Hunter's Blood Special Edition (Cursed by Blood Saga)

by Marianne Morea

Sean nodded. “Yes, and according to the nurse’s report she’s healing pretty quickly. Considering how grave her injuries were, it seems to follow that her body siphoned off some of Jerard’s Were traits when he attacked her.”

  “But you said there was no transfer of blood between the two?” Volkmann asked a little perplexed.

  “That’s right. As far as I know Jerard’s blood never mixed with hers, but his saliva did. In his crazed state, he was drooling, and much of it dripped into her open wounds, not to mention the fact that he bit her. Of course, he was bleeding pretty badly himself, so anything’s possible. Some of his traits must have transferred, there’s no other viable explanation for how quickly she’s healing—but we haven’t run any tests yet to see if the pathogen transferred along with them.”

  Mitch and Volkmann looked at Leighton in shock. “Why not, Sean? If this girl is indeed infected, then she’s a threat to us as well as to her own kind. You’re the Alpha Council, why haven’t you done anything about her yet? She should be taken out.” Mitch scowled, his voice incredulous.

  Sean put his hands up defensively. “Hold on a minute. Like the Doc said, we have no idea if this pathogen is something that’s infectious only to us. Let’s not forget that she’s not dual-natured. And she’s most probably not a shifter either. She may be immune.

  “Besides, there’s something different about her. I haven’t had the chance to brief you yet, but she wasn’t alone when I found her, and it doesn’t seem to add up that she was there randomly. You should have seen the heat she was packing.”

  “Yeah, I heard some kind of crazy rumor she shot Jerard with a silver bullet. Stupid human myth! Have you interrogated her yet? Why was she out there armed to the hilt and so close to the Compound?”

  “She’s been unconscious for the past week, and I didn’t take her out to use your turn of phrase for just that reason. I’m not going to kill someone when they are totally defenseless. Besides, we need to talk to her first.”

  “You said she wasn’t alone. Do you want me to get a tracking party together to see if we can locate her partner? It’s been a week, and the scent will probably be obscured by now, but we should try.”

  Sean chuckled. “You could put your best noses on it, Mitch, but it wouldn’t do any good. The person with her wasn’t actually a person…or at least not any more…she was with a shade.”

  “A shade? As in ghost?”

  “Yeah, if you can believe it. That’s why I said there was something about her. She’s certainly unusual, and I want to get to the bottom of it.”

  Ernst Volkmann cleared his throat. “I don’t mean to interrupt your little strategy meeting, but can we get back to the business at hand? I have too much work waiting for me in the lab and not enough time to get it done. I want blood samples from the human drawn and sent to me as soon as possible. If she’s absorbed enough of Jerard’s traits, then she may very well be infected.”

  “How long before you’ll know anything, Doc?” Mitch asked.

  Volkmann took a deep breath. “It’s been a week since the attack, so antibodies should have begun to form in her blood. It’s still rather soon though, so we might have to grow the culture for a time in order to be sure. But it’s certain we’ll know without a doubt in a matter of days.”

  “I don’t follow?” Mitch said his face puzzled.

  Sean looked at his second-in-command, his face grim. “What the doctor means, is that in a week’s time it’ll be a full moon. If she takes on the traits of a Were and she’s infected, then the virus will most likely do to her what it did to my brother.”

  “Jesus!”

  “Don’t worry, Mitch. Once we know what we’re up against I’ll have no problem carrying out my duty.” The resolute tone of his voice seemed to satisfy his second-in-command, yet the idea of taking another life, Lily’s life, left Sean utterly hollow.

  Volkmann stood up pushing his chair back noisily. “Well, if there’s nothing else then, I bid you good day, gentleman. Sean, I’ll expect those samples as soon as possible. There’s no telling what we’ll find.”

  Chapter Five

  ***

  Sean headed out of the clinic. He had given the nurse Volkmann’s instructions less than an hour ago, but it seemed the good doctor was chomping at the bit for his samples. He had gotten a stream of messages from the man on his cell phone, the last one being nothing short of a dictate. “Leighton! Go check on what’s taking so long. I only wanted blood samples for pity’s sake, not a biopsy!”

