“Imogen!” Gunner screamed her name for what must have been the thousandth time in a voice devoid of his humanity. The preternatural sound rolled over his vocal cords like a thunderstorm.

It was the next night, and upon his waking, his skin burned as if flames were licking over his flesh, consuming, as the fire ate its way through what remained of his mind.

Gunner’s shoulder connected with the steel door, as he rammed it at his full vampire speed, but it absorbed the blow without a dent.

“Release me!” In the haze of his memories, he recalled hearing similar shouts from a man imprisoned with him. Slamming his fists against the door, he pleaded to anyone listening, “I have to find her! Please! She’s in danger! My mate! My love!”

From the other side, a small slot slid open, and Jana’s hard eyes pinned his desperate and flaming ones.

“Stand back, vampire,” she said, her voice a powerful growl. “I have nourishment for you.”

Dropping to his knees, he grabbed the packs, as they were pushed through the opening at a steady pace, and then drank them dry, his handcuffs clinking together each time he drew a bag to his mouth.

“Tell me when you’re feeling like yourself.”

He nodded, unable to do anything more.

Minutes passed, with the only sound he heard being that of the bags landing on the floor and the rushing of the blood as it filled him.

“Imogen,” he said, as he grabbed another. “Did you find her? Is she here?”

“We haven’t, but we’ve cleared one important hurdle. We’ve proven your innocence, Gunner.”

He shot to standing, plastic littering the area around his feet, and shouted, “You believe me?”

“Absolutely. Are you controlled enough for me to open the door? I’m asking for your safety, not mine.”

He knew he needed more blood to help quell the Thirst until he could mate with Imogen, but his need to get out of the cell and on the hunt for her was stronger.

Shaking with the effort to speak without coming undone, he said, “I am.”

“You’re lying, but I’m letting you out anyway. No sudden moves, and no flashing away. If you do, I’ll put you right back inside, and you won’t be released again until this is over and we have Imogen.”

He nodded and then heard the succession of beeps, as she entered the code to unlock the door. There was an audible gasp of air as it opened, like it had been holding its breath the whole time he was imprisoned.

Resisting the urge to run, as he promised, he stepped from the cell and closed it behind him.

“My study?”

“That’s where the others are.”

They went up the flight of stairs to the ground floor, and as they passed through the kitchen, Gunner noticed that the blood stores had been restocked.

“Thank you for that,” he said to Jana, and she inclined her head in response.

“It was a horrible thing for you, but it allowed us to gain more evidence. Your theory about someone working against The Directive from the inside was correct. Expect to get a commendation from us once this is settled.”

“Thank you, but I’m much more concerned about getting Imogen back than recognition for my career accomplishments.”

When they entered the study, everyone stood, and Blaine rushed over and clapped Gunner on the back.

“You okay, man?”

Gunner cocked his head to the side, and out of the corner of his eye, he noticed how Delia was watching him.

“It was touch and go there for a while. Appreciate everything you’ve done to help me.”

“Come sit down,” Blaine said.

“I’ll take the one closest to the cooler,” Gunner replied, as he crossed the room to a black leather chaise with an ottoman.

“Drink another ten,” Delia told him. “You’re still on the edge.”

“How can you tell?” Lee asked.

“He can’t tamp down his flames.” She looked back at Gunner. “Can you?” Rather than answer, he lifted another pack and sank his fangs into it. “Blaine, bring everyone up to speed on where we are.”

“Okay. Let me start from the beginning.” He went over and stood in front of the hearth. “Gunner had heard rumblings and whispers of an insurgency against The Directive. During his investigation, he happened upon a room with many dead supernaturals, and another one passed while in his arms there. And who arrested him? None other than Terrance. After the trial, I attempted to locate the eyewitness and was unable to find him. I can only presume that he was eliminated to tie up loose ends.

“The woman Gunner was unable to save had screamed that she didn’t want to be sacrificed. That takes us to the file that Lee located in which someone I believe to be Terrance tells about a new power rising to rule over both the paranormal and human worlds and how blood would run in order to cement his ascension. But then Gunner was released. I believe this information was passed to Terrance, who then discovered Imogen. He was set on abducting her.”

“Why?” Piper said. “What did she do to him?”

“Nothing. She’s merely a pawn he’s using to manipulate Gunner.”

“For what purpose?” Jana asked.

“I’ve thought about this ever since Reina showed up.”

“She has a role in this?”

“How did she know you were out of jail, Gunner?”

“I don’t know. I didn’t care to ask at the time. I just wanted her gone, so I could focus on Imogen.”

“But I did,” Blaine replied. “She had no ready reason, and though I can’t prove it, I think she was improvising as she went.”

“You believe she’s working with Terrance?”

“I do.”

“Continue.”

“So, going back a bit, let’s look at the night Imogen was first attacked. If you recall, the assailants went for a shoulder hit on Gunner—not a shot that would kill him.”

Shuddering at the memory, Gunner pieced together the events of the past nights, mentally chastising himself for not putting it together as his friend had done so easily.

“Gunner,” Blaine went on, “was suffering from the Thirst. Someone in Terrance’s circle must’ve discovered that, and then he laid another trap.”

“I’m not followin’,” Piper said. “Sorry.”

“No need to apologize. If I’m right, it’s a convoluted plan but set brilliantly.”

“He was doing the same thing as before,” Gunner added with a nod. “He wanted me to go insane with bloodlust and kill with abandon, and then he would use that to prove that I’m a murderer and get rid of the investigation into his activities.”

“Thereby illustrating to everyone who would hear about it that I am unfit to serve The Directive,” Jana sighed.

“Precisely.”

“Reina wasn’t upset with me for breaking up with her.”

“Not a whit, my friend. Remember Henry said a woman was involved, a queen? Isn’t that what Reina’s name means when translated to English?”

Gunner hung his head at the con that had once again been set for him and could have succeeded if not for the team assembled there to support him.

“That’s another reason I believe Reina is aligned with Terrance. She destroyed the blood bags, using feigned heartbreak as a cover for her actions.”

“Where’s Imogen in all of this?” Gunner said with his eyebrows scrunched together.

“She’s with the dead,” Henry mumbled from across the room. “I told you.”

“My God!” Gunner yelled, as he jumped to his feet, his eyes landing on Blaine’s. “He’s gonna sacrifice her like he did the others!”

Blaine nodded his agreement, and Gunner flashed to Henry, taking him by his arms, shaking him violently.

“Say something! Do you have an idea where she is? She can’t die! I love her!”

“Unhand him now!” Delia shouted, launching herself into the air.

Before she landed, a sudden breeze went through the place.

Jana stood and said, “Magno! Welcome to our motley crew.”

“There will be no violence unless warranted,” Magno announced, his tone as solid as granite, while Gunner gripped the hands that were wrapped around his neck. “Let him go.”

“I need to know!”

“He gave us a clue, Gunner,” Blaine said. “A very important one.”

Unable to withstand the raw power emanating from Magno, Gunner released Henry and took a step back from him. Everyone else in the room froze in place, as they stared at the ancient vampire. His dark eyes conveyed a strength and astuteness that was intimidating, in contrast to his short stature.

“Continue,” Magno said to Blaine. “I overheard the last part of your theory, as I was coming up the walkway.”

“Thank you. As I was saying, from the outside, it appears that Terrance is following the identical strategy he did before. So, it stands to reason—”

“That he’s using the same building where I found the bodies!”

“Exactly.”

“Perhaps that’s where Terrance is hiding, as well,” Magno said.

“With all due respect, sir, I don’t give a fuck about anything other than Imogen.”