Page 80 of Bound By Blood

“Do you want him to leave the club?”

“No, but let him worry about it for a few days.”

Scherry laughed. “You are evil.”

“Yeah. I’ll call you in a day or two. If you don’t hear from me, don’t worry.”

“I always worry about you.”

“Yeah, well, stop it.”

“Take care, boss.”

“You, too.”

Zack closed the phone. So, Nadiya was sending her people out to look for Daryn. Well, good luck with that,” he muttered.

And wondered if he would have any better luck finding Kaitlyn.

Chapter Thirty-One

Elena sat on the sofa in front of the hearth, a furry blanket wrapped around her shoulders, a cup of cocoa in one hand.

For Drake’s sake—and to hang on to her own sanity—she forced herself to stay positive. She told herself over and over again that there was nothing to worry about. Drake would find their daughter and bring her home.

In an effort to keep from sinking into despair, she thought about what Zack had said the night before. He could make her a vampire. It troubled her that she found the idea so appealing. She had lived with Drake and his people for over twenty years but if the truth were known, she had never truly felt like she belonged. Oh, the people treated her well enough. They were as much a part of her life as she was of theirs. And yet she couldn’t escape the fact that she was different. What would it be like, to be able to will herself into the city whenever she wished to go? To be like Drake? To share his whole life? To see the world the way he saw it? Even the blood part no longer repulsed her. She had been drinking a little of Drake’s blood for years. What would he think if she told him she wanted to be a vampire? What would Kaitlyn think?

“Kaitlyn.” The tears she had been holding back flooded her eyes as she murmured her daughter’s name. Where was she?

Elena stared into the flames, her heart aching. She hadn’t been up this early in the morning since Kaitlyn was an infant. She smiled, recalling how thrilled she had been the first time she held her baby daughter in her arms, how impatient she had been for Kaitlyn to wake up so she could hold her again. Her miracle baby. All babies were wonderful, of course, but Drake had told Elena there was little chance they could have a child, so when Kaitlyn was born strong and healthy, it had truly seemed to be a miracle.

She remembered the early years, when she had worried that Kaitlyn would get sick or hurt, and how she had prayed every day that Kaitlyn would be happy, that she would be able to accept her heritage. She recalled her bittersweet feelings when Kaitlyn went to kindergarten and how she had worried that her daughter might not fit in with the other children. So many foolish fears. None of the things she had worried about had come to pass.

She wiped her tears with a corner of the blanket. Her little girl had grown up into a beautiful young woman—sweet-natured, kind-hearted. She had never given them a moment’s worry.

Until now. Of course, she wasn’t responsible for the trouble with Nadiya. The blame for that lay squarely on Nadiya’s shoulders.

She drew the blanket around her, cold in spite of the fire. Where was her little girl now?

Kaitlyn woke feeling groggy. There was a horrible taste in her mouth. When she tried to sit up, the world spun out of focus. Feeling like she was going to vomit, she quickly closed her eyes again.

When she opened them a short time later, she felt a little better. When she sat up, an ominous clanking drew her attention. Looking down at her foot, she saw that a thick cuff made of silver circled her left ankle. A long silver chain was attached to the shackle, which was linked to an iron bolt in the wall. Taking hold of the chain, she gave it a tug, thinking she could easily dislodge it, but nothing happened. Apparently, silver negated her preternatural power, just as it did her father’s, though it didn’t burn her skin.

Fighting down her fear, she glanced at her surroundings. She was sitting on a mattress in the corner of a small basement, or maybe an old wine cellar. There were no lights, no windows, and only one entrance.

Rising on shaky legs, she staggered toward the iron-barred door. The chain on her foot drew her up short. Try as she might, she couldn’t reach the latch. Not that it would have done her any good. Still, pounding on it might have brought help. Now, more than ever, she wished she had her father’s ability to transport herself wherever she wished to be. Or to dissolve into mist so she could slip her bonds and gain her freedom.

But wishing was a waste of time.

Returning to the mattress, she resumed her seat. Where was she? And how had she gotten there? The deliveryman … he had drugged her and stuffed her into a box. She remembered now. Lifting her head, she took a deep breath. Her nostrils filled with the scent of mold and dust and … Nadiya.

Kaitlyn fought down the chill rush of fear that rose within her at the realization that Nadiya had been there not long ago. Everyone knew Nadiya hated Drake and would never forgive him for Florin’s death. Did Nadiya know that Zack had killed Daryn and Marius? Was Zack also in danger?

Kaitlyn blinked back her tears. She wouldn’t cry. She wouldn’t panic. Wherever she was, Zack and her father would find her.

Her heart jumped into her throat when the door opened. She had been expecting Nadiya, but it was the man who had abducted her. Seeing him now, she realized he was a drone—a creature whose mind was no longer his own.

Eyes blank, footsteps stiff and unnatural, he walked toward her. She sprang from the mattress, backing away from him, and from the needle in his hand, but there was no place to go.

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