Free The Pursuit by A. E. Jones

help.”
    “No. I’m not upset about that. Thank you for helping me. What are our next steps?”
    “Renato and his guards have gone missing. We must find him before he strikes again.”
    Talia shook her head. “Something’s not right about this, Jean Luc. Why would Renato attack her? And in the same hotel where he’s staying? Why would he want to bring trouble knocking at his own door right before he was involved in a tribunal? It doesn’t make sense.”
    “Maybe he has gone mad.”
    “Or maybe someone is setting him up? Someone in his contingent?” She sat up in the bed. “Or one of the other founding vampires?”
    “To what end?” Jean Luc asked.
    “If the tribunal is called, how is a new leader chosen?”
    “Several founding vampires must allege misconduct on the part of the leader, and if he is removed, then those vampires are vetted as candidates for the new leader.”
    “Renato is in the running for this, right? What if one of the other founders wants to make sure he is not chosen? Right now, he doesn’t look like a good choice after what’s been happening.”
    “You have a point. But I still need to speak with Renato.”
    “So go look for him.”
    He hesitated, and she smiled.
    “I’m fine, honest. I’ll be good and stay here and rest. But I’m out of this bed tomorrow morning. Do we have a deal?”
    “We have a deal. Are you up for visitors while I am gone?”
    He didn’t fool her. Visitors meant someone to watch over her, but she wouldn’t fight him on that either. “Yes.”
    Jean Luc walked toward the door, and she called out to him, “Don’t go after Renato alone.”
    He looked over his shoulder, his lips turning up slightly. “I thought you said it was not him?”
    She opened her mouth to argue, and he continued, “Misha would not let me go alone even if I chose to. But he will want to see you before we go, so I will send him in.”
    Five minutes later, Misha and Will bustled into the room.
    Will grabbed her hand. “You doin’ okay, T?”
    “Yes. Thanks.”
    Misha grinned. “You scared me, my dear. Don’t do that again.”
    “Yes, sir. Has anyone talked to Annie yet?”
    “Nope,” Will answered. “She’s sedated. Since she’s having issues with bloodlust, Doc suggested I shouldn’t get too close, since shifter blood is so yummy to you vamps and all.”
    Talia rolled her eyes. “That ego of yours is going to get you into trouble one of these days, Will.”
    Will motioned to Misha. “Maybe Mr. Stinky Blood here can talk to her.”
    “My blood is not stinky!” Misha sputtered. “It’s not palatable to vampires, which I personally think is a good thing. The fledgling is not too happy with either of us, since we cuffed her and brought her here.”
    “Well, what about Kyle?”
    Will and Misha shook their heads at the same time.
    Will spoke up first. “Annie won’t let Kyle near her. I don’t blame her. Kyle let her have it.”
    Talia frowned. She couldn’t remember exactly what happened, just snippets of Kyle shouting. “What did she do?”
    Misha cut in. “It was brilliant. Shades of the show Alias . Sydney Bristow would be proud. She grabbed a fire extinguisher and sprayed Annie to shock her into letting you go. Then she walloped her with the canister. Twice.”
    Will chuckled. “If Kyle wasn’t dating the leader of the shifters, I would so go after her.”
    “I owe her my thanks.” Talia said.
    Misha leaned down and kissed her on top of her head. “Kyle will be in to visit in a little bit. Close your eyes for a while and rest.”
    “I’m not tired.”
    “You know I’ll keep arguing with you until you agree, yes?”
    “Stubborn Russian. Fine. I’ll rest if you watch out for Jean Luc.”
    Misha’s eyes narrowed on her. “Always.”
    Will squeezed her hand before following Misha out of the room.
    Talia closed her eyes. She wasn’t tired. She would just close them for a few minutes.
    * * *
    Talia opened her eyes. Once again, she was not alone in the