H.U.M.A.N.S (The Veiled World Book 1) (6 page)

Chapter 9

M
y
hunter instincts immediately took over and I began to tremble and sweat, aggressively itching to kill. In fact, I really wanted to fight someone more than anything in hand to hand combat. I needed to jump over mountains, scale buildings, and demolish anything solid—including ripping his head clean off with my bare hands. It was an overwhelming and near frightening feeling. Sure, hunters had to be physical and know how to fight well but this feeling was extending way beyond that norm for me.

That bizarre sensation that had been coursing through me all day was resurfacing again. I supposed that this time it would be in my favor though.

“How the fuck did you get in here?” I demanded through clenched teeth.

Though the tip of my rifle was aimed directly at his head he remained calm. How had be bypassed all of the protective rune codes and wards?

“I apologize for the unannounced intrusion. I didn’t come for an altercation.”

Unannounced intrusion? Who talks like that?

That voice confirmed everything. Recognition began to sink and I started to make the connection. He could travel like an apparition, which made him unpredictably dangerous and unaffected by the runes and wards.

Well, that wasn’t good news for me.

I didn’t hesitate to think or say anything else, switching into infrared mode to size him up. I instantly took note that the majority of his body was warm this time, including his heart. He was at his fullest capacity in both strength and energy but he wasn’t armed.

Interesting.

That didn’t matter. I had a feeling that this could be a bloody and long fight for the both of us.

I carefully inched my way behind the bar counter to maintain a safe barrier between us.

I guess he was the entity that Twinkie was detecting not long ago.

I wondered how long he’s been hanging around here watching me. The thought made me furious and slightly fearful.

Slightly.

I may need some backup because there was no telling what the limits of his powers were.

I couldn’t tell if he was working some sort of hypnotic magic via his seductive, light hazel eyes or what. Then again, it was probably the combination of his full, soft lips, firm and sculpted jawline, and dark brown clean cut hair with a subtle mix of sandy brown highlights that was having a profound effect on my sense of judgment.

He was incredibly gorgeous, not that I expected him to be anything less than as a Nocturna.

He smiled at my obvious confusion over him and his covert arrival.

I scowled at him, fighting against the urge to take his ass out and swoon at the same time. He was dressed in a casual black blazer with a teal button down shirt inside and matching black slacks.

“We didn’t get a chance to properly introduce ourselves the other night. You’re even more beautiful with your hair down and without all of the military-style gear concealing your very well-toned frame…and your incredibly sexy legs.” He smirked with a flicker of his eyes down the length of my body.

Damn, he really has been watching me but for how long? I would have thought he was full of crap if I weren’t wearing booty jean shorts and a tight t-shirt right now.

So now he was trying to charm me? Does he think I won’t shoot a male who thinks I’m equally as hot? I mean, I was extremely flattered and I wanted to pay him a similar compliment now that I could see what really lie beneath the dark hat and duster, but I had to remain guarded. I wasn’t going to even utter a thank you or flash a flirty smile in return.

My trigger finger quivered slightly but I was in control here.

“So, introduce yourself then.” I stated firmly.

That colgate-worthy smile enchanted me. “Gage. And you are?” a single, dark brow rose slightly.

I hesitated, shifting my stance and snapping out of the distraction of his charm. The heat rising in my body was still prevalent, continuing to make me tremble unsteadily even as I tried to maintain control over it. Sweat broke out in beads across my forehead and I immediately took note of his reaction to me when I quickly wiped it away, though he didn’t comment.

“You probably already know my name by now.”

His eyes sparkled with amusement at my hostility and then he gave the bar a brief once-over.

“This is a very nice and cozy place. Very wise and discreet in your pick of a locale. I take it you’ve just closed for the night?”

“What gave that away? The locked front doors? The empty bar? Or maybe the chairs stacked on all of the tables?” I replied with much sarcasm.

“Which leaves me to ask again and you’d better have an answer. How the hell did you manage to get in here?”

He sighed with disappointment. “Damn. I was really hoping for a quick drink.”

I stared at him incredulously. “I will totally kill you if you don’t start answering my questions!”

He studied me for a moment and then he nodded towards my middle. “How is the wound?”

He was messing with my mind and trying to distract me again.

My growing impatience and anger was adding to my already unstable condition. At any second, I could lose all control and end up killing him before he answered my question.

Such a waste, too.

“I’m not kidding!”

“I can still smell the venom and tainted blood in you. You’re exhibiting one of the major signs already . . . unnecessary violent aggression. Though I may be too late, my offer to try and help you still stands.”

I licked my lips and cocked the hammer, able to hear my own rapid heartbeat thumping loudly inside my own head.

He didn’t seem to take the threat of me killing him seriously at all.

“If you’re not already experiencing symptoms like increased sensitivity to scents, sounds, and unpredictable adrenaline rushes, then you may be okay. However, from what I’m picking up…I think you already have.” He pinned me with his breath-taking eyes before continuing on, “You don’t have much longer. You’re lucky you weren’t bitten in the neck. The venom would have reached your brain faster.”

Though he had my attention, I wasn’t letting my guard down this time.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I can tell by your unstable confidence that you haven’t completely succumbed yet. You may still have a little bit of time.”

I glared at him.

