A Hunter's Challenge [The Hunters 3] (Siren Publishing Allure)

by Suzy Shearer

  His mouth was still at her breasts so he lengthened his fangs and pierced the tender flesh. He couldn’t hold back.

  Just the feel of Erica’s fangs in his neck was too much. His fangs slipped from her skin and he threw his head back and screamed as he burst his load of sperm deep inside her.

  Immediately he felt Erica climax. She, too, screamed his name. Her muscles gripped his cock in a viselike grip as her body shuddered.

  They lay back spent. Anthan turned his head to look at her. She grinned at him, her marvellous eyes sparkling.

  No words were needed.

  They shared their love through their touch, their look.

  Slowly he saw Erica close her eyes, as he watched she fell into her first immortal sleep. Anthan watched her for another fifteen minutes, until, he, too, slept.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  When Erica woke, it was to see Anthan’s gold-flecked eyes staring down at her.

  “Hello, dragostea mea. Welcome to your first day as an immortal.”

  “Hello yourself. You look worried.”

  “I dreamt.”

  “Dreamt? I thought you told me Hunters have dreamless sleeps.”

  “We do. But I dreamt.”

  “That’s strange. Was it a good dream or a bad one?”

  Anthan looked confused. He moved the pillows up against the headboard and sat up, leaning against them. Erica wriggled up until she was able to fit into the crook of his arm. His voice sounded puzzled as he spoke softly.

  “Do you think the old gods are still around? Do you think they watch us?”

  Erica shrugged. “Beats me. I guess so.”

  “I think they spoke to me.”

  Erica pushed herself off his body and sat looking at him. He was staring off in the distance, blind to the room, as if seeing his dream still.

  “I felt like I was back in the clearing where we first went when I was made a Hunter. They called to me. I was frightened but they told me not to be.” He blinked a few times then looked across at Erica.

  “They told me you and I would lead the new generation of Hunters. They would be born from you and me. They chose you.”

  “But how, I don’t understand?”

  “I was told that at the moment they created me, they created you. They held you cradled asleep within their power until the time was right. In the beginning they didn’t know if you would ever be awakened, you were a safeguard.”

  “Safeguard?”

  “Yes in case the strigoi threatened the future of mortals.”

  “What!”

  He shrugged. “Apparently I was always chosen to be the leader. Every step of my life since my birth, they’ve been with me. They knew other Hunters would look to me as their leader almost as their king. In a way, it was a test for me, too. They watched me through the eons, watching my judgments, watching how my people reacted to the decisions I made. Then watching my hope dwindle until it was lost.”

  He sighed heavily.

  “The strigoi have been growing in strength so they decided it was time they woke you. They came to you as a child, improve your abilities, watched you grow. Watched as your abilities strengthened, watched as you made choices. Nudged you along the way.”

  “Then they bought us together when I was ready to give up. They stood back then, let us both make the decisions that would either save or curse us. I think it was the only time they gave me free will. Waiting to see what would happen at that moment when you reached out to me on the deck.”

  He shook his head. “At that moment, it was a test. Would I take a chance on happiness or had I truly given up?”

  “I don’t understand?”

  “Who does?” He gave a wry laugh. “The gods decide all. Anyway, when I chose to live, it set in motion what had begun all those millennia ago.” He gave a half-hearted laugh. “They even apologised for your conversion. Said they had to make sure you were strong enough to face what was coming. I think I may have cursed them loudly at that point. Hope they forgive me.”

  “Anthan, this is so weird. I mean, so many weird things have happened but this, this is definitely the weirdest.”

  He held her hand.

  “Our children will have abilities. They will be able to detect when the strigoi takes someone, like you did this morning. They spoke of the hidden talents of our mates, that now these will be used.”

  “All these new abilities will be passed on by our children to their children. It begins with you. No longer will you be bound by a few kilometres to transport. You will be able to travel a few hundred. I don’t know what other abilities, they didn’t say but I guess you will learn them as we grow.”

  “But why? Why now?”

  “Apparently, if all this is true, there are more strigoi active than have ever been. The gods have decided they want to ensure the human race survives. You are the first in a new breed of Hunter. More powerful, with greater abilities. I must learn—you and I are the first. They told me I will be able to learn once you and I link then you show me new things. You will teach me all you know.”

  Erica shivered and wrapped her arms around herself.

  “So this is a war.”

  “Iubită, it has always been a war, from the moment of creation, when the two species developed.”

  He gave a fey laugh.

  “I guess you and I are a weapons upgrade.”

  “But it could take hundreds of years for our children to have children! They must find their Ones, then convert them and have children.”

  “Yes it may take a while for our children and grandchildren. When they come along, they will know things instinctively as you did. Their increased abilities will be stronger. I got the feeling that our children will be able to meet their mates quickly so the process can start. But in the meantime, you and I will be able to teach other Hunters some of these new things. They won’t all be able to learn but gradually those Hunters who do, will pass on their knowledge to their children. Those who are pregnant at the moment will be able to teach their unborn children. They won’t be as powerful as our own future generations but they will still be formidable.”

  “This is so fantastical! Are you sure it’s true and not your imagination?”

