Page 24 of Claiming the Dhampir

Ipaced back and forth across the carpeted room where Elliott left me nearly an hour ago with three complete strangers. Three shifters assigned to protect me while he and Damon searched for Nathan and Kenrid. One of my protectors stayed in the living room with me, but I could hear the other two in the kitchen.

“They’ll find them,” the one with me said.

What was his name again? Mike? Matt? Milton? He rubbed his palm over his shaved head, and I wondered if it transferred over to his animal. Did it matter? No! Why was I even thinking about it?

We should just sneak out, Mir said. It should be easy for us to track down Nathan. No one smells as good as him. Elliott’s right. If we find Nathan, we’ll find Kenrid. Then we’ll kill all the fae.

We wouldn’t even know where to start, I argued, as I’d done a dozen times already. I’m not a wolf. I have no idea how to pick up scents and follow them or whatever. And we’re not killing anyone!

She huffed and made sure I could feel her sulking. Not that I blamed her. I hated feeling helpless. It was suffocating. I needed to do something to take my mind off Kenrid. He and Damon had both said we’d feel each other as long as we were in the same realm. During our training the previous day, I’d had no problems finding Kenrid. With more practice, I was sure Damon wouldn’t be able to hide from me, either.

I had to assume that Kenrid was no longer on Earth.

I knew without a doubt that he wouldn’t leave me willingly, even after our disagreement the day before. Whoever took him would pay. Even though I’d told Mir we weren’t killing anyone, I wasn’t sure it was true. If Kenrid were hurt or worse, I’d probably lose my mind. I already knew how much he meant to me. He’d already proven what I meant to him.

I hadn’t made time to talk to him after last night’s meeting. I hadn’t been able to tell him that I’d never reject him. He told me that he loved me, and I didn’t get the opportunity to make sure he knew how I felt. I refused to entertain the thought that I might never get the chance.

I would not lose him. I couldn’t.

I stopped my pacing and looked out the window. Movement outside caught my attention. Four people walked down the sidewalk, two men and two women. They seemed odd. Not just because they were exceptionally pretty. They didn’t act like friends or couples or even that they liked each other. They marched—yes, marched—side by side toward the house.

“Um …” Damn, I still couldn’t remember the bald guy’s name. “Hey, you might want to see this.”

My protector dropped the magazine he was reading and joined me at the window. As soon as he saw the group headed our way, he sprinted into the kitchen.

“We have company!” he called.

The tension in his voice made me nervous. I was supposed to be safe with Nathan’s clan, so why were they worried? Did they think someone would come for me, too?

Why do you think Elliott left you with a bunch of guards? Mir asked. We would’ve been safer in the tower. No one can get in.

Elliott knew we wouldn’t stay in the tower, I replied. We’re here so we don’t run off and do something stupid.

Ah, he knows us too well, but he had to suspect we were also in danger. Mir shrugged. Or he’s just an over-protective, paranoid mate.

Maybe Mir was right… or maybe Elliott knew something we didn’t. I had freaked out when I couldn’t feel my bond to Kenrid. They’d had plenty of time to talk while I had a meltdown in the bathroom. I couldn’t blame them for not sharing all the details with me.

Baldy came back into the room a moment later. “Stay here and be silent,” he said. “If this turns ugly, one of us will take you to safety. Don’t let them lure you out alone.”

I nodded and tried to hide my escalating concern. They expected a confrontation, and I had nothing to defend myself with.

“I’ll be right back,” he said, then disappeared into the hall just as someone knocked on the door.

I peered around the corner and saw all three shifters lined up in front of the door, blocking my view of our visitors. Yes, I know he told me to stay put, but if I couldn’t see them, they couldn’t see me either. Honestly, did it really matter? Every supernatural person I’d met so far could sense if anyone magical was around. They knew I was here, even if they couldn’t see me.

“Have they found our clan leader?” one of the women on the porch asked.

“Not yet,” my protector replied. “Have you been able to contact Brance or Alyssa?”

“Neither of them are answering their phones,” the same woman said.

That sucked. Was it possible that Brance and Alyssa had also been kidnapped? No, Damon said the fae drew him away. He’d said there was a ‘situation’ between Brance and Kenrid.

Had Kenrid’s family found out about us? The story I got from the guys made me think that his family didn’t want him to find his mate. If he did, we’d both be in danger.

Maybe Kenrid’s parents had discovered us and took all of them. That would explain why I couldn’t reach Kenrid; he was in the fae realm. It would also explain why Brance and Alyssa didn’t answer their phones. I was pretty sure our cell service didn’t cross realms.

The epiphany had me stepping back into the room. Were we making a mistake by accusing Brance and Alyssa of being the villains? Were they just caught in the crossfire between Kenrid and his family?

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