Huntress (12 page)

It didn’t take long for the tears to subside. It had been a
quick flood of emotion that was too intense to last.

When it was over she sat up and looked down at the man who
was still seated deep within her body. His erection had never faded.

She smiled bashfully, her emotions close to the surface. She
was aware he knew her well enough to see them there and for once she didn’t try
to hide them.

The thought of him still inside her released a wave of new
wetness between her legs and she moaned as her hips rocked. She stared down at
him, seeing what he had done clearly in his eyes.

He had branded her as his this night and had touched places
within her no one else ever would. Lifting her hips, she slammed back down on
his hard and waiting cock.

He growled and his hands dug into her sides as he tried to
control her movements. But she had a mind of her own and wasn’t going to let
him get away without leaving the vision of her riding him to oblivion burned
into his brain.

She rode him with everything she had, her head thrown back,
giving him a glimpse of the woman she really was. The one she hid from
everyone. No barriers and nothing holding her back.

They came together with an exploding of light behind her
eyelids that flashed and burned as he emptied his seed inside her.

Collapsing on top of him, she lay dazed. She had no idea how
long they lay like that, with him running his fingers up and down her back.

Gently he moved her to the side and went to the bathroom
before coming back and pulling her close. She fell asleep with his arms around
her and his heat warming her back.

Morning came too soon. Fiona was awake and waiting for the
first rays of light to shine through her bedroom window. The sun came up anyway,
even though she had prayed for the night to last forever.

She had watched him sleep, committing every line and dip of
his face and body to memory. As the light got brighter, shining in her windows,
she could see his scars better and didn’t know why they would put anyone off.

It made him special. He was the type of man whom stories
were written about. Standing up for what he believed in and not only succeeding
but also regretting he could no longer be the one who was first into the fray.

She shouldn’t have told him she loved him.

But when the moment had come she hadn’t been able to back
down. She had only spoken what was in her heart.

She laid her hand on his face and his eyes opened, sleepy
and unfocused.

When he finally did wake up enough to look at her intently
she could see the end in his gaze.

It was over. Last night had been a brief glimpse of
happiness and it was as close as she was ever going to get.

He ran his fingers down her face gently before rolling to
the side of the bed and putting his feet on the floor.

Fiona pulled the sheet up to cover her nakedness. He put his
elbows on his knees and his head in his hands for a second, the sheet barely
covering his waist.

He sat like that for several minutes before he ran his hands
through his dark hair and stood up. He gathered his clothes and dressed. She
watched him quietly and he never looked her way.

It hurt but she knew he was hurting too and she refused to
fall apart. Until he was gone anyway.

Fully dressed, he stood at the end of her bed and it was
then that the awkwardness came. After revealing so much the night before and
both of them knowing it couldn’t go any further than that, neither knew what to
say.

There wasn’t anything to say. That was why it felt so weird.
Everything had already been said.

“I’ve gotta go,” he told her. His voice sounded
unexplainably loud in the close confines of her bedroom.

She nodded in response, dropping her eyes, already knowing
her throat wasn’t going to work properly.

She heard him release a pent-up breath and it sounded as if
the weight of the world were resting on his shoulders.

He came across the room, his feet and then calves coming
into view. He hesitated and then sat down next to her on the bed. That was what
she loved about him—even though something might make him uncomfortable he
didn’t back down.

She suddenly had the urge to scoot away from him but
resisted it and stayed where she was. Her body was naked but she felt much more
exposed than that. As if everything was laid bare for him to see.

His hand caught her chin and raised her face so their eyes
met. His gaze was the color of the leaves in her mystical garden, crystal clear
and resolved. Her body betrayed her and a visible tremor ran through her.

“Tell me again before I go.”

She didn’t need to ask what words he wanted her to say.

As she stared into those eyes, trying to remember everything
she could about them, committing them to memory, she couldn’t say it.

He saw the answer in her eyes because he dropped his hand
and stood. He didn’t seem angry as he stuffed his feet into his unlaced boots,
more resigned.

