Zack’s phone suddenly rang. Frowning, Zack fished it out. Seeing Kyle’s name flashing across the screen, filled both John and me with relief.

  Before Zack could answer the call, John snatched it from Zack’s hand.

  “Kyle, you better have a good explanation. You worried all of us to death,” John immediately said.

  Zack and I were standing close enough to hear what Kyle would say next.

  “Kyle can’t answer the phone at the moment,” said a familiar voice I hadn’t heard in years. A voice I never wanted to hear again.

  A chill went down my spine. John looked at Zack, confused.

  “That’s Isaac,” I said in a hoarse voice. “The vampire after me.”

  “Put him on loudspeaker,” Zack ordered and I was happy to comply.

  Good thing Zack was there to take charge, because my worst fears finally came true.

  Chapter 11

  Zack

  “I’ll make this as simple as possible. If you want to see Kyle again, you will do as I say. Are you and your new raven boyfriend listening, Thaddeus?” Isaac asked.

  The psychopath probably heard Thad’s voice earlier. I glanced at Thad to see how he was faring.

  My vampire stood so still, he reminded me of a lifeless statue. I couldn’t even imagine what was going through Thad’s mind.

  Hell, Kyle must be terrified out of his wits right now. No kid should go through so much and still come out sane.

  Keep it together, Zack. You can’t afford to fall apart now, I reminded myself.

  The other raven shifters and Thad looked to me for advice. They trusted me without question. I couldn’t fail them, especially not now.

  I focused on Isaac’s words. The vampire had known Thad, and I were together right now. Had the shifter seen us leaving Thad’s store together? If he did, then he had probably told Isaac everything he knew.

  I didn’t like the fact a vampire’s lackey had been spying on us and reporting everything back to Isaac. Nothing we could do about that now.

  The only thing that mattered was rescuing Kyle and making sure he was returned to us in one piece.

  “I’m listening,” Thad said in a levelled and cold voice I’d never heard before.

  I was finally seeing the side of Thad that he took pains to hide away—Thad, the former assassin.

  His old way of life didn’t give him joy. It only made him miserable.

  Thad killed for his family, for the survival of his old coven. When he moved to Moon Burrow, Thad told me he was relieved to leave his past behind.

  Unfortunately for us, a monster from Thad’s past came looking for him.

  I wasn’t angry at Thad for putting Kyle in trouble, because I too had my share of demons.

  Besides, I promised Thad we’d pull through this ordeal together. Thad was worth it.

  “After this call, my servant will text you coordinates to our location. Only you and your raven king, are invited to the party. Are we clear, Thaddeus? If you bring more raven shifters or other uninvited guests, I’ll have Dwayne here rip out Kyle’s throat without hesitation,” Isaac said.

  The vampire delivered those words with calm precision. I didn’t need to know Isaac well to understand that he’d do exactly as he’d say.

  Isaac also let slip a name. Dwayne. That must be Isaac’s shifter servant.

  “We understand,” I said on Thad’s behalf.

  Isaac ended the call. John’s phone beeped a moment later, presumably with coordinates to where Isaac and Dwayne were holding Kyle captive.

  My vampire shook with silent fury. I pulled Thad close to me. Thad looked at me with panicked and angry eyes.

  When I started stroking his back, all the tension in his body ebbed away.

  “Zack, you can’t be thinking of following this vampire’s instructions to the latter,” John argued. “We should go in full force. Numbers will overwhelm them.”

  Thad parted from me. I shook my head.

  “John, you heard what that vampire said. If we take everyone, we’ll be risking your son’s life,” I reminded him.

  John looked crestfallen. He understood the risks involved of course. John wasn’t just thinking straight, because Kyle was involved.

  I clasped John’s shoulder.

  “I promise you we’ll return with Kyle,” I told him with a confidence I didn’t completely feel but John needed to hear those encouraging words from his lead alpha.

  John nodded, still looking troubled. “Then the rest of us will remain here,” John said.

  We rejoined the others in the dining hall. I updated them about the situation. Paige wanted us all involved in Kyle’s rescue, but Julian calmed her down.

