Arctic Fire

by Erica Stevens

  “I see. And so are you?”

  “I suppose, but I wasn’t raised in the same way most Guardians are. My grandparents fled the Commission with my mother and came to the U.S. during World War II.”

  “Why did they flee?” Julian inquired as he leaned back on his heels to peer up the stairs. He really should return to the bar, but he had to learn as much as he could about these two before he let them anywhere near Quinn again.

  “Because they disagreed with the Commission’s policies. In England, during the war, the Commission did a lot of testing and experimenting on Hunters and vampires.”

  “I am well aware of the Commission’s experiments,” Julian spat.

  Clint lifted an eyebrow at that but refrained from commenting. “My grandparents were aware there were vampires out there who didn’t kill and lived in peace. They’d encountered a few of them and allowed them to live. A couple years later, they recognized one of the vampires they’d let go as a vampire the Commission had captured to experiment on. They tried to make the Commission understand what they did about vampires, but they wouldn’t hear of it. My grandparents feared their protests would turn the Commission against them.”

  “Rightly so,” Julian muttered.

  “So my grandparents fled. They spent the rest of their lives in hiding, as did my mother. My father also went into hiding to be with her. I’ve spent my whole life hiding in this town.” He squeezed Hawtie’s hand and lifted it to his mouth to press a kiss against the back of it. “Though it was a fun hiding place.” She grinned at him as she briefly rested her head on his shoulder. “Hawtie is the only one who ever knew the truth about me, until now.”

  “And believe me, I considered him insane at first.” Hawtie chuckled.

  “You still do,” Clint teased.

  “I do.”

  “My parents taught me what I was and trained me to be prepared in case someone came after me,” Clint continued. “They taught me how to recognize vamps by their movements and actions. The same with Hunters. Guardians are more difficult to pick out, but they’re less of a menace to me, in small numbers. They most likely don’t know about my existence but I’m not willing to take the chance they do.”

  “So that’s why you didn’t go after Quinn when she came into town,” Julian surmised. “Because you thought she might be one of the vamps who didn’t kill.”

  “Yes. I’ve encountered a few vampires who came through here over the years. Some I’ve allowed to pass freely when they made no move to attack anyone. Some of the others I put down. I was waiting to see which category Quinn would fall into. I was relieved to learn she was simply looking for a place of her own to hide, and I know this town is a good one.”

  “So what exactly do you plan to do to help us?” Julian inquired.

  Clint gestured at the weapons surrounding him. “You might not think it, but I’m tougher than I look. I want this vampire out of my town and as far from Quinn as possible.”

  “You and I finally agree on something,” Julian said.

  CHAPTER 16

  “Aren’t you going home?” Quinn asked Clint as she gathered the remaining glasses from the tables.

  “In a little bit,” Clint replied. “We have some things to discuss first.”

  Quinn froze, her head lifted to stare at him and Hawtie sitting at the bar. She glanced at Julian when he walked over to lock the front door with Melissa, Luther, Lou, and Chris still inside. Clint didn’t protest the action.

  “Is everything okay?” Quinn demanded as she placed the glasses on the table.

  She turned accusing eyes on Julian. Had he somehow managed to persuade Clint to fire her so she would reconsider leaving? “It’s fine,” Julian assured her and rested his hands on her shoulders.

  Quinn turned toward her boss. “What is it?”

  “You should sit,” Julian suggested and pulled out a chair for her at the bar. “And the rest of you will want to hear this too.”

  Quinn glanced uneasily at him before settling into the chair. She turned to face Clint and Hawtie, prepared to fight for her job, no matter what Julian had told them. She was also prepared to sock Julian in the jaw for trying to take control of her life, again.

  “What is it?” Quinn demanded.

  “I’m a Guardian,” Clint said flatly.

  Out of everything running through her mind, that declaration had been so unexpected that she couldn’t process it at first. Chris sprayed his beer over the bar, and Melissa started to laugh before abruptly silencing it when she realized Clint wasn’t kidding; he’d dropped a word most humans wouldn’t use to describe themselves. Luther and Lou both had their eyebrows so high into their hairlines that Quinn didn’t think they’d ever come down again.