Fiona got a strange sense of déjà vu when he did it. When he
went to the door she finally raised her eyes to his.

“Take care of yourself, Trent,” she said quietly.

He didn’t say anything for a second and then he said
quietly, “Yeah, you too.”

Then he turned and was gone. She listened for the front door
to close before she let the tears come.

Three weeks later

The days ran together for Fiona. She started sleeping a lot
during the day since she was out at night hunting. It was hell on her writing
schedule. But her heart wasn’t in it anyway.

The vamps were hearing of her now and behaving better. There
were laws that needed to be followed and because they needed blood to live they
preyed on humans. But they weren’t allowed to kill. She found the whole thing
rather off-putting.

Once they had, their immortal life was forfeit and the
hunter’s job was to see that it was done. She didn’t hesitate. There was no
room to second-guess it. Otherwise she was risking her own life.

Her visions were getting easier for her to tap into and they
were getting clearer. She started writing down her own kills, as her
grandmother had.

She wrote them all down not because she thought her own
granddaughter would read them someday but because she needed to get them out of
her head and it was easier to forget them once they were on paper.

She understood now why her grandmother had done it. It was
cleansing and she always felt better after she had written down her thoughts
and anything else that came to mind.

But she didn’t write about Trent. She was missing him too
much already.

For once nothing called to her to hunt that night. She took
a long soak in a hot bubble bath, something she loved to do and hadn’t spared
the time for in the last couple of weeks.

It soothed her tired body and she sat in her tub until her
skin was wrinkled. She took her time drying off and putting lotion on, trying
to keep her thoughts of Trent at bay.

It didn’t go well. He was always there. If she wasn’t
dreaming of vamps she was dreaming of him and their last night together.

She went to bed, feeling lost and alone. Time that was spent
doing normal things felt strange now.

The bath had done her good and she fell asleep quickly. Some
hours later she woke suddenly.

She was becoming accustomed to the images that hit her
suddenly. There was a vamp in a dark parking lot and as she concentrated she
saw the pretty brunette slide lifeless to the ground. He had killed her.

But it was strange. As the woman lay motionless at his feet
he seemed to stare right at her, taunting her into coming for him. Something
was off but she couldn’t deny the fact that he had killed and it was her job to
dole out justice.

Hopping out of bed, she dressed in her hunter outfit. She
was used to it now and it slid over her body easily. She pulled up the middle
zipper and took a deep breath to calm her nerves.

She knew something was going to change tonight. For the
first time ever she wished she had a gift like Trent’s so she could see more
than just vamps.

Grabbing her sword, she hesitated at the door and went back
for several of the metal throwing stars and the silver stakes.

She had a feeling she was going to need everything she had
tonight.

Trent was miserable. He watched over Fiona doggedly, pushing
his talent to the limit to see her. To make sure she was home safe and sound
every night. The urge to protect her was strong and he had a hard time not
running to her every time she left the house.

He had to admit she could hold her own though. Even if he
didn’t like it. He saw her in the tub tonight and knew she was going to bed. He
had cut it off then. The sight of her all pink and covered in bubbles was too
much for him.

He had been visiting his granny almost every day and he was
starting to think even she was getting sick of him and his depression.

Hell, he was sick of himself. He just couldn’t shake it. The
last few months had taken their toll and he found himself with nothing to do
but run for Granny’s groceries. It was ridiculous. He was a grown man.

He flicked the TV on and went to the fridge to grab a beer.
What he needed was a job. Something to take up all this time he suddenly had.

Popping the top on his beer, he sat heavily in his recliner.
He hoped there was something on that would hold his attention.

The images came quickly enough to blindside him. He leaned
forward and held his head, his beer dropping to the floor and spilling at his
feet.

He could see her easily, driving, and as he concentrated it
all moved forward and he saw her facing a vamp, one that had the blood of a
young woman dripping off his chin.

