Maxcaught my arm. “I care about Tara and I want her back but I care about you,too. Don’t do anything stupid.”
Ismiled. “Who me?” I said innocently and he grinned.
“Igot your back,” he told me. I nodded and walked off, heading down towards theWillamette River. Downtown Portland kissed the Willamette, on the other sidewas Northeast Portland and the Columbia River, so close to Washington State youcould cross a bridge and be there in five minutes. It was a beautiful city. Iinhaled. The warm summer air was my favorite part of this time of year. Ipassed a few hippies playing hacky sack in the park and blasting reggae music.They threw me a peace sign when I met their gaze and went back to what theywere doing. I had lost sight of Brett, but I assumed he could see me, so I tooka left and walked up to Water Front Park trail, right on the river. Suddenly, Ihad the feeling I was being watched, and not by Brett or Max. It’s that ickyfeeling women get. We just know. Movement at my back caused me to turn quickly,just in time to see a vampire approach me lightning fast.
Hewas tall and lanky with a sinister look and dark ringed eyes.
“Youcan’t be this stupid,” he hissed. I gripped the stake in my purse.
“Where’sLayla?” I ignored his jive and wasted no time getting to the point.
Hesmiled. “The queen isn’t close, but has requested your presence. Come with me.”He reached out and gripped my underarm.
“Iwant to make sure the female wolves are alive or I’m not going anywhere.” Istood firm.
Heglared at me and pulled out a cell phone. After tapping it a few times, he thenturned it to me, showing me a video. Tara was in some type of cage, lying onthe ground. There were silver needle spikes one inch away from her skin. Angerflared inside of me. Tara was weeping.
Thevideo then panned to a large room with the rest of the girls. A scientist waspinning down Sadie. Every time Sadie resisted, the needles poked Tara. Theywere using Tara as a pincushion to keep the girls from fighting back. Rageflooded my system and I pulled out the stake and rammed it into the chest ofthe vampire quicker than I had ever been.
Hepoofed to ash as the phone fell to the ground. “You bastards!” I screamed andkicked the cell phone out of the way as three vampires came out of a boat onthe dock.
Theyzoomed into my vision, incredibly fast. “That was stupid,” one of them told meas they came up behind me and took both of my arms.
“Takeme to my friends.” Oh, yes. I would go willingly and kill every bloodsuckerinvolved in hurting Tara and the rest of them.
Heslipped a black pillow case over my head. “Happily.”
ThenI was being pushed super-fast onto the dock. My body was lifted up into a boatand I felt it sway. I had to flex my leg muscles to stay upright.
Shit.Brett and Max couldn’t follow a speed boat and I couldn’t see. As the boat tookoff, I was jerked back into my seat. I had to be taken though, the image ofTara screaming was burned into my head. I had to do something even if it meantno one was following to save me.
‘Kai,I’m sorry. I had to,’I told himhoping he would forgive me.
Ifelt his energy wash over me.‘What? Where are you?’
‘DowntownPortland. I think I’m heading east on the Willamette. The vampires have me. Iwent willingly. I’m going to end this.’
Ihad never felt so much rage from Kai in my entire life.‘God dammit, Aurora!You will be the death of me. Keep talking to me. Who else is with you? I’mcoming.’
Hewas hours away, there was nothing he could do.‘Call Max. I need to payattention. I still have Sylvia’s necklace on.’
Thevampires ripped my purse away from me and I heard a splash as they tossed it intothe river. They didn’t bother tying me up so I assumed they knew I wanted to betaken, that I would help my friends.
Ireminded myself that I wasn’t alone, the Devi was inside of me. We would endthis together, Iwasstrong enough.
‘Maxis in a kayak. He has you in his line of sight. Jump out of the boat and swimto him,’Kai told me frantically.
Iswallowed hard.‘No. This is my chance and I’m taking it.’
‘Aurora,you jump out of that boat right now!’Hisscream inside my head made me flinch.
‘No,Kai! Then what? We continue to wait around and hope Layla will show up?’
Kaiwas numb, his energy frantic. He couldn’t believe this was happening.‘SometimesI wish I never met you.’
Thedeclaration put a sob in my throat.
‘I’venever loved anything more than I love you. I need you but you don’t need me,’Kai said in a deadpan voice. Oh my God. No!
