Hunting Season (The Gathering Book 1)

by Shelly Laurenston

  She thought maybe she’d overslept until she glanced up at the clock on the night table. It was barely ten… on a Sunday!

  “What the hell was that?” she demanded.

  “Where is it?”

  Neecy looked up into Didi Gowan’s smirking face. More than ten years older than Neecy, the woman still looked great. People barely noticed the jagged scar on Didi’s neck anymore. A remnant from her first husband’s dirty dealings and what brought her to Skuld. He didn’t cut her himself, but the men who wanted him to pay off his gambling debt sure did.

  Didi was the first person Neecy saw when she woke up after dying. It wasn’t often a person finds a black woman with black crow’s wings extending from her back standing at the end of her bed.

  “Welcome to the party, kid,” she’d said with a smile.

  Seventeen years later and Didi still called her “kid”.

  “Where’s the rune?”

  Neecy sat up and sighed, pushing her too-long bangs out of her eyes. She really needed to get them cut, but she kept putting it off. Sitting in a beauty salon always ranked low on her list of things to do.

  “Yager got it.”

  “Again? You must be losing your touch, kid.”

  “I am not.” She was losing her mind. At least that was how it felt every time she was around Wilhelm Pain-in-her-ass Yager.

  Didi walked to a straight-back chair, spun it around, and sat down. She was in her requisite all-black jeans and T-shirt. That ensemble and her second husband, Harry, were the only “New York things” Didi allowed herself. Everybody knew Didi hated the East Coast. She was born in one of those states Neecy would never go to because she was sure there weren’t enough minorities to make her feel comfortable. Didi only came to New York because of the first husband. But since she’d died here, she ended up with The Jersey Gathering. Although Didi didn’t mind. Everyone knew that with her attitude, the Southern and Midwestern Crows would have run her ass out of town.

  She could be a mouthy little thing.

  “Okay,” Didi said. “Tell me what happened.”

  “What’s there to tell? We were dealing with our prey, and the Ravens showed up.”

  “And?”

  “There is no ‘and’.” Neecy stood up and flopped back on her bed. “One second I had it and the next second I didn’t. End of story.”

  “You let Yager get between you and your prey?”

  “No. I let Yager get between me and that stupid rune. I got my prey.” Neecy always got her prey. Always.

  “Did Yager say why he wanted it?”

  “No. He only said Odin sent him to get it. Which is becoming pretty common.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean Ravens keep showing up and none of us know why. Sometimes they want whatever we came for, but mostly they’re just there to ‘help’.” She made air quotes around the word. “It’s been going on for like a year now.”

  “Interesting.” Didi was quiet for a moment and Neecy allowed her eyes to close. She almost fell back to sleep, when Didi’s next statement nearly had her falling out of bed again.

  “I think it’s time for you to have a conversation with Yager about what’s going on.”

  Neecy forced herself to remain her usual calm self outside, even though her insides screamed bloody murder. “Excuse me?”

  “Did I start speaking in tongues? Exactly what part of that sentence did you not grasp?”

  Was there any time in their relationship when sarcasm didn’t play some part? Neecy didn’t think so.

  “Why should I talk to Yager? Isn’t he more your level, politically?”

  “That’s an inventive load of crap, Lawrence.”

  Well, she was desperate.

  “What I mean is that he’s leader of the Ravens. You’re leader of the Crows. Shouldn’t you two be talking to each other as opposed to getting me in the middle of it?”

  Didi stared at her for a long moment and Neecy thought for sure she’d say something mighty profound. Instead, she shook her head. “Get the fuck over it, Lawrence. You need to start dealing with him.”

  Frustrated but without any room to argue, “Fine. Just write down his office address for me. I’ll go there tomorrow after my morning class.”

  “He doesn’t have an office. Well, he does, but it’s in his apartment.”

  Neecy sat up so fast, Didi’s entire body reared back and almost fell off the chair.

  “His apartment? Have you lost your goddamn mind?”