But then he saw another vamp through the curtain of rain,
waiting in the shadows. It was a trap and she was walking right into it.

He had to warn her. Jumping up, he grabbed his keys, put his
boots on and snagged his jacket on the way out the door. He recognized the
parking lot they were in. It wasn’t far from him and if he hurried he might
make it in time.

Please god, let me get there before she gets hurt.

Fiona got out of the car quietly and slid her sword in its
sheath. The parking lot was deserted and most of the light poles were out,
giving her an eerie feeling. She walked slowly, watching all around her
intently. She only made it a few steps before the skies opened up and rain came
down in thick sheets.

The flood of precipitation muffled her footsteps on the
pavement. The hunter outfit was tight enough to keep most of the water out but
her hair was dripping wet. She pushed it back over her shoulders, irritated
with the distraction.

When she reached the edge of the lot where she knew the vamp
was waiting she slowed even more. He was there somewhere but she couldn’t see
him. There was an old abandoned guard station off to her right and she looked
toward it, wondering if the vamp was hiding there.

Her attention wavered for that brief second and he was
there, standing inches from her. She had no time to pull her sword out and she
cursed herself for an idiot.

She took a step back and as soon as she did she regretted
it. It never paid to show fear. It was the same vamp Trent had shot outside the
storage unit several weeks ago.

He reached out and grabbed her arm, lightning fast, spinning
her around and pulling her against his chest. He was so strong that he held her
immobile. She struggled against him and he tightened his hold, his arm coming
around her neck and cutting off her air.

“Hold still, hunter. I don’t want to end this party before
everyone is here,” the vamp growled in her ear.

Fiona ceased her struggles as his words sank in. Were there
more vamps coming? She realized too late she might not survive the night.

He tugged her across the parking lot toward the guard shack,
lifting her feet off the ground when she refused to cooperate. He turned her so
they were facing the way she had come in.

Trent stepped from the shadows.

The rain was blinding and lightning split the sky for that
brief, charged second.

“Fiona, are you all right?” Trent called out to her.

She sucked in a breath to answer him but the vamp squeezed
her neck harder and she couldn’t push any air out.

Trent started moving closer to them and Fiona tried to shake
her head, wanting him to stay back.

The air in her lungs felt as though it was going to explode
but all she could think about was Trent. She had missed him so much and she
knew she would lay her life down to save him.

She didn’t know why he had come but it didn’t look good for
her and even though she didn’t want him involved she was incredibly happy to
see him.

Trent was watching them closely as Fiona saw someone leave
the shadows behind him. She tried to warn him but she couldn’t force her voice
out.

Another vamp, a big, hulking man who had a good three inches
on Trent, came up behind him.

Trent turned at the last second, ducking a blow from the
other vamp’s big, meaty fist. But the vamp was quicker than Trent and caught
him with his other hand, sending Trent sprawling.

He was quick to get back on his feet but the vamp was on him
in a split second. They struggled and the vamp got the upper hand. He held
Trent in a chokehold that was much like the one she was fighting against.

Fiona was about to pass out from loss of air. The vamp
loosened his grip and she sucked in deep breaths, her vision finally clearing.

“Bring him closer,” he commanded the other vamp.

Trent struggled and as he got nearer she could see the blood
dripping from his mouth. The eyes of the vamp holding him were red and wild.
The vamp could smell Trent’s blood.

Trent caught her eyes and she saw the resignation in them.
It terrified her. She had to do something.

She started to speak but her captor tightened his hold on
her neck again, effectively cutting her off.

“What’s your name, boy?” he asked Trent.

Trent remained mute and she felt him nod. The vamp holding
Trent sucker punched him in the side. Fiona was sure if the vamp hadn’t been
holding him up he would have fallen to the ground.

“I’ll ask again. What’s your name, boy?” he asked calmly.

“Trent.”

“That’s better. Now, Trent, look into her pretty brown eyes
and tell me if she’s worth it. Is she worth dying for?”

