Page 82 of Forbidden Devotion
Mitchel explained everything that’d happened since the explosion on their ride back to Oak City.
Sinclair shivered in his arms. The fading adrenaline was taking its toll. If he was feeling this bad, how must poor Nathan feel? But the injured wolf remained calm as Becket drove at breakneck speed to get to a surgeon as soon as possible.
In awe of how his loved ones had come together to save him, Sinclair believed more than ever their species should be friends, not enemies. He couldn’t imagine a war with werewolves. He sighed into Mitchel’s shoulder, closing his eyes, his thoughts heavy.
When they arrived back in Oak City, a team of medics was stationed outside the hospital, waiting to take Nathan into surgery.
True to his word, Sinclair’s father had arranged for the finest vampire surgeon the species had to offer to perform the extraction, one Dr. Benjamin Arleth. The man had been Sinclair’s doctor all his life, and he trusted Nathan to his care. He told Mitchel as much and received a warm smile in return.
It would be light out soon. The turned vampires needed shelter. Before parting, Sinclair’s father embraced him. “Don’t ever scare me like that again. Promise me.”
“I’ll try,” Sinclair said.
“Were you very scared?” his father asked.
“Yes,” Sinclair confessed. “But I knew better than to let it affect me. You taught me that.”
“You did well, son. I’m proud.” He turned to Mitchel. “And you did well too, Mitchel, thank you.” The vampire extended his hand, and Mitchel took it in his own.
Sinclair’s chest warmed at the sight. Things were really going to be okay.
“We must leave.” Ann looked at Sinclair and Mitchel. “Take good care of each other. Get some rest.”
“Yes, Mom.”
They watched his parents walking away together.
“I suppose we ought to follow,” Sinclair said. “We’re both covered in blood. We need a wash. Let’s go to your room and fetch your things, then bring them to mine.”
Mitchel nodded, but he didn’t move to follow. Instead, he wrapped his arms around Sinclair and hugged him close.
Sinclair squeezed him back. “Oh. Or this. Yes, let’s do this first.”
CHAPTERTWENTY-EIGHT
Article by Supernatural Times Reporter Keller McCray
Vampire Heir Held for Ransom Safely Recovered
Chaos followed yesterday’s explosion,masking the potential reason for the bomb—hostages. It’s unclear how terrorists managed to kidnap living vampire Sinclair Davis, sole heir to the Davis line, but they expected a top-dollar ransom for his return.
Davis was captured immediately after the blast and driven away in an unmarked van. A successful rescue attempt was launched directly thereafter. A team of three vampires and three werewolves comprised the group, including the missing vampire’s parents, Luther and Ann Davis, and alpha wolf Mitchel Edgehill along with two of his pack mates.
In an unprecedented display of collaboration of strengths and resources, the group located Mr. Davis within hours of his kidnapping and disposed of the group responsible for the attack. A detailed report is being compiled, and a crew has been deployed to cover the evidence of the incident until a plausible conclusion can be reached as to how to release this sensitive information to humanity.
Mr. Davis has been returned safely. He was not seriously harmed in the incident, and a ransom payment from the supernatural community was unnecessary.
The werewolf Nathan Cramer was shot during the successful rescue attempt and is now recuperating at Oak City Hospital. He is expected to make a full recovery.
* * *
Sinclair
Their hotel suiteoffered a much-needed solace after the exhausting ordeal. Though it was tempting to fall straight into the bed and pass out, they were filthy and needed a wash. Sinclair shuffled into the bathroom and ran hot water for a shower. Mitchel followed him closely. Neither of them could bear to be out of reach of the other for even a moment.
Sinclair stood still as Mitchel peeled off his grimy clothes, one sticky layer at a time. When he was rid of them, Sinclair returned the favor. Undressing each other in the silence of the early morning calmed Sinclair’s nerves.
Little energy was left for conversation, but they didn’t need to talk to communicate. The sun was rising. Sinclair could feel it in his bones. The longest night he’d ever had and the old, ingrained habit of sleeping during the day combined into acute exhaustion. His body slumped.
