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K adie woke in Rylan’s arms late the next morning.

She lay there, unmoving, for a long while, content be close to him, to run her fingertips over his broad chest, his wide shoulders, his flat belly ridged with muscle.

Unable to resist, she threaded her fingers through his hair.

Long, black hair any woman would envy. Curse or no curse, how could she ever have forgotten him, the way he made her feel, the magic of his touch, the warmth of his smile?

She grinned inwardly, remembering the early days, when she had refused to admit that she wanted him, loved him.

She splayed her fingers across his chest. He was the most fascinating man she had ever known. He was hers, only hers, and she would fight any woman, vampire or not, who tried to take him from her.

“Quite the little tiger I married,” he murmured.

“Are you complaining?”

“Not likely,” he replied, as he captured her hand in his and licked her palm, sending little frisson of delight coursing through her.

Lifting up on one elbow, he rained kisses on her brow, her cheeks, the point of her chin, the tip of her nose. “This reminds me of when you first came here,” he remarked. “When you wanted to hate me.”

She laughed softly. “I was sure you were a monster, keeping me in your lair against my will.” Even though she had shared it with him for years, she still thought of it as his lair.

“And now?”

“I don’t care what you are, as long as you’re mine.”

Saintcrow laughed softly. “I was yours from the moment I laid eyes on you.” His gaze moved to the hollow of her throat.

He had been determined to have her from the moment he caught the warm, rich scent of her life’s blood, but that didn’t sound very romantic.

Still, just a single whiff and he’d known he had to have her.

Leaning down, he ran his tongue along the side of her neck. “Let me?”

Excitement rippled through Kadie. Once, she had thought being bitten would be repulsive, but she knew differently now. She turned her head to the side, her eyelids fluttering down as she felt the sweet sting of his fangs.

A moment later, a delicious rush of sensual pleasure unfolded deep inside her, like a flower opening to the sun.

Kadie woke abruptly, uncertain as to what had roused her. It took her a moment to realize she was alone in bed. “Rylan?”

“Go back to sleep, sweetheart.”

“What’s wrong?” Sitting up, she switched on the lamp beside the bed, frowned when she saw he was dressed to go out. “Where are you going?” It was both too late and too early to go hunting.

“Kincaid’s in trouble.”

She blinked at him as he pulled on a pair of boots. “How do you know?”

“I can feel it. I don’t know how Luca managed it, but he’s found Jake.”

An icy tingle of fear trickled down Kadie’s spine. Luca. The monster whose hideous spell had rendered her helpless, stolen months of her life and all of her memories.

“Better get dressed,” he said. “Rosa’s here.”

Rosa burst into the house when Saintcrow opened the door. “He’s got Jake! That monster has Jake!”

“I know.” Saintcrow closed and locked the door behind her.

“We have to go after him,” Rosa declared. “Now.“

“Calm down,” Saintcrow said. “We’ve got to think this through.”

“I don’t want to calm down! Jake’s in trouble. We’ve got to find him and bring him home before it’s too late!”

“And we will,” Saintcrow said, with a lot more confidence than he felt.

“How will we find him?”

It was a hell of a good question. He could feel Kincaid’s agony, but it was so strong, it was blocking every other sense. “Kadie, go call Ethan and Micah. Tell them to haul their butts over here right now.”

With a nod, she left the room.

A shudder ran through Rosa. “I’m so afraid for him. I can feel his pain. I don’t know how long he can survive it. And he’s afraid. Jake’s never been afraid of anything.”

Saintcrow grunted softly. He could feel Jake’s fear, too. Damn Luca. Why hadn’t he just stayed dead?

Five minutes later, Ethan, Sofia, Holly and Micah materialized in the living room.

“Where’s Jenny?” Kadie asked.

“I left her with a babysitter,” Holly said.

Kadie nodded.

Micah sat next to Rosa and took his sister’s hand in his. “We’ll get him back, Rosie. Don’t worry.”

“Damn,” Ethan muttered. “I didn’t think anyone could best Kincaid.”

“Yeah, well, we were wrong,” Saintcrow said. “I think all of you had better stay here, in Morgan Creek, until we get Kincaid back.”

“You’re probably right,” Ethan said. “Any idea how to find Jake or Luca?”

“Not at the moment, but I’m open to suggestions.”

“I’ve never had any dealings with Luca,” Micah said. “Is he worse than Letitia Braga and her bodyguard, Mahlon?”

“I’d say so,” Saintcrow said, with a wry grin. “At least Braga stayed dead when we killed her.”

“What about the Methuselah Stone?” Kadie asked. “It healed me and Ethan. Maybe it can lead us to Jake.”

“Do you think so?” Rosa asked anxiously.

Kadie shrugged. “I have no idea, but it’s worth a try.”

