“That’s too high,” she said. In response, he pressed his lips to her forehead. “That’s still too-”
He stopped her from talking as he pressed his lips to hers. It could’ve been seconds, or it could’ve been minutes, Clive didn’t know. He barely heard the controller clatter to the floor but he did feel her now free hand running through his hair. She scraped her fingers down his cheek before moving her hand lower. Clive’s phone buzzed and whirred. But it wasn’t a message or call. It was an alarm.
“Shit,” Clive muttered, rummaging in his pocket for it as Lauren planted soft kisses on his neck. Clive swiped the alarm and saw the message. “Oh no…”
“What…” Lauren whispered, yet continuing to kiss his neck.
“It’s Alex.”
“What?” She leant back. “What’s happened?”
“She’s been arrested. She’s in the Mascot station.”
“How do you know that?”
“Dante asked me to put her and Michelle’s name in a database after the authorities were sniffing around. She’s been accused of attempted murder.”
“What? That’s bullshit.”
“I’ve gotta tell Dante. Julian has been looking for a way to get to her. If I know about this, he would now too.”
“I’ll get changed.”
“Changed? Let’s just wait for Dante’s instructions.”
“Lackey, one thing you should know if we are gonna do this, you and me. I don’t wait for anyone. Dating or not. King or not. She’s in trouble. I’m gonna help her.”
Chapter Eleven
Sovereign Calling
Melina walked into Dante’s study to find it in ruins. His desk was in tatters. The man himself sat with his back against the wall. His face awash with soot, blood stains on his hands.
“Alejandro! What the hell?”
“Leave me be.”
“What happened here? What happened to you?”
“Go away, woman.”
Melina stood over him before bending down while softly running her hand through his hair. “Alejandro…talk to me. You’ve never been like this. What’s happened? What are you punishing yourself for?”
Dante felt no real comfort from Melina’s embrace, but that didn’t diminish his appreciation that she was there.
“We’ll get through this together,” she said, stroking his hair.
Dante heard his phone ping. He was going to ignore it but remembered only a few people had this number. He pulled it out and his eyes locked on the screen; he stared at a photograph of Alex’s arrest warrant and then bound to his feet. Whilst screaming at Melina what had happened, he pressed the numbers that led straight to Clive’s phone.
“It’s just happened,” Clive said. “I was alerted, but I saw it blasted over the vampire network.”
“What? How could that be? Why is she even on any vampire surveillance?”
“If I had to guess, I’d say Julian. Maybe he’s been having her followed or watched. Now she’s alone in a Police Station. Prime target.”
Dante dropped the phone. A sudden realisation came over him; he couldn’t contact anyone to intervene; to stop Julian. There were no more Elements of Night. There was no time to pay off a Police official. This is what Julian wanted. Dante to despair, to panic.
“I have to go to her…” Dante said, bolting to his feet and heading for the door.
“But that crone said she can’t be reminded of you. The demon might return for her!”
“I have to try, dammit!”
Dante reached the door and opened it. There, facing him, was a thin man with clipped, highlighted blonde hair. The scarred remnants of acne adorned his weak chin. He was flanked by two brutes, much taller than he.
“Mr Delavega, I’m Gavin Mcveigh…”
“Fuck off.”
“We have to talk.”
Dante latched out and gripped him by the throat. “I don’t care.”
Dante let him down and crippled over in agony as those behind Gavin pressed into him with what could only be described as lightning rods. Though crumbled to his knees, he gripped the rods with each hand, trying to move them. He screamed as his hands quaked and burned. His strength sapped. The worst part was looking up at the smug face of Gavin watching him in pain.
No. Scratch that. The worst part was having Melina latch her fangs into his neck from behind, Dante helpless to stop her. She only took a sip; she wasn’t drinking. She ripped him away from the rods and planted him to the floor, her mouth still in place. Dante heard nothing but Melina’s voice. They were made by the same person. Their blood bond could be used for communication otherwise thought to be impossible.
“It’s all I could think of. Stop fighting. I’m fucked if I know who these guys are but they obviously want something. If they wanted you dead, they wouldn’t stun you. I know you’re worried about her. I’ll go. Keep yourself alive until I come back. Then we can fuck them up together.”
“Why would you care about her?”
“I don’t, but you do.”
Dante let himself be still. Melina let him go and rose to her feet. Dante’s whole body ached. But he still managed to see Melina wiping her mouth and licking the side of her hand. “Thanks lads. I was hungry.”
She took a step but was blocked by the intruders.
“Leave her,” Gavin said, gazing down at Dante. “We got who we came for.”
Melina walked out and gave Dante a fleeting look over her shoulder, allowing him a final message. “Get her out of Sydney. Off the grid. No cards.”
“I know what off the grid means. No one will know where she goes. Not even me.”
And then Dante was brought back to his intruders. “Let’s have a chat shall we, Mr Delavega?”
Dante found himself