  “Talk about a textbook Napoleon complex,” Sean chuckled to himself reading the man’s latest text.

  Mitch caught up to him in the hallway by the elevators. “Hey, Sean, got a minute?”

  “Sure.” His phone buzzed again. Holding up one finger, he motioned for Mitch to wait as he answered the call. “Okay. I’ll be right up.” Snapping his phone shut he pressed up for the elevator and turned back toward Mitch.

  “That was the staff nurse I assigned upstairs. She’s drawing the blood samples for Volkmann. He’s such a persnickety bastard, wants me to collect them, myself. Says he wants to make sure they’re not compromised. Come on, we can talk in the elevator.”

  The lift doors opened, and Sean could feel the weight of Mitch’s eyes as the doors slowly closed. “So, what’s up?”

  “Rissa.”

  “What about her?”

  “Look, I know that Jerard was your brother and all, but it’s no secret that he was, well let’s just say it’s common knowledge that he and Rissa weren’t exactly the happiest of couples. If you know what I mean.”

  Sean’s eyes narrowed, “…and.”

  “And she’s got a tough road ahead of her now with the new baby and Stephanie barely out of diapers...”

  “Get to the point Mitch. What do you want with my sister-in-law?”

  “I want to know if it would be all right with you, if I started spending some time with them, you know, to get to know them better.” Mitch shrugged a little embarrassed by the question.

  Sean just looked at him. “You truly are a mutt. I should tear your head off on principle. My brother’s dead less than a week, and here you are already staking your claim.”

  “It’s not what you think, Sean,” Mitch shot back quietly.

  Not knowing what else to say, they stood there in awkward silence as the elevator climbed. Glancing over, Sean could see the muscle in Mitch’s cheek working as he bit back on his wounded pride.

  “Shit,” Sean thought to himself. This was the last thing he needed right now. But Mitch was no fool. He was a good man—one he could rely on. And as much as he hated to admit it, he was right about Jerard.

  Sean cleared his throat. “Look, I’m well aware of everyone’s opinion regarding my brother. And you’re right; Jerard wasn’t exactly winning any prizes for best husband and father. Even I knew Rissa wasn’t happy. But she’s in a fragile state right now, and you know as well as I do what she’s facing if things don’t turn out the way we hope with this baby.”

  The elevator doors opened, and they stepped out into the main foyer. Mitch nodded. “I know,” he said softly. “That’s why I want to be there for her. It’s going to be rough one way or the other, but maybe I can help. You know, be a shoulder for her.”

  Sean smirked. “Yeah, yeah. Just make sure your shoulder is the only body part you have in mind to offer for the time being.”

  Mitch laughed. “Can’t you give me a little more credit than that?”

  “Mmmhhhm. Let’s not forget I know you and your reputation with the ladies. Rissa’s different, Mitch, and I’m not saying that because she’s my family.”

  “Don’t you think I know that? Look, I may have been a player in the past, but Rissa…man, she deserves to be happy.”

  Sean took a long hard look at his second-in-command, wondering how Mitch would react if he decided to take a walk through the guy’s mind. After a moment, he nodded, deciding to trust his gut.

  “Okay, Mitch. If you were looking for
my blessing you got it, but know I will personally give you the beating of your life if you fuck it up and hurt her. Just go easy man, okay?” Clapping Mitch on the shoulder Sean headed upstairs alone.

  ***

  Stepping onto the top landing, Sean could hear the sound of muffled yelling. As he crossed the hall he recognized Lily’s voice, the tenor of her complaints gaining in volume the closer he got to her door.

  “Ouch! You know, I’m seriously starting to think you’re enjoying this!” Lily said cringing as the nurse tried tapping yet another vein.

  “And how are we feeling this afternoon?” Sean asked, closing the door behind him, but as he stepped toward the bed he could already see that Lily’s I.V. was gone, and despite the bloodletting, her color was better.

  “I don’t know about ‘we’, but I’m much better, thanks. I feel like a new woman. The bandages came off, and I was finally able to take a shower. Even Nurse Ratchet here is surprised I’m practically healed…Hey! …Come on! Take it easy with that needle; I’m not a pin cushion you know!”

