The Alien Huntress Series

by Gena Showalter

  Was she someone’s bride, and just didn’t know it? Was that the reason for her name? If so, why had the husband let her get away? Why hadn’t he searched the ends of the earth for her? Too late now, Devyn thought darkly. At the moment, she was not up for grabs.

  His murder, he wasn’t worried about. Now that he knew an attempt was coming, he’d always be on his guard. No one would get the better of him. Besides, there’d been other attempts—royals were always targets, and playboy royals who broke hearts like others broke bread most of all—but he’d always come out ahead. It was the idea of Bride returning to the underground, forever out of his reach, that disturbed him.

  Infiltrating that dark, gloomy world without permission would be impossible. They had a millennia of security down there, and they’d never grant him permission to steal one of their own—even if he swore to bring her back when he was done with her. Therefore, he had to keep her aboveground.

  He should have taken her tonight, should have scratched his itch sooner rather than later, instead of trying to prolong the enjoyment and make her crave him the way he craved her. Stupid—and a mistake he wouldn’t make again. Or rather, for a third time. When they were next together, he would take her. Finally sate himself.

  The thought made him grin. Just a few more hours, lovely Bride, and you’ll be mine.

  CHAPTER 11

  This place is a dump. Sure she’s got him here?”

  Devyn flicked Dallas an irritated glance. He was in front of Bride’s door, disabling the ID scan, twisting wires and realigning them. “As if I’m ever wrong.” At least, that’s what he told himself he was irritated about. The affront to his tracking skills, and not the fact that his friend had insulted Bride’s living space. Not everyone could afford luxury. “Now, keep your voice down.”

  “You’re already in control of her body.”

  “Yes, but she’s sleeping.” All that sparkling energy was static. “I don’t want you to wake her.” She would be frightened, and too easily Devyn remembered the fear she projected while standing on that street, knowing slavers were after her. The green in her eyes had dulled, and her skin had turned so pallid he’d seen the blue of her veins. And then she’d trembled. When that woman trembled, it should be in pleasure. Only ever in pleasure. “By the way, this place is not a dump.” Damn it! Why had he added that?

  “I just…I guess when you told me vampires were real, I assumed they lived in eerie castles and stole their victims’ money so they’d never have to work. Does she even have a job?”

  “I’m not sure.” And he didn’t like that he didn’t know. Didn’t like that he wanted to know. Why did he need to know? What value would it have?

  Footsteps suddenly pounded, a body turning a corner. There was a rustle of clothing and a breeze of stale beer and sweat. A pause, a muffled curse. “What’cha doing trying to get inside Amy’s apartment?” The human had stopped and now stood at the end of the hall, beefy arms crossed over a protruding middle. His expression was suspicious.

  Dallas flashed his AIR badge. “Amy, you say?”

  “A common name to help her blend,” Devyn muttered. Oh, yes. She was a smart girl. His admiration spiked. Yet again.

  “She done something wrong? Or are you guys ex-boyfriends wanting a tag team?” The newcomer was sneering as if the thought both disgusted and titillated him. “Well, good luck. She don’t give it away to nobody.”

  “Back away and forget you saw us, understand? And take a shower, for Christ’s sake. You could clear a sewer.”

  “No. You will stay,” Devyn commanded, and the man obeyed, helpless to do otherwise because Devyn had mentally locked on his energy.

  Dallas groaned. “We don’t have time for this.”

  Devyn ignored him, pivoting and moving away from the doorway and toward the human. “The fact that you know she won’t give it away leads me to believe you’ve tried to get some from her.”

  Fright filled the man’s beady eyes. If he’d had control of himself, he would have run. Or fainted. “I—I never hurt her.”

  But he’d put his greedy fingers on her, Devyn was sure. Why hadn’t she compelled him away with The Voice? Why hadn’t she drained him dry? Not for one moment did Devyn think she harbored an attraction for the tag-teaming moron. Which meant there were only two possibilities. Either she was too kindhearted to hurt him or too unsure of her powers. Again, the fact that he didn’t know her enough to figure her out irritated him.

  “I’d be doing the world a favor if I killed you,” he said.

  The fear sparked into panic, but the panic didn’t last long. It was soon replaced by bravado. “You’re a damn dirty alien. You can’t hurt me without AIR jumping all over your ass.”

