“If that’s your version of a motivational speech, you’re a scary guy.”

He chuckled and backed away. She watched him circle the clearing, heading toward the back of the cabin. She counted silently in her head. Her heart rate increased, afraid of what she’d face when she ran across that clearing. The master did want her alive though, so her chances were good of not being hurt by whoever lived inside the cabin. Her worst fear was that there might be a surprise waiting. Veso had only seen one person but that didn’t mean more weren’t hiding inside.

Glen hit a hundred, sucked in a sharp breath, and sprinted forward.

“Help!” Her feet hurt a little as she ran but she ignored them, imaging Vlad hot on her ass. “Help me! He’s going to kill me.” She reached the cabin, ran up the five steps, and beat on the door with her fits, panting hard. “Is anyone inside? A bear’s going to kill me! Help!”

A bolt slid from the other side and she backed up, quickly glanced around the narrow porch, then back at the door as it opened. The man who jerked it open was in his mid-thirties, clean-shaven, and had dark hair. His brown eyes showed his surprise.

Glen collapsed to her side, pretending to faint but using her arms to protect her head and ribs as she fell.

Motion from the top of the cabin caught her attention and she watched in amazement as Veso dropped from the roof and almost landed on the man who stepped out onto the porch. Veso’s hand latched around his throat and he slammed him hard against the doorjamb.

Glen sat up and watched as Veso went almost nose to nose with the stranger.

“Don’t move,” Veso demanded.

The man he gripped held utterly still.

“What are your orders?”

“Find the woman, don’t hurt her, and shoot the man with the darts I was given,” the stranger stated. “Call in for help immediately.”

“Did you call anyone when you heard the woman at your door?”

“No.”

“Are you here alone?”

“Yes.”

Glen stood, stepping closer to the cabin so she could see Veso’s face. His eyes had turned a bright golden color. He glanced at her and she forgot how to breathe for a second. He raised his hand, blocking her from seeing his face. “Glenda, turn your back.”

She hesitated.

“Do you want me to control you too? Do as I said now.”

She spun away, curious but warned.

“Answer my questions. When did you check in last?”

“I did when I came home.”

“When are you supposed to do it again?”

“King Charles said to call him if I see or hear anything tonight. Otherwise I must call him in the morning to let him know when I restart my search.”

“Do you speak to King Charles or someone else?”

“Only to King Charles. It’s a pleasure to serve him. I must shoot you with a dart and call him immediately.”

“Forget about the gun. I want you to sleep until I tell you to wake. Do it now.”

Long seconds passed and Glen glanced back. Veso was gone, so was the man, and the cabin door stood wide open.

She followed them inside, stopping right away. Veso had dumped the unconscious man on his back on the floor, a few feet from the door, and was yanking open a closet across the room.

She glanced around. The cabin had an open living space with a loft above on one side. A kitchen and bathroom had been tucked under it. The furniture was sparse and it had a rustic feel, with the exposed log walls. Her gaze returned to the downed man. He didn’t move.

“Is he okay?”

Veso shut the closet, then took the ladder up to the loft. “He’s alive and should stay down. Don’t touch him or get too close until I find something to tie him up with. I’m not sure how deep his orders were planted yet. It’s possible he could rouse if his mind is really messed up.”

Glen kept distanced from the downed man by backing up. She turned, stared out at the trees across the cleared space, then closed the door. She locked it in case someone else showed up at the cabin.

Veso came down the ladder less than a minute later, empty-handed. He strode over to the backpack on the floor near her and dropped to his knees, opening it up.

“I should have checked here first.”

Glen frowned at the sight of the old-fashioned shackles Veso withdrew. They were bulky restraints with about a foot of chain between the cuffs. “What the hell?”

“I’m guessing he got these from a Vamp. They’re stronger than normal handcuffs.” Veso turned, walked on his knees to the guy lying on the floor, and rolled him over. He shackled his wrists behind his back.

“They look a little rusty. Maybe we should find some rope or something else.”

“If they were good enough for me, they are good enough for him.”

Glen opened her mouth, then closed it. It wasn’t worth arguing over. She’d heard every word exchanged and Veso had been right. The man was working with the master. He’d have shot a dart at Veso to knock him out and returned her to that horrible mine if he’d been able to. “I’m starving.”

“Shower first. You’re cold.”

“Do you think there’s hot water?”

“Probably. He’s got solar panels and a utility shed in the back. It means there’s a generator and possibly a water tank. I’m going to check out our weapons situation.”

In other words, he wanted her out of his way. She didn’t complain. At least he wasn’t ordering her to cook him food this time.

Glen rushed toward the bathroom, grateful the cabin had electricity when she flipped on a switch and the light came on.

She closed the door and frowned at the crude bathroom. It had a shower stall and a toilet but no sink. It didn’t matter though when she turned on the water and waited half a minute, running her fingers under the spray. It began to warm.

“Yes!”

Veso couldn’t help but smile when he heard Glenda mutter that single word. He had been pretty certain the cabin would have hot water. It had been built sturdy for year-round use, not just some summer hunting shack. He located two guns in the cabin, including a shotgun, and then returned to the sleeping human. He rolled him onto his side and knelt low, getting close.

“Wake and look at me,” he demanded.

The human’s eyes opened and Veso focused, pushing his power at the man’s mind. “What were your exact orders about the woman?”