Deadly Pursuit (A Blood Hunter Novel, #2) (25 page)

Daisy
was
dressed
in
all
black,
a
sort
of
mini
version
of
Rico,
whom
she
had
a
whopping
crush
on.
And
she’d
obviously
been
on
her
sun
bed
as
she
was
even
greener
than
usual,
her
skin
the
color
of
new
leaves,
her
eyes
sparkling
like
emeralds.
She
was
also
fizzing
with
excitement—but
then
she
was
off
into
the
city
to
have
some
fun
as
soon
as
they’d
met
their
host,
while
Alex
was
to
be
left
on
the
ship.

“I
am
paying
attention.”
Alex
was
actually
only
listening
with
half
her
concentration,
while
she
surreptitiously
watched
Jon
with
the
other
half.
Her
back
was
to
him,
but
she
could
see
him
reflected
in
the
polished
black
metal
of
the
docking
bay
loading
doors.

He
was
pacing
like
a
caged…wolf.

As
Rico
and
the
captain
appeared,
he
stopped
and
swung
around.
“About
bloody
time.”

Rico
ignored
the
comment
and
strode
past
him.
His
eyes
narrowed
as
he
came
up
level
with
Alex
and
took
in
the
new
hairstyle.

Alex
couldn’t
believe
the
difference
a
haircut
made
in
her
appearance.
She
couldn’t
wait
to
get
some
new
clothes,
pink
ones—shocking
pink
that
clashed
with
her
hair.
And
orange
maybe.
Anything
but
black.

Rico’s
brows
had
drawn
together
in
a
frown.
“
Christos
,”
he
muttered.
“Bastion
is
going
to
love
you.
Couldn’t
you
have
waited?”

“To
do
what?”

“The
whole”—he
waved
in
the
general
direction
of
her
hair—“innocent
waif
look.
Well,
it’s
too
late
now.
Just
keep
out
of
his
way
and
don’t
do
anything
to
draw
attention
to
yourself.”

He
turned
to
the
side
and
murmured
to
Tannis
who
glanced
at
Alex
and
nodded.

At
that
moment,
the
docking
bay
doors
slid
open,
revealing
a
cavernous
area
beyond.
Alex
shivered
as
they
stepped
off
the
ramp
and
onto
the
black
sand
floor.
The
group
had
formed
around
her,
so
she
was
in
the
middle,
Rico
and
Tannis
at
the
front
leading
the
way,
Daisy
and
Janey
on
either
side
of
her,
and
Skylar
and
Jon
bringing
up
the
rear.

The
exposed
skin
on
the
back
of
her
neck
tingled.

They
came
to
a
halt
in
the
center
of
the
room,
and
Alex
tried
to
keep
her
eyes
from
widening.
They
were
in
a
great
hall,
but
it
was
more
like
standing
inside
some
vast
echoing
cavern
with
matte
black
walls,
smooth
as
glass.
The
roof
was
closing
over
their
heads,
blanking
out
the
last
of
the
stars
so
the
only
light
came
from
small
sconces
cut
into
the
rock
walls.
A
number
of
dark
tunnels,
led
away
like
great
yawning
jaws
ready
to
swallow
her
whole.

The
air
was
still,
faintly
musty,
and
the
catacomb
silent.
Someone
laid
a
hand
on
her
shoulder,
and
she
jumped
and
let
out
a
small
squeak.

“Quiet
as
a
grave,”
Jon
murmured
in
her
ear,
and
she
shivered
again
despite
the
fingers
that
burned
through
the
thin
material
of
her
shirt.
“By
the
way—I
like
the
new
haircut.
Pity
I
don’t
go
for
the
‘innocent
waif’
look.”

Alex
shrugged
off
his
grasp.
“Don’t
worry,”
she
muttered,
“you’ll
be
pleased
to
know,
I’ve
deleted
you
from
my
to-do
list.”

“You
have
a
to-do
list?”

“Yes,
and
you’re
not
on
it.”

“Playing
hard
to
get,
now?”
His
voice
was
laced
with
amuse-ment.

She
sniffed.
“I
am
hard
to
get.”

“Well,
make
sure
you
remember
that
when
we
meet
the
vampire.”

She
turned
slightly
so
she
could
see
Jon’s
face.

“Vamps
can
be
tricky,”
he
continued.
“The
older
ones
have
this
whole
seduction
thing
going.
Makes
it
easier
to
snare
their
prey.”

“I
don’t
think
you
need
to
worry.
I’m
hardly
likely
to
be
attracted
to
a
vampire,”
she
snapped.

