Vampire's Companion by Jory Strong

to—
    Come to me.
    Instincts dueled. Bonds dueled, his sire versus his companion.
    He took a step toward the exit. Israel caught up to him.
    Come to me. Though Gian didn’t enforce the command with his will.
    Terach took several more steps before common sense prevailed. Before the imperative to get to his companion yielded to the respect he owed his sire.
    She wouldn’t leave the city without informing her captain. Modern technology meant she could easily be found and he couldn’t afford to be caught outside in the sun, chasing her.
    He joined Gian, the tightness in his chest easing at finding Skye sitting next to him, beer bottle in hand. Even before discovering her Angelini heritage and making a vampire one of her mates, she was a famed hunter of the missing.
    “Good of you to obey,” Gian said, amusement lacing his voice.
    “If I’m slow to do it, possibly it’s because I take after you.”
    Gian laughed. “Brann would no doubt be quick to agree. But then he claims I’m a disrespectful ass when it comes to him. I take it you finally realized your companion is fleeing the city?”
    Bite had replaced amusement. Everything inside Terach stilled. How did Gian know?
    A flicked glance at Skye answered the question. Rico must have provided the information. “Where’s she going?”
    “Ventura.”
    He could be safely there in under an hour, sending Israel after her in the car in case her plans deviated while he made the trip via private jet. He could commandeer some of the humans who guarded Fangs during the day. They could be trusted to secure whatever location he chose for his daytime resting place.
    The bond stretched thinner, the connection minutes from breaking. He pulled car keys and a wad of cash from his back pocket, thrusting them into Israel’s hand while he sent the image of Cia’s car mentally. “Go.”
    Israel’s resistance pounded against Terach’s senses. His fingers closed around keys and cash with enough force to whiten the knuckles. He took them, pivoted.
    Terach grabbed his arm, unwilling to part this way.
    Where once he would have been self-conscious about letting others witness his desire for another man, possessive urges dominated now. His mouth claimed, tasting anger and fear of separation, and driving them back with the thrust of his tongue, incinerating them with the ravenous promise of what it would be like when they were together again.
    Israel’s resistance lessened. His body softened.
    Only the possible loss of Cia gave Terach the strength to break the contact rather than drag Israel back to the bedroom to sink cock and fangs into him. “Go after her. Please. Keep her safe.”
    “Hold,” Gian said, dipping a hand into the biker’s jacket Skye wore and retrieving a pen.
    He snagged one of the bar napkins littering the table and wrote a phone number on it. “Raphael’s cell,” he said, directing the information at Israel. “He’s one of Brann’s companions. He’ll be able to track and guide you to Cia.”
    Gian placed a black credit card with no spending limit on the napkin, pushing both across the table. Israel took only the phone number then left.
    “You test him?”
    “Perhaps. And perhaps I test you. Remain in Las Vegas until tomorrow night. When you wake, come directly to me.”
    No!
    It swelled upward from deep within. Terach’s muscles bunched. His hands curled into fists with the effort not to shout the denial.
    Gian’s expression remained unchanged, centuries of history flowing back and forth between them like a silent tide.
    “As you will, Sire,” he said in a tone textured with thick resistance.

Chapter Four
    Cia emerged from the motel bathroom fresh from the shower and feeling human again despite the long day yesterday and early morning arrival.
    Her cell rang.
    Grabbing it, she smiled.
    “What’s up?” Tessa asked.
    “I’m in town.”
    “Seriously?”
    “Seriously.”
    “You’re the answer to a prayer. How long are you here for?”
    “I’m on