by ERIN BEDFORD
Crap. This was why I grunted.
“Uh, yeah, briefly. But I was chasing down one of the other bloodsuckers.” I hated to talk about the guys like that, but if I was going to do this, I had to go all the way. “But it’s good to know that demon is really dead.” I shuddered and it wasn’t fake.
A heavy hand sat on my shoulder and my head whipped up. “I get it. This job is hard sometimes. It’s best when the demon looks like what they are.” His eyes grew dark, his mind going somewhere else. “It’s harder when they look like fallen angels with hair the color of spun gold and eyes so green, emeralds were jealous. They make you feel so lucky to just be in their presence.” He sighed and shook his head, and whatever memory that had held him cleared from his eyes.
“Yeah.” I patted him on the arm as well, my heart full of emotion. “I’ve been there.”
“But,” Tristan’s face hardened, “in the end, they’re all demons. Some just wear a pretty mask. They all deserve one thing.”
“What’s that?”
“A stake through the heart.” Tristan ended with a finality that chilled my blood. “Anyway,” his expression brightened and he squeezed my shoulder, “I’ll let you know when the vamp gets here and then the real fun begins.”
I forced a smile. “Thanks.”
When Tristan left, I raced toward the bathroom. Shoving a toilet stall open, my stomach revolted against me. When I’d thrown up everything I had in it, I swiped my hand over my forehead and sank down onto the floor by the toilet.
This was a lot harder than I thought. Not only did I have to find a way to get my guys off their radar, but I had to rescue one of my own. It hurt my heart to think that they were hurting one of the guys right now and that I would have to witness it soon.
I didn’t know if I could do this.
Sighing, I shakily got to my feet and pushed open the stall door. Slowly moving to the sink, I flicked on the tap. I wet my hands and rubbed them over my face and the back of my neck before shuffling back to my bunk. My hard as a rock bed was looking mighty fine, but the still open footlocker at the end drew my attention.
Sitting on the floor, I bent over the box. Besides the handcuffs Tristan had taken—cringe—there were a few other illicit items. I smirked, pulling out a leather riding crop. I could think of quite a few things I could use this for. Putting it to the side, I grabbed the next item. Assless chaps, no thank you. Though…Drake and Allister would look great in these. I added them to the keep pile.
A huge bottle of lube. My eyes widened before putting it with the other stuff. Hey, I was dating multiple guys, couldn’t hurt to have extra.
Once I got through all the dirty things, I found actual useful items. A blade with a serrated edge. It wasn’t as nice as the ones Billy had given me, but you could never have to many weapons.
The rest of the stuff was pretty much the usual personal items. Toiletries. A hairbrush. A box of lemon-flavored condoms. The vampire hunter handbook.
I did a double-take. “Seriously?” I muttered to myself, as I flipped the book over in my hand. “They actually have a handbook?” I looked around the empty barracks and then to the clock on the wall. Most of them would be at chow now, so I figured I still had a bit before they came back and I’d have to fake more, but I didn’t want to risk it. I put the book in my keep pile and went through the rest of the items. I threw most of them in the giveaway pile, but a few things I kept. Like the oversized t-shirt that I planned on sleeping in. While the leather pants made me look hot, there was no fucking way I was going to try and sleep in them.
Shoving all the things I wanted to keep back into the box, sans the vampire hunter handbook, I carried the get-rid-ofs over to the donation box. Dropping them in, I thought about going down to dinner. My stomach rolled in protest. Nope. I was far to stressed out to each right now. I’d just grab something for breakfast.
Quickly changing into my new shirt, I folded up my clothes and put them in my locker. I didn’t have a lock for it, so I’d have to hope no one would go digging in it with me a few feet away.
I put my gun under my pillow for safe keeping and then slid under the itchy covers of my cot. I rolled over and curled up into a ball on my side. I punched the pillow a few times, pushing it up into a semi-comfortable shape, then rolled onto my back. Then my side again.
Damn. I missed my bed back home.
But what was home? The Durand house? Or the one in Seabrick?