Trent raised his gaze to hers and she tried to tell him not
to do this. The vamp was going to kill them both and there was no reason for
him to sacrifice his life for her.

Then she heard him whisper the words she didn’t want to
hear.

“She is.” There was finality in his voice and she knew he
would never back down.

“Death then?” he asked.

“Yes,” Trent said firmly, closing his eyes for a split
second.

He wasn’t even going to fight back.

She felt the vamp behind her nod and the vamp holding Trent
bared his fangs and grinned at her before sinking them deep into Trent’s
throat.

Fiona let out a silent scream and, catching the vamp holding
her off guard, turned in his arms suddenly and freed herself. She didn’t worry
about him behind her. She flew at the vamp holding Trent.

He lifted his head from Trent’s throat and then released
him, letting him slide to the pavement in a heap.

Pulling a silver stake from her belt, she launched herself
at him. She landed with her knees in his stomach, knocking him off balance as
they both tumbled to the wet pavement.

Raising her arm, she buried the stake in the vamp’s chest as
far as she could. He screeched and she jumped back to watch him dissolve into
ash.

She was beside Trent in an instant. Rolling him over, she
could see he had only minutes left. Blood was still seeping from his neck,
mixing with the rain and spreading in a red puddle under him.

She pulled her sword and turned toward the vamp that was
standing by, watching them with a satisfied smile on his face.

“Come on, vamp, come closer so I can kill you,” Fiona
growled out.

He laughed at her but he came closer. Fiona gauged the
distance and knew he had to take two more steps before she could reach him with
her sword.

So she taunted him. “What’s the matter, bloodsucker? Afraid
to get to close to a woman?”

He growled low in his throat and took another step.

She could hear Trent struggling for breath below her. He
wasn’t dead yet. The vamp hadn’t gotten the chance to completely drain him.

She smiled at the vamp and took the final step as she
brought her sword around in a clean arc, catching him just above the shoulder.

He head rolled, a shocked expression forever etched in his
features. Before his body went to ash she was kneeling beside Trent.

“Trent! Trent!” she called as she slapped his cheeks, trying
to get a response.

All she wanted was for him to open his eyes and tell her he
was going to be okay.

Trent let out a loud, sudden bellow, his back arching off
the ground.

Fiona suddenly understood. He was changing into a vamp. She
had to get him out of here.

“Trent! Trent, we have to go but you have to help me,” she
said as she held his face in her hands. His eyes focused on her and he nodded.

Heaving Trent up was a bit of a problem. He was heavy but
the venom was taking effect and he helped her as much as he could.

She got him to his feet and they headed in the direction of
her car. Trent leaned heavily against her and it was slow going. Finally they
made it and she propped him against the car as she dug for her keys. “Can you
stay standing?” she asked him.

He nodded and she left his side to unlock the door and pull
it open.

He didn’t say anything, his eyes wild and his teeth clenched
in pain. But he did as she asked. She helped him into the seat and closed the
door as he leaned back and his eyes drifted shut.

Running around to the other side, she jumped in and cranked
the engine, backing out with screeching tires and heading into the night.

She didn’t get far before she realized she had nowhere safe
to take him. He was thrashing around in the small confines of the car and she
realized she should have put him in the backseat.

Suddenly she was lost. What did she do? Was he going to hate
her for this? She took a deep breath and assessed her options. There weren’t
many.

Suddenly her cell phone rang as it sat in her center
console. She didn’t recognize the number but something compelled her to answer.

“Hello?”

“Fiona, bring my grandson to me.” The line went dead but she
knew who it was and now she had a place to go.

Pulling back into the road, she did a U-turn and headed to
Eve’s house. She made it there in record time, flying down the roads like a bat
out of hell.

She slowed to pull into the driveway and then slammed her
foot back on the gas. The house was lit up brightly and she came to a sliding
stop a few feet from the front door.

Eve met her at the passenger side of her car. Her hands went
briefly to her mouth at the sight of her grandson covered in blood and
obviously in pain.