Hunter had hoped being here, where they might find his bloodmate, would calm his restlessness. No such luck, it’s only gotten worse. He’s managing his thirst, it’s the only thing he can focus on.

Camille smiles at the bartender, leaning forward and showing off her cleavage, “I’m looking for someone.”

Hunter can’t help but snicker watching Camille attempt to woo information from him. With the exception of back in the lab, when he was losing his mind, he’s never seen her in a sexual way. The bartender doesn’t look up from what he’s doing, “There are many someone’s here in the bar, out on the street and not here with me.”

“I’m looking for someone special.” Camille slides a hundred-dollar bill across the bar, “I’m willing to pay for information.”

The bartender stops and looks up at her with amusement, “I don’t know any special someones.”

“You’re a wolf, right?” Camille asks.

“Yes,” he answers slowly, waiting for her to continue.

Hunter moves Camille back from the bar, “Listen, I’m looking for a girl.”

“Okay, what does she look like?” The bartender looks out into the bar at the patrons.

Hunter stops, realizing he has no idea what she looks like, “I-I don’t know.”

“Okay, well, if you go two blocks over, at the end of the street I think you’ll find what you’re looking for. They have lots of girls there.” The bartender goes back to what he was doing.

“Not that kind of girl.” Hunter shakes his head, trying to work out what questions to ask to find his mystery woman. He leans forward to whisper, his voice as low as possible, knowing this bar is full of supernaturals, “She’s a rook.”

The bartender stiffens, “I don’t know what that is.” He steps back and goes to the other end of the bar.

“Fuck!” Hunter balls his fists in frustration, “This isn’t getting us anywhere. That fucker knows where she is.”

“Calm down.” Camille tries to soothe him.

“I can’t calm down,” he growls. “You don’t know what this is like. I’ve had a taste of her, that’s the only reason I can hold it together at all, but I need to be with her, near her.” He paces the floor.

Henry comes through the door, “Any luck?”

“No, how about you?” Camille asks with wide eyes, ticking her head toward Hunter, “Because we could use some right now.”

“Yes and no. I’ve put in some calls, once they hear from Jana in the home office I should have some information.” Henry sees the bartender casting glances in his direction. His expression lightens, “Excuse me for a moment.”

Henry takes note of all the vampires in the bar as he makes his way to the end of the bar and hops up on one of the stools, “Seamus, so good to see you.”

“Is it?” Seamus swallows hard.

“It is, we need some help,” Henry says, tapping the bar, “And a gin and tonic.”

Bottles clank as Seamus starts making the drink, “I can help with the gin and tonic, but I don’t know anything about a rook.”

Henry laughs but it’s insincere, “I’m not looking for a rook. I’m just trying to find Samuel. Do you know where he is?”

“I’m not his keeper.” His voice is tight.

“You’re his brother.” Henry takes the drink and sips from the glass.

“No, we’re not brothers.”

“You’re both wolves.” Henry ticks his head back, “Doesn’t that make you brothers?”

Seamus looks at him point blank, “No.”

“Well, I appreciate the gin and tonic.” He takes another sip, puts a dollar bill under the glass and steps away from the bar, “Come on, guys. I have some other places we can go.”

Camille watches Hunter’s reaction carefully, she sees the anger brewing beneath the surface. Her brow furrows with concern and she readies herself, watching his fists balled at his sides. She leans closer to him, “Hunter, let’s step outside.”

Hunter’s eyes are fixed firmly on Seamus, “I can smell her on him.”

“It’s okay, we’ll find her. We should go.” She rests her hand on his shoulder.

Hunter’s eyes grow more intense, his jaw popping and lip curling upward. Camille squeezes his shoulder, “Hunter, no. We have to go.”

In a flash, Hunter rushes over the bar and pins Seamus against the back wall. Bottles crash to the floor. Hunter’s fangs are fully extended and poised to sink into Seamus’s jugular. “Where is she?”

Seamus struggles against Hunter but is no match for the strength of an ancient vampire. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

The other vampire’s in the bar are watching, listening. Henry calls out to Hunter, “Hunter. Let’s go, he doesn’t know anything. He would’ve told me.”

Hunter doesn’t hear him, he can only hear the sound of Seamus’s rapid heartbeat. He lowers his fangs closer.

Seamus squirms, “I’ll fucking kill you.”

Hunter’s eyes have glossed over with rage, “You can try.”

Camille goes to Hunter’s side and puts both hands on his shoulders, “Hunter, please don’t do this. You won’t be able to find her from a jail cell.”

“This son of a bitch knows where she is.” Hunter’s crazed expression worries Camille.

She’s well aware of how hard it is to pull him back from this, from the savage Viking that’s always just beneath the surface.

“It’s been awhile since I’ve tasted wolf.” Hunter quirks his brow, “I wonder if it’s still gamey.”

