Enthralling

We headed back to the control room deep below the lodge. It was crowded. Lara, Michaela, Elisabeth, and Karen represented the Madison pack. Eric was still down there, but Elisabeth talked to him on arrival, and he disappeared a minute later, although Portia would rejoin us shortly.

Carissa came, of course, after putting two of her vampires watching the prisoners, freeing Kristian to join us.

Greg came with Wendy and two more humans.

It was cozy.

No one said a thing to me. I just went with everyone else, assuming I was welcome. As they didn’t kick me out, I decided no one minded.

“All right,” said Greg. “I’m behind. Help me catch up.”

It took nearly an hour to explain everything that had happened since late last night. Greg listened to everything anyone had to say, and then asked questions, very good questions. Along the way, we reviewed the recordings taken of the event, fast-forwarding through much of it. But finally the recap wound down, and we all sat at the table, thinking for a minute or two.

“This makes no sense,” Wendy said to break the silence. “None at all.”

“We don’t know everything,” Greg said. “I know Chasen. Well, knew him.”

“Was he a friend?”

“Not hardly. He was the sort to take, well, this sort of job.”

We went around and around, trying to make sense of it. What I thought was interesting was simple: neither Carissa nor Kristian chimed in, at least not until Lara declared, “We’re not getting anywhere.”

And that was when Kristian said, “You’re all too young.”

He suddenly had the attention of everyone in the room. “Excuse me?” Lara asked.

“You’re young. You live in modern times. This isn’t the first time something like this has happened.”

“Something like this, what? A human raid on a werewolf compound?”

“No.” He looked at Carissa. “You know.”

“We don’t know,” she said. “But it’s a good guess.”

“How about sharing this guess?” Lara suggested.

“They were sent on a suicide mission,” Kristian said. “Everyone agrees. Anyone who knows nearly everyone here is a werewolf would know this was a suicide mission.”

“But they didn’t know that.”

“The helicopter pilots did. They don’t work for Chasen. They work for someone else, but I bet that’s not who ordered this, either.” He turned his attention. “Mr. Freund, has Chasen made many enemies?”

“Oh, yes,” Greg said. “Oh, shit.”

“In times past,” Kristian said, “if a king wished to rid himself of someone with too many ambitions, he would place that man on the front lines in a dangerous battle. At times, that could backfire, as the individual could come back decorated in glory. But most often, the man would be killed.”

“Oh hell,” Elisabeth said.

“This is just a theory, but I believe Chasen was hired to get him out of the way. Mr. Freund probably has more theories than I do as to the exact reason, and probably a better idea of who it could have been.”

“Revenge,” Greg said. “Eliminate a business competitor. Eliminate an impediment.”

“Whoever did it had money,” Karen said. “Serious money. And they did have the helicopters waiting. They had planned for possible success.”

“So it’s no friend to this pack,” Carissa said. “They were willing to let you die, and they were willing to engage in kidnapping. But the only way this wasn’t an intentional suicide mission was if someone drastically underestimated the capabilities of a werewolf pack or greatly overestimated the element of surprise.”

“Then they should have actually aimed for surprise,” Wendy said. “If they wanted surprise. You don’t send two teams traipsing through the woods if you want shock and surprise. You come from four directions in four helicopters, land your troops, and be inside the house ten seconds after the first sound of rotors.”

“That’s not what werewolves would do,” Lara said.

“No, but you wouldn’t have come creeping,” she replied. “Michaela would, and perhaps Ms. Delacroix, but not werewolves.”

“Suicide mission,” Kristian said, “with the most likely result quite simple: eliminate a competitor. Even if they were successful, losses would undoubtedly be high.” He paused. “And if they failed to capture Michaela, well. She has a well-deserved reputation.”

Everyone looked around the room, and then Lara said, “It’s a good theory, Kristian. How do we prove it, and how do we figure out who?” And with that, all eyes turned to Greg, but he was watching Carissa.

“Your Majesty-“

“Mr. Freund, I do not know how many times I asked you to stop calling me that.”

“I need a title, Carissa,” he said. “I can’t just call you by your name. I don’t even know your last name.”

