Victor moved at once, knowing Flint would be on his tail even if he didn’t know the reason. Blood thundered through him like a damn tsunami, so loud in his ears he could hear not a damn thing as he sprinted across the room. He was desperate to reach Kimber, frantic to find her before that fucker hurt her…or worse.

His feet skidded on the sleek floor when he tried to slow down for the turn at the door, his hand shooting out to hold the frame and using it to propel himself around and out into the hall. When he slid across the wide hall, crashing into the opposite wall he stopped, looking up and down for Kimber but it was empty. There was no sign of her. Even her scent had disappeared…what the hell?

“Fuck!” he straightened up, anger, fury, and despair fighting inside him as Flint arrived with Quinn at his back.

“What the hell is going on?” Quinn asked.

Flint had already taken up a defensive position with a blade in each hand.

“Kimber…she left with a waiter, they were talking and then they left together. When they reached the door, I caught a glimpse of his face.” Victor stopped as raw fear stampeded through him. He had to draw in several breaths to get it under control before he could continue. Flint came over, his hand on his shoulder which calmed him…somewhat. “He had a scar…over his left eyebrow. It’s fucking Dawson. I know it is. I just know it. And now there’s no sign of her.”

“Shit.” Flint turned away, pacing up and down the hallway like a wild animal. His raw power radiated from him as he grew angrier and more lethal.

“We’ll find her, Victor. They can’t have gone far. You and Flint go down that way. I’ll get my men, and we’ll go this way.” Quinn pulled out his cell and called for Ace and Thorne who were outside on the patio standing guard with their men. “They’ll be here in minutes and we’ll go through this place with a fine-tooth comb. He won’t get away, Victor.”

Victor knew that, but he also knew that Dawson had Kimber. “That’s as may be, Quinn, but what is he doing to her now? While we stand here fucking talking?”

Flint prowled back, snatching Victor’s arm and hauling him away. “We’re going to find her. Now. She’s this way…I can feel it. Don’t ask me how I know that. I just do.”

“What? How?” Quinn sputtered as Flint dragged him off his feet.

“Because…it’s where I would’ve taken her.” Flint scowled back at Quinn. “It’s dark down here…it’s all lit up back there with people and staff. This fucker doesn’t want witnesses or anyone that Kimber can call to for help. So…he’s this way. As I said, this is where I would’ve taken her if it were me.”

His words sent an icy chill up Victor’s spine, but they also struck true. Flint was right. “Lead on.” He looked his friend dead in the eye, knowing Kimber’s life was being decided in the next moment. “I trust you to get me to her.”

Flint met his stare. His gaze didn’t flicker or waver from him as he tipped his chin up. “We need to hurry. We have no clue what he’s got planned but it won’t be anything good.”

With that Flint turned on his heel and set off…far slower than Victor anticipated.

“Thought we had to hurry?” Victor hissed out, his jaw ached as he clamped his teeth together to stop him from yelling out obscenities.

“I’m checking everything out, Vic,” Flint snapped back, his head swiveling from side to side. “I can’t afford to miss anything so will you shut the hell up?”

Victor did as ordered even though it went against everything his body screamed at him to do. But he trusted Flint. He had to. He was Kimber’s best chance and at this moment in time that was all he cared about…his Bloodmate.

Flint moved methodically down the hallway, stopping at several places. Victor’s heart sped up and his hope rose only to fade when his friend moved on once again. He could hear Quinn and his men in the background, Ace and Thorne shouting orders as they raced around opening and slamming doors and they systematically searched rooms. He knew their hunt would be fruitless…Flint was on the right track. Still, Victor wished he’d move faster, quicker, and that they could cover ground as rapid as the others.

His concentration on the other search parties, Victor was taken aback when Flint’s hand shot up before he crouched down, his nose almost to the floor where he inhaled sharply. Next, Flint turned to look up at him with a fierce determination on his face.

“Witchcraft. I think he used some sort of spell to mask their scents, but I think it’s wearing off. I can sense something…it’s faint but I’m certain it’s Kimber.”

Victor dropped to his hands and knees, his nose hitting the oak floor as he inhaled as deeply as he could. An entire host of aromas invaded him, everything from the wax used for the wood to every single person who had walked down the hallway for days gone by…but…but…there! A hint of a familiar fragrance lingered, just a tiny suggestion of the bouquet which made up the one person in the universe who meant the world to him: Kimber.

It was her. It was definitely Kimber’s scent.

“It’s Kimber’s scent,” Victor whispered, scared that if he said it aloud it would disappear into the ether of darkness they were shrouded in.

“We’re on the right track. Come on.”

Flint was his bodyguard, his friend, but he was something more…he was a hunter. Victor prided himself on his sharp senses, but Flint’s were better. Victor knew that and trusted him to lead the way.

