Hunter: Volume 1 (The Lillian Rayne Series) (5 page)

I
couldn’t stop thinking about Aubrey. His actions were so confusing. Any normal
vampire master would have loved to see a hunter torn to pieces. I touched my
palms at the thought. I shuddered at the memory, then turned the water off. I
stepped out of the water and wrapped a towel around my body. I stepped out of
the bathroom and froze.

Aubrey
smiled at me. He was sitting on the edge of my bed. “You look much better,” he
said amused.

I
walked to my door and locked it then turned and looked at him. “What are you
doing here?” I asked nervously.

A
smiled played at his lips. “You owe me your life and your cousin’s life. I came
to collect.”

I
stiffened. “I asked you not to give me your blood so you chose to save my life.
I do however owe you for my cousin’s life. What do you want?”

He
smiled. “Hunter’s blood is a delicacy for us.”

I
watched him for a minute. He wanted to feed on me. I wasn’t sure if I could
handle that. I never let a vampire feed on me. It just wasn’t done. “You do
understand what you are asking me, don’t you?” I asked angrily.

He
stood and moved toward me. “The same that you asked of me when I gave you back
a hunter accused of killing my kind. Do not think you are the only one that has
sacrificed beliefs here Lillian.”

I
looked away. He was right. I was going to have to give him what he wanted. He
gave me what I wanted. I moved my hair to one side of my neck and looked at
him. He smiled and stepped forward. I gasped when he lifted me into his arms.
He laid me onto the bed then climbed over me. I closed my eyes and took a deep
breath as he sunk his fangs into my neck. He couldn’t cloud my mind without my
permission so it wasn’t pleasurable. Suddenly I felt him force his way in my
mind. He was too strong for me to hold him off. Pleasure crashed over me and a
moan of pleasure escaped my lips. I tried to fight it, but it only made the
pleasure intensify. I didn’t want it to feel good. If it felt good then I would
want it to happen again.

He
sat up licking his lips. His eyes were closed, he was savoring the taste of my
blood. Something about the way he looked made me want to kiss him. I grasped
the collar of his shirt startling him. I pulled him to me and pressed my lips
to his. The metallic taste of blood filled my mouth. He kissed me hungrily and
I enjoyed every second of his mouth on mine. There was a loud knock on the door
and it broke the trance I was in. I looked at Aubrey panting. He was watching
me his expression was hard for me to read. He suddenly disappeared, and I sat
up.

“What?”
I asked trying not to sound to annoyed.

“It’s
Colin. I need to talk to you Rayne,” he said from the other side.

“Let
me get dressed,” I said quickly as I got to my feet. I quickly dressed and
looked in the mirror. I cursed, the bite was visible. I fixed my hair so it
fell over the bite. It would at least hide it temporarily. I walked to the door
and opened it.

Colin
stepped in past me without even asking for an invitation. “What are you doing
in here?” he asked looking around.

“Nothing,”
I said a little breathlessly. “What’s up?”

He
looked at me like he didn’t believe me. “I was checking on you, and I want to
know which vampire you took blood from.”

“How
do you know I took blood from a vampire?” I asked haughtily.

“I
heard what happened at Luminescence last night. You can’t fool me,” he growled.

“I
wasn’t trying to fool you, but it is none of your business what I do,” I
countered.

“You
have to be careful, there are some vampires that are out to hurt the hunters.
Until we get Aubrey on our side we have to avoid contact with them as much as
possible,” he said firmly.

“Have
you even met Aubrey?” I asked watching him. I was trying to figure out why it
mattered to him anyway. I also wanted to know if he knew what Aubrey looked
like. I still wasn’t positive Aubrey was the real master vampire like he
claimed.

“No
hunter has. He is too careful. I think you should stay in for the next couple
nights especially after last night,” he said quietly.

“I
was planning on it, unless something happens that requires me to leave,” I said
agreeing so he wouldn’t keep bugging me.

“I’ll
leave you alone then,” he said as he watched me. He turned to walk out and I
felt a little bad.

“Colin,”
I said quickly and he turned and looked at me.

“Yes?”
he asked watching me.

“Thank
you for all you have done. I know you are doing it to help,” I said nervously.

He
smiled. “I’ll see you downstairs. They are having a little get together,” he
said then walked out.