“What is wrong with my name?”

“It does not convey my respect.”

Carissa’s lips tightened just a moment and then she asked, “What did you want to ask?”

“Is it your intention to enthrall all the prisoners?”

“It is expedient,” Carissa said. “No one has called for executions, and I can’t imagine we want to simply let them go, nor involve law enforcement.”

“I am unfamiliar with the process. How long will it take you, and can we trust the answers to our questions afterwards?”

“The only reason it’s not done is my people are patrolling the grounds. I will need them. I cannot take this many myself, not all at once.” She made a face. “And frankly, I don’t want them, but some of my children might.” She turned to Kristian. “And you may still have as many as you like.”

“If you require me to help, I will,” Kristian replied. “But they are not to my taste for gentler uses, and I would rather not reacquire a taste for less gentle reasons.”

Carissa set a hand on his arm. “That’s quite all right, old friend.” She turned back to Greg. “I would prefer to allow my children to make their own selections. They are younger and should not take more than one or two each. I will do the rest, unless you have other uses for them.”

“No. It’s a tidy solution,” Greg said. “Alpha?”

“I’m happy to be rid of them,” Lara said. “If all of you weren’t here, we’d have had to kill them or call the FBI, and I don’t know how to reach the right people there.”

“That can be tricky,” Greg admitted. “And my other question, Your Majesty?”

“The ones I enthrall will answer fully and honestly,” she said. “For the others, it is unclear. I do not believe they will be able to deceive their new vampire, but they may be able to lie.”

“Unsuccessfully.”

“Well, we might not know, but the controlling vampire probably will.”

“But we can’t fully count on that.”

“Not fully. We should choose carefully perhaps, but I do not believe it will matter.”

“Neither do I. Can we do that? I believe my people can monitor the compound for now. Alpha?”

“Of course.” And we had a plan. Of sorts, anyway.

* * * *

Kristian called in the other vampires. We assembled outside the two sheds. Carissa talked quietly to her people. I didn’t hear what was said, but I saw head nods and a few smiles. Carissa talked longer, and then as a group, they all turned to us, faces sober.

“Kristian and I will help them. But I must be clear. I find it unlikely these men will live long lives.”

“Good,” Michaela said, only half under her breath.

“None of these men represent the type of human any of us would want as a thrall,” Carissa added. “The only purposes they serve are to bleed and suffer.”

Lara leaned to Greg and spoke a moment. He only shook his head, so Lara said, “Carissa, you do not have to do this. We can get what remaining information they will give us and kill them.”

“Frankly, that would be a waste,” Carissa said. “This way is a more reliable means of questioning them, and they can feed us for our stay. As we’re not worried for their health, we can over feed. But I did not want to hide their fate. Unless I decide one or two should suffer longer, it is very likely they will all be dead by the end of the year.”

Lara looked around and said, “I don’t have a problem with that, but if anyone else does, speak up.”

No one did until I spoke. “They may have been set up, but they all came on a mission to kidnap innocent women and children, and they came prepared to kill anyone who tried to stop them. Anyone willing to kidnap women and children for money are sociopaths, and humanity hasn’t found a cure.”

“Exactly,” Elisabeth agreed. “Greg?”

“You’ll get no argument from me,” he replied. “If it weren’t for people like this, I could be a quiet businessman helping to spoil grandchildren.”

“Very well,” Carissa said. She turned to her assembled people. “You may each pick one. Kristian and I will help you. We do not recommend you tell them what we intend. For some of you, this is your first time, and the first time is hardest. Let us do one at a time, but you should all choose first, and we will resolve conflicts fairly.”

“Carissa,” said Electra. “Would you choose for me?”

Carissa reached out and stroked the woman’s cheek. “If you wish.”

“And mine,” Marcella said. “But I do not want him in my household.”

“Then you may drain him or I will keep him for you,” Carissa replied.

“I’d like to pick my own,” Jacqueline said. “But could I take a little taste from one or two? You know I can be particular.”

“Of course,” Carissa said. “But they are unwashed and stink of fear.”

Jacqueline made a face.

