Page 54 of Taste of Forever (Vampires of Sanguine #3)
“She’s having a panic attack. Everybody out. Just leave me and Bea with her.”
The noise dissipated, leaving a ringing in my ears. A light touch pressed against my back and rubbed in a soothing motion. It almost felt like Laith, the weight comforting.
“Breathe, Heather. You’re safe with us now. Everything will be okay. Just focus on breathing. That’s it. Keep it up.”
The room came slowly back into focus, as did the woman sitting cross-legged in front of me. Her aquamarine eyes set in black were a stunning focal point.
“Hey, Heather.” Bea tilted her head with a small smile. “Are you with us?”
The hands on my back lifted away, and I turned to see Tavia sitting behind me. “How you doing? You okay?”
“I don’t, I…Laith?—!”
“We’ll get to him. I’m asking about you right now.” Tavia’s tone was equal parts stern and loving. “Are you composed enough to tell the guys what happened? Or do you need more time?”
Fuck more time. Laith didn’t have that luxury.
“I can tell them.” I let out another long breath and nodded. “I’m good. I can keep it together.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.” My voice finally steadied and I said it again. “Yes. Please. Every minute counts.”
Bea brought me a glass of water and the two women left to gather the vampire muscle. The men filed into the room with serious expressions, spreading out while maintaining a good amount of distance from me. Tavia had probably told them not to get in my face.
Thorne was the last to come in, but to his credit, he didn’t beat around the bush. “What happened, Heather?”
I told them everything, taking sips of water when my breath came too short. Some of the vampires’ expressions became drawn when I mentioned the shadowy government operation that was gathering information on vampires.
“Do we know of anything like that?” Rhain asked the question, looking at Thorne.
“Not specifically, but there’s been speculation for decades.” The clan leader didn’t seem particularly concerned. “What time is it?”
“Just after two a.m.,” said Des.
“So we’ve got three hours at the most to get Laith out and back home before dawn comes. To be safe, let’s call it two and half.” Thorne looked at me. “Heather, is there any way you could locate where they’re keeping him? Even a rough estimate?”
“I really don’t know.” I scrubbed a hand over my face, feeling both exhausted and wired. “It’s within driving distance. Probably within an hour of Eureka. But there’s so much wilderness. So many hidden mountain roads and so many cabins. I wouldn’t know where to begin.”
“We’ll have to start somewhere. And you have to come with us. If he’s in bad shape, he’ll need your blood immediately.” Thorne scratched his neck. “Worst case, we’ll have to call off the search during daylight hours and go out again at dusk tomorrow night.”
“Why can’t you take that stuff that lets you go out in the daylight?” I said. “Draitrium, is it called?”
All the air seemed to get sucked out of the room. Every single vampire looked to be holding their breath.
“I know you guys don’t like it, but this is Laith we’re talking about. He’s one of you. You’re all family, right? If it gives you a few extra hours to look for him, isn’t it worth the risk?”
Cyan stepped forward. “I know you mean well, Heather. But the only reason you’d suggest that is because you don’t know any better.
” He glanced at Thorne before speaking again.
“Draitrium is a non-negotiable for us. The attack on you by that addict was terrible, and it still only scratches the surface of what that drug has done to our kind. Laith knows that. We all owe centuries of pain and trauma to draitrium. Laith and I were orphaned juveniles together, and I promise you he’d rather die than see any one of us use it, even to save him.
” Cyan pinned me with an intense look. “Do you understand what I’m saying? ”
“Yes. I…I think so.” Shame heated my face. “I’m sorry I suggested it. I?—“
“You’re new to us. You didn’t know any better,” Thorne cut in sharply. “And you definitely won’t suggest such a thing again.”
“No. No, of course not.”
“Good.” Thorne paused, his cheeks hollowing as he took a drag on his cigarette. “I guess the best place to start is the gas station where you were dropped off.”
“Heather, can you feel Laith right now?” Cyan asked.
“I don’t…what do you mean?”
“You’re his blood mate. His blood is in you.
Every time he feeds, he also leaves a little of himself in you.
The blood mate connection is like an invisible thread connecting the two of you.
” Cyan’s eyes shifted to the side. “Right now, I know that Tavia is nearby, most likely in our suite. She’s with someone, probably Bea.
She’s trying to stay upbeat, but she’s worried.
Probably about Laith and you. She’s holding something warm, most likely a coffee mug.
” His gaze returned to me. “Our connection has gotten stronger since our ceremony, but it was still there in the beginning. You just have to focus on it.”
Des’s eyebrows went up as if something dawned on him. “That’s probably how Laith found you at the cabin. If he did it, it has to work the other way, right?”
“I mean, wouldn’t you guys know better than me?” I looked around nervously at the surrounding vampires.
“It should.” Cyan’s gaze remained fixed on me. “Focus on Laith, Heather. Imagine where he is. Try to feel what he’s feeling at this exact moment.”
“She can do it on the road.” Thorne exhaled a plume of red smoke. “We need to get going if we have half a chance of finding him. Heather and Rhain will go in the van. Cyan, Des, and I will go on bikes. We’ll start at the gas station, then see if Heather can trace Laith from there.”
The vampires moved swiftly into action, filing out toward the garage for their vehicles. Des stopped in front of me and held out his hand.
“Come on, girl. Let’s get your mate back.”
I nodded and accepted his help up from my seat, but struggled to find the bravery and confidence he and the other vampires had.
It felt like we were going in completely blind. How exactly was I supposed to lead them to Laith? What did sensing him through our bond even mean or feel like?
All I knew was I had to figure it out, and fast.