by Terry Spear
"Uh, yeah," one of the other guys said. "A wolf was following you."
"And you didn't try to protect her?" her brother asked.
They didn't respond to that. Of course not. All they cared about was that the car was there, begging them to steal it.
"Then?" she prompted.
"A vampire appeared, and he grabbed you by the throat. What could we do? We were scared. We're only human. We can't deal with vampires."
"And you thought I was human and only thought to steal my car." She was afraid they would say they just took off in her car because they were afraid of the vampire coming after them and they hadn't seen what else had happened.
“Another vampire appeared. I mean, it was like a damn vampire convention,” the guy with her keys said.
“The one bit you and the other tossed him aside, then bit you and hit you and then the two vampires were glowering at each other like they were telepathically communicating to each other. What do we know?” the other man said.
The driver said, "When the one hit you, you fell to the pavement and we thought you were dead."
"So you thought you had inherited my car. You must have driven in a different vehicle. You didn’t have to steal the car. It would have gone to my family. What happened to the wolf?"
"He, uh, turned into a vampire and he picked up the sword you'd dropped on the ground—"
"Then you knew I was a huntress."
"Uh, yeah, and he stabbed the vampire twice—the one who had bitten you and struck you—before the ancient collapsed in a pile of ashes and clothes. And the other vampire—the one who the dead vampire had pushed aside—vanished before the wolf guy could take care of him. We quickly jumped into the car and took off."
So there had been three vampires, the one who had bitten her and the one who had followed her as a wolf and killed the other, and the one who had first bitten her and told her telepathically that he should have killed her. She suspected the wolf had wanted her to return to the club, and then out of nowhere, the rogue vampires had appeared, waiting for a lone huntress to make her appearance so the vampire could turn her. But the other had wanted her dead. Did the wolf know who the rogue vampires were?
"What did they look like? The ones who had bitten me?" she asked.
“Both of them had black hair and they were tall, about three inches taller than me," the driver said.
That made him about six feet tall.
Two police cars pulled up and her brother explained to the police about the two girls and the stuff they had heisted at the store. When a female officer searched them and their bags, they found other jewelry they'd stolen. They read them their rights and placed them in one of the patrol cars.
"What else did you see about the one who attacked me?" Selena asked.
"Nothing else. Just that they were tall. And they were vicious. I mean, we knew they were vampires—maybe even brothers."
Brothers.
"And you did nothing to help," Rosa said.
"She was done for," the driver said. "What could we do? She was a huntress and couldn't fight back. How could we have helped? Besides, the other vampire killed the one and the other vanished, so it was done."
"She wasn't dead. She had to stumble her way to the vampire club," Rosa said.
"The vampire could have taken her there," the driver said. "He shifted back into the wolf and waited for her to reach the club, and then go in. What were we supposed to do? What if we'd tried to do something for her and the wolf had attacked us? No way were we getting involved in that."
"She protects humans, you know," Rosa said. "Maybe if she sees you're in trouble the next time, she won't be bothered. I know I wouldn't."
Selena figured she wasn't going to get anything more out of the car thieves. "You can arrest them for stealing my car." She told the officer when and where it had been stolen while her brother retrieved her car keys for her, since the thief still hadn’t handed them back to her, and then the officers took the men into custody.
The hosts hurried to clean up her car for her, which she hadn’t expected and thought it was nice of them. She didn't want to drive in the vehicle until it was aired out, but she put down the top and figured that would do the trick. Her brother and sister rode with her back to Atreides's house.
"I'm so glad I got the car back, but I'm equally thrilled we learned that at least one of the rogue vampires who bit me is truly dead. And I'm hoping the one that had been a wolf was only there to solicit my help in the hunter murdered vampiress's cases," Selena told her siblings. “As to the other, we’re going to have to find him.”
"I agree," her brother said. "Not to change the subject, but you need to talk to Mom and Dad about all this."
"You haven't told them already?" Selena was surprised. She figured her brother would have told them right away.
"No. Rosa and I discussed it and we felt it was your call when you felt ready to talk to them about having been turned."
"Okay, I guess maybe we could have a family dinner and discuss it then. Should I invite Atreides?" Selena wanted to but she wasn't sure if that was the best way to handle this. They had been upset with her for killing a hunter, even though she was in the right. What would they have done in her situation? She wanted to think only good of her parents, but everyone dealt with a situation differently. Side with the hunters, even if they were wrong, but keep their standing with the hunter community, or side with the vampires who had been wronged, and face the consequences, like she'd done?
She'd liked to think her parents would have done what was right and protected the vampiress, but she'd gotten mixed messages from them, so she wasn't sure.
"No on Atreides," her brother said, and her sister agreed.
"It's going to be enough of a shock to them to learn that you were turned. And yes, I'll tell them what I had done to you when I kicked you out of the hunter club. I was taught better than that,” Daniel said.
"And I'm mending my ways," Rosa said. "From now on, I'm letting everyone in the family know where I am so that no one has to risk their neck looking for me because I disappear for a while."