  Biting his lip Sean tried not to laugh. “That’s good.”

  The nurse taped sterile gauze to the inside of Lily’s elbow “All ready for the lab, Mr. Leighton,” she said, scribbling the last of Lily’s information on the side of the glass tubes. She handed the box to Sean and ran a hand across her forehead, gathering her kit. “If there’s nothing else then, I’ll be downstairs. Just buzz if you need me.”

  Lily eyes threw daggers at the woman’s back, and Sean had to stifle another laugh. Especially when she turned her attentions to him and the little white box, with vial after vial of her blood stacked neatly inside.

  She picked at the surgical tape on her arm, shooting him a sullen look. “Twenty-four vials. Do you mind telling me why so much? What are you testing me for, Ebola?”

  Arching an amused brow, Sean smiled. “You know, you shouldn’t abuse my staff like that. It’s not polite. However, to answer your question the doctors want to run a battery of routine tests.”

  The statement wasn’t a complete lie. Still, in this situation there was no room for guilt. Sean continued to stare her down even as her eyes narrowed in suspicion. He knew she realized he wasn’t giving her the whole truth.

  Their gazes locked, and her eyes grew flinty as the first mental jab flew out at him. The second he felt her in his head he slammed down his own mental wall shutting her out this time. Did she actually think he was going to allow her to see what he wasn’t telling her?

  Eyes wide, Lily scrambled to the other side of the bed. “You!”

  “Hasn’t anyone ever told you how unattractive hysteria can be in a woman? You need to calm down. Perhaps, if you stopped trying to trespass inside my head, we could get to the truth of who you are, and what you were doing out on the cliffs a week ago.”

  “I don’t need to tell you anything! And I don’t need to trespass anywhere to see you for what you are. You’re the same as that thing! That beast that attacked me…that killed Terry!”

  “It’s unfortunate what happened to you and your friend. I have the coroner’s report. As terrible a tragedy as it was, it still isn't anybody’s fault.”

  “Unfortunate! I lose the closest thing to family I have left and you call it unfortunate! Look, I may not have been in your head for long, but I recognize the thought patterns. Except for the fact that yours are coherent they are exactly the same. You’re a werewolf as well—a supe—a filthy, beast. A monster that preys on humans!”

  He studied her for a moment, saying nothing at first. “Is that what you think?”

  Lily stepped away from the bed. “Give me a break! Do you have any idea who I am or what I do for a living? You already know that I’m psychic, but what you don’t know is that I also investigate murders for the police! There’s no way in hell you’re going to stand there and hand me a load of crap. I know what you are! And you can forget trying to sell me on how innocent you supes are when I’ve seen your handiwork up close and personal!”

  From her scent, Sean could taste her adrenaline flowing fast and furious. She was sweating and panicked. “Okay, so you work with the police. I’m sure you must have investigated plenty of cases that didn’t involve the supernatural. So just for argument’s sake, tell me, what’s the difference between a supe, or whatever you call us, committing a murder and a regular murder?”

  “Are you kidding me? I was there when that thing killed my best friend! And in case you’ve conveniently forgotten, it attacked me, as well! I’ve seen the ravaged bodies in the morgue—bloodless, torn to shreds or worse! There is no way in hell a human could defend themselves against any of you! At least with a human perp, they’ve got half a chance,” she yelled.

  Lily’s hospital gown was open to the back, and she clutched it closed, tearing around the room pulling open drawers and closets. “Where the hell are my clothes?”

  “What are you doing? I told you before, your clothes were ruined. Stop this before you reinjure yourself!” Grabbing her by the wrist, he tried to make her sit down.

  She whirled around, kneeing him in the stomach, driving her elbow up into his face as he hunched over. “I’m getting the hell out of here! You and your kind are all the same—vile, unnatural beasts!”

  He struggled to hold her, curbing his own strength so as not to hurt her as she continued to fight. With blood trickling from his nose, he grabbed her other wrist and held them locked together.