While living with Darren had been great, I still missed the others. Every day felt like a battle to keep going. I wanted nothing more than to have my guys around me once more. So, I guess even if that was in the cottage in Seabrick or the mansion, I couldn’t truly feel like I was home without them there.
I sighed and closed my eyes, trying to force myself to drift off. If I was going to have to face one of my guys being tortured tomorrow, I was going to need my rest.
Thankfully, it didn’t take as long as I expected to fall asleep. My mind and body were worn out from all the lying and risking my life. Unfortunately, though, my dreams decided I didn’t need to have a peaceful escape from my danger-filled existence.
In my mind, I chased after Tristan, demanding he take me to the captured vampire. When he finally brought me to him, I find all six of the vampires and Darren chained on a wall. Why Darren was even in there, I had no clue, but apparently my subconscious knew something I didn’t. Whatever that maybe, I found myself being told to pick which one should live. Because I could only have one. Such utter bullshit. Nowhere did it say I had to pick one and I refused to pick, even if a dream told me I had to.
“Piper.”
I jerked awake, my gun somehow already in my hand.
“Woah, it’s just me, Tristan.” The smiling face of the big vampire hunter stared down at me. “A bit jumpy, aren’t you?”
I lowered my gun. “Sorry.”
“No worries. It’s not like we don’t live with vampire hunters.” He winked. “I just thought you’d like to know they brought the vamp in.”
That had me sitting up. “Yes, I do. Thanks.”
Tristan backed away from my bunk, giving me room to climb out of bed. He made a choking sound that made me realize I was only wearing the large shirt and no pants.
Determined to be the badass that I was pretending to be, I stood from the bed and pushed past him to get my clothes from my footlocker, acutely aware of his eyes on me the whole time. If it had been one of the guys, I’d be beet red right now or flaunting it a lot more, depending on who was looking. However, since Tristan wasn’t one of them, I grabbed my clothes and made for the bathroom without sparing him a glance.
The bathroom, to my displeasure, was filled to the brim with other hunters. Since the bathroom was coed, there were men at the urinals and women primping at the mirrors. I got a few curious looks as I hurried into the first empty stall, but no one stopped me.
I changed out of my sleeping shirt and into my leather pants faster than I’d ever been able to before. Last time it’d taken Darren’s help to get them on, which while that had been hilarious, it would be humiliating if I had to ask a hunter for a hand. The prospect of that had me into my pants in record time. With my shirt and daggers backed on, I pushed out of the stall and stalked out of the bathroom.
Not saying anything, I stopped by Tristan. I contemplated taking the crossbow as well with my daggers and gun but seeing as no one else was that loaded down with weapons decided against it.
Tristan looked up from the book in his hand, a worn copy of the same book in my footlocker, and asked, “Ready?”
I grunted, crossing my arms over my chest.
“You know, I like a woman of few words,” Tristan mentioned conversationally, as we made our way down one of the long hallways of the manor. “You know, most women would be going on and on about where they’d come from or bragging about their latest kill. You, though, you have a bit of mystery to you.” He winked in my direction.
True to my character, I grunted and su
ppressed the urge to roll my eyes. Mystery, right.
“You have no idea how many of the guys are gossiping about you. Trying to figure out where you came from.” Tristan glanced over at me from the corner of his eye, but I avoided meeting his gaze.
“How much farther?” The anticipation was killing me. I didn’t know who they had, but I knew whoever it ended up being, I wouldn’t be relieved until they were back home safely. Who knew that my going undercover as a vampire hunter would end up like this? I didn’t know how much I could do to help whoever got captured, but I would do my damnedest to get them free.
“We have to go down in the basement,” Tristan explained, as we descended the stairs. “That’s where we keep all the vampires.” His brows furrowed. “It’s in the handbook.”
I didn’t meet his stare, keeping my eyes forward. “I don’t stay in one place long. Prefer to keep moving.”
“Ah, one of those kinds. We have a few like that.” Tristan puffed up his chest with a macho grunt. “I consider myself a lone hunter as well. Nothing beats hunting down bloodsuckers with only yourself for backup. Know what I’m saying?” He nudged me with an elbow and I gave a weak smile.