  Anthan stared into her eyes, his face serious. “Dragostea mea, in almost four and a half thousand years I have not dreamt. Now I do? You have the worst conversion in our history and actually die during it! You wake and instinctively know things. I’ve felt things were being manipulated. As much as I don’t want to, I can do no other than to believe.”

  “I guess you’re right. Please don’t tell me that every time a strigoi takes someone in the world I’m going to feel it!”

  “No. Thankfully, the monster will have to be close, within a hundred kilometres.”

  “Great! I guess I should be thankful for small mercies. This is...” She crept back into the safety of Anthan’s arm. “It’s so scary. They expect a lot from us.”

  “I guess when my ancestors first began to pray to the gods to help, they set this train in motion. All we can do is just continuing as we are. Take each day as it comes.”

  Erica could hear the hesitancy in her own voice as she answered Anthan. “I guess.”

  “I’m sure that strigoi we destroyed this morning was the last in the area. Anyway, Martin can handle things here. I think we should travel to Romania. We must report this to the Council. You and I must become teachers. We’ll still travel to take your photographs, travel to place where I can paint, we’ll need downtime. Time to relax.”

  “Makes sense I suppose.”

  “We will make this house a school. That way you can be close to Amy. I should clean out the flat, tidy the rooms.” He laughed. “Now I know why I built it.”

  “Do you think we can win?”

  “Who knows? The gods must think we stand a good chance or else why bother to help?”

  “Does that mean that if the strigoi hadn’t increased like this then you would have been left alone? They wouldn�
��t have woken me?”

  “I guess so.”

  “That’s cruel! Your gods expect too much Anthan!”

  “It was the deal we accepted that day in the forest, Iubită. No-one could have foretold what would happen thousands of years later.” Anthan took her hand. “It’s no good thinking about ifs and maybes. I found you and no one can ever pull us apart. We’ve just become more important than ever.”

  “This is just too much to think about.”

  “Let’s not. We just continue on. For now, we just do as we have been. Do the things we had planned, just make a stopover with Viorel. Anyway, I’ll talk to him later and see what he suggests.”

  He held a hand under her chin and tipped her face up.

  “Whatever happens we are together.”

  He pressed his lips to hers.

  “My queen,” he whispered.

  Erica felt herself respond. Whenever he touched her, she felt flames ignite. Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined that the touch of a man could arouse her so deeply. Their kiss intensified. Erica felt herself being to dampen. Anthan’s hand began rubbing up and down her spine.

  She was so wet now.

  She threw a leg across him, his engorged penis brushing against her clit. Wriggling herself, she managed to grasp it with one hand and lower herself onto him.

  Erica looked into his eyes. She didn’t move. Anthan looked back, waiting. She grinned. Remembering her Kegel exercises, she took a breath and did one, then another. Anthan’s eyes widened. He grinned as she continued. She threw her head back and closed her eyes. The continual tightening and loosening were having a great effect. She could actually feel the beginning tendrils of an orgasm.

  All at once, she felt Anthan sink his fangs into her breasts and push up with his hips. She lost it.

  She screamed his name, clamped down on his cock and rode it for all she was worth. Her orgasm rolled back and forth, Anthan grabbed her hips and pulled her down hard onto his cock as, he, too, came yelling.

  She fell forward onto him, sinking her fangs into his neck as she did, his cock still held within her. Anthan rolled her onto her back as her fangs slipped back and looked down at her.

  “Iubită, I adore you.”

  Erica couldn’t explain the feeling she got whenever he told her he loved her. It was as if someone had caged a hundred butterflies loose in her chest and they suddenly burst free into the air. She caught her breath as she looked at the man who meant more to her than her very life.

  “I love you, Anthan. Those words don’t mean enough, but I don’t know what else I can say.”

  His smiled turned her heart over.

  “That’s all you ever need to say, dragostea mea.”

  They lay in each other’s arms for another fifteen minutes until Anthan reminded her that Martin and Amy were coming over. Reluctantly, they rose, washed and dressed.

  Together they walked out into the kitchen.

  “So what do you want to eat? We’re going to have to get some more food soon.”

  “I’ll get Martin to call in somewhere on the way, if you like.”

  “Okay. Ask him to get Thai. Amy knows what I like.”

  “You know, if everything you were told is correct, then Martin could be your first pupil. That way we can see how a Hunter can learn. Martin’s bright.”

  “Good idea. Wonder how he will take the news.”

  He laughed. “Knowing Martin he will think it’s good. I should tell Sil.” Erica heard the pain in his voice as he remembered how she had died. “He... he was with me all the way during your conversion.”

  “We’ll have to visit him, Anthan. He was so nice when we spoke.”

  “He is. He’s like a brother to me.”

  They walked out onto the deck, Anthan sat and pulled Erica onto his lap. Fifteen minutes later Martin and Amy arrived.

  “Foods here! Where are you?”

  “On the deck.” Anthan called back. “Come out here and eat, it’s pleasant.”

  Anthan set Erica on her feet and pulled up the outdoor table and some chairs. Amy came out, kissed her sister and dropped plates on table along with cutlery. Martin followed with the food. They had bought corn cakes in sweet chili sauce, yellow curry, pad Thai, stir-fried vegetables with satay sauce and lots of jasmine rice.