“Not far.,” Flint whispered, his voice so low even Victor barely heard the words as they closed in on a door set into a dark corner.

“What am I doing here?”

They heard her then. Kimber’s voice as she indignantly raised her tone.

“You’ve dragged me away from the party with some nonsense, and now I’m in this room and you’re just standing there staring at me. I am not amused. Give me your name right now because I’ll be speaking to Mister Alexander about your behavior.”

“I had to see you up close. Had to see what the fuss was all about…a Bloodmate. And I can’t see it. You’re pretty, that’s for sure, but other than that you’re nothing special. Other than being a…what is it? A Dragon? You’re a Dragon, aren’t you? That’s quite something too, but again…I’m sure there are others around. So, I guess this is the part where I just finish this up.”

“What the hell are you babbling about? You’re insane. My husband will not be happy about you…”

“Oh yes, your husband. The mighty Victor Strong who has everything, including you. A Bloodmate…only he won’t. Not after I’m finished with you.”

“You stay back. Don’t touch me or you’ll regret it.”

Kimber’s voice changed. It was higher pitched. Victor shoved Flint out of the way and sprinted forward…smashing into the door and sending it flying back to splinter and break. Kimber screamed. She stood on the far side of the room, her hands out in front of her with Dawson closing in.

“Do not touch her.” Victor slid to a stop, fury and anger boiling hot as lava inside him when he saw his love standing there as white as a sheet.

He saw her tremble. Fear and anger started to fill her but she couldn’t transform here. Not inside Quinn’s castle filled with ancient artifacts and irreplaceable rugs …if her Dragon let fly with her fire she’d cause immense damage to the place. Not to mention the fact he and Flint would get caught in the crossfire. It wasn’t possible for her to transform and protect herself in that way, not here, not now…and she knew it.

Her eyes flew to his. They were filled with unfulfilled fury as she realized the dilemma she was in, especially when he shook his head and warned her. “You can’t, baby. Not here.”

“Well this just sucks.” She glowered, her eyes flashing with fire as her Dragon protested at being kept caged.

Dawson took another step toward her and she mirrored him going back, hers a quick jump to keep out of his way, but she hit the wall. Her head banged off it and her hand shot up to rub at the sore spot. Victor wheedled his way forward, and Flint joined them, blades ready and waiting to do their damage.

“He’s mine, Flint,” Victor whispered, holding a hand out to keep Flint away.

Flint snarled, his top lip curling back to reveal that his fangs had descended and his eyes were completely red. “After what his men did to us…to Kenzie?”

“He’s got Kimber, Flint…he’s mine.”

Dawson took another step, throwing over his shoulder, “I’m not either of yours. I’m going to kill this beauty here and then I’ll…”

“You fucking won’t, you fucker.” Victor couldn’t risk waiting any longer. He had no idea why Dawson thought he had the upper hand but he couldn’t risk him harming Kimber.

Victor sprinted toward him and…bam…he smashed into an invisible brick wall and bounced back. He landed on his back with his head spinning and his face feeling as if he’d gone ten rounds with Muhammed Fucking Ali.

“What the hell?” Flint fell down beside him, hauling him up. “You okay?”

“A little magic trick.” Dawson laughed smugly, his arms crossed.

Flint stepped to the side, growling like a wild animal and tossed first one then another deadly dagger straight for Dawson’s head…both of them flew straight for the man but neither hit their target. The daggers stopped dead right where Victor had and dropped to the floor, completely useless.

“Oh my Goddess!” Kimber shrieked, backing into the corner, her eyes wide and wild.

“What the fuck do I do, boss?” Flint scrambled around, looking at the room as if he’d find an answer to the problem.

“Step aside, boys. I’ll take care of this.”

Mila? Was that Mila?

They both spun around and sure enough there was the diminutive Blood Fairy standing with her hands on her hips and a deathly stare in her eyes.

“Mila? What…”

Victor got nothing else out as she strode in, hips swaying, and her eyes glued to Dawson. “So you’re ArthurDawson? The one we’ve been looking for, and you’ve resorted to a measly magic spell to keep these two love-birds apart? Hmm…I don’t think so. Get ready to be taken down, and I suspect Victor here is not going to do it softly.”

“Mila?” Kimber was looking as confused as both he and Flint were.

Mila shoved Victor out of the way.

“Step aside, boys. I’ll take care of this.”

Dawson eyed her with caution, his reaction was one of annoyance rather than worry. “And who are you?”

“Me? I’m nobody important…not really. Well, if you don’t count my being able to take down that measly spell you’ve got up important…if you do, then I am. Because…” Mila’s hands moved in a fast dance in the air as she muttered softly…a purple haze appeared around her and floated toward Dawson. It slowly faded away where Flint’s daggers lay on the floor. “I’ve just destroyed your magic. So, I guess I am important…Victor, Flint, go get this fucker.”