We rounded the common area and went through the kitchens. My stomach rumbled in protest, so I snatched an apple off a nearby counter. No one called foul, so I bit into it with abandon. When we stopped before a metal door, I swallowed hard. This was it.
“It’s exciting, isn’t it?” Tristan grinned broadly, rubbing his hands together. “The anticipation of seeing a vampire up close and personal. Where we are the predator rather than the prey.” His whole muscled body shuddered. “It’s enough to get a guy hyped up.”
Suddenly, the apple in my stomach fought against me. Hearing Tristan talk about vampires that way, especially my guys, made me question humanity as a whole. He spoke of them like they were just animals without intelligence or feelings. Even though there were some vampires—Boris and Valentine—who deserved what came to them, there were others who hadn’t done anything to cause the hunters to track them down like helpless prey. My vampire knowledge was limited to the guys and the other nasties I’d encountered, so it wasn’t like I knew all vampires were good or bad. But there had to be others like the Durands. I couldn’t believe that they were the only vampires who cared for more than themselves.
Tristan turned the doorknob with a wicked gleam in his eyes. While he was excited about whatever lay down below, I was freaking the fuck out. I didn’t sign up for this. I didn’t want to see one of my guys, one of the people I loved, tortured and maimed. I wasn’t confident I could hold back my reaction when I saw them. That I wouldn’t attack whoever was closest, likely Tristan, to get my guy and get out of there.
The stairway was dark and dank, the only light shining was from the kitchen and what little light was on down below. Each step down the stairs made my heart rate ratchet up a bit. It got to the point where I was holding my breath by time we got to the bottom of the stairs. I blinked into the dimly lit room, my eyes adjusting as I forced myself to breathe so I didn’t pass out.
“Ah, there it is.” Tristan chuckled, his body blocking my view of the vampire who grunted and moaned. The clank of metal told me they’d chained him up, and I feared what else they might have done. I almost didn’t want to see. I was tempted to run back upstairs and keep the image of my loved one hurt and tortured out of my head, but I couldn’t.
Forcing one foot in front of the other, I pushed past Tristan and focused my gaze on the huddled, bloodied figure on the floor. I knew immediately who it was. The buzzed, dark hair on his head, the strong jawline, and muscles bigger than Tristan’s all gave away his identity. The one vampire who, while I hadn’t gotten to know him as well as the others, still squeezed my heart to see him like this.
Marcus.
Chapter 9
Marcus
Everything ached. The hunters hadn't just knocked me out, but they had taken great pleasure in beating me within an inch of my immortal life.
Footsteps fell on the stairs leading to God knew where, pulling my attention away from the pain. Two sets of them. One of them male, the other...female? They were lighter, almost hesitant.
It wasn't that I was surprised to see a female hunter. I'd been knocked out by one. I just didn't expect one to come to taunt me. Since I'd arrived at this new base, only men had come down to check on me, spit on me, and sometimes wave their bloody wrists in front of me as they laughed. No women though.
Except now.
"We keep it chained up, but not sedated," a gruff voice explained to the female. It. I had been downgraded from a fearsome monster to an it. Oh, if the other knights could see me now.
"Is that safe?" the woman asked, my head too fuzzy with hunger to pick her voice apart.
"It's too weak to break the chains. We haven't fed it since it was captured, and apparently they haven't been eating regularly either. Which was a bonus on our part. Made our job easier." The man chuckled and the woman grunted. "This one doesn't have any special powers, so you don't have to worry about it putting you in its thrall."
I almost laughed. So that's why they hadn't sent females. They thought I was like Wynn or Drake who could ensnare others with a single look. Sadly for them, they had their intel wrong. It didn’t matter if they were male or female. Their powers didn't discriminate. Unfortunately, none of that helped me right now.
"Don't get too close, it's still dangerous. But then you'd know that, huh?" The male laughed as the woman stepped forward. She crouched down before me and beneath the oily scent of the male there was another smell, a sweeter fragrance. Why was it so familiar? It was almost like...like...strawberries and coffee grounds. The revelation made my eyes snap open.