  They settled around the table to eat. It was a relaxed and laughter filled meal. No one mentioned Erica’s conversion, instead they talked about food, likes and dislikes.

  When everyone had finished eating they pushed the table aside and stretched out.

  “So how’d you like to learn a few new tricks, Martin?”

  Martin looked at Anthan as if he was crazy.

  “Tricks? What juggling chain saws?”

  “Ha-ha very funny. No a few special ones.”

  “Okay, I’m interested. Tell me more. What special tricks?”

  “Maybe how to transport a hundred kilometres. Or know when a strigoi is in the area and takes someone.”

  Martin sat up very straight in his seat and looked from Anthan to Erica. His head on the side, he spoke.

  “Okay now I’m intrigued.”

  Anthan spent the next fifteen minutes telling him and Amy about his “dream.” He “spoke” to Silvius at the same time, filling them all in at the same time. When Anthan had finished, Martin sat in stunned silence, he was looking at Erica in amazement. Amy had hold of her sister’s hand. Erica felt herself go red. She hoped they wouldn’t think her some sort of freak.

  She heard Silvius. “Never think that, Erica! You are a wonder!”

  She thanked him and he “kissed” her forehead then said good-bye.

  Martin leapt to his feet and stood in front of her. He bowed deeply.

  “My lady, my queen. I bow before you.”

  Erica threw her head back and laughed. It was the right thing to say. Amy looked as if she was having trouble understanding it all.

  “So what does it mean?”

  “It means we can get to places much faster, we can ‘follow’ a strigoi when one is nearby if it takes someone. No more searching for days and days, as long as we are close to one. We still don’t know exactly all the things that Erica can or will be able to do. We will learn as she does.”

  She looked at her sister in a new light.

  “So you really were destined in more ways than one for Anthan.”

  “Apparently. If we believe it all, then once the time was right, the gods ensured that I was born. Even Gram had her part to play in this whole…scheme.”

  “This is so amazing, so unbelievable. It’s crazy.”

  “I know, sis. But the fact is I instinctively could do the things any Hunter could. Then I ‘knew’ when that child was taken. I don’t actually know a strigoi’s in the area, it’s more when someone is taken. I’m with them. Anthan will learn things almost instinctively but Martin will be my first real student, I want you to sit in as well. That way you can pass your knowledge on to the children you and Martin will have.”

  It was Amy’s turn to blush. Martin knelt at her feet.

  “That’s if you want children, nîcimos.”

  “Of course I’d love children. Just never expected I would have any.”

  “So when do we start?”

  “As soon as possible. Later tonight I’ll report to Viorel, when I know he’s fully awake. He might want us to go to the Council and report immediately or he might prefer to wait until you learnt a few things, so we know how easy or hard it is. But remember—not all Hunters will be able to master it.”

  “Well in that case, I hope I don’t disappoint you.”

  Erica put her hand on his knee.

  “You could never disappoint Martin, you are my brother and I love you.”

  “First things first. I guess you need to find out what your limitations are, Iubită.”

  “Yes, I’ve been thinking about that. We know that you can transport about five or so kilometres, but after that you can’t do a second jump. You’ve said I ca
n go about one hundred. I wonder if I can do more than one?”

  “Well don’t try that because if you can’t you’ll have to fly back.”

  “I know. But what I want to know is if you only go say one kilometre can you then go another? Or is it one transport and no more.”

  “One and no more, Iubită. We can do another later but there has to have been a reasonable amount of time for our body to recover.”

  “Okay. Then if I go a kilometre, I can see what happens. That’s not far to fly back from.”

  It was easy to everyone that Anthan was not keen on her experimenting. Her safety was paramount to him, even more so now he knew of the role she was to play. Erica put a hand on his knee.

  “I’ll be fine but we have to know.”

  “I know, Iubită, I just worry that’s all.”

  She stood, leant forward and kissed Anthan but before he could react she disappear. Anthan groaned. Martin laughed.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  “She’s going to be a handful now!”

  “If I could, I think I’d be going gray and have lots of worry lines!”

  Anthan began pacing up and down. Even Martin looked worried as the time went on. Suddenly Erica was back, she looked pale and swayed on her feet. Anthan grabbed her and pulled her into his arms.

  “Dragostea mea.” His voice broke as he held her. He burrowed his face in her hair.

  “It’s okay, Anthan. I’m fine.”

  She led him to a seat and pushed him down, then sat on his knee. Martin was grinning like a madman.

  “Well. Tell us!”

  “Four. I went a kilometre, then another. Felt good so I went another. Then the last one to bring me back home. But I doubt anyone could go any further. I feel completely drained. Personally I think you should only do three jumps unless it’s a dire emergency.”

  “That makes sense.”

  Anthan lifted her and set her the chair and went inside. A few minutes later he came back with some sweetened tea.

  “Drink this, Iubită, it will put back some of the fluids you’ve lost.”

  “Later you and I will experiment. You will travel, with me merged and we’ll see if I can pick it up quickly. Once I can do it then it will be your turn Martin.”