3. Elliott

Iwrapped my fingers around the bar holding more weight than I had any business trying to lift. I'd spent all my free time in our private training room at the fortress in New Orleans trying to distract myself from my failures. I hated myself for what I'd done.

Lorna's face appeared in my mind. I couldn't forget the fear in her eyes while my wolf attacked my best friend. The only thing she'd remember of me was my idiocy. Not that my wolf wanted to claim her. Not that I'd protect her even if I didn't agree with my wolf. Not that I loved the way she made Kenrid smile or the ease with which Damon embraced their physical touch.

All she'd remember of me was her fear.

It'd been twelve days since she went missing, but all our leads were dead ends. The group who took her just handed her off to someone else. Kenrid was still trying to track the money transfers but kept coming up empty.

Kenrid heard a rumor from the fae that she was dead, but we refused to believe it. Mostly because we'd caught the wolves who stole her from Kenrid's house. They swore she was alive when they handed her over to a group of vampires and trolls.

A growl rumbled up my throat, and I moved into a low squat.

She hadn't felt safe at Kenrid's. I should've been there to reassure her, to explain how the wards worked. She should've known that even if they were weakened, no one could get through Kenrid's magic, at least not before we arrived.

The fact that Kenrid hadn't explained this in detail pissed me the hell off. He'd just assumed she would know. It was so out of character for our fae brother. His normally meticulous behavior had been upheaved with Lorna in his house.

He'd said, "She adjusted so quickly, it was too easy to forget that magic was new to her." I sort of understood, but it didn't ease my anger.

Not that I was any better. All I'd done was scare her by acting like an ass.

I sucked in a deep breath and pulled on the weighted bar at my feet. The muscles in my thighs, shoulders, back, and arms quivered with my efforts to move it. It didn't budge. Just like my damn stubbornness.

I should've listened to Damon. He'd been there for me just as long as Nathan. Damon never lied. Not to me or anyone else. He just told you like it was whether you wanted to hear that shit or not. And I'd ignored him like a jackass.

Even though I wasn't ready to accept Lorna as my mate, I wouldn't—couldn't—ignore my wolf's desire to protect her. After Lorna's kidnapping, I'd compromised with him, something I'd learned to do a long time ago. Had I done it sooner like Damon told me to, I could've been there for her instead of dumping it all on Kenrid.

My cell phone rang on the bench next to me. I could ignore that too, but it'd just prove my point. I glanced over at it and frowned. I didn't recognize the number, so I picked it up and answered. If it was one of those stupid assholes trying to sell me an extended warranty on my brand-new truck, I'd get to vent my anger on them.

"What?" I growled.

"What happened to the happy-go-lucky wolf I used to work for?" a familiar voice asked.

It took a few seconds for me to recognize that voice. If I was right, I was talking to my sometimes-friend and ex-coworker, a grizzly bear shifter I hadn't heard from in years.

"Jonah?"

"Hey, man!" Jonah replied. "Let's have some lunch. I think I found something you might be looking for."

I snatched up a towel from the bench and scrubbed my face.

"I didn't know I lost something," I hedged. Sure, Damon blurted out his mate status to an entire pack of wolves, but we hadn't advertised that we lost Lorna. Mostly because we didn't tell everyone that we had her in the first place.

"Then how about some lunch between old friends?" he suggested.

I could hear tension in his voice. Whatever it was, he wasn't going to be talking about it on the phone. If he did have info about Lorna, I needed to hear it.

"Sure," I agreed. "Meet me in an hour at Smiley's?"

"Sounds good. I haven't eaten there in ages."

He hung up before I could say anything else. I stared at my phone's blank screen for several seconds before dialing Kenrid. He answered on the second ring.

"I might have a lead," I said before he even had a chance to say hello.

"Tell me everything," Kenrid said.

I repeated my short conversation with Jonah.

"You think he's talking about Lorna?" Kenrid asked.

"I can't think of anything else we lost," I replied, shedding my sweaty clothes on the way to the shower. "I'm meeting him at Smiley's in an hour. I just wanted someone to know in case it's a trap or some shit."

Silence drifted across the line between us for several seconds, but then Kenrid said, "Call me as soon as you're done. Or better yet, wait for me to join you."

"Jonah's a friend," I stated. But now wasn't the time to be careless. "Sort of. It might be good to have you nearby, actually."

"I'll be there," he said, then hung up.

I wasn't sure what he had going on today, but it would help to have him watching my back. Normally, I'd get Damon to go with me, but he and Nathan were sealed in The Fanged Prince for the day. While Kenrid wasn't the same powerhouse as the demon, he was still fierce in a fight. And one of the cleverest fae I'd ever met. He'd be able to see if Jonah was sincere or just spinning a web of lies.

I showed up at the restaurant a few minutes early. Windows lined the front of the building, giving me the perfect view of Jonah's enormous form taking up nearly an entire bench in a corner booth. His brown hair was just as wild as his full beard. I'd teased him about it for years, but he"d always shrugged it off with a smile.