Big, light brown eyes stared down at me with a mixture of horror and sadness. I jolted up, ignoring the pain in my limbs and head. Piper. What the hell was she doing here? My eyes skimmed over her outfit, the daggers at her hips. She had gone undercover.
Had this been Antoine's idea? Had he sent her to save me? No. He'd never put her in danger that way and Piper had the audacity to think up such a plan on her own. I almost laughed. If Antoine didn't know yet, he would be beyond pissed when he found out. I didn't want to be Piper when Antoine got his hands on her.
"What are you smiling at, bloodsucker?" The man scowled, stepping closer to Piper. "She smells good, doesn't she? But you can't have her." The male’s hand clamped down on her shoulder, but she didn't lift her gaze from me.
My hackles raised over his hand on her. She didn’t belong to him either. A low growl rumbled from the back of my throat and I didn't know how I had the energy, but I yanked on my chains, jerking forward and glaring at the male hunter.
"Watch it." The male hunter tried to pull her away, but Piper shook her head, not budging an inch.
"I'm fine. He won't hurt me." The sound of her voice was like heavenly bells in my ears.
"I know you're used to being in the middle of the vamps, but it doesn't mean you can be reckless." He urged her once more to back away.
Piper stared at me with pain in her eyes. Was that for me? Then, with a watery smile, she pushed up off her thighs and stood. Her face changed instantly. The empathy and sadness there shifted into a hardened mask. I'd never seen Piper put on a face so fast. She'd always been open and honest. It caused an ache in my chest for this gorgeous woman to have been damaged in such a way because of us.
It was because of us. From the moment Piper had walked into our house, she had damned herself. She'd been attacked, kidnapped, and now forced to be someone she wasn't all for the sake of being involved with us. I wished she would have never come to work for us, then maybe she wouldn't be putting herself in such danger. Especially not for me. I wasn't worth it. I'd already been damned from the moment Boris changed me. He should have killed me that first night. Saved us all the trouble.
My eyes followed her as she walked up the stairs behind the male hunter, not allowing him to shield her from me. Five steps
up, she paused and turned to look behind her. The agony in her gaze pulled at me, but I couldn't let her risk her safety. I flicked my head toward the stairs, insisting that she go. With a tight jaw, she did as she was told—a first. The others wouldn't believe me when I told them. If I got to tell them. At this rate, I wasn't sure I'd make it to the next night, let alone to see my brothers again. As I sagged against the wall, I let Piper's face hover in my mind as my eyes grew heavy with exhaustion. At least I got to see Piper's face one more time.
I woke from the slam of a door above. Multiple booted feet pounded down the stairs. I cracked my eyes open, counting the hunters as they lined up around me. At least six of them. Each of them wore a menacing look on their face. It was a far cry from Piper's empathetic gaze.
In some ways, I was thankful for it. Hating them and the fight for survival was almost better than the ache in my chest from watching her see me this way. It wasn't anything I would wish upon anyone else. However, for whatever reason she was here, and I couldn't stop her from seeing it. I could, however, keep the sadistic bastards before me from getting my brothers.
"Oh, you're back," I rasped, my mouth and throat dry, the lack of blood making it hard to speak. "I was beginning to worry."
"Shut up, vampire." The head of this group of hunters kicked a booted foot out and hit me in the chest. Pain splintered from the impact. Had I been human, that one kick would have broken a rib or something. Unfortunately for me, I was made of sturdier stuff. I'd have to push them further to get them to do what I wanted.
I gathered my strength and forced a smile to my lips. "P-Pussy."
A few of the hunters chuckled, causing their leader to turn red with rage. Fists swung as he pounded into me. Hitting my face over and over again. My fangs ached to feed, my mouth watering at the taste of my own blood. The hunter continued to wail on me, breaking my nose at one point, and my eyes began to swell. I thought I might actually have gotten what I wanted, but before the hunter could really lay into me, one of the others pulled him back.