  “I’ll call over some of my MC brothers for extra security,” Axel told me.

  “Thank you, that’s reassuring,” I told the bear alpha.

  After leaving the others, Thad and I returned outside, to where I parked my pickup.

  John had forwarded me the address Dwayne sent. I looked it up while Thad and I slid into the truck.

  Thad got behind the wheel. I stole a quick glance at him. A change had come over my vampire.

  Thad seemed determined, eager to save Kyle and deal with Isaac and Dwayne once and for all. I knew Thad would give everything for this mission.

  “The location is an old farmhouse south of Moon Burrow,” I told Thad. “I’ve driven past that place before. It’s abandoned, no one has lived there for years.”

  “The perfect place to stow a captive,” Thad said with a nod. “I’m not surprised Isaac would select such a secluded location as his temporary headquarters. Zack, I need to make one stop first. I’ll be quick.”

  “Where?” I asked.

  Thad wouldn’t ask unless he deemed it unnecessary.

  “My store,” he said grimly. “There are a few things I need to pick up.”

  Half and hour later, we were back at Moon Burrow. I kept the engine running as Thad raced out.

  I watched his slim figure dart inside the bakeshop. Ten minutes later, Thad returned, carrying a small carrying case. I got out of the truck and took over driving.

  I started the engine once Thad got inside the truck. Thad unzipped the case, revealing rows and rows of sharp knives. There were also guns that looked custom-made.

  I let out a low whistle. We had gone back for the old tools of Thad’s trade.

  “I never thought I’d be bringing these knives out again,” Thad said with a sigh. “But it’s for a good cause.”

  “Do you think they’ve harmed Kyle?” I asked.

  I tried focusing on the dark roads instead of letting my mind wander about what Isaac and Dwayne were doing to Kyle.

  Kyle had been chosen for one reason. Isaac and Dwayne had targeted the most vulnerable member of my flock.

  I should have told everyone in the flock to be on high-alert. I let one of my raven shifters down—no.

  I refused to follow that train of thought. Thad needed me to be in the right mindset.

  “No, not until all the players are on the stage,” Thad said.

  “You’re certain of that?” I asked.

  “Absolutely. It would ruin Isaac’s game if he started working on Kyle without an audience,” Thad said with such surety that I was convinced of his words.

  “It’s eerie how well you know him,” I pointed out.

  “We’ve played this cat-and-mouse game for months before I finally tracked Isaac and his mate down,” Thad replied. “During that period, I had ample time to study Isaac and his methods.”

  “Alright, I trust you,” I said with a nod.

  “Zack, I can’t apologize enough for the trouble I’ve caused you and your flock,” Thad whispered.

  “Hey, let’s not start with that again,” I reminded him. “Our focus right now is retrieving Kyle and staying alive.”

  “You’re right. I’ll make up for this another time,” Thad said.

  We soon arrived at the old Blackstone Farm. I nearly missed the sign to the farm if Thad hadn’t pointed it out.

  I made a sharp turn and went off the main road. The ride turned bumpy as the wheels of my truck squealed over small rocks and an uneven dirt path.

  By then, night had truly fallen. There weren’t even stars to guide the way.

  Fortunately for the both of us, shifters and vampires could see well in the dark.

  We passed untilled fields overgrown with tall grasses and weeds, and a dilapidated barn that had seen better days.

  “This place certainly gives off a creepy vibe,” I remarked, hoping to keep the mood light.

  “The perfect setting for a horror movie,” Thad agreed.

  The farmhouse finally came into our line of sight. All the lights inside the house were on, I noticed, as if someone was having a party inside.

  I killed the engine of the truck. Before I got out, Thad reached over the console and gripped my hand tight.

  “Whatever happens, Zack, your primary job is to get Kyle out,” Thad reminded me.

  “What are you saying? Thad, we’ll get out of this alive. The three of us,” I told him in a firm voice.

  “I got us into this mess. It’s only right I finish it,” Thad said.

  He released my hand, and I didn’t like those foreboding words at all.