Maybe this had all been for the good then, bringing her family closer together and aligning themselves with right instead of just keeping the peace with the hunters in the League.
"But about Atreides, once you have told our parents you have been turned, then we can set another family gathering date to welcome him into the family if you think you are going to stay with him," Daniel said.
"I am."
"I'm sorry, not that you ended up with the prince of the vampire clans out here, but that we weren't the ones who protected you in your time of need,” Daniel said.
"It's done. We're a family again. I think we are better off now for what had happened." Selena telepathically communicated to Atreides, "I have my car! It needs detail work, but it looks good otherwise."
Atreides didn't respond and she sighed. He was probably asleep. It was going to be something they would have to work out because she still wanted to sleep at night, except when she went on rogue vampire hunts, and he needed to sleep during the day, especially on sunny days like today when he couldn't be out and about anyway.
She wanted to be with him, but they would have to just work out their own schedules and do the best they could.
"Do you truly love him?" Rosa asked.
"I do."
"I heard he dumped a rabid vampiress for you. I would watch your back, if I were you. We will too, but we won't be running in the same circles as you,” Daniel said.
"She conceded, graciously, from what Atreides had told me. So we're good. She's dating another vampire already. One that she had been dancing with at the club even, so it appears she has moved on."
"That's good," Rosa said. "We were worried about that."
Then they arrived at Atreides's home and Selena said, "I'm going to get some sleep."
Rosa lifted her brows.
"A nap."
Rosa shook her head. "I could
never get used to trying to be up half the night and half the day to be with a vampire."
"You would do it if you loved one of them. See you tonight to hunt for the rogue hunters." Selena gave her sister and brother hugs.
"See you tonight, but don't put off telling our parents about what's happened. They'll learn about it before long when you should be the one to tell them, not the rumor mill," Rosa said.
"I will." Though she wanted to take down the rogue hunters first. "Maybe we can do lunch instead of dinner, then we can continue to try and entrap the rogue hunters at night."
"That will work," her brother said.
"Let's do it. This afternoon," Rosa said.
Then Twilight came out to greet them and said, “Do you all need a ride back to the ranch or somewhere else right now?”
“Yes, to the ranch,” Rosa said. “Daniel, you’re staying with me too.”
Chapter 17
Selena was thinking of having lunch tomorrow with her parents and telling them the news. She agreed with her sister and brother. She didn't want any other hunters to learn of what she'd become before she told her parents herself, and she needed to go before the League Council and tell them also and see what they wanted to do with her. She wanted to continue to do both—work to protect the vampires who were not rogues and fight the ones who were, with the League's sanction. She was still a huntress after all.
She called her mother before she went to bed with Atreides. "Mom, Rosa and Daniel and I want to have lunch with you this afternoon, if you can swing it." She had to be mindful that her parents weren't just sitting around the house waiting for her to show up at her leisure.
"Yes, that would be great. I'll make, uhm, your favorite meal if you would like."
Selena thought her mom sounded a little choked up, and making her favorite when it wasn't her birthday? She suspected her mom knew what had become of her and she was upset. Tears pricked Selena's eyes. She didn't want to upset her mom, and she had really thought they would be mad at her, not saddened and she had come to terms with it. She had to remind herself if they did know, this all had to be a shock to them. But she was what she was, and she couldn't do anything differently now. Who had let it slip? Maybe one of Daniel's friends.
"Sure, that would be great. Everyone loves your Italian sausage spaghetti."
"Would noon be all right?"
"Is that Selena?" her father asked in the background.
"Yes, the kids are all coming home today for lunch," her mom called back to him.
"Noon would be fine, Mom. I've got to go," Selena said.
"We'll look forward to seeing you all then."
They ended the call and now Selena was all choked up. Her sister and brother hadn't been, so she just figured her parents wouldn't be. It was just something that had happened, and they had to deal with it. Then she texted her brother and sister about the lunch date and when she finished, Atreides swooped in, swept her into his arms, and transported her to his bed.
Now that was the way she liked to be welcomed home by her mate.
"I'm having lunch with my family at noon. But I'm taking a nap with you for now."
"To tell your mother and father you were turned?"
"Yeah." She curled up in Atreides's arms, but he was removing her clothes and he was already naked, just like she liked him. “I think my parents already know."
"I wouldn't be surprised if they had heard the news via the grapevine. Word spreads fast when things go wrong."
"I think things turned out right for us. Even though some of the stuff I'm dealing with is disorienting, being with you and making new friends, even with the huntress turned vampires on the fringe, is a good thing. I love you, Atreides."
"I love you, my huntress and vampiress in one beautiful, sexy package." Then she was naked, and he leaned her back and his fingers sought her nubbin, but she really loved it when he sucked on her neck and made her come.
She didn't know if the feeling would always be that intense and would give her an insta-orgasm practically, or if it was just because he'd worked her up so much before that and then the experience was so new that it crashed over her before she was even ready for it. And she'd felt wonderful, like a million bucks.
