Page 9 of Awakening the Dhampir

“When did you see her?” I asked.

“Five or six days ago,” he replied.

“Why are you telling us?” Kenrid questioned.

Jonah’s smile faded. “Rumors are dangerous. I’ve managed to pull two different posts from our dark web about a dhampir sighting. I was there when the fae killed the last bunch of dhampir. We don’t need that kind of fear running rampant in the supernatural community. Every vampire around will be storming Conrad’s estate trying to take her, and every other supernatural will be trying to kill her.”

He glanced out the front window, his humor completely gone. “If she was really dhampir, I’d probably kill her myself. But she had a sweet innocence about her that called to my bear. She should be treasured and protected, not fearing for her life with every breath she takes.”

“Shit.” This was getting out of hand so fast. My wolf did not want to hear of yet another man pining after his mate. “How do we stop the rumors? And how do we free her from Conrad?”

“I’m pretty sure Conrad has a camera on his little prisoner,” Jonah replied. “If we could get a copy of the video with her brushing off a room full of vampires, I think that’d squash all the rumors.”

“And her freedom?” Kenrid asked. “Will you take us to her?”

Jonah turned back to look at Kenrid. “She’s your clan member, isn’t she?”

Kenrid nodded. “It sounds like her. Like you said, the timing is about right.”

“Is she really Damon’s mate?” Jonah’s voice sounded just a little too harsh to me. My wolf growled, and the grizzly’s attention snapped my way. “Or is she yours?”

I glared at the man sitting only a few feet from me. He held my gaze for a little too long. A few more seconds, and we’d be in challenge territory.

“Right now, she’s being held against her will,” Kenrid said. “We should focus on her escape and let her decide on a mate. She’ll probably hate all men for quite some time after this.”

“You’re right.” Jonah dropped his gaze and scrubbed his beard. “I can show you where the estate is located, but I can’t get you in.”

“What do you want in return?” Kenrid asked the question I should’ve thrown out before Jonah started talking.

“A copy of the video,” Jonah replied, placing a card on my dash. “Dhampir can’t come back. Not even the suspicion of one. Nothing good comes from that.”

He was certainly right about that. And having a video out there touting Lorna’s normalcy would only help us hide and protect her.

“We’ll make sure you get a copy,” I promised.

Jonah nodded and opened the door. “Let me know when you’re ready.” Without a backward glance, he strolled across the parking lot and got into an old Dodge Charger. I watched him leave with a hundred questions rolling through my mind.

“Do you think it’s her?” Kenrid asked, still in the back seat.

“Part of me hopes yes, and the other part prays it’s not,” I replied, gripping the steering wheel. “Do you know anything about Conrad Roane?”

Kenrid leaned forward and rested his arms on the back of the front seat. “He’s one of the worst. All his dhampir were slaves.”

That’s what I’d remembered as well. “Yeah, I can only hope he’s changed.”

“Don’t count on it.” Kenrid sneered. “If he truly believes Lorna is dhampir, he won’t let her defy him. We need to be prepared to subdue a rabid dhampir when we get there.”

I spun around and looked at him. I knew how he felt about Lorna. Anyone with eyes could see their connection. Did he really think he could kill her? I’d tried to convince myself I could in the beginning, but as soon as she disappeared, the ache in my chest from my wolf’s pain quickly changed my mind. I couldn’t do that to him.

“We’ll get her back,” I said. “If the asshole did awaken her magic, we’ll do whatever she needs to be Lorna again.”

Kenrid nodded, but the hollowness in his eyes didn’t give me a warm, fuzzy feeling. “Is that Jonah’s number?” he asked.

I reached over and picked up the card Jonah left on my dash. His name and cell phone number were printed on one side. The other side was blank.

“Yeah.”

“Then let’s have the beginnings of a plan ready for Nathan.” Kenrid opened his door and left me alone with all the same questions.

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