Rowan jolted upward and scurried off of Luca. Coming up behind the man, she placed her bony fingers on his shoulders. “Sköll, please forgive me, I was just amusing myself with my lovely prize while you were out. He’s very pleasing, don’t you think?”
Sköll stretched upward and hoisted Rowan into his burly arms. His fully bearded lips crushed Rowan’s; a gruff hand fondled her breast. Wrenching away from her for a minute, he regarded Luca.
“You’ve done well, Rowan. He’ll help us greatly in our cause.”
“Your woman isn’t very faithful, wolf. She was about to touch my dangly bits; sometimes only a vampire can satisfy a woman,” Luca goaded. He was slowly gaining strength but continued to bide his time on the floor.
Sköll padded up to Luca and knelt beside him, grabbing his face with grubby strong fingers. “Brave you are, for a man whose balls are owned by a witch. You, my friend, will do as I say. The witch and I are business partners, nothing more. If she wants to fuck you when we’re done, she’s welcome to your sorry ass. Hell, I may join her.” Sköll roamed his hands over Luca’s chest, admiring the slave. “But first, you will go to war.”
Disgusted by the wolf’s touch, Luca batted his hand away. “War?”
“Marcel will pay for refusing my brother his bitch. Now, I’m gonna take his pack. And you will help me.”
“Kat? What in hell makes you think I’ll do that? Besides, you’ll never win. Marcel knows this land blind. There’s no way an outside pack could take over.”
“I have an insider who’s going to help me, vamp. As far as fighting for me, with this amulet,” he fingered her silver chain, “you’ll have no choice. Rowan here, is going to train you real good to obey her. By the time she’s done you’ll be as compliant as a little lamb. Not only will you will fight for me, you’ll lick my balls if she tells you to.” Sköll clutched Luca’s cheeks in his hands and forced his closed lips against Luca’s. Laughing out loud, he walked across the room to Rowan.
Luca bared his fangs at the wolf, disgusted by the thought. “Fucking never, wolf. I will never help you or that bitch.”
He watched as Sköll took Rowan in a rough embrace. She writhed and purred against him like a cat in heat, then ripped off her clothes, decidedly aroused by the wolf. Falling to the floor, growling and mewling, they began to have sex. Luca watched in abhorrence and planned his attack.
Sufficiently engrossed in their coupling, Rowan and Sköll had inadvertently exposed their vulnerability. Luca patiently waited for the perfect moment. He needed to rip the amulet from Rowan’s neck. She needed it on her person to control him. If he could get the amulet away from Rowan, even for a second, he could escape.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
When Samantha entered the foyer, she immediately recognized the extraordinarily good-looking vampire, Xavier. She felt relieved to see him, even though she’d only met him once in the dimly lit club. Sculpted, mocha-skinned muscles bulged from his black spandex tank top. Black jeans hugged every firm curve of his glutes; he looked like a Greek God.
He smiled at her as if he’d been expecting her. Extending his hand, he bowed. “Xavier Daigre, at your service, ma cher.” He took her hand in his, brushing his lips across it. “I understand mon ami, Luca, was taken earlier today.”
“I’m Samantha,” she replied, noting his old world charm. “I know we didn’t get a chance to talk at the club, but Luca mentioned you and Étienne. As for your question, yes, Rowan, from Ilsbeth’s coven, took both Luca and the Hematilly Periapt. It’s an amulet of sorts. It controls vampires but only someone of magic can use it and also only if they have the blood of the vampire they wish to control.” She lowered her head and shook it. “It’s my fault that she has him. I should’ve resisted her. She took it from me. Then she took Luca. You should have seen him.”
Xavier placed a firm hand on her shoulder. “We will find him, Samantha.”
Étienne walked in to see Xavier with his hands on the petite human woman who Luca cherished. Although he wouldn’t admit it to them, they’d both known Luca had been entranced by the witch as they’d watched him dance with her at Sangre Dulce.
“Hello Samantha,” Étienne nodded. “I’m Étienne. We met at the club but weren’t formally introduced. Léopold told us what happened. Xavier is correct. Luca is very old and strong.”
Samantha looked to Étienne who she sensed was a younger vampire. His dark-blonde hair was tied at his neck. Like Xavier, he was attractive and well-built. Wearing black jeans and a white polo shirt, he was casually cool and looked like he could have been in a GAP commercial. Samantha looked around to see if Léopold was nearby before whispering to them both. “What about him? Léopold. Can he be trusted?”
Xavier and Étienne passed a silent look between them. Xavier spoke first. “We are loyal to Kade. He sent us here because there is very serious trouble with Marcel’s pack that he must attend to. All I can tell you is that Kade would never have left Luca in such a predicament if he didn’t trust Léopold. Luca is his best friend and confidant. Kade explained Léopold’s role and said he’s more than capable of helping Luca. Being that Léopold is Kade’s maker, he is much more powerful and can help us retrieve our friend.”
Étienne nodded in agreement. “It’s true, Samantha. Léopold knows of the Hematilly Periapt. And he’ll be much stronger when we need the power of another vampire, but in the end, it’s you who is needed to destroy it.”
“But how?”
“When the time comes, I shall help you, Samantha.” Léopold strolled into the room. “Consider it on a ‘need to know’ basis.” A corner of his mouth lifted in a slight smile.
He was so smug, she thought. Dressed head to toe in black leather, he shook hands with Étienne and Xavier and began to discuss their plan on what vehicle and route they’d take to the location. Samantha tried to concentrate on his words but soon found herself lost in his aura. Léopold emanated authority and command; energy had reverberated throughout the room on his arrival. Samantha’s own magic started to hum in response, and she rubbed her arms up and down in an effort to ease the sensation. She was not only unsure of her magic, she was afraid. What if she accidently lit the place on fire?
Léopold stopped speaking to observe the small woman. She’d gone quiet, acutely aware of his vitality. He strode over to her and placed a calming hand on Samantha’s shoulder. “You’re okay, mon agneau. Breathe. Take deep breaths. You sense me, no?”
“I…I’m sorry. It’s just your power. My skin. I feel like I’m on fire. I’m new to my own abilities. For a minute there, I thought I might set something ablaze. It’s like I can’t contain it once the magic surfaces.”
“Save it for Rowan. You’re going to need every last bit of energy you’ve got. Okay, now?”
She nodded. Something about the vampire excited her nerves, but his hand calmed her. She hated being out of control and was anxious to get Luca back. She’d never been a violent person but knew in that moment, she could kill. Rowan was destroying her life. Luca was her future, and she was ready to unleash her fury to save them all.
They’d been riding in the car for an hour. Marshes, fields and bayou sprinkled the landscape along the way. At night, she couldn’t see much, but sensed they were in the country. “Léopold, how much further do we have to go? How do you know they’ll be there?” she asked.
“Rowan’s place is near Houma; we’re almost there. She’s got nowhere else to go. She inherited the antebellum several years ago, according to the records. What she plans to do with Luca is the big mystery, however. Ilsbeth and the other witches would have had the assistance of the vampires if they’d needed it. But then again, power is quite the aphrodisiac,” he surmised.