  “I don’t understand,” she finally managed to get out.

  Leaning forward, Clint took hold of her hands while he told her about his family and their history. “I was born in this town, I’ve never left, but I know of your world.”

  Quinn couldn’t help but squeeze his hands as she fought the shock washing through her. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

  “I was hoping the three of us could live here peacefully and find the shelter, refuge, and friendship we were seeking with each other. Hawtie and I wanted to protect you and keep you safe. We were afraid you might bolt if you knew the truth about me.

  “When these guys came into town,” he waved a hand at the others, “I knew our peace was going to come to an end, but when they didn’t hurt you, I decided to let it play out and see what happened. I didn’t realize there were still Hunters and Guardians who realized all vampires weren’t evil. When this group walked in with a vampire, I have to admit my curiosity was piqued.”

  “It took some time for many of us to learn that not all vampires are killers. We didn’t believe it until only a couple of years ago,” Luther said. “I know of no other Hunters or Guardians before then who believed some vampires deserved to live.”

  “My grandparents said there were others,” Clint replied.

  “The Commission either killed them, they fled, or they remained silent in order to ensure their safety,” Julian replied. “I’d lean toward the Commission killed as many of the dissenters as they could find.”

  “I would too,” Lou murmured.

  “Bunch of bastards,” Clint muttered.

  “They’re gone now,” Quinn said. “They were destroyed.”

  Clint spun toward her, his jaw slack, and his eyes bugging out of his head. Beside him, Hawtie sat up straighter in her chair. “What?” Clint demanded.

  “We destroyed them,” Julian replied. “There may be some out there still, but they’re more scattered than the Hunters and Guardians were after The Slaughter. They’re also an open target for everyone who stumbles across them as far as I’m concerned. There are no innocents in that bunch.”

  “Julian.” Quinn rested her palm on the rigid hand grasping her shoulder. He eased his grip a little before beginning to massage her shoulders.

  “That means…” Hawtie whispered before shaking her head. “It doesn’t matter; I’m a little too old to have children now.”

  Clint took hold of her hand and squeezed it within his. “I’m sorry.”

  “It’s not your fault. I knew you didn’t want children when I chose my path years ago. I’m happy with it, until you piss me off.”

  “Most likely tomorrow,” Clint said.

  Hawtie laughed. “Most likely.”

  “The Commission is the reason you never had children,” Quinn guessed.

  “I couldn’t have my children living with the worry they could be discovered at any time,” Clint replied.

  “And I refused to marry him if he refused to have children in the beginning. Now, it’s become our thing,” Hawtie said.

  “One of these days, I’ll convince you to marry me.”

  “Don’t count on it.”

  Quinn couldn’t hide her smile over their banter. “So why did you reveal this to Julian?” Luther inq
uired.

  “We want to help,” Clint replied. “I have a large stash of weapons—”

  “He has enough to bring down a vampire horde,” Julian said, not looking at all pleased by the notion.

  “Good, because I think we’re going to need it,” Luther said.

  “What do you mean?” Julian demanded.

  Quinn rose and paced over to look out the window as she spoke. “Jeb came in earlier.”

  “I was wondering where that boy has been,” Clint said as he rubbed at his chin.

  “Busy,” Quinn said and then filled them in on what Jeb and the others had revealed. The white band encircling Julian’s pupils burned a fiery red. She’d come to recognize the reddened band signified he was angry, but still mostly in control of himself.

  “How many did he think were there?” he demanded.

  “At least ten,” Quinn replied.

  “What I don’t understand is why they’re killing animals and not people,” Chris said.

  “They’re trying to go undetected,” Luther replied. “They’ve brought attention to themselves with the slaughter of the livestock, but they believe humans will pass it off as a bizarre animal attack. I don’t think they realize they’re on camera.”

  “Why wouldn’t they think they were on camera?” Melissa asked.