  Thad strapped on two of his knives and a gun. I accepted a seven-inch hunting knife from him.

  Judging by the way the blade shone under the pale moonlight, I knew the blade contained silver—extremely lethal for a shifter.

  We walked towards the porch of the house. The steps creaked when I stepped on the rotten wood.

  My foot would have fallen in, if I wasn’t looking at where I was going.

  Before I could decide whether I should ring the doorbell, the door swung open, revealing a gigantic shifter in his late thirties.

  He had greasy black hair and muddy brown eyes. A fading and large tribal tattoo dominated the side of his face, along with an impressive collection of old scars.

  “You must be Dwayne,” I said.

  The wolf alpha eyed me up and down, then snorted, as if he thought little of me.

  I got that reaction sometimes from other shifter alphas and was used to it. Often, those alphas underestimated me and that often benefited me.

  Dwayne flashed me and Thad a mouthful of sharp and yellowing fangs.

  “I can eat you for dinner, raven.” Dwayne spat out that last word like it was a curse.

  “You’ll find Zack isn’t easy prey,” Thad said. “So where’s your master?”

  Dwayne growled. He didn’t seem to like that word. I made a mental note of that.

  “Isaac and I are partners,” Dwayne said with a sneer.

  He pointed one dirty finger at Thad. The nails on his hand were long and yellow, as if he had never heard of a nail clipper.

  “You can head upstairs, Isaac is waiting for you with the kid, but your raven boyfriend stays here in the living room with me,” Dwayne said.

  Thad shot me a worried look. I didn’t like the prospect of us being separated either but we had no choice.

  Both Thad and I had to play by Isaac’s rules. If we broke those rules, then Kyle’s life might be forfeit.

  “Fine with me,” I drawled. “Thad, I’ll keep this mongrel entertained for a while. You go on up.”

  Dwayne snarled and gave me an unfriendly, almost murderous look.

  I didn’t know what instructions Isaac gave him but I had a feeling Dwayne was told to play nice until Thad and I parted ways, anyway.

  “Stay safe.” Thad mouthed those two words to me.

  Thad touched the handles of the sheathed knives tucked in his belt, then nodded.

  Thad finally turned towards the stairs that would lead him to Isaac and Kyle, leaving me all alone with Dwayne.

  “So, how long have you been working for Isaac? I can’t imagine a psychotic vampire being the best boss in the world,” I remarked.

  I walked up the nearest window, unsurprised they boarded it up—a deterrent for a shifter reliant on flight.

  Not that I had any intentions of leaving, not without Kyle or Thad.

  “Don’t insult Isaac. He helped me out when I had no one else to turn to,” Dwayne said with a spat.

  His yellow eyes tracked my every movement.

  “He used you. I’m guessing this isn’t the first time Isaac helped a lost little shifter alpha for his own personal gain,” I said.

  “Shut up, pretty boy. You won’t be sprouting so much bullshit if you knew you don’t have long to live,” Dwayne said.

  He cracked his knuckles, and they made a loud popping noise. If his goal was to intimidate me, then he failed terribly.

  “It’s time you entertained me. You better last long, because once I’m done with you, I’m heading upstairs to help Isaac deal with your vampire boyfriend,” Dwayne said.

  “You seem to have the impression that I won’t give you much of a fight,” I said, finally facing him. “It’s time you found out why it’s not wise, underestimating me.”

  Chapter 12

  Thad/ Zack

  THAD

  Snarls, followed by the furniture breaking made me pause in my footsteps. Zack could handle himself, I reminded myself.

  My raven king was far from weak. Zack could take on a mindless and violent minion like Dwayne on his lonesome.

  I had another aim. With each step I took, I dreaded what I would find—Kyle dead, and we were too late to save him.

  I told Zack I knew Isaac like the back of my hand but what if I was wrong?

  Isaac spent years in solitary confinement, with only his seething hate for company.

  Isaac would have plenty of time to plan out his revenge. What if Isaac took out his anger on poor, innocent Kyle?