In
front
of
her,
Rico’s
shoulders
stiffened.
Jon
chuckled.
“Quite
right.
Satan’s
spawn,
the
whole
lot
of
them,
and
you
a
good
little
priestess.
All
the
same,
watch
him
and
do
not
make
eye
contact.”

Rico
glanced
over
his
shoulder.
“I
hate
to
agree—because
he’s
a
dog—but
it’s
good
advice.
Listen
to
him
and
stay
at
the
back
where
you
might
not
be
noticed.
Right,
here
they
come.”

Muffled
footsteps
sounded
on
the
sandy
floor,
and
Alex
peered
into
one
of
the
dark
tunnels.
A
flickering
orange
light
appeared,
waxing
brighter,
casting
shadows
against
the
surrounding
walls.

Finally,
a
small
group
came
into
view.
One
central
figure
surrounded
by
four
torchbearers.

“Bloody
melodramatic,”
Rico
muttered.

“Asshole,”
Jon
added.

“Holy
freaking
moly.”
The
captain’s
voice
was
filled
with
awe.

The
vampire
was
tall,
with
a
slender
body
that
moved
like
a
dancer’s,
beneath
a
fitted
black
and
crimson
jumpsuit
and
long
boots.
His
pale
blond
hair
hung
down
to
his
shoulders.
He
had
white
skin
and
dissipated
blue
eyes
that
glittered
with
malice.
Alex
had
seen
faces
like
his
depicted
on
the
walls
of
churches—fallen
angels.
A
shiver
ran
through
her,
and
she
reached
up
and
clutched
the
cross
she
wore
beneath
her
shirt.

The
vampire
had
come
to
a
halt
in
front
of
Rico,
but
he
must
have
sensed
her
movement
because
he
tilted
his
head
to
get
a
look
around
Rico.
His
gaze
ran
over
her
body
and
back
to
her
face,
and
his
lips
curved
into
a
lazy
smile,
revealing
the
tips
of
his
fangs.
Alex
swallowed,
mesmerized,
unable
to
break
the
link
between
them.

“Bastion!”
Rico
spoke
sharply,
and
the
spell
was
broken.
The
vampire
looked
away,
and
Alex
breathed
again.
She
shifted
backward
so
she
stood
beside
Jon,
with
Skylar,
Daisy,
and
Janey
in
a
line
in
front
of
her.

Bastion
flicked
his
cold
gaze
to
Rico
then
lowered
his
head
slightly.
“Sire,
you
honor
me
with
your
presence.”
Even
Alex
could
tell
the
words
were
sarcastic.

“Cut
the
bullshit,
Bastion,”
Rico
replied.

He
shrugged
one
elegant
shoulder.
“I
have
a
welcome
gift
for
you.”
He
gestured
behind
him
and
a
woman
stepped
forward.
A
naked
woman…naked
except
for
a
red
ribbon
tied
around
her
throat
like
gift
wrapping.
Tall
and
slender
with
full,
perfect
breasts.
In
fact,
she
was
perfect
all
over
from
her
long
blond
hair
to
her
scarlet
toenails.
Halting
beside
Bastion,
she
appeared
unconcerned
that
she
was
naked
in
front
of
a
room
full
of
strangers.
She
aimed
her
attention
at
Rico,
pouting
her
full
red
lips
and
casting
him
a
smoldering
stare
out
of
dark
blue
eyes,
then
she
raised
her
head
as
though
showing
off
the
smooth
line
of
her
throat.

Daisy
made
a
gagging
sound,
and
Janey
sniggered.

Skylar
reached
forward
and
tapped
Rico
on
the
shoulder.
“Even
look
in
her
direction,
and
you’re
dead.”

Rico
chuckled.
“Sweetheart,
I’m
dead
already.”

“Well,
you’ll
be
even
deader.”

Rico
shrugged.
“Thank
you,
Bastion,
but
another
time
perhaps.”

“Like
never,”
Skylar
muttered.

Bastion’s
eyes
narrowed
and
his
pale
gaze
shifted
from
Skylar
to
Rico,
his
lips
turning
down.
“You
take
orders
from
your
food
?”

There
was
a
wealth
of
contempt
in
the
word.
Skylar
drew
her
pistol
and
stepped
forward.
“Who
are
you
calling
food,
dead
guy?”
Her
tone
was
icy.
Bastion
looked
at
her,
and
then
at
her
pistol.
He
raised
one
eyebrow
but
didn’t
appear
particularly
concerned.
Unlike
the
guards
surrounding
him.