  “Not all vamps have caught up with technology,” Julian replied. “And those who have are often too arrogant to think they’d ever slip up in some way. Besides, no one would be able to tell what those blurs were. Slowing the video would do nothing as the vamps themselves are moving at a speed undiscernible to the human eye.”

  “So we have a growing number of vamps on the outskirts of town, trying to go unnoticed. Why?” Clint asked.

  “Because of the prophecy,” Julian replied. When he lifted his head to look at Quinn, his eyes were a fiery red now. “They know it’s you and they’ve come for you.”

  “What are you talking about?” Clint demanded.

  Quinn filled him in on the stupid prophecy and the truth surrounding Angie’s death. She knew there was a chance Clint and Hawtie were also under that ass’s mind control, but most vamps probably already knew about the prophecy. Besides, Zach had most likely spilled all the beans about her anyway.

  “Jesus, Quinn,” Hawtie whispered. “Why didn’t you run from here?”

  “Because I had to make sure you were safe. It doesn’t matter where I go; there are vampires everywhere, and they’ll hunt me until the day I die. I didn’t expect the vamp responsible for my turning to walk in here after all these years or for him to amass a small army. If we left now, I think he’d be enraged enough to slaughter everyone in town before trying to follow me, and I can’t allow that.”

  “No vamps in Antarctica,” Julian muttered.

  “Like you would live there,” Chris said. “You’re more cold-blooded than a snake.”

  “I would if it meant no one would bother us.”

  “I’m not running!” Quinn snapped. “And I’m not living in the land of snow and ice.”

  “They have penguins,” Julian said with a coaxing smile.

  “I do like penguins. We can visit someday.”

  “This vampire is obsessed with you, Quinn,” Hawtie said.

  “And the only way to end that is to kill him,” she said firmly, “before he brings more of the undead here.”

  “Why is he so obsessed with you?” Clint inquired.

  “I think because he doesn’t understand how I’m still alive. He certainly didn’t expect me to survive the night he attacked me.”

  “How did you change?” Clint inquired.

  Quinn turned to look at the window again as she revealed her Hunter and vampire heritage to them. “Between being born a Hunter and part vampire, I had enough vampire blood in me to keep me from dying that night,” she said.

  “Aw, honey.” Hawtie walked over to pull Quinn’s hair forward and tug at the ends of it. Quinn couldn’t help but smile over the familiar, comforting gesture. “I’m so sorry for what you’ve gone through.”

  “Others have been through worse,” she said as she squeezed Hawtie’s hands.

  Hawtie dragged her up against her ample chest, hugging her so close that Quinn never would have been able to breathe if she were still human. She smiled as she wrapped her arms around Hawtie’s back.

  “Not many have,” Hawtie said as she stepped away from her.

  “He probably knows how I was able to survive the change now, because of Zach,” Quinn said.

  Clint looked around the bar at the others with a look of confusion. “Wait a minute, what do you mean because of Zach he probably knows, and where is Zach?”

  Guilt slithered through Quinn. She turned her eyes away from the man who thought better of her than he should. She moved further away from Hawtie. Julian stepped closer to her and wrapped his arms around her waist. He pulled her against his chest and rested his chin on her head.

  “He’s dead,” Julian said flatly.

  Clint’s eyes widened. Hawtie’s hand flew to her mouth. “What happened?” Clint demanded.

  Julian looked questioningly at her, but she shook her head. She didn’t much feel like retelling that tale. He focused on the two of them again. “The vampire hunting Quinn has the ability to control minds. He got hold of Zach at some point, probably before he ever let his presence in this town be known to us. Zach staked me, killed me, and Quinn brought me back.”

  No one spoke for a minute. “How were you able to do that?” Hawtie finally blurted.

  “I drained the life from Zach and gave it to Julian,” Quinn said flatly.

  Clint pulled a piece of gum from his pocket. He unwrapped it and folded it into his mouth as his gaze slid from her to Julian and back again.

  “You can do that?” Hawtie asked with a hitch in her voice.

  “I never had before, but yes, I can and did do that,” Quinn replied.

