Page 67 of Blood Bound

Daniel thinks for a moment before he answers. “Last night, ma’am, when he arranged a security detail for you,” he says, with widening eyes, then pulls out his cell phone and waits. “His driver isn’t answering. Hold on.”

Another few seconds pass. “Check the boss’ hotel room,” he says and his gaze lands on me. “He hasn’t checked in.”

“Fuck!” I cry out, raking my fingers through my hair and thinking the absolute fucking worst. “Why has no one checked in on him?!”

Daniel holds up his hands. “Apologies, ma’am, but the boss doesn’t like to be checked in on. He’s given us strict orders to leave him be and not disturb him unless it’s something serious.”

Christ, that sounds so like him, and now look what’s happened! My father has him, it has to be him! He’s had Gabriel since last night and has done fuck knows what to him! I need to calm down and think rationally. There’s no point in freaking out when he could be dead by now.

I turn to Daniel. “Do you have Valentine’s number?” I ask, and he nods, then scrolls on his cell phone and hands it to me. It takes Valentine all of five rings to answer in a lazy tone.

“I’m not available right now–”

“Valentine?” I whimper, hearing his sharp intake of breath. “They took him, they took him and–”

“Wait, wait! Kitty Kat, is that you? What the fuck is going on?”

I’m pacing the floor with my hand at my throat, trying to calm myself down and failing miserably. “Gabriel and I were supposed to meet up tonight, and he never showed. Instead, a box was dropped off on my doorstep with his signet ring and a fang–”

“WHAT!” Valentine roars and I can hear glass breaking on his side. “I’m going to rip his entire fucking security detail to shreds when I get there! Wait for me, Kitty Kat. I’m a few hours out and will be there as fast as I can.”

He kills the call and I don’t even bother asking him how he knows where I am. I can do nothing but turn around and walk away before I shatter into pieces.

What was supposed to be a reunion between us turned into something I never thought would happen; he’s supposed to be invincible, but I led the hunters right to him.

They came for me and found him instead.

Somehow I end up on my bed with his shirt in my arms, but the tears don’t come. If something happens to him, I will never forgive myself.

Xenia comes in a few minutes later and sneaks in behind me. She holds me from behind and places her head on my shoulder. “I’ve given Daniel some tips on how to see where Gabriel was last and had the wolves get a scent from the ring box to follow,” she says.

I couldn’t even think clearly enough to do that.

“We’ll find him, Kat,” she assures, rubbing my shoulders. “Give yourself tonight to cry about this, but tomorrow I won’t allow you to drown in your self-pity and tears. You’re Katherine fucking Décès and you hold the record for most killed in that fucking guild. Use that to get your man back; turn your father’s training back on him.”

I blink when she says this, and by her word alone, I feel strength returning to my body. She’s right; I’m allowing myself to wallow in this instead of being proactive, instead of planning my next move like I always used to.

“I don’t know what I’d do without you, Xen,” I say, and feel the first wave of tears shudder through my body. She holds me in her arms and comforts me like she did when we were younger, and little by little the ambition returns.

The sadness leaves, and in its place stood fury.

I’m coming for you, King, and I’m going to kill every fucking hunter standing in my way. You don’t fuck with what’s mine and get away with it.

* * *

The door to my apartment bursts open while I’m busy making coffee and Valentine literally shoots inside with Church right behind him. I see Xenia stiffen and clench her hands into fists while Church’s steps slow down and his eyes widen when he sees her.

“I want to know everything,” Valentine urges, his green eyes fraught with concern.

“Hello to you too, Valentine, and you, Church,” I say, but neither of them grins and I sigh. “By what Daniel told me, he never checked in at his hotel after leaving here. So the only thing I can think of is that something happened between him leaving here and going to his hotel.”

Valentine paces the kitchen and rakes a frustrated hand through his hair. “He called me last night to say everything is okay and explained what happened with the bounty hunters. But when he killed that call, something felt off… cold.”

“Just after eleven?” Church asks, to which Valentine nods. “Same here, and it hasn’t fucking left. My skin is crawling as we fucking speak.”

“Wait, you guys can feel when something is up with Gabriel?” I ask, confused at what they’re talking about.

Church shrugs. “He’s our maker. If something is wrong, we can feel it,” he explains, crossing his arms. “But it’s more of an anxious feeling, not fear or hopelessness.”

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