Chapter 16
Dru’s private quarters at the inn had a desk and chair in the corner.
She was deep in writing up her reports on the military post. She had plenty to recommend for the postmaster and was sure he’d be open to her suggestions.
Not that he truly had a choice. Reviewing this post had her interested in visiting other ones throughout their territory.
She glanced at her tablet and pulled up the former reports that had been submitted on them.
A message came through. Ciro requesting a video chat. She hit the accept button. Within seconds a call came through on the screen. She tapped the second accept button. Ciro’s face came into view.
“General.” The vampire warrior bowed his head to her.
Dru set the tablet on the desk where it could stand up. “I take it you have news for me if you’re video calling me.”
“That I do. I won’t keep you long.”
He panned out the video to show a female warrior sitting next to him. They were in a darkened room with plenty of monitors and computers. She recognized the female, June Kline.
“Hello, General.” June offered a tight smile.
“June. I hope the two of you have found some information that will be useful,” Dru said.
From the looks of it, Ciro had traveled to Princess Hegna’s in order to work with June. These two vampires were extremely smart and talented with technology. If anyone could find the new alpha of the lycans, it would be them.
“We have. It’s not much, but it’s definitely more than we had. I’ve stayed in contact with Gale and Ishmael who have infiltrated the two dens,” Ciro announced.
This piqued Dru’s interest. She hadn’t expected to hear from Gale and Ishmael so soon, but if the two had already found something out, then it proved her team was phenomenal.
“What do we have?” Dru asked.
“Gale is in Oklahoma right now, and Ishmael is in Oregon. They have gained one piece of information that is identical,” Ciro said. The sound of fingers flying on a keyboard clattered in the background. He shifted to the side and got a little closer to the screen.
“And that is?” Dru arched an eyebrow at him. She glanced at the time in the corner of her tablet and saw that Tomesha should be arriving at any moment.
“Both of the lycans they interrogated claimed there is a female in charge. A pure-born who’s extremely intelligent,” he said.
“We need more than that. It’s likely they’re speaking of Rayna.
They need to keep hitting the lycans harder until they find one who’s desperate.
” She tapped her nails on the desk. Maybe this was why the two warriors hadn’t reached out to her.
Anyone could have thrown out that kind of thing.
She needed confirmation of the damn lycan alpha and the whereabouts of said alpha.
“The only problem they’re running into is that the newly turned lycans aren’t being told anything. Of course they tried to get the name of the alpha, but even with extreme measures, they failed. I truly don’t think they know,” Ciro said.
Dru froze at this.
If the lycans wanted to protect certain data, it would make sense to not have critical plans be known by all. Dru bit back a growl. That would have been a move she’d have suggested.
“Then it looks like they need to expand the targets. Someone is going to talk. I don’t care what or who they have to kill to get the information, we need to know if this is Rayna and where her location is,” Dru snapped.
“Yes, General. I do have some news as well. June here is a genius—”
“I don’t know about that,” June muttered from off the screen.
“Anyway, we’ve been combing the dark web—”
“The who?” This time it was Dru who interrupted Ciro. What the hell was the dark web? She knew what the internet or what websites were, but the dark web? He was losing her quickly.
“It’s part of the internet that is sort of off the books, so to speak. Its’s a non-indexed part of the internet with hidden sites that cover up illegal activities,” Ciro explained nonchalantly.
“And anyone can access it?” Dru ran a hand down her face.
“Not really. It would request certain software and configurations.” Ciro paused. He must have seen Dru’s blank expression. “People like me and June are able to access it. What I was alluding to is there are a few forums where it’s been discussed about an appearance of the alpha.”
“Really?” Now this was information that Dru needed to know. This alpha had been eluding them since Azura was killed. If they could find her, then they could end this war before it began. “And this is confirmed?”
“Nothing is ever confirmed online, General,” Ciro said.
“But we’re going to keep looking into this.
There are too many inconsistencies with what we’re finding, but this lets us know that some of the lycans are chatting amongst each other.
” The view turned to June who glanced away from her screen to face Dru.
“We all know what happens when people get comfortable in certain spaces.”
“They’ll unknowingly give us what we want,” Dru murmured.
