Hunting Season (Aurora Sky

by Nikki Jefford

  “I’ll help you. After we get out of here.” Fane glanced up at the ceiling. It was as solid as the floor. Fane’s eyes found their way to mine. “You won’t ever have to kill again,” he said.

  A life free of killing. Imagine that. I hadn’t even been at this a year, and I was more than ready to retire. The sooner the better. It wasn’t my job to police the underworld. Why couldn’t Melcher have recruited willing agents? There were candidates out there like Dante and Noel who actually enjoyed what they did. Surely there were more where they came from—without having to force people into it.

  The agency might not have all the AB negative recruits they wanted for blood poisoning, but that didn’t mean they couldn’t train any blood type to battle the unruly undead. As corrupt as they were, someone needed to stop murderous vampires from preying on the public. It wasn't as though the police were monitoring the undead. They didn’t even know they existed.

  Would Dante wish to continue on with the agency after he found out they’d turned him? If Jared and Melcher were removed, he just might. What else would he do? Finish his degree in Environmental studies? Become a consultant?

  I had a difficult time picturing Dante driving to the occasional on-site survey or looking over reports in an office. And that wouldn’t work out very well if he never aged.

  Where was his place in the world? Where was mine? Noel’s?

  Maybe I should worry less about the distant future and more about the immediate future.

  I dropped my arms, kicked at the ground, and shook my head in agitation. Fane had survived the plague and centuries on the move only to end up trapped inside a padded room. I supposed it could have been worse. It could have been one of Melcher’s locked cells.

  That thought was hardly comforting.

  “When all this is over, the first thing I’m going to do is visit my family,” Fane said as though aware of my thoughts. He straightened his spine. “I want you to come with me.”

  My heart fluttered. Fane wanted me to meet his family. “How long has it been since you were home?”

  Fane held up his fingers. “I’ve lived in Anchorage eight years, New York before that. Just before we made the cross-country move from the Big Apple to the Far North, I went home for a visit, but it was very brief.”

  Eight wasn’t much in vampire years, but Fane’s family might feel different.

  “Do you get homesick?” I asked.

  “The homesickness never goes away. You’ll understand once you leave Alaska.”

  I lifted my chin. “If you buy me a villa in Tuscany I think I’ll manage.”

  Fane chuckled. He stepped in front of me, arms relaxing. He tucked my hair behind one ear gently. My neck tingled where he brushed the exposed skin below my ear.

  “Sure you can handle something as mundane as life in the country?”

  I looked into his devilish brown eyes. “I don’t plan on staying in one place for long. You did just promise to take me to the Eiffel Tower, Taj Mahal, and the Pyramids. Obviously we have a lot of traveling to do.”

  Fane’s gaze dropped to my lips. “Among other things.”

  I swallowed.

  Why did I have to go all school-girl nervous whenever I got within an inch of Fane? We’d made out before. That time of my life seemed like decades rather than months ago.

  I wanted to begin fresh, to clear my conscience.

  Recovering Dante was more than a rescue mission. If Fane and I were going to have any change of a long-lasting future together, I had to set things straight with Dante. I had to be guilt free.

  I backed away from Fane slowly until I reached the big speaker.

  Once in front of it, I leaned back as much as I dared without losing my balance.

  Fane followed me over, planting a foot on either side of me. His hand slid down my thigh, his lashes lifting as he smiled.

  “If only they’d locked us in more comfortable quarters.”

  I shook my head. “You left your cigarettes in the car. I left my Trojans at home.”

  Fane’s lips split open when he laughed. His hand left my thigh as he took a step back. He and I both knew I had no need of contraceptives. I hadn’t needed one with Scott Stevens, but I was glad he’d used one, glad there’d been rubber between me and that jock’s dick.

  I wanted Fane more than ever. I wanted a real man, a vampire. Just not in here, like caged animals with my wrists bound.

  “When we get out of here…” Fane said, letting his sentence hang like a lingering look.

  When we get out of here, we’re going to kick some serious ass, I thought as the door to the music room flew open.