  “AIR’s behind me. You saw the badge. And the only thing I’m likely to get for my next action is a pat on the back.” With that, Devyn reached a mental hand inside the man’s chest and squeezed his heart.

  Pain contorted his pudgy features, and he gasped. His cheeks burned a bright red, and his eyes clouded over. Devyn enjoyed the sight, more so than usual, and he couldn’t deny it.

  “St-stop. Please, stop.”

  “Dev,” Dallas said.

  Fine. When Devyn released his hold, the human sank to the floor, clutching his chest.

  “Enjoy your heart attack,” he said, and then, because he hadn’t wanted to leave the guy alive but was doing so for Dallas, he punted the little shit in the stomach. Air whooshed, and blood even gurgled. “Have a friend call you a paramedic. And if you ever touch Br—Amy again or suggest such a thing to someone else, or hell, even breathe in her direction, I will return and finish what I’ve started.”

  No response. But then, he hadn’t expected one. Devyn spun on his heel.

  Dallas had his arms crossed over his chest.

  “What?” Devyn said, all innocence. “He annoyed me.”

  “So nearly killing him was necessary?”

  “Completely.”

  A roll of his friend’s baby blues. “Are you sure you’re not in loooove with Bride? ’Cause, dude, you’re like a knight in crotchless armor right now.”

  Devyn bared his teeth in a scowl.

  Laughing, his friend held up his hands in surrender. “Fine. You hate her. Now, can we do what we came to do, please?”

  “Of course.” Devyn stopped in front of the ID box and frowned, only now realizing why he hadn’t been able to work it as easily as usual. Someone had beaten him to it—recently, it looked like—but they had plugged the wrong wires into the wrong outlets for it to open, forced or not. Was the human still writhing on the ground the culprit? Or was it Tom, before the beheading? The other slavers, after the beheading?

  Devyn had told Bride not to worry about them, and he’d meant it. Because he’d known he would be coming for her in just a few hours. But what if someone had been waiting for her? What if she wasn’t sleeping, as he’d assumed, but…Urgent now, he twisted a few more ends together, and boom, the metal slid apart of its own accord.

  Dallas had already pulled a gun and now moved in ahead of him, arms extended, barrel aimed, ready to take down any threat. No pyre-guns today. They were using semiautomatics. What the street gangs used. Devyn had been nailed in the thigh with a slug a few months ago, and it had hurt like a son of a bitch. If Nolan had to be subdued, he’d wish to God he’d been stunnable and the bullets unnecessary. They’d just have to be careful not to touch him while he was bleeding.

  Devyn moved in behind his friend, not bothering with a weapon, and closed the door. If he pointed the gun, he’d fire without hesitation, and Dallas wanted a chance to question the otherworlder one last time before killing him.

  “Your vamp’s on the couch,” Dallas whispered. “Asleep, just like you said. And damn. You were right. There’s Nolan.”

  Thank God. He relaxed and studied his surroundings. In the far corner was a ten-by-ten cage. Nolan lay on a cot, softly snoring, more at peace than Devyn had ever seen him.

  The living room and kitc
hen were hooked together, no doors or walls separating them. There was a couch, a chair, and a coffee table, all perched on a dark red rug. That’s all that would fit the small space. The furniture was worn but well cared for, the metal polished to diminish the scratches; the cushions were covered in a violet material. Orange, blue, and yellow pillows were scattered throughout.

  So many colors. Like a rainbow. There wasn’t a kitchen table, but then, she didn’t need one. There were no pots or pans, only a few glasses and wine bottles on the counter.

  There wasn’t a fridge. She didn’t even try to pretend she needed to eat, which meant she didn’t have guests over.

  The thought both delighted and saddened him. Everyone needed friends. Even reprobates like him. There was only one door, and it was beside the kitchen. There wasn’t a hallway; the apartment was too small for even that. How did she live so cramped?

  Silently Devyn moved forward and peeked into the room. Her bedroom. Again, small and crammed. There was a twin-size bed with bright green covers and a scuffed dresser. Books were scattered in every direction. Real books, the no-longer-available paper kind rather than the accepted computerized versions.