I
relaxed once he was gone. I didn’t really want to go downstairs, but I was
beginning to think I needed to get involved in the politics of my people. I had
ignored it for too long and now was one of the most vital times.

I
dressed in a pair of nice leather pants, boots, and a dark blue corset that
went well with my eyes. I kept my hair down to cover the bite on my neck. It
annoyed me a little, that I even had a bite, and it was a disgrace. I pushed
the feeling aside and walked downstairs.

There
were several people in the main room. Some of them I knew, others I didn’t. I
was nervous in the crowd. I didn’t get along well with people. I stood off to
the side and just watched. I spotted Luca. He was standing with a woman. She
was laughing and touching his arm. It irritated me. I didn’t like to say I was
jealous, but I was starting to think I was.

He
looked up and smiled when he saw me. He took the woman by her hand and led her
over to me. “Hey Lily, this is Kate. She wanted to meet you,” Luca said
smiling.

“I’ve
heard so much about you,” she said smiling nervously.

I
smiled stiffly. “It’s nice to meet you.” I hated social situations I always
felt so awkward and stiff.

“Kate
actually helped arrange the first meetings between Colin, Kai, and the hunters.
She is really involved in making peace. She has been trying to contact Aubrey,”
he said sounding pretty proud of her.

His
tone was grating on my nerves. I could tell he liked her. It was rare for him
to like women, and I wasn’t sure I liked it. Before I could speak the room
silenced. I looked over where everyone else was looking.

Aubrey
was standing in the center of the room. He just appeared out of nowhere. He
smiled at me. I moved to go to him, but Luca caught my arm. “Don’t start a
fight,” he warned.

I
rolled my eyes. “I know him,” I muttered and shrugged Luca off. He looked a
little startled, but didn’t comment. I didn’t make a point to know vampires.
Most of the time if I crossed them I killed them.

“What
are you doing here?” I asked once I got close to him.

“I
like your hair down, and you don’t look very friendly,” he teased as he tugged
on a strand of my hair.

“And
you do?” I asked skeptically.

He
smiled his best smile. “I am very friendly. Your people keep inviting me over,
so I figured I would come see what the big deal is,” he said as he looked
around.

“It’s
not as impressive as I make it seem,” I said amused.

He
looked at me and I could see the amusement glinting in his eyes. “You’re cute,”
he teased.

“Lillian
are you going to tell us who your friend is?” my uncle asked as he approached
cautiously.

“Ooh,
I have been up graded to friend,” Aubrey said amused.

“No
you haven’t,” I countered as I turned toward my uncle. “This is Aubrey, at
least he says he is. He tends to have an active imagination,” I said dryly.

“Such
a good friend,” Aubrey teased as he stepped up beside me and put his arm around
my shoulders. He squeezed me gently then extended his hand to my uncle. “It’s a
pleasure.”

My
uncle looked confused as he looked from me to Aubrey. He shook Aubrey’s hand
then looked at Kai and Colin for help. “We are glad you are giving us a chance
to offer a truce,” Kai said quickly stepping forward.

Aubrey
smiled at me then looked back at them. “There were certain factors that have
recently come into play.”

I
caught Luca’s gaze. He was actually scowling at me like I did something wrong.
It wasn’t like he was out running around with Kate. It didn’t really matter
anyway. We were just friends.

“If
you would join us in my office we could go over the details of the truce,” my
uncle said nervously. He looked as confused as the others.

“Give
me just one moment. I need a word with Rayne,” Aubrey said with the same
pleasant smile. He walked off toward a more secluded part of the room.

I
rolled my eyes and followed. “What is it?” I asked once I reached him.

“Who
is the half breed and the vampire?” he asked stepping closer to me.

“Kai
is the half breed, and Colin is the vampire why?” I asked confused.

“No
reason. Are you sleeping with the master hunter, he seems to be a little
annoyed with my presence.”

I
scowled. “That is none of your business. Now quit being difficult and sign the
truce.”

He
raised his eyebrows in amusement. “You want me to sign it now? If that happens
you won’t have your chance to kill me.”

I
rolled my eyes. “You know I want what they want.”

He
scoffed as he moved closer to me. “You do not,” he whispered in my ear.

I
looked at him a little startled. “How would you know that?” I asked softly.