“Still have time? Time for what? What are you talking about?” I demanded in clipped words.

“I’ll satisfy all of your inquirie
s
— if I can get just one drink?” He reached into his blazer pocket, pulling out a two crisp, one hundred dollar bills and laying them on the counter. Two hundred dollars for one drink?

I didn’t move to take it, not wanting to take my eyes and attention off of him. I wondered if he were responsible for my walkie-talkie malfunctioning.

“You must think I’m fucking with you. I have no qualms about blowing you away. In fact, I’m trying very hard not to do it right now by giving you the opportunity to explain yourself.”

“And then what?” He nodded at my rifle, “If that weapon is anything like the ones that you all used that night, you’re better off making the attempt with a bb gun.”

His cockiness was not helping his case with me.

I pulled the trigger, purposefully aiming for his shoulder.

A brief look of surprise flashed across his face but he barely grunted and flinched at the impact, simply biting his lip in aggravation.

“Did that feel like a bb gun pellet?” I narrowed my eyes with a quirk of my mouth.

With the paralyzing dart embedded in his shoulder, he simply looked at it as if it were a piece of lint. Then he pulled it out as if it had been nothing, dropping it on the counter, and calmly rolling his shoulder a few times.

My confidence quickly waned. Oh shit. That didn’t go as planned.

Suddenly, my rifle felt like a useless hulk of steel in my hands. Apparently, using it as a bat might be more effective.

Would I be able to get to my katana upstairs in time? I had no choice. I eyed the silent walkie-talkie sitting on the counter.

If anything, maybe the guys had tried to contact me with no success, which means that it won’t be long before they showed up to make sure that I was okay. Maybe my best bet was to stall him to give them enough time to get here. That is…if he didn’t up and disappear again, which he could easily do, I suppose.

“Actually, it did and I appreciate you proving my point. As I was saying, you’re a hunter and I’ve appeared unannounced on your territory. You obviously see me as a threat, so if you really wanted to kill me, then you would have attempted it at first sight…to hell with my name and how I got in here. None of that would have mattered to you. However, since that isn’t the creed of Guardian hunters, being that I’m unarmed and not attacking you, you probably won’t shoot me at all. Am I wrong?”

How the hell did he know that? Who was he really? As much as I didn’t like his arrogance, he was absolutely right.

I slowly let the gun down but still gripped it firmly as I edged a little closer, keeping my back against the liquor rack behind me until we were face to face.

Damn, he was absolutely beautiful and he had a sense of debonair regality about him. Intriguing, yes, but that didn’t mean he didn’t have malicious intent either.

He held up a finger. “One drink. That’s all.”

I hesitated, studying his well-built body language and his eyes.

“I don’t serve what you typically drink.” I replied harshly.

He sighed and laughed lightly again.

“How do you know what it is that I typically drink?”

“I don’t have to know you at all to tell that it isn’t whiskey, scotch or vodka.”

He nodded and smiled with amusement as if I had finally scored one on him.

He held his hands up as if giving me props for my on-the-nose assumption. “Guilty. So, you have no Hennessy Cognac in stock then?”

Hennessy Cognac? Where the hell did he think he was? Neither we nor our patrons were rolling like that here.

I pursed my lips. “No, we just ran out.”

“I’ll settle for a brandy then.”

I hesitated again. Still not sure what to make of him but I think he may be banking on my indecisiveness.

I finally lowered the rifle altogether and reached for a glass.

If he could help me get rid of the apparent infection and pain, I’d better pretend to be cordial for the moment —that is if what he was offering was legit.

I kept my eyes on him the entire time while dispensing a few cubes of ice and then selecting our best house brandy.

He watched me work.

“You’re still not going to tell me your name?” He asked.

I debated it for a few seconds.

“Kai.”

He smiled. “Kai? It’s cute but it doesn’t fit you.”

“What?” I snapped, offended all over again.

His seductive eyes bore into mine, seeming to penetrate more than just my psyche. “You remind me of an exotic and delicate flower, one so pretty and fragrant that you just can’t help but marvel at it, and eventually you have to have one for yourself. Kind of like a rose-colored Lotus blossom. ”

I was pleasantly surprised and unprepared for that comparison but as to why, I left that to myself. His compliment had been poetic and it definitely would have worked if we had been on a date but this was hardly the occasion and moment.

I carefully slid his drink in front of him.

He picked it up and held it beneath his nose, swirling it around for a moment to take in the bouquet and then he took a sip.

“I didn’t know that your kind held any kind of significant warmth in your hearts.” I commented after viewing him in infrared mode once again.

He smiled sardonically. “Well, thank goodness for the warmth in your
s
—you know, when you shot me nearly pointblank just now.”

I glared at him.

“Are you Nocturna or what?”

“What kind of a question is that?”

“A straight forward one that better result in an answer.”

He paused, setting his glass down and then he looked at me. My heart began to flutter and pound like a teenager much against my resistance.

“Do I look like one?”

I narrowed my eyes and took in a low-key inhale to scent him out. “On the surface, yes, but in our world looks are always deceiving and nothing is ever what it seems.”

The corner of his mouth lifted up into a half smile.

“Fair enough. What’s your guess then?”

“My guess is that you’re not what you appear to be but you don’t smell entirely like one either.”