Prime Vampires - I Hunger For You Part 8

"Did you think I'd let you do whatever you please with my-"

"Your what?"

"My-" Colin pointed. "Her."

"Is she is, or is she ain't?"

Crowe smiled, and he seemed to have very sharp teeth all of a sudden. Colin took a step closer.

Though she saw two men facing off in the hot afternoon sunlight, Mia had a strong impression of watching a pair of leashed fighting beasts getting ready to go at each other with fangs and claws and hard male muscle. A s.h.i.+ver of fear went through her, like an ice cube being run down her spine. She wanted to run, and she didn't like the sensation. Before being chased by the vampires last night, she'd never backed down from any challenge. She couldn't be a coward again. Besides, it seemed this confrontation was somehow over her.

She cleared her throat. "Excuse me, but-"

"Stay out of this," both men said at once.

"Screw you," was her automatic defiance at this high-handedness. "I'm not being fought over like a piece of meat."

She always got reckless when her temper flared, but she didn't turn her back on the men as she edged away from the patio. They seemed momentarily stunned by her words, and while they stared, she moved toward the courtyard gate. She was almost ready to break into a sprint when a hand landed on her shoulder, bringing her to an abrupt stop.

"Don't run," a voice warned her.

When she turned around, she saw Alec from the garage rescue party. The woman called Domini came up to join him a moment later. Then Colin and Crowe were there, as well. Mia had the impression of being surrounded by a pride of hungry lions.

"Back off, boys," Domini said.

Surprisingly, the men all took a step back. Yet that didn't make Mia feel any less trapped.

"What's up?" Domini asked.

Tony answered, "I think our young Prime has gotten the girl in trouble." He looked at Alec. "Can't yousmell what's going on between them?"

"What are you talking about?" Mia and Colin demanded at the same time.

Tony chuckled and shook his head. "They haven't got a clue."

"To what?" Domini asked.

"Just look at them, hon," Alec told her. "With all your senses."

"Oh," she said after a moment.

"Do you know what I think?" Tony asked. "I think we take them to the Matri. Right now."

Chapter Ten.

The room was decorated in a luxurious,Arabian Nights harem way, with a big bed, a thick Persian carpet, a sitting area with a pair of comfortable chairs and a full bookcase, and a marble fantasy bathroom. But there were no windows, and she'd been locked in.

She'd been kidnapped, firmly but politely taken away by the people who'd come to the rescue the night before. Her only consolation was that Colin had been abducted as well. They'd been put in different cars and brought to a secluded mansion hours before. She hadn't seen him since they'd stepped inside the house.

A group of men had taken him away; several older women had joined Domini and escorted Mia to her nicely appointed prison.

Domini looked concerned, but everyone else's expressions had been neutral or downright hostile. Mia got the impression that they found her presence thoroughly inconvenient.

She'd been left alone for a while, then Domini came in and introduced her to a Dr. Casmerek. He'd wanted blood and urine samples. Of course she'd refused, in a very physical way. She'd tried to get past Domini to get to the door, and almost made it.

But Domini was unnaturally fast and strong, and the combination of aikido and Krav Maga fighting techniques she used took Mia by surprise. The woman's unconventional style didn't make her give up, though.

The doctor stayed out of the way until the fight was over. A few things got broken; Mia hoped they were priceless antiques.

Mia ended up grudgingly giving him the fluid samples, but she was pleased that at least she'd put up a fight, at leasttried to control the situation.

Domini smiled at her and said, "You did good," before she followed the doctor out, leaving Mia alone in the locked room once more.

What sort of medical tests was this Dr. Casmerek running on her?

Mia paced while she fretted. Every now and then she paused to listen at the door, or to pick up a piece of broken porcelain or gla.s.s. After a while she had a nice little collection piled on a table. None of them were large enough or sharp enough to make a decent weapon, but at least thinking about it helped.

She didn't know exactly where Colin was, but she had the feeling he was close by-she almost believed she could find him if she could get out of the room. The weirdest thing was, she thought she could feel him wanting to be with her. She'd had sensations like this about him before, but never as strongly as now.

And what good would finding him do her? Though it would be kind of fun to be the one who came to the rescue this time.

And then he could explain to her what was going on. He knew these people, thought he hadn't seemed very lucid when he showed up at Tony Crowe's. And he'd been just as confused and outraged as she was by the others' actions.

Was Dr. Casmerek running tests on him, too?

And what did Colin's mood swings and their being kidnapped have to do with vampires?

After a while she picked a book at random from the case and settled on one of the deep, comfortable chairs. It was a big, heavy book, with fine leather binding. She was contemplating how she might be able to use it to smash someone if she waited by the door when the door opened silently across the room.

Mia swore under her breath at the lost opportunity and rose to her feet as Domini came in, followed by Alec.

"Sorry to have kept you waiting so long," Alec said.

As kidnappers went, these people were certainly polite.

"The matris will see you now," Alec said.

"The what?" Mia asked. "Where's Colin? Is he all right?"

The man and woman exchanged an infuriatingly knowing glance.

"He might not be when the matris get through with him," Alec answered. "They wish to see you, as well," he went on.

His tone implied that there was no questioning the wishes of this Matris person or persons. All Mia cared about was getting out of this room and finally finding out what was going on. And, all right, she wanted Colin. His presence wasn't always necessarily rea.s.suring, but it was-important-to her.

