer, smiling and unaware that her son and daughter’s life rested in his hands.
“You’ll find them.”
Scott turned and saw Mohe standing behind him. “What?”
“I said you will find them, and I will help you,” Mohe answered.
“How do you…”
“Vale Valley showed me,” he said, cutting off Scott. “I am here for a purpose, and that is to be more than just the town’s eyes and ears. I am her new guardian, and you are a demigod who will one day be the god of gods Odin. We are all here for a reason, Scottland. And your destiny is not yet fulfilled. Call your coven and family, they will aide you in fighting an evil that can never die but can be weakened.” He turned and looked at Elizabella. “I’ll explain things to her without telling her who you are. Gather your troops.”
He walked away from Scott and over to Elizabella, whispering in her ear. She nodded and walked with him. Scott wiped the blood from his nose, collecting himself. Going outside, he realized it was getting dark and looked at his watch. He had four hours to find his Quintus and Sareena.
He hoped it was enough time.
Closing his eyes, he used his empath powers to feel for his mate and sister-in-law, but he couldn’t find anything. He wasn’t getting anything back from his mental link with Quintus. Wherever they were, they were being shrouded by heavy magic. Having no other choice, he called on every vampire who lived in Vale Valley. He usually left them to live their own lives. But it was known that when one needed help, his brothers and sisters would rally behind each other to assist. He felt their presence and opened his eyes. He wasn’t surprised to see his Roman, TaNia, and his grandparents Vladimir and Asa standing beside him. He looked around and saw all of his coven members standing before him.
“You don’t usually call on us, so this must be important,” Synder Vale said.
“It is,” Scott answered, his voice thick with emotion.
“Whatever it is, we will help,” Rodney, another vampire, said.
His brother and sister touched either side of his shoulders.
“My mate and his sister were taken tonight, and I don’t know where they are. I know they are still in Vale Valley, but they are hidden behind intense magic—stronger than the town’s witches. I have four hours to find them or—” Scott bit on his bottom lip to hide his anger and pain. “—They die along with their cubs.” Everyone in front of him gasped, and the hands on his shoulders tightened. “I’m not sure what danger we will be coming up against…”
“Don’t worry about us,” Malick, another vampire, told him. “I might be mateless at the moment, but I know the importance of having a mate. You need help finding him, and we will help you—no matter the danger. We not only protect Vale Valley, we also protect the residents of the town.”
Scott looked at all the men and women standing in front of him. They were all nodding their heads in agreement. Scott was about to speak, when everything around him changed. He felt the presence of his bearer and sire standing beside him. Then Rosemary—in her large wolf form—running up to him. Behind her was Chance and LaMarkus, also in their shifted form.
“What are you guys doing here? He said not to…”
“Hush, my precious one,” his bearer said to him. “I will never let you go up against my demented brother on your own. No matter if you find them, he will still try to kill me. He knows what he is doing by giving you the choice of killing me or your mate. This is a game to Loki. This time he has gone too far.”
“How do you know what he wants me to do?”
“Katarina told us,” his sire said, coming to stand by him.
“Does she know where they are?” He asked anxiously.
“No,” Braxton answered, closing his eyes. “All she says is that they are in darkness.”
That could be anywhere.
Scott nodded and stepped away from his bearer. They were wasting time talking. When he looked up again, there were more shifters in their forms standing in the square—some he recognized and some he didn’t.
“What are your orders, heir lord of the vampires?” Alphonso Vale asked looking at Roman. Scott wasn’t offended since Roman was Vladimir’s heir and any born or turned vampire knew who their new vampire lord would be.
“Find my family and kill anyone who stands in your way,” Roman’s booming voice said. Instantly, the vampires in the square disappeared followed by a howl from Rosemary and all the shifters dispersed.
“And what are your orders for us, heir to Odin?” his bearer asked.
“Find Loki, and bring him to me,” Scott ordered.
“As you wish,” his bearer bowed and disappeared along with the other gods.
He was once again alone. He didn’t want to break down, not yet. He had to find his mate and then he’d deal with Loki.