  Neecy didn’t yell. She didn’t scream. She didn’t lose her temper. She didn’t do anything but hunt and destroy her prey. But lately, when it came to Yager, she’d been feeling something she hadn’t felt in a very long time… rage.

  And Didi’s shrewd ass didn’t miss a second of it. “Little tense aren’t ya, Neece?”

  Neecy cleared her throat. “I mean… I’m not sure it’s a good idea to go to his apartment.”

  “‘Fraid you’ll fuck him right there in the hallway, Lawrence?”

  “No!”

  Didi smiled as Neecy dropped back on the bed.

  “Then deal with it. I need you to step up to the plate a little, Neece.”

  Didi had been looking tired lately, and Neecy didn’t relish the idea of being second-in-command for anyone else. Even Serena, who loved her but would most likely turn Neecy into a raging alcoholic.

  Neecy nodded. “Fine. Whatever.”

  “Now, now, Lawrence. Don’t blow me away with your enthusiasm.”

  “Wakey, wakey, sunshines!”

  Yager forced his eyes open only to realize the heavy weight on his face was a foot. Tye’s, specifically.

  Never again would he drink with the ‘Bama Crows. Those were some hardcore ladies.

  Pushing Tye’s big foot off his face, Yager sat up and looked out over the living room floor of the Mountain Creek house—safe house and property of the Tri-State Ravens.

  Thirty hungover Ravens littered the floor. All except Mike. Molinski’s father was a raging alcoholic so Mike never touched the stuff. But he took great delight in making sure to remind those who did drink of all the stupid shit they did the night before.

  “Morning, my brothers!” Mike cheerily announced. “Guess what I did?”

  Uh-oh.

  “Made breakfast! Eggs Benedict and bacon and hash browns and fried eggs… the runny kind…” Before he could finish, three of the Ravens were up and running from the room heading for the bathrooms. Some of the others moaned and turned over or buried their heads into couch cushions.

  “Stop it, Mike,” Yager ordered quietly.

  “I’m just trying to feed my brothers.”

  “You’re an asshole,” Tye muttered and turned over.

  “Bro, that’s harsh!”

  Mike ducked as pillows and couch cushions flew at him.

  Yager slowly shook his head. What an idiot. Of course, Mike didn’t drink at the party. And Yager? Well, Yager drank. A lot. He barely remembered the drunken flight home.

  But it worked out in the end. He got to see Neecy move that gorgeous ass to music and spend time with the rest of The Gathering. Getting them on his side was half the battle as far as he was concerned. But apparently a battle he’d already won. As soon as Neecy bailed, five of the Crows dragged him off to a corner. They plied him with liquor and then proceeded to talk about how amazing Neecy was, but also how stubborn.

  Janelle probably put it best: “She’ll make your life a living hell. But trust me, in the end… it’ll be worth it.” Then she gave him her number and told him to use it if he had any problems. If a Valkyrie had done that, she would have been hitting on him. He knew better with the Crows. Their loyalty to one another was legendary among the Clans.

  When he only smiled at Janelle’s pronouncement about Neecy being worth it—‘cause that’s all he really heard—the other Crows seemed impressed. They wanted what was best for Neecy and, like him, they all thought Yager was best for Neecy.

  Of course, now he
only had to convince Neecy of that fact. But a more stubborn female he’d never met. Even if he couldn’t see the Viking in her blood merely from looking at her, it was obvious to Yager it was there. The woman could have been captain of her own war party. Oh, wait… she was.

  Mike walked over to the big picture windows and threw the curtains back. The groans and blood oaths for his death were loud and vicious.

  “Come on, guys! Look at this beautiful day! Let’s enjoy it!”

  Yager dropped back to the floor. “Take him down, gentlemen.”

  Using his forearm to cover his eyes against the bright light, he smiled as he heard Mike tackled to the floor. He was willing to bet there were some brutal kicks thrown in for good measure, too.

  Janelle McKenna stared at her team leader across the breakfast table. “Are you nuts?”

  Neecy gave her that “stare”. She learned it from Didi and she learned it well. But she had to be kidding. Right? Right?

  “Look, Neece, ya can’t be serious.”

