Free Captiva Captive by Talyn Scott Page B

nameless women at all, but the singular woman who he could not seem to get his hands back on:  Blythe Giarrusso.  Where are you?  
    He had to face it. Yes, his royal pride experienced its first putdown when she fought everything he was to her…everything he made her feel.  In return, he fell in love with Blythe, and emotionally; he couldn’t fight back.  Couldn’t let her go.
    “I’m afraid that I’m not an expert on their mannerisms, since humans aren’t my forte.” Salk rubbed his shaved head, speaking with as much patience as he could muster while he watched the women stomp out of earshot. “Sire, please, back to the matter at hand.” He pulled a linen handkerchief out of his jacket and swiped his perspiring brow.  “We have a dozen Donors missing now.  May I be so bold as to say that Lovci cannot spend all their time rounding up the lost and ignoring the possibility of finding the new?”
    “Of course I want them to discover the new!”  Gianni stood up, every bit the Marchii he was, and stalked towards the open window that overlooked endless and glorious gardens.  “We have many to feed.”  Dynasty Vampyrs could only drink from born Donors.  Their fangs were deathly toxic to any other creature they bit.  And even if they were starving, nothing besides a Donor could give them a drop of sustenance.  As a nobleman, Marchii Gianni was one of the purest bred Dynasty Vampyrs who walked the earth.
    “We have extra males on property.  All are Donors,” Salk explained easily, not worried for his nourishment since hunters could drink from anything.  “Personally, I love to feed from human males on most occasions.”  Salk, as well as the other Lovci, weren’t permitted to drink from Donors. “Surprisingly, their blood is chock-full of virility and innate aggression, which kicks up my hunting instincts.”
    “Find her.”
    Salk was still giving it his best shot.  “I had quite an exciting luncheon just a few hours ago in a darkened alcove behind the piazza,” he admitted wistfully.  “A male youth of twenty has incredible physical stamina.  After drinking that blood, I’m certain I could hunt for a week without stopping.”
    “ I have incredible physical stamina, and I want to share it with one particular Donor.  Who is missing!”
    His Lovec continued, “Yes… everyone has a preference, and I understand you prefer your missing Donor.” He shoved his damp handkerchief back into his pocket. “But I’m respectfully asking that you drop the hunt for your specific Donor and allow us to use our resources to find her replacement.” 
    Having heard enough, Gianni pushed his body forward, moving across the marbled floors with extraordinary speed.  He landed atop Stalk with an astonishing gracefulness only a Dynasty Vampyr possessed and slammed him against the floor until his head thumped like an overripe melon.  “I want her,” he snarled as an expanse of silken hair whipped around his face.  “You have a lead, hunter.  I smell your deception.”  He extended his toxic fangs and watched as his lifelong Lovec, and sometimes friend, stared back in horrific astonishment.
    “The Lovci have one.  Only on her brother, but not h-her,” he stammered.
    “I knew you were hiding something!”  He hissed so loudly the floor vibrated underneath Salk’s back.  “I drank from her daily,” Gianni roared.  “Because of that, she needs my exchange, or she will die!  Do you hear me?”  No, he shouldn’t have done it.  Gianni shamelessly took from her for the selfish reason that he wanted to sink his teeth in Blythe and Blythe alone.  And for that, she would pay for leaving him…whether he wanted her to or not.  Unquestionably, he wanted her back, but Gianni never wanted someone so incredibly precious to pay for his ghastly mistake.
    “She’s not with her brother,” Salk answered regretfully.  “We used everything that you gave us to aid in tracking.  After all this time, her