  There was no use speculating. I had to face the music eventually. I stepped on the second floor, noting the rotting floorboards and peeling wallpaper.

  It smelled of mold and rot, like something had died here.

  Several doors were shut on this floor, save one. I approached that room tentatively, brushing my fingers against the handles of my favorite knives for comfort.

  The door stood slightly ajar. Not bothering to knock, I turned the knob. The wood creaked, the sound strangely loud to my ears.

  I silently took in the scene. Kyle lay on the stained-mattress, pale as a sheet, his eyes closed.

  A large and messy bite mark could be seen from right side of his neck.

  For a second, I thought Isaac had killed him. Then I saw the rise and fall of his chest. The kid was alive, if barely.

  “Welcome to my humble home, Thaddeus,” Isaac said.

  I finally turned my attention to the other vampire.

  Time hadn’t been kind to my old nemesis. Isaac’s angelic features seemed sharper, permanently warped during his prison stay.

  Light blue eyes under a mop of messy and unwashed bronze curls stared at me with fierce hunger and hate.

  One look at Isaac and I knew I would need to fight tooth and nail to get out of this ordeal alive.

  “This isn’t your home,” I told him. “It’s just a filthy old farmhouse you’re temporarily taking refuge in.”

  Isaac laughed. “You’re not the fun Blackthorn brother. I always forget that.”

  I jerked my head at Kyle. “What did you do to him?” I asked.

  “Him? I merely took a sip. I got a little hungry while waiting for you and your raven king to arrive,” Isaac said with a shrug.

  “Why don’t you drink from your latest werewolf toy?” I asked him.

  “I need Dwayne strong, although your raven boyfriend doesn’t look that impressive. I’ve watched you both emerge from the truck. The two of you look so sweet,” Isaac commented in a biting tone.

  The sound of breaking wood and glass made me walk towards the nearest window. I looked down, biting back a cry as Zack sailed out the window, still in human form.

  A large and furry lump of claws and teeth hurried after Zack’s heels. Dwayne in his animal form.

  “You should pay attention to me, Thaddeus,” Isaac snapped.

  Blue veins stuck out of his pale face. Isaac settled on the bed, cradling the unconscious Kyle.

  Don’t worry about Zack, he can take Dwayne, focus on what’s in front of you, I reminded myself.

  Isaac smiled at me, revealing his lengthening fangs. He scraped them against the side of Kyle’s neck, not quite breaking skin.

  I knew without a doubt that Isaac would kill Kyle in a single strike if I wasn’t careful, if I got careless.

  “Kyle’s not involved in this. Face me instead,” I said, pulling out two knives from the sheaths on my belt.

  “Not involved?” Isaac shook his head, eyes full of silent laughter.

  One moment he was angry, the next Isaac seemed amused. That was what I hated about crazies. They were so hard to predict.

  “When you killed my mate, did you give me any choice in the matter?” Isaac asked me, voice cold.

  When I said nothing, Isaac slipped out of bed. He petted Kyle’s hair.

  A growl came from downstairs. I was tempted to look out the windows again to see how Zack was faring, but I stayed where I was.

  If I took my gaze from Isaac for a single second, Kyle’s life might be forfeit.

  I had looked into John and Peter’s eyes and told them Zack and I would bring their son back home.

  We weren’t going back empty-handed.

  “Come on, Isaac. You’ve probably dreamed of this moment so many times in prison,” I whispered.

  I was hoping if I grabbed Isaac’s full attention, then he would forget about Kyle completely.

  “You’re right. I’ve waited for this moment for too long. You can’t even imagine what’s it’s like, being surrounded all on sides by walls, the vital part of you ripped out by a thoughtless monster,” Isaac said.

  He was talking about his deceased mate Christopher again. I had Zack now, so I couldn’t imagine the thought of losing him.

  What I did to Isaac had been terrible but back then, my brothers and I decided that plan together.

  Isaac wasn’t supposed to live. I intended to finish him after I dealt with Christopher. If the paranormal police hadn’t arrived at that moment to arrest Isaac, the plan would’ve succeeded.

 

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