Daniel

"Are you fucking kidding me - they took her again? What the hell, you two were supposed to keep an eye on her. How the fuck did a human outrun you both?" I was furious, my claws dragging across the desk as I raged.

"It has to be connected to that man, Drake. He seemed to only be human, but dammit, Daniel, he held her in complete thrall. She was his puppet from the moment he walked into the room. She wasn't upset by anything that had happened. Yeah, maybe taken off guard by Dahl's accusations, but there wasn't a drop of fear in her until he mentioned her being upset. Next thing I know, she isn't answering me through the mind-link, and then she starts crying."

"So we know who, but we still don't know where," I growled again. "Dammit, Matt, call Genevieve now!" Garen looked at me in shock, but I wasn't going to put it off any longer. "I know the witch is a risk, but what choice do we have now? You can't break his hold unless we find him. We need a witch for that."

****

"Daniel, to what do I owe the privilege of holding court with the one and only Vampire King?" Genevieve drawled. Her skirts made a swishing sound as she moved that was accented by the tinkling of her metal bracelets. She was a striking but lethal woman.

"My Eternal has been taken and we cannot pierce the magic to locate her." I heard the groan from Garen. He didn't want me to acknowledge her as my Eternal, afraid Genevieve would use the information to her advantage later. I didn't give a damn though. When we get her back, I'm going to get down on my knees and beg her to marry me. Let the world burn for all I care as long as she's by my side while it does.

The witch's eyes lit up, "Ahh, so congratulations are in order, but I do not see why you need me. Surely such a fresh and strong bond can easily be traced, no?"

I knew she was baiting me. She already knew my answer, but still I played the game. "We have not sealed the bond yet. She is human and not familiar with our world."

Genevieve threw her head back, her peals of laughter resonating around the room, "Oh my goddess! The mighty King Ito has been mated to a mere human. This will cause quite the stir, Your Highness." She mockingly bowed to me with a sinister grin.

"Obviously. Now, will you help, or shall I send you to your quarters to keep your lips sealed?" Her eyes crinkled at my overt threat. If she won't help, she won't leave. I don't need to look over my shoulder any more than I already do.

Her lips curled showing her jagged teeth as she hissed, then asked, "What can you provide me that she has a connection to - a token perhaps?"

"We know at least one person responsible. He gave her this earlier today," Garen said, handing her the tissue Drake had given her.

Genevieve studied Garen for a moment, then asked, "You saw this man?"

"Yes. He called himself Mr. Drake. I couldn't sense any magic on him, but he seemed to hold her in a thrall of sorts while in his presence. Once we left the meeting, her behavior was erratic."

"Has this happened before?"

"About a month ago," I admitted. "She went missing for several weeks after what we think might have been her initial meeting with the man. She couldn't remember what happened during her absence either."

Setting a large tapestry bag on the table, she began digging inside as she muttered to herself. Object after strange object was removed until she shouted, "Ah, this will do!" Garen and I came closer to inspect the odd artifact she now held carefully. "I need a drop of blood from each of you to activate the location spell."

"Why both?" I demanded, not wanting to give away Garen's connection to her yet.

"Simple, you are her Eternal, and he was the last to interact with her. His memory of this Drake man will help locate him, while your bond will speed the search for her," Genevieve answered. Exchanging hesitant glances, we both held our hands out to her. With a flick of her wrist all of the other items vanished, only the small item remained. It reminded me of one of those old-fashioned snow globes with blown glass bubbles inside that resembled shapes. The top had a barely perceptible slit where she dripped our blood once she pierced our forefingers. She chanted in an ancient tongue that I didn't recognize as the room seemed to tilt.

"Daniel," I heard Garen choke as he fell to his knees, and I quickly followed.

Samuel Drake

Her small form looked as if it were being swallowed on the large couch. My fingers drifted through her hair remembering the taste of her lips. She was an addiction I would enjoy draining again and again.

"Why did you bring her?" Sylvia snapped. "Baka!"

I had her throat in my hand in seconds, "Watch how you speak to me, old woman. I think you forget who I am." She struggled until I released my hold. "Now, as I explained, Willet was there. They've made the connection or at least most of it. Our plan has changed. If you want that throne so desperately, then she is the price."

"So what, we just kill her and wait for Daniel to go insane and kill us as well?"

"Lower your voice, Sylvia. I am not a child to be scolded. But no, we don't kill her, well not permanently. I'm going to sire her."

"You're insane! Their bond will still exist," she ranted.

I laughed at her panic, "Foolish woman, a human cannot break a demon's sire bond, not even for their mate bond. Not only will it be torture for him, but she will go mad within days of her transition. I'll have enough time to enjoy her, then let her end her suffering. That will be enough to push Daniel to take his own life as well." Her mouth hung open as she stared at me in shock.

"Madness," she muttered.

"Exactly," I grinned. "You get your throne, and I get my feast." I picked up her limp body, setting her in my lap as I took a seat. "Besides, she's already ingested my blood so the bond will be stronger than a normal transformation." My hands traced her face. Such beauty and innocence, but who knows, maybe beneath this lies a creature capable of depravity. Perhaps, just perhaps she will revel in her new-found life and rid herself of the matebond willingly. "Wake little human, time to play with your Master," I whispered into her ear as her eyes opened slowly. They were glassy and edged with black as my blood still ran through her. "Ahh, there we are pet. I think it's time we had some fun, don't you?" She smiled sweetly and nodded, then gripped my arm as she drank greedily.

A loud popping sound made me jolt. Daniel and his man, Willet, suddenly appeared in the room. Well, fuck, this escalated quicker than I'd hoped.

Author's Notes:  Mama isn't exactly nice...