  16

  Big Game

  Valerie stood in the doorframe, straightening to her full height as though anticipating an attack. She had her gun at her side, slightly lifted.

  “And here you are, just like Henry said.” Valerie took one step inside and glared venom at Fane.

  “Where’s Josslyn?” Fane demanded.

  Valerie tsked. “Don’t worry about your mopey friend, Fane. I’m sure the agency has an extra cell they can put him in.”

  Fane lurched forward. Valerie’s arm lifted at the same time. She leveled her gun at his chest.

  Fane stopped in place, hands balled into fists. “He has nothing to do with any of this.”

  Valerie’s eyes narrowed. “Then he should have stayed home. Instead, I bagged me two for the price of one.”

  “What happened to Diederick? And the other guys?” I asked.

  Valerie’s lips twisted into a smile. “Dead, dead, dead—and dead.”

  I winced. There went another informant.

  “Melcher isn’t expecting Joss. Just let him go,” I said.

  Valerie ground her teeth together and swung her head slowly, pointing her heated gaze on me. “How many time do I have to tell you to SHUT UP?”

  I scowled.

  Valerie turned to Fane. Her shoulders relaxed. “Did she tell you what we are?” Valerie smiled and answered before Fane could. “Vampires.” Valerie looked Fane up and down with a sneer. “You see, Fane? You’re nothing special. I don’t need to be with a vampire. I am a vampire.”

  “Take me, instead of Joss,” Fane said.

  My heart slammed against my ribcage. No. God, no.

  Valerie stared at Fane a moment. Her lips formed a smirk. “I don’t think so. No. I’m going to leave you two love bats right where I found you. This is what you want, isn’t it?” Valerie tilted her head to the side and batted her eyelashes. “Privacy? Alone time? No interruptions.” Her tinkling laughter filled the room, but stopped just as suddenly. Valerie’s eyes narrowed to slits. “I’ll give you all the privacy in the world.” She took a step back.

  “Valerie, wait,” I said, stepping forward.

  “The good news is you’re a vampire,” Valerie said, cutting me off. “If you get hungry you have a snack.” Her eyes flicked to Fane. “Unfortunately for our libertine here, he can’t drink your blood unless he’s up for an epileptic fit.” Valerie’s lower lip pouted. “You never should have left me for a vampire hunter, Fane. Enjoy sucking your own blood.”

  Valerie jumped back as Fane lunged, but he was too late. The door slammed just as he reached it.

  “Dammit!” Fane yelled. His bellow filled the room. “We have to get out of here.”

  I did a full circle in place. The square walls spun around me. There was no getting out of the music room. Not a chance in holy hell. Not even sound escaped those padded walls.

  Fane’s combat boots smacked the hardwood floors. He raked a hand through his hair. “I should have insisted Joss stay home.”

  “We’ll get him back,” I said in the calmest voice I could muster.

  He stopped in place. His eyes narrowed when he looked at me as though I was someone he didn’t recognize. The flirtatious smile had long since disappeared. Did this mean he wasn’t taking me to see the Taj Mahal any longer? Okay, not the best time for humor—not even when it was locked tight inside my
mind.

  “How do you propose we do that from in here?” Fane asked.

  “Once we get out, we’ll get him back,” I clarified.

  My words sounded ridiculous, even to me. We were trapped. We were all trapped. Everyone except Noel. Our fate rested in her hands.

  Come on, Noel. You know where we are. Now come let us out.

  First she had to get home to Jared and make sure he remained secure. That might take a while. I had to have faith. The alternative—that Jared had woken up, broken through his restraints, and killed or captured Noel—was unacceptable.

  I leaned my back against the far wall. Fane stayed by the door as though guarding it. What I really wanted to do was sink to the ground and rest my tired legs and feet, but doing so felt like giving up.

  As time wore on, my hope of rescue turned into thoughts of blood.

  “If you get hungry you have a snack.” Valerie’s words taunted me.

  Blood would give me the strength to get through this ordeal. Unfortunately, the only accessible blood, other than my own, was Fane’s. And honestly, it didn’t sound so bad despite what most seasoned vamps said about our blood type tasting off.