Henry gives up trying to reach Hunter, he turns to Camille, “We’ve got to get him out of here.”

“Hunter, this isn’t who you are. Please come back to me.” The anguish in Camille’s voice reaches him.

He relaxes back slightly and shakes his head to regain his composure.

Camille releases some of her tension seeing him coming back. “Come on.” She slides her hand down his arm, prying his fingers from Seamus’s neck, “Let him go.”

The look of madness leaves Hunter’s eyes and he releases Seamus. He steps back cautiously, watching for Seamus to retaliate.

“He’s in a bad way right now.” Henry apologizes, “I’m sorry.”

Hunter’s eyes flash to Henry, “Don’t apologize for me.”

“Hunter!” Camille demands, “Outside now.”

Hunter backs away from Seamus and complies with Camille’s demands. Henry meets them on the street, glaring at Hunter, “You need to control yourself.”

Hunter’s defeated, he runs his fingers through his blond hair, “I’m sorry, I can’t control this.”

“We’re going to find her. You just have to hang on,” Henry pleads.

“How are we going to find her? No one here will give us any information.” Hunter’s anger is on the rise.

“Oh, yee of little faith.” Henry smiles, “Let’s go.”

“Where to now?” Camille asks.

“Just around the corner here.” Henry starts down the street, Hunter and Camille follow.

Henry goes through an alley to the next street and through the front door of a small house split into apartments. Inside the hallway, he knocks on the first apartment door.

A young woman answers. Henry smiles, “I’m Henry.”

“Come in.” The woman welcomes them in. She eyes Hunter and Camille carefully, “I’m Eva, Seamus let me know you were coming.”

“Excellent,” Henry says as he glances back at his companions. “They’re okay.”

Eva relaxes, “He knows you’re here.”

Camille and Hunter exchange a confused look.

“What does he know about the rook?” Henry gets right down to business.

Eva pauses for a minute, “They call her Rook. She’s on the run because a vamp tried to drink from her and he...well, you know.”

“What happened?” Hunter says, taking a step forward.

“He died. He was very powerful here in New Orleans and Augustus’s progeny.” Eva looks Hunter over again cautiously, “A lot of Vampires are looking for her.”

“Shit!” Henry says, shaking his head. “Augustus?”

Eva nods, “Yeah. Rook was working for The Directive and providing information on Augustus’s operation.”

Henry taps his finger to his chin, “Does he know where she is?”

“I’ll ask,” Eva says.

Hunter and Camille exchange a curious look. Henry answers their question before they ask, “They’re using the pack link to communicate. Seamus couldn’t risk anyone else getting this information.”

Hunter looks upward, “I feel like a total asshole now.”

“You are a total asshole,” Camille counters.

Eva is listening to the voice in her head and then relays the message, “He doesn’t know where she is exactly. But Samuel does, he’s with her and a troll named Alfrigg?” She says the funny name with question.

“Alfrigg,” Hunter says with recognition. “That’s a name I haven’t heard in a long time.”

Henry turns to Hunter, “You know him?”

“Considering there aren’t likely a lot of trolls named Alfrigg, chances are good.” Hope dances in Hunter’s eyes. He turns to Eva, “But Rook, she’s safe?”

“For now she is,” Eva confirms.

“But Samuel knows where she is?” Henry asks.

“Yes, he’s with her now.” She stops to listen in her head, “That’s all Seamus knows.”

She holds her hand up, “He also says that if anyone hurts her, Samuel will kill them.”

Henry nods, “Understood.”

“She’s real naive, young.” Eva pauses, “And she’s got too much heart.”

“We’ve got to get to her,” Hunter says, holding back the panic.

“We’ll find her,” Henry assures him, and turns to Eva. “Thank you. And tell Seamus thank you as well.”

“I did,” she says with a smile.

Hunter lowers his head, “And tell him I’m sorry I was an asshole.”

Eva’s smile broadens, “He says apology accepted, he expects vamps to be assholes.”

Hunter nods, “I deserved that.”

“Okay, let’s head to The Directives’ offices.” Henry turns for the door.

“No, you can’t.” Eva stops them, “Members of the local office are on Augustus’s payroll.”

“Okay, let’s find Alfrigg,” Henry says with determination.

“I think I can find him,” Hunter says, deep in thought.

Camille sees the sweat forming on his brow, “You need to feed again.”

“There’s a vamp den down the street,” Eva offers. “They have plenty of live donors.”

“I don’t feed from live donors,” Hunter growls.

“Okay, we’re going.” Camille wraps her arm around Hunter’s shoulders, turning him toward the door. “Sorry, he gets cranky when he’s hungry.”

“I understand,” Eva says, keeping her distance.

“Thank you again,” Henry says as he closes the door behind him.

“Okay, let’s get you fed and find Alfrigg.”