  “Serious as a heart attack.”

  “But that’s a really bad idea.”

  “It wasn’t mine. But the decision’s a done deal. Not up for discussion. The next time we go out on a hunt, we’re bringing Arri.”

  Arri was a cute little thing with constantly changing hair color and extremely quirky mannerisms. And she couldn’t fight a teacup poodle if her life depended on it.

  Really, the girl was a mess.

  “Is Skuld trying to get us killed?”

  Neecy glared at Janelle over her orange juice glass. Unlike Janelle, Neecy didn’t question Skuld’s orders, which could be why she was second-in-command and Janelle so… wasn’t.

  Katie walked into the kitchen. “Morning, ladies.” Janelle loved the fact that if you didn’t know Katie at all, you’d have no idea the woman lived with two big cops who did whatever she told them to. She was into that dominant-sub thing and hid it well. Personally, Janelle found the whole thing a little bit creepy, but the threesome had an eight-year relationship that seemed to keep them all happy. Which was more than Janelle had. Most men couldn’t handle a woman who could probably kick their ass. And the ones who thought of her as a challenge were usually criminals or bikers. She’d already dealt with the criminal side of life. Her father had been an Irish mobster. A Westie, specifically. His career choices got her entire family gunned down… including her.

  But Skuld came for her, and although Janelle often missed her parents and especially her two older brothers, she refused to wallow in the past.

  “Did you hear this?”

  Katie filled a mug with coffee and walked over to the table. “Hear what?” she asked as she pulled out a chair and daintily sat down. Well, it seemed “daintily” to Janelle because she was never dainty about shit.

  Her father used to call her his Little Baby Mack Truck.

  “Next hunt… Arri comes.”

  Katie blinked and turned those big blue eyes to Neecy. “Oh?”

  “Yeah. So get over it.”

  “Does Connie know?”

  “Yeah. I told her this morning before she went out with Fran.” Another solid couple, Connie and Fran had been together since they were both sixteen. Even the lesbians had Janelle beat.

  “And we’re sure that’s wise?”

  “Skuld does. And we’re all here because of Her blessing. She has faith in Arri. So we give Arri a chance.”

  Katie sighed. “Look, don’t get us wrong. We all think Arri is very sweet in a weird sorta way. But the girl can’t fight for shit.”

  Poor Neecy. Janelle knew she wanted to argue that point, but she couldn’t. Arri was a creampuff in comparison to most of The Gathering. They all knew it. And at twenty-five, the woman had never been out on a hunt for anything but good coffee cake for Sunday brunch. Whereas Janelle started hunting six months after she arrived. Neecy started after three. Neither one had even turned seventeen yet.

  Janelle pushed her empty plate away from her. “And if she can’t fight, we’ll spend most of our time trying to protect her.” Because Crows always protected their own—even the messes.

  Neecy took a deep breath. “Look, we’ll take her out and we’ll see how it goes. That’s all we have to do. But she’ll be my responsibility.”

  Janelle almost said, “Just like always,” but stopped herself. Neecy had taken little Arri under her wing from the time the girl arrived. Pretty much what she did with Janelle even though Neecy was barely a year older than her. Her team leader sure did love the underdogs.

  “Okay?” She stared intently at both women. “I’ve already got Connie’s buy-in on this. But I want yours.”

  Janelle and Katie glanced at each other. They knew they could argue this point until the cows came home, but why bother? Skuld was loyal to her warriors, but you fucked with her at your own risk. Their goddess could be mean. Really, really mean.

  “Okay,” Janelle sighed. “I’m in.”

  Katie shrugged. “Yeah, okay.”

  Neecy pushed herself away from the table. “Great. Thanks, you guys. I have to head back to the City. Gotta get some class work done for tomorrow. Oh! And don’t say a word to Arri. I’ll tell her myself.” Good. Such a squirrelly little thing, you never knew what Arri would say or do next.

  Really, she was a weird little girl.

  Once they were alone, Janelle turned to Katie. “So… what do ya really think?”

  Katie shook her head. “We are so fucked.”