"Fine," she said. "Lead on." Mia walked toward the door, but Domini put a hand on her arm before she could leave.

"One thing," she said. "The medical tests came back. The good news is that you're not pregnant. At least, I a.s.sume you take it as good news."

Mia flushed deeply, appalled and embarra.s.sed. She shook off the woman's touch. "I didn't ask to take any tests," she reminded Domini. And what was the bad news? she wondered. Were they testing her for some sort of disease? She was too proud, and scared, to ask.

"I don't mean to seem rude," Domini said. "And of course you don't think this is any of our business, but believe me, it really is for your own good."

"And Colin's," Alec added. "Shall we?" He gestured toward the door.

All Colin could do was pace like a trapped animal back and forth across the thickly carpeted bedroom, which got boring very quickly. He'd been furious when they'd brought him to the Citadel, and his mood hadn't gotten any better in the long hours since.

No windows. The door was guarded. Other people were allowed in and out, but Colin Foxe was trapped in another clan's stronghold.

He was angry at this intrusion into his privacy. He was impatient at the interruption of the hunt for the Patron. He was annoyed that Mia had been brought to the s.h.a.gal house, and even more angry that he was not allowed to see her. He was infuriated at the long hours he'd been made to wait, all but a prisoner in a guest room, without any explanation.

Even the usually forthright Dr. Casmerek had refused to tell him anything, other than to say that the blood he wanted from Colin was for tests.

What sort of tests? None of this made any sense. What by the devils of darkness had his involvement with Mia gotten him into?

And worst of all, when lovely Ca.s.siopeia, Matri Serisa's only daughter and heir, had come into the bedroom and offered to spend the night in his bed, he hadn't even been interested. She was a beautiful, sensual, exciting vampire woman who no Prime in his right mind would turn down. Yet Colin had barely been able to keep his rejection polite enough not to cause offense.

"What is the matter with me?" he asked, turning to face Anthony Crowe as the door opened and the other Prime came into the room.

"We're scheduled to discuss exactly what's wrong with you," Tony answered.

"I turned down Ca.s.sie s.h.a.gal," Colin went on. "Can you believe that?"

He was totally stunned at his uncharacteristic behavior. He wasn't going to ask himself why. What he needed was to get out of here, get away from all this Clan c.r.a.p, and get his head together on his own.

"Can I go now?" he demanded.

"Not yet."

"There are rules against this kind of treatment!"

"Yep. But there are extenuating circ.u.mstances that have to be worked out involving you and Miss Mia."

"Have you sent Mia home? Did Matri Serisa make her forget about us?" That would be the best thing for her, even if Colin did resent anyone else touching Mia's mind but him. If he let himself think that perhaps some Prime had probed the mortal woman's thoughts, he knew a jealous red rage would overtake him. He did not want to be jealous of Mia. He wouldn't let himself be.

He took a deep breath, and made himself say, "I'm sorry I acted like I did at your place. There was no reason for it. Was there?"

he added, as jealousy shot through him once more.

Tony shook his head and looked at him steadily for a moment before he said, "A few things have to be settled before you two can leave. Come on."

Colin suddenly caught his breath on a scent, a sense.

"Mia."

Colin pushed out of the room ahead of Tony. Though he hadn't been able to feel her presence for hours, he was now keenly aware that she was close by. But there were two other Primes waiting in the hall, and Tony at his back.

He was ready to start a brawl with all three to get to Mia, but she appeared around a corner and ran toward him a moment later.

He had her in his arms before he noticed Alec and Domini following her. Tony grabbed him and pulled him back before he could kiss Mia, then Domini stepped between them.

"Hey!" Mia complained.

"Hands off!" Colin shouted. He was surprised when Tony let him go. The problem was now getting around Domini, since there was no way he would use force on a woman.

"No way," Domini said before he could think up a plea or a cajoling word. "Serisa-"

"Actually, there is a slight change of plans," Tony broke in. "Serisa and the other ladies want these two to have a little talk before they get on with other matters."

Colin spun to face Tony. "Talk? I don't want to talk to the woman."

"What?" Mia asked indignantly behind him.

He turned back to her. "I want to get you safely back home," he explained.

He could tell she was scared, and covering it up with her usual bravado. The others couldn't see it, or didn't care, but he knew that Mia was upset.

"She might be home," Domini said.

Colin hadn't a clue what Alec's bondmate meant.

"Who's Serisa? And what does she want us to talk about?" Mia shot a look at Domini. "What do you mean, I might be home?"

It occurred to Colin that Mia was following the enigmatic thread of conversation better than he was. She was no fool. Out of her depth, of course, but sharp.

"Don't worry, you will get explanations," Tony told Mia. He concentrated on Colin. "But first Serisa wants you to explain everything about us to her.Everything, " he added firmly. "Truth first," he added, with one of his annoying grins, "then consequences."

"The truth?" Colin was appalled. "She can't handle the truth!" "Aaron Sorkin,A Few Good Men, " Domini muttered. When everyone stared at her, she smiled at Alec, then focused her attention on Colin. "I handled the truth, didn't I?"

"But you're one of us," Colin objected.

"I wasn't then."

"Yes, but-"

"Will you people stop arguing, and tell me what's going on?" Mia demanded.

Colin hated that every gaze was on them. Even worse, Mia's needs called to him all tangled up with his own.

"Fine," he finally agreed. "She's going to have to forget it all, but I'll tell her."