  Lily screamed in fury trying to break his grip. She fought him, trying to twist herself around, but only managed to wind herself further into his grasp. She struggled, but with his arms locked around her she was trapped. Sean felt his body tense and his cock grow hard.

  “I’m sorry Lily, but leaving is out of the question. You probably feel as if you’re being held against your will, but trust me, it is for your own good. If you want you may walk the grounds with an escort, but I warn you, if you try to leave the Compound you’ll like it even less when I have you restrained.”

  Her chest heaved. Bottled up rage and despair rose to the surface and was spilling over onto him. Screaming turned to crying, her whole body shaking with grief and anger.

  The room was saturated with her grief, and the taste of her pain washed through him. His own anger mounted as he listened to her sobs. She shouldn’t be here. None of this should have happened. However, there was no way he was going to share his personal grief with a woman who’d just as soon shoot him as look at him. No. The Compound’s safety and their secrets came first, regardless of how attracted he was to this hellcat.

  Clearing his throat he helped her to the edge of the bed. He picked up his cell phone, and as she crawled back beneath the covers, he instructed the nurse to come back up and bring a sedative.

  “Is drugging me truly necessary? Or am I that much of a threat?” She sniffed coldly.

  “I don’t know, are you?”

  “You could have transferred me to the hospital in Portland by now. You’re hiding something. I deserve to know what it is, why you insist on holding me hostage.”

  “You are not a hostage, Lily, you are my guest. An injured one at that. The purpose of the sedative is to help you sleep, and nothing more. It’s for your own good, same as trying to keep you put. You’re just going to have to trust me.”

  “And why is that?”

  Sean didn’t answer, they were at a stalemate. Finally, he looked right at her. “Because you have no other choice, but to.”

  ***

  Lily looked at herself in the mirror brushing her teeth. No one would believe she’d been a hair’s breadth away from death only a week ago. Impossible as it seemed, she was entirely healed. Truth be told, she felt terrific. That is except for the fact she was being held against her will and hadn’t seen or heard from Terry since that night on the cliffs.

  Rinsing her mouth, she dried her hands and face and put the toothbrush back in its fancy holder, along with the other toiletries Sean had sent up. He was certainly going out of his way
to prove she was a guest, and not a prisoner. But she wasn’t buying it. Guests didn’t need big, burly guards following them about, and they could leave whenever they wanted.

  Sean could sugar coat the situation anyway he wished. She was still a prisoner, regardless of how gilded the cage.

  Lily hadn’t seen him much over the last couple of days. She knew there was something going on, and she knew that was one of the reasons he was making himself scarce. It was all connected. Her, Terry and what he was doing that night on the cliffs.

  For a psychic, it should have been a piece of cake. A quick peek into any one of the minds around her and she’d have her answers. But it was as if someone had raised a smoke screen. She’d been cut off. Being in seclusion didn’t help matters either.

  Nonetheless, today she was venturing out, and it didn’t seem plausible Sean could cloak everyone. She’d try her luck again, outside.

  Lily pulled on a pair of cotton, drawstring pants and a matching pullover. Running a hand over the heather blue fleece, she reveled in its softness. They, along with a set of lacy undergarments had been waiting for her on the vanity this morning. Pulling her hair back into a knot, she had to admit it felt good to be out of the hospital drab.

  Her guard was waiting for her by the window. “Ready?” he asked as she came out of the bathroom.

  Lily gave him an answering shrug, but the truth was she couldn’t wait to get outside. From her bedroom window, the grounds seemed enormous. It had finally snowed, and despite her circumstances, she wanted to enjoy its pristine beauty.

  The young man stood waiting near the door, his expressionless face as cold as ice. Lily sighed. Did they seriously consider her that much of a threat?

  Squelching the urge to throw her arms up and yell “boo!”, she cleared her throat. “What’s your name, soldier?”

  “Lieutenant Jack Cochran, Ma’am. I’ve been assigned as your escort.”

  Lily snapped her mouth shut. She may have been dripping with sarcasm when she called him “soldier”, but it was obvious he wasn’t just playing the part, regardless of his jeans and cowboy boots.