The Jaded Hunter

by Michelle M. Pillow

  “No, he will be coming with me to Africa. You will be going there alone,” Amon stated. “Consider this another test of your loyalty. And remember, dhampir, you may be alone but it doesn’t mean your actions aren’t watched.”

  Jaden dutifully nodded.

  “Shiva has your travel plans. When you get there you’ll be met by a contact. It has all been arranged,” Theophania said. “You have been taught our laws and know what is expected. Your life is yours as much as it is ours, dhampir. We won’t coddle and care for you, but we will expect you to report back to us and to come when called.”

  * * *

  London, England, December 31st

  All around Jaden, celebration resounded over the city streets. The dark alleyways were not as safe a haven, though there were plenty of meals to choose from. Jaden drank quickly from a passing man before letting him go on his way. The liquor in his blood soothed her some, being as she couldn’t consume a stiff glass of scotch on her own.

  Turning from the crowd, she made her way through the narrow passageway streets. The chipped cobblestone whispered under her feet as she walked. The breeze swept around her, but didn’t stir her spirit. She was glad to be out of the council’s hall. She was glad to be out on her own again, though much had happened since she was last alone. The night hours were spent more in contemplation and longing, rather than in hunting.

  Her feet moved over the direction memorized by her brain. The council’s order had been clear. Her London contact, supposedly a young girl, was to be out this night with her parents. Many vampires from a club of young ones had been killed, dragged out into the early morning sunrise and left for dead. It was said the young child witnessed the massacre and it was Jaden’s job to lure the girl away and read her to see if she could discover a name or face.

  Jaden couldn’t care less. The job was no longer important. She just did it, hoping to pass the endless nights until she could see Tyr again. Nothing mattered anymore.

  “That is not the chivalrous attitude of a true knight.”

  Jaden froze. Her heart didn’t dare to beat for fear she’d heard wrong. Her lips trembling, her limbs shaking, she slowly turned around. She gasped, her eyes growing round. Slowly shaking her head, she whispered, “Tyr?”

  A slow smile curled over the face she loved. Handsome blue eyes shone with a possessive mischief. Jaden took him all in—his Viking-blond hair, his piercing eyes, and his kissable mouth. Her hands hung lifeless at her side. Tyr stepped into the dark alleyway and stopped in front of her. Jaden didn’t dare believe it. She didn’t dare to move and spoil the dream.

  “I’ll admit that I expected a little more of an enthusiastic greeting,” he said with a wry smile.

  Jaden felt tears in her eyes. She had read somewhere that vampires couldn’t cry. A lonely trail of moisture worked its way down her face. It would seem she could only cry for Tyr.

  “Jaden?” Tyr asked in concern. His smile faded.

  “I can’t do this,” she cried mournfully. Another tear worked its way out of her eyes. “You’ll only leave me again. They’ll take you away from me again and each time it gets worse. Each time I die a little more. My heart can’t take losing you. I can’t do it. It hurts too badly. I-I love you.”

  The rest of her tearful protest was crushed by the onslaught of his mouth. Jaden couldn’t resist the feel of him. It was too precious. Her eyes closed against the pain of eventual suffering. She clung to him. Her lips trembled, unable to return his passionate kiss.

  A grin spread across his features. Tyr’s entire being exploded with happiness. She loved him. It was all that mattered. Pulling his mouth away, he drew back. Jaden panicked, holding on tighter.

  “Not yet,” she whispered. Her fingers clutched desperately at his jacket front, before maneuvering over his shoulders to cling to his neck. “You can’t leave me yet.”

  “Say it again,” he murmured. His arms stayed steadily along her back.

  “What?” she asked in confusion. “I can’t think straight. I love you.”

  Tyr’s smile widened. “Again.”

  “I love you?” she asked, the sound more like a timid question than an assertion.

  “Never stop saying it, my love,” he whispered, leaning in to kiss her.

  “But—” Jaden’s weakened protest was cut off by his kiss. She returned his embrace full force. Only when Tyr drew back, did she stop to think.

  “I love you, Jaden.” Tyr said. “I can’t live without you. I can’t wait a hundred years to be with you. Without you I can’t fight. I can’t concentrate. I’m nothing without you.”

  “But, the council,” she began weakly. “They—I’m on assignment. They’ll find out. They said they have people watching.”

  “Who? Someone to watch the Dark Knights? Don’t you realize? There is no one to watch us. We’re the only watchers and they know it. We’re the council’s eyes to the world. Besides, I took care of the council. I told them that you were mine and that I was yours. They would rather recant a decree than have us both defy them.”