As I watched him flirt with the waitress, I couldn't help but grin. She was an older woman—probably in her sixties—with a full head of gray hair and a bright smile. She planted a hand on her wide hip and laughed at whatever Jonah just said. He was always good at making the ladies smile.

I slid out of the truck and sent a quick text to Kenrid.

Me: I'm ready for lunch

mymankenny: I'm at a corner table in the back. I assume the loud, boisterous man is your friend.

Me: Yep

As I entered the diner, I tucked my phone in my pocket. A small bell banged against the glass window, announcing my arrival. Jonah waved me over, and I didn't hesitate to head his way. I wouldn't even look for Kenrid. While Jonah might act all jovial, he was observant.

"Long time no see," Jonah said. "Have a seat."

I dropped onto the bench across from him. The waitress followed right behind me.

"What can I get for ya, handsome?" she asked with a thick southern drawl.

"Bacon cheeseburger with fries," I replied. "And sweet tea."

"You got it." She smiled, winked at Jonah, and walked away.

I smirked. "Still playing the field?"

He laughed, and we fell into an easy conversation about nothing important. Our food arrived a few minutes later. Like all shifters before us, eating was more important than talking. But all too soon, my plate was empty. I hadn't realized how hungry I was.

"So, I ran into Conrad Roane about a week ago," Jonah said out of the blue.

I racked my brain, trying to remember who he was talking about. Jonah didn't wait for me to figure it out.

"Runs the Northeastern Kiss," he said.

"Ah, yeah." I remembered now; Conrad Roane was the last vampire master to give up his dhampir. Now I knew for certain why Jonah was here. I leaned back and met his gray eyes. I always thought they were dull for a shifter. We usually had vibrant colored eyes. Not Jonah. That didn't mean he didn't see everything around him.

"What's the old man been up to?" I asked.

Jonah leaned forward, bracing his forearms on the table. "Introduced me to a cute little d'laej."

My entire body tensed, and my wolf whined softly. Was he talking about Lorna or a real demon? How could I ask without giving anything away? If Conrad had her and showed her to Jonah, could I trust him?

I leaned forward as well, putting my face only a few inches from his. "What does Conrad want with a demon?" I whispered.

Jonah barked out a laugh and clamped a hand on my shoulder. My wolf growled with the contact, but I forced him to be still. We needed Jonah's information.

"He tried to convince me she was dhampir," he replied so quietly I could barely hear him. "Let's pay up and have this discussion in your truck."

I agreed completely; we couldn't talk openly around a bunch of humans. I waved at the waitress and asked for our check. Jonah insisted on paying, and I didn't argue.

As we stood to leave, he jerked his head toward the back of the diner. "Tell your friend to join us."

I should've known he'd sense Kenrid's fae magic. Most shifters could smell a supernatural in their midst. Some were just better than others. Jonah had always been among the best, and if he sensed Kenrid, he probably still was.

I met Kenrid's eyes and nodded. He frowned, a familiar expression for our fae. The smile he'd cultivated during Lorna's brief stay vanished with her. He tossed a handful of cash on the table and joined me.

As the three of us piled into my truck, Kenrid insisted that Jonah sit in the front passenger seat. I didn't even try to think about his reasons. Maybe he was just being polite. I doubted it, but also, I didn't really care.

"So, what makes Conrad think he's found a dhampir?" I asked as soon as we all settled in.

I'd started the truck and cranked up the air conditioning. New Orleans was hot most of the time and especially brutal in the summer.

"Have you seen him lately?" Jonah asked, not giving me an answer.

I scowled. "What do you think?"

The grizzly laughed, but I didn't find it funny. Maybe normally I would, but this shit wasn't normal.

"I hadn't seen him in decades until last week," Jonah said. "He looks like a walking skeleton. I'd heard that withdrawal symptoms from the dhampir's blood were severe, but damn. He looks like shit, especially for being off the Kool-Aid for over a hundred years."

"And?" I prodded. "Finding a dhampir is no joke, man."

"No kidding." He smirked, and I snarled at him. "Lighten up, Elliott. She ain't no dhampir. Conrad stuffed a half dozen vampires into her tiny cell, and she did nothing. She gave him a bored look and basically brushed him off."

Disappointment punched me in the gut. Conrad didn't have our dhampir. Lorna's control had been astounding around Damon, but there was no way she just ignored a room full of vampires.

"Why did you call her a d'laej?" Kenrid asked from the back seat.

Jonah shifted around to look at him. "That's the name she gave me. Conrad had been trying to get her to reveal her name for days. When I asked what her name was, she said ‘D'laej.'" He shrugged, but I saw the gleam in his eyes.

"Just tell us what you know, Jonah," I spat.

He laughed again, and I wanted to punch him in the face. I hated word games.

"Fine, fine." He chuckled a few more times and then gave me his full attention. "You used to be so much fun. When I left Conrad, I got to thinking. Why would he insist she was dhampir when she obviously wasn't? Sure, he was a little unhinged, and withdrawals probably scrambled his already addled brain, but Conrad wasn't stupid. Or at least he didn't used to be."

His eyes darted to Kenrid for a moment before trailing back to me. "So, I did a little digging. Found out about the wolves y'all executed for kidnapping one of the clan. Nasty shit. Betrayal like that can only result in death, though. Good move."