“Bingo.” June gave a harsh chuckle. “Don’t worry, General. We’re not going to let them slip away. I’ve created a false persona and will see how many of these forums I can gain access to. We have an advantage over most of the lycans who are on the web.”
“Yeah? What is that?” Dru asked.
“Me.” June stared into the camera without blinking.
“Good job, you two. Keep me up to date and contact me immediately if you confirm anything.”
“Yes, General.”
The screen went blank. She sighed. Her gaze went back to the papers before her. This was what she trusted. Her works on parchment that no one could hack. Too many people relied on their computers, and nothing was ever safe. People like Ciro and June could have access to anything within minutes.
A knock sounded on the door. Dru’s heart picked up its pace. It would appear that her guest was a few minutes early.
“Come in.” Dru sat up straighter and eyed the door. She hoped it was Tomesha and not someone else needing something from her.
“General.” Orenda appeared in the doorway. She gave a bow of her head. She stepped to the side and waved someone in the room. “Your guest, Miss Tomesha Clay, has arrived.”
Dru pushed back from the desk and stood.
Her gaze locked on the breathtaking beauty who sauntered through the door in a simple off-the-shoulder blouse with a flowing skirt that went down to her ankles.
Her hair was left down in waves around her shoulders.
Her eyes, those big brown orbs… She curiously looked around the suite until her gaze landed on Dru.
“Thank you, Orenda.” Dru cleared her throat to remove the huskiness.
Her attention was fully on Tomesha. Orenda took her leave, the door shutting quietly. Dru’s tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth as she watched Tomesha take a few more steps into the room.
“Good evening, General—”
“It’s Dru,” she rasped.
Tomesha stepped around the desk and paused.
She reached down and tugged the blouse over her head and dropped it to the floor.
What little air was left in Dru’s body escaped.
The woman was bold and wore nothing beneath the material.
Her perfect brown mounds with their pebbled nipples were now in view.
A smile appeared on Tomesha’s lips along with a teasing glint.
“Dru,” she said, her voice laced with seduction. Her hands slipped to her waist and pushed down the skirt. It fell into a pile on the floor. She stepped out of it, leaving her completely naked. She kicked off her sandals and made her way to Dru. “I hear that you personally requested me.”
“I did.” Dru’s voice dropped low.
She was unable to look away from such perfection. Tomesha glided toward her and stopped mere inches from her. The scent of Tomesha filled Dru’s nostrils. She breathed in the light floral aroma and the hint of musk. Unable to resist touching her, Dru reached out and palmed Tomesha’s face.
Even though lust filled her and her heart thundered, Dru still heard Mistress’s words.
You almost bled her dry.
Dru froze in place. Tomesha leaned into her touch. Trust and desire burned bright in her eyes.
“I must apologize,” Dru blurted out. She couldn’t stand the thought that she’d caused this woman harm. She vowed to never go so long in between feedings again. She’d be careful from now on when she fed from Tomesha. In the future, she—
She paused.
What future? Once her business was concluded here she’d be leaving.
Tomesha would remain. She’d continue to work for the madam.
Once Dru was gone, she’d be free to service vampires again.
Allow them to have access to this delectable body, taste what was between her legs, feed from her, take from her—
A growl ripped from Dru’s throat. Tomesha stiffened at the scent of fear hitting the air.
Dru blinked and stared down into Tomesha’s eyes.
She trailed her hand down to Tomesha’s waist and held her close.
There would never be a reason for this woman to fear her.
Dru would do what she must to protect her at all times.
This was her woman.
No other will ever touch her again.
“I see someone told you. It’s quite all right. I’m fine. The healers were able to help me.” Tomesha smiled. She backed away from Dru and spun around slowly.
Dru greedily took in her wide hips, ample ass, and soft thighs.
“I promise if I wasn’t, Mistress would not have allowed me to come tonight.”
“I didn’t mean to take so much. I’ll try to restrain myself next time.
” If she needed more, then she’d try another prepared type.
Maybe she’d contact the local blood bank and have them send some over just in case.
She wasn’t sure why a vampire like herself could not control her thirst. She wasn’t a newly turned vampire, she was a full-blooded born vampire.
“I trust you,” Tomesha murmured, stepping back into Dru’s arms.