Samantha Young - Blood Past

Ryan had promised him Eden when he’d come across Teagan watching her. She was fifteen when he first began to want her. He knew she was special, Ryan had told him all about it. But it wasn’t until that day, as he watched her laugh with Stellan outside in the gardens, that he felt desire for her.

There was power about her yes, but more than that there was a humanity about her he had ached to possess, to possess and destroy, to mould her into what he wanted and control her. He wanted to own her in every way possible and he knew deep in his gut that she belonged to him. Ryan had been delighted. His uncle had wanted Eden to bear a new breed of Blessed. With her heritage they would be phenomenal. But to breed with Teagan, an extremely powerful member of the Blessed, could only work in Ryan’s favour. Teagan had wanted what Ryan wanted too. But more than anything he just wanted Eden. And he wouldn’t stop until he had her.

So… if she was Ankh now… it didn’t matter. He thought of Ryan’s research he had tucked away in his holdall. Research that Ryan had stolen. Research that turned out to be true. Teagan could only surmise that if one part of the faded words on the yellowing papers had proven correct, then the rest was undeniable. If Eden was Ankh, it would mean more work, but he was willing to cut down anyone in his path to get her back… in every sense of the word.

Teagan stiffened at the soft scuffling sound from inside the room. God dammit, he could have sworn the bitch was dead. Huffing at the inconvenience of having to touch her after having just showered, Teagan strode back into the dimly lit room and stopped in the centre of it. The hair on the back of his neck rose. Something wasn’t right.

From his peripheral he caught the blur of movement and turned in time to catch the fist that flew at his face. Twisting the arm behind his attackers back, Teagan took satisfaction in the sound of it breaking, the Blessed falling to his knees before him with a muffled cry. Pain shot up Teagan’s back as another opponent kicked him from behind. He pushed the one in front of him away and whirled around to crack the woman across the face with his backhanded slap. She soared off her feet and collapsed against the bedside cabinet.

“Stop,” a deep voice rumbled, and like demons from hell, ten members of the Blessed slithered out from the shadows of the room. Teagan schooled his features, refusing to show his surprise. How the hell did they get in? “Teagan Winslow, stand down.” The voice was so full of authority, so sure that Teagan would acquiesce that he knew right away who they were.

“Effing Tribunal,” he cursed, standing up straight.

They’d found him.

In a way he shouldn’t be surprised. Aunt Celine had been right. Maybe he was too bloody careless. He’d been killing guys and girls all over the city, leaving them in hotel rooms. The police had no clue what to do about a serial killer who killed indiscriminately and somehow managed to delete the hotel tapes and booking systems and get by all members of staff without being seen. The Phantom of Detroit they were calling him. He should have known he was bound to draw the Tribunal’s attention with that one. He’d just been hoping he’d hear word back from his informant on Eden’s whereabouts before The Tribunal found him.

“Language,” the voice stepped forward to reveal a tall, distinguished looking man with blank pale grey eyes just like Teagan’s. “Show some respect for your betters.” Betters my sweet white ass.

“You know why we’re here, Teagan Winslow.”

He nodded.

“Well, rumours were wrong. I heard you were a smart mouthed little prick who didn’t know when to stop talking.”

Teagan flinched at the insults. If anyone else had said that he would have ripped them apart. He eyed the group that had him surrounded and wondered if he could be fast enough to do so.

“Don’t even think about it,” the man warned. “I am Darwin Rice and I am here to judge you for your crimes.”

“I’m guessing the judging part is already over and you’re more of the executor of the punishment.”

Darwin smirked. “You’d guess right.”

Teagan cursed inwardly and straightened his shoulders. He hadn’t wanted to do this. He didn’t know if he could trust them. But he had no other choice. “I’ll make you a deal.”

“We do not do deals.”

“Even if I could promise you Cyrus of Persepolis on a platter?” The room grew hushed with the arrogant promise until Darwin narrowed his eyes. “And I am to believe a jumped up little turd like you can deliver such a promise?” Cracking his neck at the jibe, Teagan eyed Darwin dangerously and grew smug at the wary look that passed across the older man’s eyes. Surely they could all feel the kind of power Teagan was emitting. “Eden Winslow is with him. He’s her guardian. I’ve got an informant who’s going to tell me where they are. If I find them, I bring you Cyrus and you let me and Eden go.”

“Miss Winslow has crimes to pay for.”

Teagan snorted. “Eden didn’t do any of that stuff you found in the house. She’s as pure as the driven snow.”

“Does not matter. She is responsible for allowing it to occur without reporting the crimes to The Tribunal.”

He snarled at the thought of these guys getting their hands on what was his. “Look, I bring you Cyrus, you let me have Eden. Take it or leave it.”

“Then we’ll leave it.”

Fuck.

“OK, OK. What if I were to tell you I could get Cyrus and Valeria of Corsica. I hear she’s pretty friendly with Darius of Mesopotamia. She might draw him out.” Darwin grimaced. “I’m not impressed.”

“It’s the truth. Cyrus and Valeria were last seen with Eden.” The older Blessed was silent for a moment and then he turned to gaze at one of his companions, who nodded. With a reluctant sigh, Darwin looked back at him. “Fine. We’ll give you six weeks to fulfil this promise. Cyrus and Valeria for your and Eden’s freedom.” Teagan grinned. “No problem.”

“We’ll be putting a tracking device inside you to make sure you don’t just run, boy.”

“Hey, I’m not agreeing to that crap.”

Darwin sighed wearily. “We stick the tracking device in you and when you bring us Cyrus and Valeria we’ll take it out. To sweeten the deal we’ll even turn a blind eye to the desires you can’t see to keep under control.” He flicked a disgusted look at the corpse on the bed.

Chewing on it, Teagan decided it was the best deal he’d ever receive. He nodded carefully. “Fine.

We’ve got a deal.”

Oh crap, Cyrus and Val were going to kill her. Eden frantically scanned the crowds of pedestrians for October but there was still no sign of her.

Cyrus had decided to leave Eden in Val’s capable hands since he wasn’t really into the whole shopping thing. It had been determined that Eden would not go anywhere without one or the other as a precautionary measure, in case Arcos and her people somehow miraculously discovered Eden’s whereabouts. That morning Cyrus had headed out after Noah, who was apparently checking out the Neith training centre (built under that cool old art deco theatre they had passed), and Val and October had led Eden outside for the first time in days. It was a warmish day, and they had done quite a lot of walking from Morningside into Old Town, but Eden enjoyed it. She was surprised by how much she liked the hustle and bustle, the hissing of buses (they were everywhere!) stopping and taking off, the millions of accents that floated past her ears, the smells of coffee and exhaust fumes in the otherwise crisp air. She gazed wide-eyed as she passed people, no longer consumed by the urge to eat their souls. God, she’d forgotten how free she had once been before Noah had awoken her hunger.