“Good idea, sweetheart,” Saintcrow said. Moving away from the others, he called Izabela.

She answered her phone on the second ring. “What do you want now, vampire?”

“Do you think the Methuselah Stone could lead me to Kincaid?”

“I thought he was with you.”

“Luca’s got him.” Saintcrow frowned when there was no response for several seconds. “Izabela?”

“I will rend Luca Sasan into tiny pieces and feed him to my piranha if he harms that boy.”

Well, I’ll be damned, Saintcrow thought. The witch has real feelings for Kincaid.

“I’m on my way,” Izabela said, and ended the call.

Saintcrow shook his head as he slipped his phone into his pants pocket. Apparently Izabela wasn’t as hard-hearted as he had always thought.

“Well? What did she say?” Kadie asked. And had the sudden thought that if she’d been a vampire, she wouldn’t have had to ask. She would have heard both sides of the conversation, like everyone else in the room.

“She’s coming,” Saintcrow said. And then he grinned. “She’s here.”

Lowering the wards on the house, he opened the front door. “Do you mean me or mine any harm?” he asked, mimicking her oft-asked query.

“Very funny, you idiot.”

Taking a step back, he said, “Come on in. Consider my home yours.”

“Indeed,” Izabela said, her voice frosty, but there was a twinkle of amusement in her eyes.

Saintcrow replaced the wards, then followed her into the living room. He took a moment to introduce the witch to those she hadn’t met before, and then invited her to sit down.

“So, can you find him?” Saintcrow asked.

“Possibly.”

“Possibly?” Rosa echoed.

“Magic is never guaranteed,” Izabela said. “I would imagine that Luca has blocked whatever link Kincaid has to Saintcrow. And probably to you, as well, Rosa. But I also have a link to Jake, forged by his blood.” She slanted a wry grin at Saintcrow. “I have a link to you, as well.”

“I’m not surprised,” he retorted.

Izabela shrugged. “It might come in handy someday.” She wore a bright green peasant blouse and a multi-colored, full-length skirt. Reaching into one of her voluminous pockets, she withdrew the Methuselah Stone.

Saintcrow leaned forward. The tiny vial set in the center of the Medallion, once filled with a sickly-green fluid, was now filled with blood. An indrawn breath told him it was Jake’s blood.

Clasping the Medallion in both hands, the witch began to chant in a foreign language that Saintcrow thought was ancient Egyptian.

After a moment, she held the Medallion up by the chain.

It swayed slowly back and forth. A froth of something that looked like thick white smoke surrounded her, only it was more substantial than smoke.

Lifting her hand, she drew a map and beneath it a short string of words.

Saintcrow frowned. The words were also in Egyptian.

Abruptly, the smoke dissipated.

Eyes closed, Izabela let out a long, shuddering sigh as her head fell forward.

No one spoke.

After a tense five minutes, the witch looked up. “Kincaid is being held in the bowels of an ancient castle located on the coast of Ireland.”

“Ireland?” Ethan muttered. “What the hell is Luca doing there?”

“Is Jake all right?” Rosa asked anxiously.

“For the moment,” Izabela replied. “Although he is in a great deal of pain, unable to move or speak. The spell is similar to the curse Luca unleashed, only more terrible, as Kincaid is in agony all the time, not merely unconscious and unable to respond.”

“Will he remember me?” Rosa asked in a trembling voice.

“Perhaps,” Izabela said. “If he lives.”

Saintcrow glared at the witch. “Hey.”

“She needs to be prepared for the worst,” Izabela said, with a shrug. “Kincaid will most certainly be avenged if that wizard destroys him.”

“Damn right,” Saintcrow said, his gaze meeting that of the witch. “But I’ll be the one to make him pay.”

Ethan glanced from the witch to Saintcrow. “We have to find him first. Just because we know where Kincaid is doesn’t mean Luca is there.”

“True,” Saintcrow said. “But one thing at a time.”

“I’m ready to go when you are,” Micah said. “I haven’t been in a good fight in a long time.”

“I wouldn’t be so anxious if I were you,” Saintcrow muttered. He looked at Sofia, her brow furrowed at the thought of her brother going off to battle the necromancer. “Stop worrying,” he told her. “I’m going alone.”

“The hell you are,” Micah said.

Saintcrow held up a hand to quiet the protests he saw in the eyes of Kadie and the family. “One man might be able to slip in and out without much trouble. Two or three of us would be easier for Luca to sense.”

Kadie slipped up beside him and grasped his hand. “You can’t go alone.”

“He won’t be,” Izabela said. “I have the Medallion and I’m going with him.”

Saintcrow glared at her. “Says who?”

“Says me. You might be able to control all the vampires in Wyoming, Rylan Saintcrow, but you have no power over me. Or the Medallion.”

Saintcrow muttered an oath. Damn the woman. She was right, as always.