“Oh, don’t be such a pantywaist, Jackie,” said Raphael.

“I lived long enough supping from unwashed humans,” Jacqueline said to him.

“We can always hose them down,” Michaela suggested, a glint in her eye. “But the only water on the property is stagnant, so unless we use a tub, dunking them would take effort.”

“I will make do,” Jackie said. “There is no need for extra effort, Kind Fox, but I thank you for the offer.”

Michaela offered a small bow of her head.

“Well, shall we go pick?” Carissa asked. She stepped through her people, and the rest of us crowded around as she led the way to the nearest of the sheds.

The men remained where we’d left them, still naked, sitting on the floor, blindfolded, with their arms suspended over their heads. Greg took a peek into the shed and then stepped aside, his face giving away nothing.

Carissa walked to one, a smaller one, and I thought it might be one of the pilots. She knelt down in front of him, pulled his blindfold away, and looked into a pair of scared eyes. After only a moment, they glazed over as he stared into the eyes of the ancient vampire queen.

“Marcella,” Carissa said.

The vampire moved into the shed and knelt down, looking at the prisoner. She nodded and said something.

At that point, Marcella could have taken her choice from the shed; it wasn’t like anyone was going to ask for the one Carissa had offered to Marcella. But instead, Carissa stood, stepped down three men, and knelt in front of a second. It took only a moment before she called Electra to her. Electra nodded, and Carissa stood.

“Jackie,” Carissa said. “Let’s start in the other shed.

The two of them crossed the short distance, and then Carissa pointed. “See how you feel about that one and that one. I know you like A-negative.”

Several of the men in that shed heard what Carissa said, and they began to struggle, but of course, it did them no good. Carissa didn’t even appear to notice.

Jackie stepped past her and leaned over the first of the men Carissa had identified. She gave him a long sniff, then a second one right at his bound wrists. She repeated that with the second then turned to Carissa. “May I taste first?”

“When we get them outside,” Carissa replied.

Then she gestured, and the remaining vampires slipped into the sheds, peeking at the available choices. Rafael wasn’t picky. He stepped in, turned once, and said, “Any of them are fine.” Pearce only took a few more seconds than that. There were no conflicts.

A minute later, we collected back on the grass.

“Jackie, this is your first time.”

“Yes, Carissa.”

“Do you wish to go first, or would you like to watch?”

“Could I watch?”

Carissa nodded. “One of you who has done this, please volunteer.”

“I can,” Rafael and Electra said at the same time. Then Rafael said, “Your choice.”

“Are you going to take two?”

“If Carissa allows.”

“Go ahead.”

Rafael waited for Carissa to nod, and then he and Kristian stepped back into the shed. They began to untie Rafael’s choice. Perhaps the man understood what was going on, to some extent, as he attempted to struggle, moaning into his gag, but soon he was standing outside, supported by Kristian.

“Do you need help?” Carissa asked Rafael.

“I killed the last one,” Rafael said.

“I’ll talk to you, then. You know how to begin. And there is no need to make this pleasant.”

Rafael didn’t wait. His fangs weren’t even extended, but he struck at the man’s neck, and I thought perhaps his fangs grew at the last instant. The man screamed into the gag and struggled feebly with Kristian.

It took Rafael longer than it had taken Carissa earlier. He bore the man to the ground, Kristian still helping to control him, and drank and drank.

Then Carissa knelt down beside him and began whispering quietly. While whispering, she pulled away the man’s gag then took Rafael’s wrist, bit into it, and pushed it into the prisoner’s mouth.

Rafael didn’t heal as quickly as Carissa did; Carissa wasn’t obligated to reopen his wrist like Kristian had done for her. It took time, Carissa whispering quietly during most of it. But finally Rafael looked over at her, wiping his mouth. They nodded to each other.

“I don’t know how many times I could do that in one sitting,” he said. “Is it done?”

“When they wake, we have to call them,” Carissa said. “Put this one back. Jackie?”

“Could Electra go next?” Jackie asked.

“Of course.”

* * * *

Elisabeth moved to stand beside me. “This is going to take another couple of hours. Nothing more is going to happen until we can question them. I think you should go get some sleep.”

