Page 72 of Kidnapping Their Third

“Theoretically, yes,” Tobias agreed. Then he sighed, long and heavy. “Most vampires don't recover from going feral, so I don’t know what is or isn’t common.”

“But he isn’t feral anymore,” Cora argued. “He talks and everything now.”

“Don’t lie to yourself, Cora,” Tobias cautioned. “He’s still in the recovery phase. Until he has his memories back, he’s considered feral. At least now that he’s got a flock, it’s unlikely anyone would bother hunting him down. Flocks stabilize even feral vampires.”

Kimble listened with half an ear as he let the jumble of memories settle into a semblance of order. When he had a basic time frame for them, he opened his eyes to find Cora and Pike kneeling on either side of him. It was both a familiar and disheartening position. He hated that he’d caused them worry again.

“I’m fine,” he said, sitting up and rubbing his face.

“Kimble!” Cora cried and launched into him. She wrapped her arms and legs around his body and squeezed tightly. “Fuck, I thought you were dying again. Don’t ever scare me like that!Ever!”

Kimble hugged her back and looked up at Pike. The bear’s face was pale, and his eyes were round with worry. “Are you still you?”

“I’m fully me,” he assured the shifter and let go of Cora with one hand, holding it out to Pike. His bear grasped his hand with both of his large ones and pressed it to his cheek. Pike’s slight stubble felt good against his palm.

“I’m sorry I scared you,” Kimble whispered. He regretted the way everything came back to him, but it felt good to no longer need to hunt down every word he wanted to say. There were so many languages he knew, modern English being the most current one he’d learned, so it was the hardest to remember while he wasferal. Now all the words simply flowed to his mouth without the need to concentrate. “I didn’t know that was going to happen.”

“What happened?” Pike asked. “Why did you fall down like that?”

“I know who I am,” Kimble said and felt Cora jolt in his arms at the same time Pike’s eyes blinked in surprise.

“Your memories are back?” Pike asked.

“They are,sloneczko. If it’s not too late, there’s a place I’d like to go,” Kimble said. “Would both of you please take me there?”

As both Pike and Cora made sounds of agreement, he noticed a phone still lit up with an active call.

“It seems I’m no longer needed,” the dry voice of Tobias commented.

“No my friend, you’re not,” Kimble agreed.

“Good luck to you,” Tobias said, and the phone went blank.

Kimble didn’t think he needed luck anymore, which was probably a good thing. He must have used up his allotment of luck while he’d been feral. Now it was time to rely on his cunning and power as a good vampire should.

Chapter 27

Pike

Of all the places he expected Kimble to direct him, the east side of Palomar Mountain wasn’t it. As he drove the dark, winding, rural road, Pike watched for wildlife or shifters out having a good time. This was the kind of area both could be found in large numbers.

Behind him, Cora continued to quiz Kimble on his past. She’d started asking questions the moment they’d gotten in the car and hadn’t stopped since.

“What’s the earliest thing you can remember?” she asked.

“You’ve already voiced that question,” Kimble reminded her. He’d been patiently answering everything to the best of his ability while hugging Cora to him. “I’m not sure which memory is the oldest, they’re still forming themselves into a cohesive timeline.”

“Right. But give me an example of a really old memory,” Cora pressed.

“I have a vivid image of my maker,” Kimble answered. “She was beautiful, but the moment you spent any time with her, you’d realize the beauty covered a rotting core.”

Words poured out of Cora. “What did she look like? Why did she decide to turn you? When was this? Do you remember anything before being turned? Do you remember what it was like to eat food?What—”

“Cora!” Pike exclaimed, feeling pressured even though Kimble didn’t seem to mind. “You’re acting like you’re in grade school! Pick one question and give him a chance to answer it.”

Kimble laughed. “I don’t mind Cora’s questions. Both of you spent so much time without any knowledge of my past that it’s only fair that I answer everything to the best of my ability.”

“Pike’s right,” Cora said with a wry smile. “I’m acting like a kid. How about we sit down one evening, and you start telling us about your life when you're ready? I can be patient if I know the story’s coming.”

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