Chapter 30

We tore that fucking island apart looking for Eden.

In addition to a dozen vampires and dhampirs, the searchers included hundreds of humans, including Eden's parents, and, to my surprise, my own mother. The mayor and the local police worked with Cain to coordinate the search, starting with the marina and fanning outward through Bluebeard's Cove and then to the rest of the island.

Vampires combed through the woods and the island's caves, using their superior senses to hunt for Eden in places humans would be handicapped by the darkness. The rain had stopped, but unfortunately, it had washed things clean.

When Cain tried to track Eden's phone, he discovered it had been shut down, its last known location a few hundred meters from the Montgomery's house. The only clue was the SUV, which had been abandoned on a beach near my mom's cottage.

Eden had been taken off island—nothing else made sense. Probably by a local who knew a good hiding place. Esposito, for example, because that beach near my mom's house had a shallow cavern that could've concealed a boat.

Rio attached himself to me, his skinny body wrapped in a long black raincoat like something out of the Matrix.

"I'm going back to that beach," I told him.

"I'm going with you," he said, and swung onto the bike behind me without waiting for permission.

I considered tossing him off, but the kid had grown on me, and who knew, maybe he could be of help. "Hang on," I told him and accelerated out of town.

We left the bike on the cliff, making our way by foot down the rocky path to the cavern. The tide was coming in, making it even less likely I'd find anything, but I wasn't leaving without trying. There must be something we'd missed. A clue. A trace of Eden—a footprint, a strand of hair—that would miraculously point me in her direction.

Rio trailed me into the cavern, swinging a flashlight methodically from side to side, but we both came up empty. When we reached the entrance again, I paused on the thin strip of sand and rocks that hadn't been eaten by the tide, staring out at the Atlantic.

Rio stopped a few feet away, fury radiating from him like his heart was burning up. I knew how he felt. I even guessed some of his anger was for me, and I accepted that.

He turned off the flashlight and shoved it into his coat pocket. "Why the fuck did you make her come back here? Why couldn't you just leave her alone?"

Guilt pressed on my chest. "You think I'm not asking myself that?"

"So then why, damn it? She was happy. She was doing okay. I would've helped her after the baby was born."

Because she's mine, damn it. And so is that baby.

That wasn't a good enough answer, though, was it? And it wasn't even the whole truth.

I'd gone after Eden because without her, nothing had seemed to matter. Not the syndicate. Not my promotion to lieutenant. Not even the respect I got these days from all the islanders who'd written me off as a troublemaker.

Rio sniffed, clearly fighting not to cry. He covered it by swiping at his nose with the back of his hand. "This wasn't supposed to happen. You motherfuckers are supposed to protect her."

My jaw worked. "I know. But I'm going to get her back."

"You'd better."

Dawn was creeping closer. I noticed with that part of me that was always aware of the coming daylight, but otherwise ignored it.

"I will," I said, as much for myself as him. "Or go to my final grave trying."

He speared me with a look. "Good."

Brien texted me, ordering me to return to the castle ASAP. I swore, resenting the weakness that prevented me from continuing the search. But letting the sun burn me to a crisp wouldn't bring Eden home.

Up until now, I'd kept my fear for Eden at bay, but as the darkness lightened, I wanted to drop back my head and howl at the sky like an animal in pain.

"We have to get back," I told Rio.

I didn't recall the ride back to the castle. Somehow, I ended up in the war room, Rio still stuck to me like a burr. Brien and Twilight had already returned, and Cain walked in seconds behind me.

I could tell by their faces that the news wasn't good, but I asked anyway.

Brien grimaced. "Nothing. I'm sorry."

"We won't give up," Cain said. "Tomorrow night we expand the search."

I tugged on my hair, fighting that urge to howl again. "That's too late. We need to find her now."

The pair of soldiers in the war room shifted uneasily, their gazes carefully aimed at the floor. Brien pulled me into his office. Twilight and Cain followed, closing the door on Rio and the soldiers.

"You have to chill," Brien told me. "We'll keep the search going. Aiden is standing by to spearhead it."

I drew a deep breath. Normally, I was the coolheaded one, the man who calmed everyone else down. Well, fuck that.

I shook off his hand. "This is on me. If she's gone missing, then someone kidnapped her to get to me. Because she's carrying my spawn."

Twilight propped a hip against the desk. "I think you're right. But why—what do they want from you?"

"That's a good question," I said slowly.

Brien massaged the bridge of his nose. "Gods, I wish we knew more. I hate flying blind like this. But maybe we should move the search to the mainland."

I jerked my head in assent. "Now. Before we sleep."

"We'll have Aidan take point on that," Brien agreed with a yawn. He scrubbed a hand over his face. "We all need to get to bed—and soon."

"Ten minutes," said Twilight. "Maybe less."

Cain took out his phone, saying, "I'll have Aiden meet me at my apartment."

The four of us set off at a fast pace for our respective quarters. Aiden jogged up as Cain and I turned down our corridor. The two of us brought the lean, dark-haired dhampir up to date.

"If you find her," I added, "don't wait for us to wake up. Get her the fuck out of there unless you think it would put her in more danger."

"Will do." Aiden squared his shoulders. "And I just want to say, I appreciate your trust in me. I won't let you down."

"I know," I said and watched as he strode back in the direction of the war room.

Cain touched my back. "Go to bed. We'll find her—or they'll contact us. One way or the other, we'll know more soon."

"Yeah." I nodded and went into my apartment. For a beat, I slumped against the closed door. Gods, I was exhausted. And hungry. It had been too many nights since I'd had fresh blood.

But I'd run out of time. I headed into my bedroom, yawning and shedding clothes as I went. As I set my phone on the nightstand, my phone buzzed.

A message from Eden.

My stomach lurched. I snatched the phone up, but my eyes had already closed.

I fought the day sleep with everything I had but my body was shutting down. The phone dropped back to the nightstand, and I fell sideways onto my mattress like a goddamned tree in a windstorm.