  “But, how?”

  “You proved your loyalty when you faced Mack alone,” Tyr answered. His hand pressed over her hair, smoothing it back. “I turned you, Jaden. That makes me your master in their eyes. And you have made me. Without you I am not whole.” Tyr smiled tenderly at her, no walls up between them.

  “Wait,” she panted, though her lungs didn’t need the air. “You love me?”

  “Yes,” he whispered, kissing the trails of her tears.

  “And we can be together?” she persisted, not daring to hope, making sure she heard him right.

  “Yes.”

  Jaden squealed in delight, all her dreams coming true. She jumped into the air, wrapping her arms and legs around Tyr’s steady form. She pressed kisses all along his face. Eternity no longer seemed so dim.

  “That’s all I have to know,” she whispered.

  “Wait,” Tyr said, enjoying her eager kisses. “There are a few conditions.”

  “Hmm?” Jaden’s lips moved to nestle into Tyr’s neck, making concentration hard. His hand shifted beneath her backside to support her. “There always are.”

  “They allow it because you have proven your loyalty. But you’re on probation as my apprentice. That makes me responsible for you.” Tyr’s masculine smile said he was unconcerned. He was just happy to have her where she belonged—in his arms, under his spell.

  Jaden chuckled as he walked, carrying her easily with him, her body clutching to his. She leaned over to naughtily lick at his earlobe. A smile crossed her face as she felt him shiver.

  “It means you’ll have to listen to me,” he said, breathing in her scent and angling his head to allow her tender lips greater access to him.

  “I’ve never listened very well.”

  “Then we are both doomed,” he sighed with feigned sorrow, though nothing could wipe the pleasure from his face, “for I am ordered to kill you if you disobey me.”

  “Really?” she preened. Leaning back, she batted her eyelashes coquettishly at him. “Well you know I stand to inherit a lot of money. What if I pay you off? Would you promise not to tell on me if I was bad?”

  “It is not your money I’m after,” Tyr growled with a seductive proposition laced into his low words. His lips devoured her neck with licks and kisses. His fangs brushed over her skin. As he moved, his body pressed against her. His thick arousal stood ready and waiting for her touch. “And I must insist that you are bad. We are vampires after all. We have a reputation to uphold.”

  “Then get me out of here,” Jaden said, her eyes round and serious, but so very pleased. “I can kidnap some child for the council another night.”

  “With pleasure, m’lady.” Tyr sped off into the night, into their eternity, carrying her in his steady arms. “And where would you like me to take you?”

  “I know of a sunlit field where no one can find us,” she whispered, tenderly stroking his long hair back from his handsome face. “And if I
remember correctly, you know how to get us there. Oh, then we can battle those knights you mentioned. And didn’t you say something about jumping off a castle wall and—?”

  Tyr’s laughter rang out. He cut off her words with a deep kiss that left the vampiress completely breathless, which was hard to do since she didn’t need air. The sultry sound of his laughter continued, fading behind them, wicked with intent, full of promise.

  “Yes, my love,” he murmured into the parting night, planting kisses along her neck. His hands explored up her body, not waiting for the comforts of a bed. They blurred into the surrounding darkness like the wind, as he whispered, “You’ll have to close your eyes for I’m going to have to kiss you to get there.”

  The End

  The Tribes of the Vampire series continues with book three, Eternally Bound.

  The Series Continues…

  Eternally Bound by Michelle M. Pillow

  Tribes of the Vampire Book Three

  Tatiana Sinclair has lived a perfect noblewoman’s life, until the night her brother, Henry, forces her to cover up a horrible crime. Haunted by the only witness to their deeds, the intensely sensual Count Spoleti, Tatiana is led into a world she never dreamed existed

  Count Marcello Spoleti is intrigued by the female who dares to try to control the vampire. But, he also knows there is more to Tatiana than just a pretty face--much, much more. Forcing her father to give her to him, lest he tell of his children’s crimes, Marcello plans on keeping the strong-minded Tatiana under his complete command.

  For a complete, up-to-date booklist, visit www.MichellePillow.com

  About the Author, Michelle M. Pillow

  Michelle M. Pillow, Author of All Things Romance™, is a multi-published, award winning author writing in many romance fiction genres including futuristic, paranormal, historical, contemporary, fantasy and dark paranormal. Ever since she can remember, she has had a strange fascination with anything supernatural—ghosts, magical powers, and oh… vampires. What could be more alluring than being immortal, all-powerful, and eternally beautiful? After discovering historical romance novels, it was only natural that the supernatural and love/romance elements should someday meet in her wonderland of a brain. She’s glad they did for their children have been pouring onto the computer screen ever since.