  At some point, Fane stopped pacing and took to staring at the door as though his glare could splinter wood. The silence was unbearable.

  Then I heard it. A light knock.

  Fane’s shoulders straightened. He positioned himself at the edge of the door frame.

  The dead bolt clicked, and the door opened. Noel stood on the other side still dressed in her Goth garb.

  “Noel!” I cried. I’d never been happier to see her in all my life.

  Fane exited the room in a blur, breezing right past her like a dark cloud. I rushed forward. If my hands weren’t bound, I would have hugged Noel. “Thank God!”

  Her eyes immediately dropped to my wrists.

  “Shit,” Noel said. “Let me help you with that.”

  While she pulled a dagger from the inside of her coat, I lifted my wrists—more than ready to be freed from the plastic confine. Noel slipped the blade beneath the plastic tie and sliced through it in one upward heave. Once my wrists were free, she replaced the dagger inside her coat.

  Free! Free from the music room and free from the zip tie. I threw my arms around Noel.

  She sucked in a breath when I squeezed her. So maybe it was more of a crush than a light hug. I released Noel. She glanced beyond my shoulder into the now-vacated music room. Her eyebrows furrowed.

  “What the hell happened?”

  I started down the hall toward the living room, talking as I went. “Diederick followed me home from the hillside. He called Henry and the two of them collaborated to capture Fane and me, but then Valerie showed up for Henry. She found us inside the music room and left us there locked up.” I stopped and pivoted abruptly to face Noel. She almost ran into me. “Where’s Jared?”

  Noel’s frown quickly shifted into a smile. “Bound, gagged, and stuffed inside the trunk of his car. I had to un-tape his legs from the chair and tie them together with rope. I tied his wrists while I was at it… double-knotted. Harder to chew through than tape.”

  Despite the ordeal of the last few hours, the biggest smile stretched over my face. Gleeful laughter bubbled inside me.

  I reached forward, grabbed Noel and pulled her against me for another bone-crushing hug. I seriously loved this chick.

  I stepped back. “You are a life saver in more ways than one. How did you know we were in the music room?”

  “I didn’t,” Noel said. “The place was so quiet I was afraid you might not be here anymore, but I wasn’t leaving until I checked every room.”

  We joined Fane inside the living room. He looked around, a tight frown on his lips. There weren’t any signs of the previous group. No bodies. No blood.

  “The cleaners must have been here,” I said.

  Noel’s eyebrows shot up. “Good thing I didn’t walk in on them.” She looked from Fane to me, a question on her face.

  Time to update Noel on the part of the evening that didn’t have a happy ending.

  I released a long breath before filling her in. “Valerie said she was taking Henry and Joss in to Melcher.”

  Noel’s hand flew to her heart. “She got Henry and Joss?”

  Fane looked over.

  “That’s not all,” I said. “Valerie knows she’s a vampire. Jared told her.”

  Noel lowered her hand. “If Henry spills the beans, we’re in deep shit.” She shook her head. “Deep, deep, deep shit.”

  I straightened my shoulders. “If Henry says anything, we’ll tell Melcher he’s lying. Melcher already knows that Henry was onto me at the lodge. And we’re friends and roommates. He could easily jump to the conclusion that you’re in on the hunting business, too.”

  Noel sighed. “It’s not ideal, but it’s something. Melcher should take our word over his.”

  “Maybe he’ll toss him to a new recruit before he has a chance to talk,” I said.

  Noel rolled her eyes. “Wishful thinking. Okay, so I understand why Valerie grabbed Henry, but why Joss?”

  “She’s Valerie,” I said. “She’s a vindictive bitch.”

  Noel looked from me to Fane. “We’ll get Joss back,” she said.

  Fane’s jaw tightened. “How?”

  “I don’t know. I’ll figure something out.”

  “We’ll figure something out,” I said.

  Noel shook her head. “Take Jared. Get Dante and Gavin back.”

  “Jared?” Fane asked as though suddenly remembering him.