  Grinning, he bent down and lifted two. A Hunger Like No Other, featuring a half-vampire heroine. And Marked, again featuring a vampire heroine. A quick glance showed that a few of the other titles were supposedly nonfiction. Vampires: The Real Story. Vampires: They Are Among Us.

  She hadn’t stolen money, furniture, or clothing. She’d stolen books. They were more valuable, but he didn’t think she’d done it for the cash. She truly had no idea about her heritage and was searching for information by whatever means possible.

  Devyn dropped the paperbacks and stood. In the living room, Bride still slept peacefully, her figure unmoving. Dallas stood over her, his expression confused. Frowning, Devyn approached him, though his gaze returned to the vampire and remained.

  Bride was still covered in blood. It matted her hair, smudged her cheeks, and ruined her clothes. She hadn’t showered when she’d arrived but had slipped straight into sleep. How tired she must have been, yet she’d never revealed it to him. He felt a stirring of pride. That’s my girl.

  His frown deepened. Not his girl. Only his to use. For a little while. That’s the way he preferred it. Always. Remembering how she’d swiped up Tom’s pyre-gun, he bent down and confiscated it, sheathing it at his back.

  “I expected…I don’t know,” Dallas whispered. “Something more.”

  “What do you mean?” He couldn’t keep the offense out of his tone.

  “With her clothes on, she’s so…plain. Not that that’s a bad thing. But she’s like a different person than the one I saw in the alley and then the composite. Less, I don’t know, vibrant.”

  Plain? She was as effervescent as the colors she surrounded herself with. A shining jewel among a sea of dull. “You’re blind.”

  “To be honest, each time I saw her I didn’t look any higher than her lovely breasts. And really, she’s the first girl you’ve ever shown more than a cursory interest in, so I guess I expected perfection.”

  “My taste is exquisite.” Bride was beyond lovely, with a face and form most men could only ever dream of seeing. “Better than ever.”

  Nolan moaned softly in his sleep, and Dallas whipped around, gun extended. He moved toward the cell, paused, sucked in a breath. “Fuck me. Look at him, Dev.” The agent no longer whispered. There was too much shock in his tone.

  Devyn straightened and glanced over, not wanting to leave his perch beside Bride. Now that he had her within arm’s reach again, he planned to keep her there. “What is it?”

  “He doesn’t look sick. And if he doesn’t look sick…”

  He’d had sex. Devyn’s eyes narrowed on the otherworlder, taking in the clear skin, the even rise and fall of his chest. His gaze swung to Bride, still sleeping peacefully. Had they…they must have. It would also explain her fatigue.

  His hands curled into fists. There were no bruises under her eyes, no grayish tint to her skin. Teeth grinding, he reached down and shook her, no longer caring if he frightened her. “Bride.”

  When she gave no reaction, he shook her again. Harder. “Bride!”

  Slowly her eyelids fluttered open, hazel irises glazed. Hazel, no longer bright emerald. Either her mask was firmly back in place, or she’d somehow lost her vibrancy. A moment passed while she oriented herself. When realization struck, she gasped. Jerked upright. Dark hair tumbled down her arms and back.

  Devyn leaned down, placing them nose to nose. “Did you sleep with him?”

  “Wh-what?” She scrambled backward, only the arm of the couch stopping her. She reached behind her, probably meaning to grab the gun, but came up empty.

  Devyn moved with her, never letting more than an inch separate them. “Did. You. Sleep. With. Him?” The words snarled from him.

  Her gaze roved wildly. Searching for a way out? Trying to figure out what had happened? “What are you talking about? How did you find me? How did you get in here?”

  “I’m going to ask you one more time, and you’re going to answer, or I swear to God I’m going to kill him in front of you. And you know I don’t make threats. I make promises. Did you fuck Nolan?”

  Confusion flittered over her a split second before she shook her head. “No. Of course not. He’s diseased.”

  Devyn remained in place, studying her, gauging the truth of her words. The rage inside him…he’d never experienced so much. And for what? The thought of a woman in bed with another man? It was laughable. He never promised monogamy, and he never demanded it in return. He didn’t stick around long enough.

  Seriously. What the hell was wrong with him?

  “She’s telling the truth,” a grave voice said from behind him. Nolan had awoken.