"You are insatiable." But he didn't start biting and sucking right away, as if he knew he had to work her up to it. He was a consummate lover and she adored him for it.
He began to kiss her lips, running his hand over her breast with gusto, and moving his arousal against her leg in a way that showed her he had been ready to make love to her for some time. Here she'd been talking and talking, making him wait. His heart rate was kicking up and so was hers. Maybe that was what he needed. To hear her heartbeat thumping in her chest, to make him crave her blood to such a degree he couldn't hold back. Or not.
Still, it made her own blood pulse like crazy and she could hear his too as he continued to assault her mouth with punishing kisses, alternating with gentle kisses. Their tongues were at it again, long strokes, invasions, touching teeth, and she felt his had already descended, and hers had too, and now she was thinking hers were even a little longer than before. But she might be mistaken. She realized she wanted adult vampire teeth, if she was going to have them at all. They might as well be just as long and wicked as the other vampires’ fangs were.
Then he was sweeping his hand down her belly, but she was baring her throat, ready for him to bite her neck first. To give her the orgasm that way. Was she boring or what?
But she couldn't knock a good thing. Then she reached down to stroke his cock, but he wouldn't let her and moved so he could continue to glide along her leg, his fingers working their magic on her feminine nub. She concentrated on that, until he leaned down and suckled a nipple. Oh, yes, that was good too. Everything was good. Just. Keep. Doing. It.
He seemed to be able to read her mind and kept up the friction between his cock and her, and the strokes to her nub that were undoing her. His mouth moved to her neck and he licked it, kissing it afterward as if he were feeling the pulse against his mouth and was as eager to penetrate her with his teeth and suck on her as she was to feel him doing it.
She even had the momentary hope that he would bring her to orgasm while he was stroking her to madness at the same time he sucked on her neck. Would that put her over the edge?
She moaned with the way he was working her, but he wasn't biting her yet and she had to stop thinking of that as she stroked his arms and back, loving the things he did to her body, loving the feel of him beneath her fingertips. She just hoped she could be quieter this time when she came.
She hadn't planned to do it, but suddenly, she just had the greatest urge to bite him, unable to control it, the bloodlust rising, and she bit into his shoulder. Not hard, gently enough that she penetrated the skin, surprising him as he turned his face to hers and his eyes were wide.
She sucked then, not letting go of his shoulder. She'd done it, she wasn't letting this moment go to waste, and to her astonishment, she came. Atreides smiled as she cried out, releasing him—that she hadn't planned to do, and then latching back on. She wasn't finished.
But he quickly thrust inside her, and she realized by feeding on him, he had the same sexual pleasure and couldn't hold on. He pumped into her with wild enthusiasm, and she quickly had to release his shoulder and seal the wound.
"You are perfect for me, Selena," he whispered and kissed her breast, but he didn't let up on his thrusts, driving in and nearly pulling out, his hand slipping under her leg to raise it over his hip so he was penetrating her more deeply. Then he was kissing her mouth and she was turning her head, begging him silently to bite her.
He did, gently like she'd done with him, and sucked, just as gently. The pleasure it gave her was driving her insane. She didn't think she could come again after having come so quickly the first time. But then he groaned against her neck and she felt he'd climaxed, but she was nearly there, just…a…little…bit…more, and then she came, crying out, not meaning to
a second time.
He sealed the wound on her neck and kissed her lips, running a hand through her hair.
He moved off her and pulled her close, stroking her hair as she rested her body against his side and chest. "I'm so glad I danced with you that day."
"I never thought it would lead to this."
He smiled at her. "I wanted it to, but I felt the same way. It was just a very pleasurable experience I would relive the rest of my life in my thoughts, but nothing more would come of it. Not until you were so savagely bitten."
"Do you think, if I hadn't been, and I had returned home after the incident, you would have ever tried to locate me and see me again?"
"I know we would have seen each other again. You were still looking for your sister, and I had her. I have no doubts that you would have eventually discovered she was working with us, and then? You would have joined our ranks to help."
"Because you were in charge?"
"Because you had saved Charlene and it's in your nature to protect those who are innocent of any crime."
She sighed and ran her hand over his chest. "You're pretty sexy for a vampire."
He smiled. "You're damned hot for a huntress, even before you were turned. I knew, once I had danced with you, I was lost, no matter how much I had told myself otherwise. And when I smelled your blood? I would never have forgotten its magnetic draw."
"Then to put us out of our misery, it was a good thing that things had worked out the way they did." Selena sighed, knowing this was the best choice she had ever made in her life.
"I agree."
Yet Daemon still didn't know what had gone on between her and his brother. Would he feel that it was the best choice his brother could have made? Two princes in charge of the clan moving forward, both hooking up with huntresses turned? She wasn't sure the whole of the vampire clans would be happy with that, especially when the vampiresses themselves might have had a chance to mate with the princes instead.
Still, she was happy with the way things had turned out and she wasn't giving Atreides up for anyone or anything.
She closed her eyes, the happiest she'd ever been…for now.