“What about you?”

“I’m going to try to get everyone to shut her eyes for at least a while.”

“I need to speak briefly with Carissa, then I’ll see what Zoe did about a bed for me.”

Carissa heard that, as she turned to look at me and nodded. Five minutes later she rose and stepped to my side, taking my arm and drawing me away from everyone else. I briefly relayed my conversation with Lara to her.

She nodded. “Go get some sleep.”

* * * *

The lodge was crowded. The kids were camped out in the great room, but they were being remarkably quiet. A small table had been moved near the door, and I found Lindsey waiting.

“Anna,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “Everyone from New Orleans is assigned to the rooms you and Deirdre had. I believe Deirdre is sleeping in one of them.”

“Thank you. I think I’ll join her.”

“You can leave wake up calls with us.”

“Please have someone get me whenever there is a good reason.”

She made a note.

I checked my room. The bed was empty, so I crossed to Deirdre’s room, opening the door as quietly as I could. Deirdre was in bed, so I moved in, stripped to my undies, and carefully eased into bed with her.

“That’s not Carissa,” she whispered.

“It’s Anna,” I said. “I hope you don’t mind.”

“Please, Anna, will you hold me?”

She was facing away from me, so I moved into place behind her, slipping an arm under her neck, adjusting the covers, and spooning her closely. She was quiet for a moment and then whispered, “Thank you. Did you come to sleep?”

“Yes. Did you need to talk?”

“Only if you do. But please hold me.”

And so I did.

* * * *

I thought it would take time to fall asleep. Apparently I was wrong, as I felt like I barely had my eyes closed before I felt someone else climb onto the bed. “I need to be held.”

“Carissa?”

“Shift one way or the other,” said the vampire. “I’m bloated and drunk, and I need someone I trust to hold me.”

“Anna, shift this way,” Deirdre said, slipping from my arms and out of the bed. “And face the other way.” I got positioned, and then she climbed over me, taking the middle of the bed, and then Carissa past her. I spooned Deirdre, and she spooned Carissa.

“Are you all right?” I asked.

“I had to take too many,” she replied. “I’ve never taken more than four at a time, and that was difficult. But it was long ago, and I thought I could do more.”

“Is it done?”

“There are four left, but I can’t do any more for a few days.”

“Kristian-“

“Did what he could.” She squirmed around and settled in, then Deirdre squirmed once more, and we were still. “I’m going to be difficult to wake. Anna, when it’s time, you need to clear the room and wake me. I won’t wake well, but don’t do it with anyone else in the room.”

“We’ll take care of you, Carissa.”

And moments later, I was asleep.

* * * *

I woke some time later to a voice whispering my name into my ear. “Anna. This is your wakeup call.”

I opened my eyes and nodded slightly. I was still pressed tightly against Deirdre, my arms wrapped around her, and I could feel Carissa pressed against her on the other side.

“The alphas asked me to get you and Carissa, but I can’t wake her.”

I untangled myself from Deirdre, waking her. She moaned and rolled over. I turned and saw Iris watching me. “We’ll be out in a minute. Where should I go?”

“Kitchen.”

“Thank you, Iris.”

I was out of bed and pulling clothes on even before the door closed behind the wolf. Deirdre rolled over and sighed. “I guess I should get up, too.”

“You can probably sleep again after I get Carissa up,” I said.

She shook her head. “I’ll see how I’m needed. Anna, this is really a mess, isn’t it?”

“Yes.”

She climbed from the bed, collecting clothing and stepping out while still pulling it on. I locked the door behind her and then moved back to the side of the bed. Carissa was out cold and could have been a corpse; she wasn’t breathing, after all.

I knelt down in front of her and steeled myself. I wasn’t sure what she meant when she said she’d wake poorly.

“Carissa.”

Nothing.

I ran a finger across her cheek and said her name again.

Nothing.

I gave her a little shake. “Carissa.”

Nothing.

Well, well. She hadn’t been kidding.

“Carissa,” I said more firmly, giving her a bigger shake.

Nothing.