  Karl Waldgrave felt the power of his goddess flow through him. Felt it like a caress, like a loving lick across his cock. She’d come for him a year ago. Invaded his dreams. She knew what he was and she spoke his language. The language of the Hunter. She’d given him a target. A Hunt to make him proud. A Hunt he could tell his grandchildren about.

  He accepted her offer without hesitation. She liked that. She gave him whatever he needed. He already had money, so she gave him disciples. Hunters like himself. The best of the best.

  “You are ready,” she whispered seductively in his ear. “You will make me proud.”

  He felt her hand slide over his cock, squeeze his balls. He gasped.

  “Don’t stop until you kill them all. But bring me the one I want alive.”

  “I will. And I won’t stop. I won’t.”

  Her lips kissed his neck; her sharp teeth nipped his ear. “Make it easy on yourself. Go for the one they look to as leader. Kill her and the rest will be so easy.”

  He nodded as her hand stroked his cock over and over again.

  “But don’t underestimate them. They have loyalty to only one, and she has chosen them well. Understand?”

  He nodded again as she brought him closer to orgasm.

  “Good. Now make me proud.”

  He came hard at her words. Like he always did. And, seconds later, he awoke on the altar, still crouching over the sacrifice. Its blood covered him as did his own come, his hand still gripping his cock.

  He looked at the disciples surrounding him. “It’s time.”

  Chapter Four

  Yager snatched up the phone, knowing it was the doorman. Without waiting to hear what he had to say, he barked into the phone, “Send him up.” He slammed the receiver down and went back to the bathroom to grab a towel.

  Mike wasn’t normally early for anything, especially on a Monday. But Yager always knew there could be a first time. He wrapped the towel around his waist and finished shaving. When the doorbell rang, he frowned. Mike had a key. Bonehead probably lost it… again.

  He wiped off the rest of the shaving cream and walked to his front door. “I can’t believe you lost that goddamn key again, Molinski.” He yanked the door open and froze.

  Standing in his doorway, wearing a fur-lined denim jacket, jeans, a black T-shirt, and a black leather backpack was the woman he’d spent a good hour in the shower masturbating to.

  “Neecy?”

  She stared at him, her mouth slightly open. Then her eyes slid down his body and as soon as they g
ot to his towel she bolted.

  “I’ll come back later!”

  It took him at least thirty seconds before he realized he hadn’t been hallucinating. That was Neecy Lawrence at his front door. He ran after her, catching up with her at the elevator pummeling the poor call button.

  “Neecy, wait.”

  “I’ll take the stairs.”

  “I’m on the thirtieth floor.”

  “Okay, I’ll go to the roof and fly.”

  No way. She wasn’t getting away from him that easy. She’d just gotten through the fire-escape door when he grabbed hold of her wrist.

  “You know as well as I do that you can’t fly in the middle of the day in New York. They’ll just shoot your ass down.” Their gods would only cloak them at night. During the day, they were on their own.

  Yager headed back to his apartment, forced to drag the woman behind him. She didn’t exactly kick and scream, but he got the feeling it wouldn’t take much to push her over that edge.

  He did manage to get her back inside, though. He closed the door and locked it, although for a wild minute there he thought for sure she’d try to bolt for the windows.

  He tightened his grip on her and dragged her to the kitchen. “How about some coffee?”

  “No. I don’t drink coffee.”

  “Bottled water? Coke? Pepsi?” Vodka? Tequila? An entire brewing plant? Anything to get her to relax. Anything to keep her right there.

  “I don’t want anything. And feel free to let me go.”

  Yager stopped in the middle of his kitchen and took a deep breath. He turned around without releasing her.

  “I don’t want to let you go.”

  She stared up at him for a moment, then tried again to pull away. To run from him. “I gotta go.”

  “You came all the way from Jersey to tell me you gotta go?”

  She sighed and stopped struggling. At least for the moment. “No. I came to find out when we ended up on opposite sides.”

  “I didn’t know we were.”

  She tried to yank her arm back. “When you get between me and my prey, you can damn well bet that we’re on opposite sides. And would you let me go!”