  Noel pushed her hair back. “He was unconscious when I got home. I chloroformed him just to be certain he wouldn’t wake while I tied him up. I backed his car into the garage and called Daren and Reece over to put him inside the trunk.”

  Those guys were turning out to be more useful than I would have guessed.

  “The good news is he didn’t see me or the boys,” Noel said. “But you need to get him out of our garage as soon as possible.”

  Fane crossed the living room and joined us. “We can use him to get Joss back.”

  My breath caught in my throat. I stared at Fane for several seconds while the full weight of his suggestion registered.

  “If we trade Jared into Melcher now, Dante’s as good as gone.”

  Fane’s jaw tightened. He moved away from me.

  “As am I,” I continued. “Jared will know I drugged him. If we return him to the agency… I’m done for,” I finished, voice cracking.

  Obviously Fane cared more about Joss than me. Even though they’d been companions for the past hundred plus years, I wished he would have chosen me first.

  Tears threatened the corners of my eyes.

  “Aurora’s right,” Noel said. “We can’t give Jared back.”

  Fane’s shoulders sagged. “I know,” he said. “But the thought of Joss locked up in a cell…” Fane’s voice faded with his words. He cleared his throat. “He’s my responsibility.”

  Noel straightened. “We’ll get Joss back. I promise. Dante and Gavin, too. We’ll get them all back. Don’t forget that Aurora and I are able to get on and off base. We’ll come up with a plan.”

  Fane nodded slightly, looking unconvinced.

  “First, we need to take care of the immediate threat, and that’s Jared.” Noel looked at me.

  I smiled grimly. “I’ll leave with Jared once we get home. I’m going to need a phone. They took mine.”

  Fane’s head snapped up. “I’m going with you.”

  Our eyes met. In his look, I saw concern. Hope fluttered inside my stomach. As long as Fane still cared—still had the capacity to love me—the world around us could crumble like ash, and I would rise above it again and again.

  Outside the palace, Fane crossed the street with us and stopped beside Noel’s convertible. “I’ll follow you two home.”

  I nodded before slipping inside the passenger’s seat. Before I had a chance to click in my seatbelt, Noel tore off onto th
e road, zipping out of the neighborhood in a flash.

  “You in some kind of hurry?” I asked.

  The convertible climbed the hill beside Elderberry Park.

  “Every second that Jared is in our garage is a second too long,” Noel said. She braked at the light at the top of the hill and turned right once verifying there was no oncoming traffic.

  A yawn slipped through my lips.

  Noel chewed on her lower lip. “I wish you could get a few hours of sleep before you leave. It’s already been a rough night. Not the ideal time to make the exchange, but keeping Jared around is too risky.”

  I shook my head. “I don’t want to wait another hour to turn that slime bucket over to Giselle and get Dante back.”

  “Don’t forget Gavin,” Noel said.

  “Don’t worry. I’ll get as much out of Giselle as I can.”

  Noel’s phone rang. She pulled it from her coat pocket and glanced at the screen. “I don’t recognize this number. Hello?” she asked, cradling the phone between her neck and ear. “Hang on a sec, okay?” Noel handed her phone to me. “It’s Fane. Can you find out what’s going on?”

  Once I took Noel’s phone, she returned her hand to the steering wheel.

  “Hi,” I said answering. “Where are you calling from?” The last person to have Fane’s phone was Henry, which meant it was probably now property of the agency. Wonderful. Fane struck me as the type who would delete incoming and outgoing calls, but who knew what kind of information could be pulled from the gadget? We both needed to get out of Alaska as soon as possible, but in an ironic twist of fate, Fane might end up being the hold up. Just as I wouldn’t leave until Dante was free, Fane wasn’t going anywhere until he had Joss back.

  “I’m on a landline inside the palace,” Fane said. “Noel needs to turn around and come pick me up.”

  I sat up in the chair. “What happened?”

  “Valerie slashed all four of my tires.”

  I squeezed the phone in my hand. That bitch! It wasn’t enough that she went on a killing spree, kidnapped Joss, and left Fane and me to rot. She had to go and slash the man’s tires, too.

  “Hang tight,” I said. “We’ll be right back.”