  Dallas rubbed his finger over his gun’s trigger. “Try something, and your brains will end up on the wall. This isn’t stun, asshole. This is copper.”

  Nolan kept his gaze on Devyn. “It was the wine. She gave me two glasses of wine, and within an hour of drinking each, I felt healthier than I had in years.”

  “Try again,” Devyn snarled. “Wine can’t kill a disease as strong as yours.”

  Nolan raised his chin. “Hers can, and I want more.”

  “It wasn’t wine, you sellout,” Bride gritted. With a shaky hand, she smoothed the hair from her cheek and hooked it behind her ear. “Not exactly. I, well, I mixed my…blood with it.”

  All three men stared over at her in astonishment.

  She straightened her shoulders. “Well, it helps me heal, and he was so near death, I thought I’d give it to him and see what happened. He didn’t turn into a vampire, though,” she rushed out.

  As if anyone cared about that. Her blood. Her vampire blood had taken a dying man and propelled him into health. That, Devyn could believe. The hottest fires of his rage seeped from him.

  “What are you doing here, Devyn?” she demanded.

  He splayed his arms. “Isn’t it obvious? I’m winning the game we were playing.”

  It was like a bomb detonated in her eyes, hazel scattering and leaving only emerald fury. Mask gone, he thought with a grin.

  “I knew it! You tricked me. Lied to me. Told me to meet you at the pier, and then you followed me.”

  “Nope.” He shook his head. “I didn’t follow you, and I didn’t have anyone else follow you. Try again.”

  “Then how…” Her features scrunched adorably as she pondered what could have happened. A moment passed. She gasped. “Somehow you tagged me with a GPS, didn’t you, you bastard?”

  “Yep.” A slow smile curled the corners of his mouth. “Your bra. Remember the way I licked you…?”

  Red bloomed on her cheeks, the prettiest blush he’d ever seen. “You are such a cheater.”

  “That hurts, darling. Really it does.” He tugged a long, thin black case from his back pocket and popped the lid, revealing a syringe of glowing crimson liquid. Bride would have leaped
from the couch, but he held her down with his mind. “And how did I cheat? There were no rules.”

  She glared up at him. “Let me go, damn it.”

  “Not yet. See, with this baby I’ll know where you are every second of every day for the next three months. I see you’re wondering what it is. Well, it’s my pleasure to tell you. This is an isotope tracker, and all I’ll have to do to find you is log on to my computer.”

  He jabbed the needle into her thigh, and her mouth fell open on a pained gasp.

  “Sorry for the sting,” he said. “Ask nicely, and I’ll kiss it better.”

  “You shouldn’t have done that.” A look of utter concentration descended her features. Determination. “Soon you’ll wish you hadn’t.”

  He’d seen that expression on her before, seconds before she’d exploded into mist. “Don’t you dare think about misting and leaving. I have your friend, remember?”

  The determination fell away, vulnerability taking its place. She fingered the necklace she still wore. “You’ve treated her well?”

  “Of course. Treating women well is a hobby of mine.”

  Sparks of anger returned to her eyes, but she never again looked as if she would mist. “So what are you going to do to me?”

  “We’ll get to that.” The fact that her blood had healed Nolan—permanently? temporarily?—would be of great interest to AIR. They’d take her from Devyn and turn her into a pincushion, no doubt about it. He wasn’t ready for that to happen. “Nolan, tell us about the changes in you.” His attention never veered from Bride.

  The otherworlder was happy to obey. “I’m no longer clouded by the disease’s thoughts. I can think clearly for the first time in years.”

  So. Did that mean the disease was completely gone?

  “You’ve lied and screwed us before.” Dallas swiped his gun against the cage, rattling the bars. “No way you expect us to trust you now.”

  Nolan lifted his wide shoulders in a shrug. “Trust me or not. Doesn’t matter. But I know I’m free. The queen, she—” He pressed his lips together, waited, then scrunched his brow. “I think I can talk about her,” he said on a shocked gasp. “I know she’s…infected the last of her captives…” His eyes widened. “That didn’t hurt! I can. I can talk about her. She’ll come to New Chicago within the week. Exactly where and when, though? I no longer sense her, so I’m not sure.”