I pulled the covers from her, collected her hands, and pulled her into a sitting position on the side of the bed. She was utterly limp. I let her collapse back to the bed.

Well, well. Drastic measures.

I slipped from the room and headed for the bathroom. Luckily, it was empty. I grabbed a glass of cold water and returned to the bedroom, locking the door again.

“Carissa,” I said, kneeling down. “This isn’t my fault.”

I tried dribbling some of the water across her face. Nothing. I began bathing her face, dipping my fingers in the water and caressing her. Still she didn’t move.

“Seriously?” I said. I’d never seen her like this, and it actually was beginning to worry me. I was glad her enemies weren’t nearby, and that Kristian was loyal.

“Carissa,” I said. “If you don’t wake up, I’m going to be forced to carry you to the shower.”

Nothing.

I sighed, stood, and crossed back to the door. I unlocked it then headed for the bathroom. It was still empty, but I caught Iris as she was exiting another room. “I need you to guard this door for just a minute. Don’t let anyone else in. When I come back, close me in and stand right here until I call out it’s safe for you to leave. Don’t let anyone in, no matter what.”

“Right,” she said. “Got it.”

I stepped in, turned the shower on, and then went back for Carissa. I shed most of the clothing I had put on, then partially undressed the vampire. Undressing a limp body isn’t as difficult as dressing a limp body, but it wasn’t easy, either.

Then I picked her up, cradled her to my chest, and carried her to the bathroom.

“What’s wrong?” Iris asked.

“She’s blood drunk,” I said. “Not a word to anyone. Don’t start rumors.”

“If the alphas-“

“Right, but don’t start rumors.”

“No rumors.”

I stepped in, and she pulled the door closed.

“Carissa, this isn’t a good idea,” I said. I bounced her a little. “Seriously? You’re going to make me do this with you?”

She didn’t move.

I stepped into the shower with her.

It took, oh, ten seconds before she woke enough to put her arms around my neck. Then I stood there, letting the water run over us, the vampire still in my arms, her face pressed to my shoulder. Then she shifted a little, only enough to find a more comfortable position.

“I thought you would wake in a bad mood, not be impossible to wake.”

“Did anyone see?”

“Iris. She’s standing guard outside.”

“I feel sick,” she said. “I haven’t felt sick in a thousand years. You can put me down.”

I did, slowly, although she didn’t release her hold from my neck, and I found myself hugging her as we stood under the water. But slowly she pushed away from me, although she looked down, not letting me see her face.

I took a chance. I used a finger to lift her chin. She resisted me at first, but then she shook her head just a little before looking up at me.

Her eyes were red. Not red like they were bloodshot. The whites were white, but the corneas and even the pupils were blood red.

“Your eyes.”

“I know.” She looked down. “If you have to do this again, please remove the rest of my clothing first.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I wasn’t chastising. Help me out of these, please.”

I took care of what she was wearing, and the last of my own clothing, letting them fall into a pile in the corner of the tub.

“I suppose we should hurry,” she said, “but would you wash me?”

“Of course.”

She stood there, letting me see to her. She was making me nervous, but she said, “I’ll appear normal enough by the time we exit, but I don’t know what to do with the other prisoners. I don’t think I can take any more for at least a few days.”

“Then don’t,” I said. “Kill the rest.”

She shook her head. “If we have to, we’ll put them in boxes and bring them to New Orleans with us. I can cage them until I drink them dry.” She paused. “That’s cold, isn’t it?”

“Carissa, honestly, I thought you would be furious.”

“I am so far past furious I’ve had to shut down my emotions,” she replied. “Iris and Lindsey caught up with me before I came to bed.”

“I thought they might.”

“I can’t even think about that right now. Do you know how long it’s been since I’ve gorged enough the thought of blood turns my stomach? But they’re very sweet. I hope they understand.”

“I’m sure they do,” I said. “Ready to dry off?”

* * * *

Iris was still guarding the door by the time we emerged, both of us wrapped in towels, and I was carrying our wet clothes.

“Give those to me,” Iris said. “I’ll take care of them.”

