The Other Half Ch. 06

Forgetting about everything and everyone in the room, Kris let herself drown in the feel of his hot tongue caressing hers as he pulled her closer to him. When he finally raised his head and rested it against hers, she released a soft whimper of pure bliss.

"Feel better, me vita?" Michael brushed his lips over her forehead. "You're doing a wonderful job, Kristiana, and we will find your sister's pups. However, later we will discuss your leaving the hotel against my wishes."

Too relaxed in his arms to protest, she merely nodded. Perhaps she had been foolish but she felt the risk had been worth it if the information proved true.

The rest of the day sped by in a blur for Kris. Michael contacted the police department and asked for the detective in charge of the investigation of the break-in. They discussed jurisdictions and it was agreed that they would proceed separately but sharing the information they had. Neither wanted to stumble over the other and risk the perpetrator going free.

The Leroux pack's healers arrived and were followed shortly afterwards by the Alpha and Jenna. The scouts spent a brief moment sniffing out the abductors' scents before slipping out the back and into the crowds. Though silver was used, the bullet had merely been coated and therefore not as deadly as it could have been. The healers extracted the round and bound their patient knowing she'd sleep deeply but be well by morning. Keith paced the small room impatiently.

The announcement to the rest of the Others about the Leroux Alpha's children caused a smattering of sympathy amongst the attendees but little else. In the modern day, crime was a recognized fact of life and most assumed it was an isolated incident. Kris told them of the break-in at her apartment, the letter she received there along with the torn photo, and the message she'd heard from Ricardo. She waited while each made their phone calls and asked only that they tell her if all was well or not.

One by one, the reports came in and they learned that five more children had been taken while three others' homes had been attacked unsuccessfully. The vampires, who couldn't bear children, hadn't been required at the meeting but Kris was surprised when several attended anyway. They explained that, while they couldn't give birth, they considered those who they bring over as their children and therefore decided to see what the meeting was about. Thankfully, none of the vampires' children were among the missing.

Back in the suite, Andrews was marking on the city map the location where each child was taken. Shae had gone to the makeshift hospital room to sit with Jenna and her mate and Urúvion had taken several of his best shaman and warriors to the crash site. Kris was looking for any place that might be central to the locations when Michael hung up the phone with a strange look on his face.

"That was Ambassador Elizabeth Pierce. She and her mate are on their way up and want to speak to you."

"O...kay. I can't put a name to the face. Who's she?"

"It's not really who she is that makes me wonder what they want. It's her mate."

"And he is...?" Kris frowned, aggravated at having to pull information out of him a piece at a time.

"Johannes Hunsinger."