He
was so close to me I was sure everyone thought I had lost my mind. I was
letting a vampire close enough to kill me. I didn’t know why I let him so
close. There was just something different about him. He had a chance to kill me
before and he didn’t.

“You
don’t hide your emotions as well as you think,” he whispered. He brushed my
lips with his in a playful chaste kiss then he was gone.

“What
is going on Rayne?” Kai asked confused.

I
looked at him not sure what to say. “I don’t know. He is difficult,” I said
annoyed then walked toward the door. I hated how he just disappeared whenever
he felt like it.

“Lily
wait! How do you know Aubrey? Do you have any idea how dangerous he is?” Luca
growled as he followed me.

“No
Luca, I have no clue what a vampire can do,” I said dryly.

“Why
are you letting him so close?” he persisted as he continued to follow me
outside.

I
turned on him and glared at him. “It is none of your business. I will get him
to sign the truce and that is all you have to worry about.” I could tell I
stunned him a little because he stopped in his tracks and closed his mouth. I
stormed off before he could speak. I couldn’t answer his questions. I didn’t
know the answers myself.

I
stood in the alley watching the door of the bar. I knew that was where Aubrey
stayed. I needed to go speak to him. I really didn’t want to run into the same
trouble I did last time. I cussed and walked to the door. I stepped inside the
bar, and like the last time the patrons all looked at me.

The
same male vampire, Gerard, approached me. I could see the fury in his eyes and
I regretted my decision to come. He caught me by my throat. “What the fuck are
you doing here?” he hissed.

My
hands went to his. His grip on my throat was painful. “I am trying to find
Aubrey,” I growled.

“Gerard,
Aubrey will kill you over the little bitch,” the female vampire said sounding
worried.

Gerard
looked from her to me, then he released me and stepped back. “He isn’t here,
leave,” he ordered as he turned away from me.

“I
don’t believe you,” I countered.

He
quickly turned back toward me and smacked me sending me into a table. I really
wanted to whip his ass, but I was trying to keep the peace for some stupid
reason. I remained siting on the floor. I just glared up at Gerard.

“What
is going on now?” Aubrey growled as he stepped into view. Before anyone could
speak his eyes fell on me. Fury crossed his face. He moved so quick I could
barely see it. Gerard stumbled backwards. I tried to keep the horror off my
face when I saw Aubrey was holding Gerard’s heart. Gerard turned to ash in
front of me. His heart disintegrated in Aubrey’s hand. “No one is to touch
her!” Aubrey yelled angrily. A murmur went over the bar. Aubrey turned his gaze
on me. “Why do you insist on coming here?”

“Why
do you keep disappearing?” I countered as I climbed to my feet.

He
smiled. “I had to go. What do you want?”

“You
know what I want,” I said scowling.

He
sighed like I was annoying him. “You don’t want a truce,” he said as he started
walking toward the back of the bar.

I
followed him trying to hold onto the small amount of patience I had. “I do, I
want it because they want it. Obviously you don’t want to fight us.” I was
following him deeper into the house, and he didn’t seem to be stopping.

He
stopped and turned toward me. I nearly ran into him he stopped so suddenly.
“You’re right I don’t want to fight you, but I don’t want to agree to follow
your rules either.”

“Then
what do you want?” I asked annoyed.

He
quickly stepped forward and pressed his lips to mine. I was a little startled,
but I quickly relaxed and he deepened the kiss. He suddenly broke the kiss and
smiled. “I would love for you to join me in my bed chamber,” he said playfully.

I
stepped back away from him. I could tolerate a kiss or two, and maybe even
enjoy it; but that was it. I couldn’t have sex with a vampire; that was
crossing the line. “You know I can’t do that,” I said softly.

His
expression darkened. “I think it is interesting that you ask me to sign a piece
of paper that gives you everything you want, but then you deny me everything I
want.”

I
was a little startled. I didn’t understand why he wanted me. He could have had
any woman he wanted. “I have been as amicable as I can be. I normally don’t let
a vampire anywhere near me.”

He
scoffed. “And I don’t let hunters in my home. You should go,” he growled and
walked away.

I
watched him until he disappeared into a room. I could have gone after him and given
him exactly what he wanted, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. There was
only so far I could go for a vampire. I turned and walked back the way I had
come. I was going to leave the politics up to Luca. I obviously wasn’t up for
the challenge because I completely misled Aubrey.