“I need to speak with you first,” Carissa said. “Come with me.” She led the way back to the bedroom then leaned against the closed door. I moved about the room, getting dressed, while Carissa addressed the wolf. “Iris.”

“Please don’t ask me not to tell the alphas.”

“I’m not going to, but I’m going to ask you tell no one else. Did you have to explain why you were guarding the door?”

“Michaela noticed, but she didn’t say anything.”

“Which means she will later,” Carissa said. “Where are they now?”

“Everyone is gathering in the kitchen,” the girl explained.

“All right. You’ll come with me, and you’ll accept my explanation.”

“If the alphas ask, or one of the enforcers... I can’t lie to them, Carissa.”

“They won’t ask. But you will wait while we dress.”

The girl nodded, saying nothing further, but she collected the towels and wet clothing, promising to see to it.

Three minutes later found us entering the kitchen. As Iris said, everyone was gathering, and it was busy. But as soon as we stepped in, Elisabeth turned in our direction. She looked exhausted, and I knew she hadn’t taken her own advice to grab some sleep. “There they are. We have coffee.”

Carissa had hold of Iris’s arm, and I followed as we moved fully into the room. Without releasing Iris, Carissa accepted a cup of coffee, and I received my own, and then we moved closer to the alphas.

“Iris,” said Michaela. She crooked a finger. “Come here.”

Carissa maintained her clasp on Iris’s arm for a moment then, apparently reluctantly, she released the wolf. Iris waited just a moment then moved around the kitchen island. Michaela pulled her close, then they both turned. The little fox whispered into the wolf’s ear, but her eyes were on Carissa the entire time. I couldn’t hear what was said, but apparently Carissa could, because she nodded once to Michaela.

Then Iris said, “Yes, Alpha,” before scampering from the kitchen. Carissa nodded once more, and if anything further was said about Carissa’s sleep habits after enthralling too many humans, it wasn’t while I was listening.

“We have some information,” Elisabeth declared a moment later. “And we were wondering how soon you could question the humans, Carissa.”

“I imagine the other vampires are still asleep,” Carissa said. “I need to reinforce the thrall before we can question mine.” She began to smile, but it wasn’t her friendly smile. “Are they being guarded by humans or wolves?”

“Two of my wolves,” Greg reported.

“Are you in communication?”

He gestured to the human woman with him, who answered, “Yes.”

“Warn them that mine are about to begin to struggle. Let them.”

The woman nodded and spoke quietly for a minute. Then she said, “Done.”

Carissa’s smile widened, and then she cocked her head. She held that position for ten or fifteen seconds before cocking the other way.

“What are you doing?” the human woman asked. “One of them is going crazy trying to get free. Wait. Now two of them.”

Carissa cocked her head back the first way. “And now three,” she said, and her fangs were poking out. “I am calling them to me.”

“They’re still tied.”

“I know,” she replied. “I planned ahead. Now number four.” She cocked her head back again.

Michaela swore.

“What?” Elisabeth asked.

“I couldn’t figure out why she tied them back up,” Michaela said. “I hate when I don’t figure out a puzzle. Cruel, Carissa. Don’t stop.”

She didn’t.

* * * *

We drank our coffee. Some of us had a bite to eat. Some of us had a second cup of coffee. Periodically, Greg’s aide offered a report of some sort, but Carissa didn’t really pay attention.

Eventually she smiled again, her fangs still out. “Shall we see if they’ve hurt themselves?”

All of us filed out, Carissa in the lead, the rest of us following along like a particularly large brood of ducklings. It was a modest walk to the sheds where we’d been keeping the prisoners, and we could hear them before they were fully in view.

In front of the two sheds, Greg’s wolves looked nervous as they looked back and forth between the two sheds. Then one of them stepped forward. “Greg, they’re going crazy.”

We reached the space between the two sheds, and it was completely clear which of the humans Carissa had enthralled. There were six, dripping in sweat and struggling to be free of their bonds. They were making guttural noises, and half of them had struggled enough that blood was dribbling down their arms from wrists torn in the struggle to free themselves.

Apparently, the wolves tie very good knots.