  “By taking my life, Zach was also taking Quinn’s, but I’m not sure he knew that. I’m not sure if this vampire knows we’re mates or not, but—”

  “Wait, wait, wait,” Clint said and held a hand up to halt him. “The mate thing is real?”

  “It is,” Julian confirmed.

  “And you two are mates?”

  “Yes.” Julian’s arms tightened possessively on her waist as he growled the word.

  Quinn rested her hand reassuringly on top of his. “I didn’t mean to kill him,” she said. “Well, I did, but I never would have under normal circumstances. I just lost it. I only knew I had to get Julian back.”

  Clint’s eyes looked about to pop out of his head as he chomped on his gum and stared between the two of them. “But like I was saying,” Julian continued, “if this vamp does know we’re mated, I think he intended to test the strength of the bond by killing me and see what Quinn could do if pushed beyond reason. If he didn’t know, then he was simply looking to get me out of the way so he could get to her.”

  “And if what Jeb said about the ranch is true, he’s either creating vampires or he’s gathering them here,” Clint said.

  “Or both,” Julian replied.

  “Shit.”

  “That about sums it up,” Chris said.

  “What’s your plan?” Clint inquired.

  “We haven’t formulated one for this yet,” Luther answered. “I’m not sure there is one, other than sticking together, staying on our best defense, and preparing ourselves for what could be one hell of a battle.”

  “I can help with the preparing,” Clint said with a grin.

  ***

  The knock on the door roused Julian from bed. Devon had called earlier to say Dani was on her way and should arrive early in the afternoon. Opening the bedroom door, he peered out at the people strewn about the room. Melissa sat up on her cot and rubbed at her eyes. Luther’s head emerged around the kitchen doorway, but Chris and Lou remained sleeping on the floor.

  Shaking his head, he stepped over their bodies to get to the door. He pul
led it open to reveal Dani on the other side. The sight of her caused a jolt of anger to go through him, but he shoved it aside. Here to help, and right now, she’s the only one you can trust other than Quinn. If that vamp had control of Quinn, she wouldn’t be with me right now.

  The small, slender girl had her normally dark hair bleached blond now; rainbow streaks of color framed her face as it fell around her shoulders. Since he’d seen her last, she’d pierced her eyebrow and lip with silver hoops.

  “I bet you’re throwing me a party to celebrate my arrival,” she said with a smile.

  Julian scowled at her, but he stepped aside and gestured for her to enter. “Wow, I’m having flashbacks of fifth grade sleepovers,” she muttered as she surveyed the people sprawled across the floor. “Except these guys smell much worse.”

  Chris didn’t bother to open his eyes as he lifted his hand to give her the finger.

  “Forced to buddy up because of a crazed vampire and all that,” Melissa said.

  “So, the usual,” Dani replied.

  “Yeah.”

  “What’s with the face metal?” Chris asked as he pushed himself up onto his elbows.

  Dani grinned at him as she set her bag on the floor near the door. “Eighteenth birthday present to myself. Like?”

  “It’s you,” Chris replied.

  Dani turned toward him, but before she could speak, Quinn emerged from the bedroom. Julian took hold of her hand and pulled her against his side. “Quinn, this is Dani.”

  He’d told Quinn enough about Dani that she hesitated before extending her hand. “Thank you for coming,” she said.

  Dani thrust a thumb at him. “I kind of owe this guy.”

  Quinn glanced at him as Dani took hold of her hand and gave it a shake. He remained unmoving, his gaze on the young girl. And she is young, he reminded himself. She was even younger when she betrayed Cassie.

  He kept his eyes on Quinn’s hand as Dani wrapped both of hers around it. “It’s nice to meet you,” Dani said.

  “You also,” Quinn replied and glanced at him again. She rested her hand on his chest, causing his muscles to relax a little as some of his tension eased.

  “So, why don’t you guys fill me in on what’s going on,” Dani said as she weaved her way through the sleeping bags to settle on the couch. Luther grabbed a chair from the kitchen and brought it out as they all gathered around to fill her in on the details.