Page 42 of Kidnapping Their Third

“Yeah,” Pike croaked. His throat felt like it wanted to close up as tears pressed at the back of his eyes.

“Slit your wrist, put it to his mouth, and let the blood pour in. His body will know what to do,” Imani ordered.

“What about the giant piece of glass sticking out of him?” Cora reminded her.

“Fuck, I’m not sure. Normally I’d say pull it out, but he should’ve been able to do that himself so there might be something else going wrong here. Let me call Briar and see if she and Tobias have any insights.”

The call ended before he or Cora could say another word. Pike was already looking around for a knife. Reaching up, he grabbed one out of the holder on the counter. He moved to Kimble’s head, then sliced his wrist and held the wound over Kimble’s mouth. The first few drips splashed the vampire’s lips, but Cora was quick to use her fingers to open Kimble’s mouth wider to allow the rest to flow in.

Cora’s phone rang. Picking it up with one hand, she tapped to answer. Pike didn’t look. He remained focused on Kimble’s face, watching for the slightest change.

“Who is this?” a male voice demanded.

“You called me, so who the fuck are you?” Cora answered back.

“I’m calling you on behalf of Imani Alexander, friend to my flock. If you don’t wish my assistance then I can hang up, my duty fulfilled.”

The voice sounded vaguely family, and Pike had to search his memory for a name to match it. “Tobias?”

“Ah, Pike, you remember me despite how brief our meeting was,” Tobias answered, his tone warming.

A brief smile slid across Pike’s face, even as another tear escaped to slide down his cheek. “It’s hard to forget Briar. I’ve never known a human female so ready to pick a fight in my life, especially with a drunk troll shifter.”

“Yes, you were the bouncer that night. You still have my thanks for intervening when my human’s judgment was so flawed.”

Pike could hear Briar in the background. “Hey, I could’ve taken him! I’m tough!”

If things weren’t so dire, Pike might have laughed. “If you’re thankful, could you help my vampire, Kimble?”

Tobias’s voice turned all business. “Switch to a video call and let me see him.”

Cora fumbled with the phone and then swept it slowly over Kimble’s still form.

“Maksim!” Tobias said, clearly shocked. “That’s Maksim Laske. I thought he’d died years ago.”

Tobias knew who Kimble was? Later, Pike would consider how helpful this might be, but he was too scared to care about Kimble’s past right now. He needed Kimble to have a future first!

“This is bad,” Tobias continued. “His aura is weak and getting weaker. Did one of his flock die?”

“No, I’m perfectly healthy, but I left him alone today and didn't come back before he woke up,” Pike wailed. “This is my fault!”

“Stop whining,” Tobias barked across the phone.

“Dude, don’t be mean,” Briar snapped in the background. “He’s scared!”

“Can you help us?” Cora asked.

“I believe I can, but all of you will owe me a favor,” he warned them.

“Anything,” Pike agreed.

“Wait I don’t…” Cora started, but her words trailed off when Pike caught her eyes, begging with his own.

“Fine, I’ll owe you a favor,” she snarled, then rattled off her address. “If you can’t save him, I’ll kill you instead.”

Instead of getting angry, Pike heard Tobias laugh. It wasn’t a pleasant sound. “You’re feisty, like my Briar. It’s amusing in her, but if you threaten me again, I’ll separate your soul from your body.”

Pike heard Briar shouting angry words before Tobias ended the call.

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