“Ah, my pets,” Carissa said, lifting her voice to be heard. “You did not come to me, so I have come to you. I am very disappointed.”

Each of the six renewed his struggles. Carissa stood in one place, not even looking at them, but cocking her head back and forth, still smiling, her eyes as red as they’d been before, her fangs exposed.

I’d never seen her like this. Never. To me, those fangs had always represented pleasure, and Carissa had been the paragon of refinement. This was the first time I’d seen what it meant to be the Queen of New Orleans, and I thought this was barely a taste.

She kept that up for a while before asking, “Mr. Freund, which would you like to question first?”

“One of the pilots,” he said.

“Anna, do you have a knife?”

“I’m sorry, Carissa.”

“Someone give Anna a knife,” Carissa said. It was only a moment before Michaela had one for me, but Carissa said, “Maybe one that won’t burn her.”

“I’ve got one,” said one of the guards, holding it out.

I took the knife, and Carissa said, “Point one out, Mr. Freund. Anna, drag him to me, please.”

“Of course, Carissa,” I said.

Greg nodded, consulted the human beside him, and then she stepped closer and pointed. “This one.”

I looked at Carissa for confirmation. She nodded, so I stepped past the human and through the shed’s open barn doors, coming to a stop before the selected human.

He was still naked; they all were. He wasn’t one who had torn his wrists to answer Carissa’s call, but he was still struggling madly to free himself. I didn’t wait but leaned over him and cut the rope binding him against the wall then quickly cut the rope holding his arms lifted towards the ceiling.

At that, he almost got away from me, scrambling to leave the shed, but I grabbed his ankle and stepped past him, dragging him along towards the vampire. I tried to drag him on his stomach. Petty, I know. But while continuing to struggle with me, he rolled onto his side, so I wasn’t able to scratch his face in the dirt.

I dropped his leg in front of Carissa.

“There, there,” Carissa said, not sounding at all soothing. She knelt down in front of him to pull his blindfold and gag off.

“I tried to come,” he whimpered. “I tried to come.”

“You didn’t try very hard,” Carissa said. “But you’re going to do exactly what I tell you, aren’t you?”

“Yes,” he said. “I’m sorry.”

“Silence,” Carissa ordered. “And do not fight these people.” She looked up. “I want his wrists tied behind his back now. Leave his ankles tied.”

Greg gestured, and his two wolves stepped forward to see to it. I got out of their way but wondered what Carissa was doing. I didn’t think this man could do anything to displease her now, but what did I know?

“Excellent,” Carissa said a minute later. “Alphas, Greg, where would you like to question this man?”

“I don’t want them in the lodge,” Lara said.

“And I don’t want them near the others,” Greg said.

“The picnic shelter,” Michaela said. “Unless you’re going to make him bleed. I don’t want blood all over.”

“No blood,” Carissa said. “I’ve had enough for a few days.” She smiled again, her fangs still showing, and turned her back on the bound prisoner. She began stepping forward. I leaned down to grab his ankle, but Carissa said, “Leave him here.”

I dropped his leg, shrugged, and followed the vampire.

* * * *

She led us to the shelter, picking one of the tables and sitting down cross-legged. “Does anyone feel I am being too cruel?”

“I can’t question him while he’s over there,” Greg said, avoiding the question.

“She’s going to Call him again,” Michaela said. “Aren’t you?”

“I wonder how quickly he’ll crawl his way here,” Carissa said. “Is anyone going to stop me?”

“No,” said Lara.

She cocked her head.

It took the man ten minutes, or perhaps a little longer, before he arrived on the ground in front of Carissa. It didn’t look like a pleasant crawl, being bound and naked, although the worst was probably crossing the gravel drive, and then the last twenty feet of concrete under the shelter.

“It took you so long,” Carissa said. She clucked her tongue. “I am deeply disappointed. Well. You are going to answer any questions anyone here asks you. You will answer honestly. I will know if you lie, and if you think I am cruel now, try lying to me and see what happens to you.”

“I won’t,” he said. “I won’t lie.”

“Very good. Mr. Freund, he’s all yours. You may do whatever you like with him. Ask him whatever you want.”