I rolled my eyes at his theatrics. I'd forgotten how much he liked to talk.

"Anyway," Jonah said, "then I heard this rumor that your missing clan member was Damon's mate. Imagine my surprise." He pressed his palm against his chest like he was really fucking surprised. I was gonna hit him. "There aren't any other demons on the North American continent," he continued, ignoring my snarl. "I checked, just to be sure. So, who and what could possibly be mated to Damon?"

Jonah's eyes darted back and forth between Kenrid and me like he expected us to answer. Fat chance.

"When that cute little girl said her name was D'laej, I couldn't help but wonder. The timing was kind of perfect." Jonah looked at me. "She was delivered to Conrad the same night your clan member disappeared."

The grizzly leaned back against the window, crossing his arms over his broad chest. I didn't like how much he knew. He'd already decided that Lorna was Conrad's prisoner, but he'd also confirmed she wasn't dhampir.

"What did Conrad's prisoner look like?" Kenrid asked.

Jonah tapped his chin like he was trying to remember. I snarled at him again. Stupid drama queen.

"Tall, slender, blonde hair cut really short and the most beautiful hazel eyes I've ever seen on a woman," he replied. "She was definitely part fae, part human. Not dhampir."

Kenrid's gaze met mine, and I knew we were thinking the same thing. It sure sounded like Lorna. I thought about Jonah's timeline. Lorna had been missing for twelve days.

"When did you see her?" I asked.

"Five or six days ago," he replied.

"Why are you telling us?" Kenrid questioned.

Jonah's smile faded. "Rumors are dangerous. I've managed to pull two different posts from our dark web about a dhampir sighting. I was there when the fae killed the last bunch of dhampir. We don't need that kind of fear running rampant in the supernatural community. Every vampire around will be storming Conrad's estate trying to take her, and every other supernatural will be trying to kill her."

He glanced out the front window, his humor completely gone. "If she was really dhampir, I'd probably kill her myself. But she had a sweet innocence about her that called to my bear. She should be treasured and protected, not fearing for her life with every breath she takes."

"Shit." This was getting out of hand so fast. My wolf did not want to hear of yet another man pining after his mate. "How do we stop the rumors? And how do we free her from Conrad?"

"I'm pretty sure Conrad has a camera on his little prisoner," Jonah replied. "If we could get a copy of the video with her brushing off a room full of vampires, I think that'd squash all the rumors."

"And her freedom?" Kenrid asked. "Will you take us to her?"

Jonah turned back to look at Kenrid. "She's your clan member, isn't she?"

Kenrid nodded. "It sounds like her. Like you said, the timing is about right."

"Is she really Damon's mate?" Jonah's voice sounded just a little too harsh to me. My wolf growled, and the grizzly's attention snapped my way. "Or is she yours?"

I glared at the man sitting only a few feet from me. He held my gaze for a little too long. A few more seconds, and we'd be in challenge territory.

"Right now, she's being held against her will," Kenrid said. "We should focus on her escape and let her decide on a mate. She'll probably hate all men for quite some time after this."

"You're right." Jonah dropped his gaze and scrubbed his beard. "I can show you where the estate is located, but I can't get you in."

"What do you want in return?" Kenrid asked the question I should've thrown out before Jonah started talking.

"A copy of the video," Jonah replied, placing a card on my dash. "Dhampir can't come back. Not even the suspicion of one. Nothing good comes from that."

He was certainly right about that. And having a video out there touting Lorna's normalcy would only help us hide and protect her.

"We'll make sure you get a copy," I promised.

Jonah nodded and opened the door. "Let me know when you're ready." Without a backward glance, he strolled across the parking lot and got into an old Dodge Charger. I watched him leave with a hundred questions rolling through my mind.

"Do you think it's her?" Kenrid asked, still in the back seat.

"Part of me hopes yes, and the other part prays it's not," I replied, gripping the steering wheel. "Do you know anything about Conrad Roane?"

Kenrid leaned forward and rested his arms on the back of the front seat. "He's one of the worst. All his dhampir were slaves."

That's what I'd remembered as well. "Yeah, I can only hope he's changed."

"Don't count on it." Kenrid sneered. "If he truly believes Lorna is dhampir, he won't let her defy him. We need to be prepared to subdue a rabid dhampir when we get there."

I spun around and looked at him. I knew how he felt about Lorna. Anyone with eyes could see their connection. Did he really think he could kill her? I'd tried to convince myself I could in the beginning, but as soon as she disappeared, the ache in my chest from my wolf's pain quickly changed my mind. I couldn't do that to him.

"We'll get her back," I said. "If the asshole did awaken her magic, we'll do whatever she needs to be Lorna again."

Kenrid nodded, but the hollowness in his eyes didn't give me a warm, fuzzy feeling. "Is that Jonah's number?" he asked.

I reached over and picked up the card Jonah left on my dash. His name and cell phone number were printed on one side. The other side was blank.

"Yeah."

"Then let's have the beginnings of a plan ready for Nathan." Kenrid opened his door and left me alone with all the same questions.