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“It’s…it’s possible. She’d have to be older than me, though, much older, old enough that she could Charm me without my knowledge. There are only a handful of vampires left who are that ancient, and I know all of them. I’ve never seen her before.”

As he finished his words, he let out a gasp and touched his cheek. No blood, but that was the sting of a claw or knife cut. He was sure of it. Rage rumbled in his chest.

“Whoever has him is going to die,” Freddie growled.

“What was that?” Lillian asked.

“Anthony is my mate. I think…I’m feeling his pain through the bond, even though we haven’t completed it. We need to figure out who did this, and where they’ve taken him.”

Rose and Lillian made eye contact, dread on their faces.

“What’s wrong?”

“Gabriela de Aragon.” Rose took a deep breath. “She died decades before you joined the coven. A mutually fatal fight with a thousand-year-old vamp from the Carpathian Mountains.”

“Or at least we thought she died.” Lillian sighed in frustration. “She had a tendency to turn sociopathic humans into vampires.”

“She sired Charles Azarian,” Rose said, her eyes hard.

Freddie growled and punched the wall of the stairwell. The surface of the concrete crumbled at the blow, and cracks spidered down to the floor. He surveyed the area one more time and sniffed.

“Whether it was Gabriela or Azarian or someone else, they cleaned up well. There’s no scent trail from here. We have no way of following.”

“The Azarians have multiple strongholds in Manhattan,” Lillian said. “They have several large ships docked on the Hudson somewhere around 55th, and they’ve got their claws in the Metropolitan Museum of Art and hideouts underneath—”

I’m underground, in a room. There was a train. I’m not sure if I’m at a station or not.

Freddie put his hand up, cutting Lillian off as Anthony’s voice filled his mind. “He’s underground.” He closed his eyes, trying to concentrate.

That Anthony could communicate while still human spoke to the strength of their bond, and the intensity of his emotions. The sending was faint, but it was there.

I’m coming, my love.Freddie doubted the words would reach him, considering Anthony was human, but even if the specifics didn’t come through, the intention might. Freddie opened his eyes.

“Wherever he is, he can hear the train.”

“The Azarians have control of several tunnels,” Lillian said. “It has to be somewhere near here.”

We’re in an abandoned subway station. Please come for me, Freddie…

“They’re in an abandoned station.” Freddie shouted. “We have to get to him!”

“91st Street Station.” Lillian started bounding down the stairs, and Freddie followed. “That’s the closest of their hideouts.”

“I’ll catch up.” Rose had her phone out. “Garrett needs to know where we’re going.”

They moved with inhuman speed, darting between pedestrians and cars so quickly that Freddie doubted anyone even sensed they were there. Fear pulsed through his bond from Anthony. It spurred him on.

When they reached the doors, Freddie snapped the padlock off like a toothpick, and kicked the thick metal door, which collapsed in half. They were down the stairs in a moment, and the minute they hit the platform level, Freddie could hear Anthony’s heartbeat, fast but still strong.

The sound pulled Freddie forward. He followed it towards an area of the station that must have been closed to the public. As he almost reached it, a voice in his mind stopped him in his tracks.

Freddie. Report,Master Hughes commanded.

They have Anthony. I’m going to kill Charles Azarian.

Waves of disapproval pulsed through the coven master’s bond with him.

No. Give us time to get there.