  She has been nominated for the Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award 2011, the winner of the 2006 RT Reviewers’ Choice Award, nominated for the 2007 RT Award, a Brava Novella Contest Finalist and a PAN member of RWA.

  Michelle is a journalist for Paranormal Underground Magazine. She has a BGS in History/Business with an English Minor, and a Photography degree. In 2009 she and fellow author Mandy M. Roth started their own highly successful self-publishing endeavor named The Raven Books.

  Michelle has titles published with The Raven Books, Pocket Books, Random House, Virgin Books, Adam’s Media, Samhain Publishing, Running Press, Entangled Publishing and more.

  She loves to hear from readers. They can contact her through her website www.michellepillow.com

  Join her email newsletter at www.michellepillow.com/newsletter/?p=subscribe

  For a complete, up-to-date booklist, visit www.MichellePillow.com

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  Looking for something a little sexier?

  Divinity Warriors I: Lilith Enraptured by Michelle M. Pillow

  Alternate Reality Romance

  Divinity Warriors Book One

  Sorin of Firewall lives in a land forever at war. In fact, the Starian men are so busy fighting, their marriage ceremony has been reduced to a “will of the gods” event where they simply pick a woman out of a lineup and claim her as a wife. With women becoming scarce, it’s necessary to trade the offworld Divinity Corporation for brides. Duty-bound to attend the ceremony, he has no intention of picking a bride, let alone one from another dimension. Duty-bound to attend the ceremony, he has no intention of picking a bride, let alone one from another dimension. That is, until he sees Lilith, the bewitching woman sent by the gods to reward—or punish?—him.

  Lilith, a data analyst for Divinity, is betrayed by the Corporation and wakes up in a primitive, uncharted dimension filled with warriors who only know war and duty. But her initial fears of becoming a sex slave to a big beefy knight become all too real when a warrior of god-like proportions claims she’s his new woman. As Lilith discovers, there are worse fates than being the focus of Sorin’s skillful and earthy seduction.

  Lilith Enraptured Excerpt

  Sorin took several deep breaths, feeling as he did when about to go into battle. Heat filled him as tension worked its way into his limbs. With a single thought, he could will his body to spring into action. He could erase her from the world and end this before it started.

  But it was too late. He was lost the moment he’d looked at her, had seen her big blue eyes staring at him in trepidation. No, he was lost before that, when he felt her looking at him, beckoning him with her unwavering gaze to find her in the crowd.

  Temptress. Witch.

  He willed the desire inside him to go away. It shouldn’t have been so strong. He’d relieved himself like he always did, had spilled his seed to ease the lonely ache.

  Light from the fireplace shone through the white of her gown, silhouetting the long length of her legs and arms. The linen clung to her shoulders, swooping gently along the curves of her breasts—breasts that would be bare beneath. The tied hands were a new addition to the ceremony, thanks to Sir Aidan’s wayward woman, Lady Paige. Sorin’s barbaric side found he liked the addition.

  Hunger rushed into every limb, lifting his cock beneath the long tunic. He didn’t think to hide the reaction. No one would care. It had been so long, so very long, since he’d had a woman in his bed. He suppressed a groan. Soft flesh. Round breasts. Taut nipples. Slick, warm vessel to catch his passion. That certain female smell when he pressed his nose to her sex.

  A thought whispered in the back of his mind. Maybe she’s different. Maybe she’ll be better. Maybe this one will stay.

  He cursed the thought. No. She wasn’t different. She wasn’t better. Sorin had made up his mind long ago. He’d come, he’d look, but he never, ever wanted to find someone. He wasn’t meant to have this, or her, or any kind of peace. Sorin was born into a land of war. He was made for it, every piece of him. One of the bloodiest battles in their history happened the very hour his mother gave birth to him.

  Some were lucky to find peace in marriage, but not him. Tradition and necessity dictated he come to these ceremonies and try to find someone. He came from a noble line, a position of power, one that demanded he have sons to carry on his family’s name. But society could not make him choose. It could not make him step forward and lay claim.

  “Mine.”

  Where did that word come from? It sounded like his voice, booming over the hall to quiet all who watched into stunned silence. It felt like his body refusing to go to his place at the table, instead moving forward with arm uplifted to point at the blonde-haired beauty. But it couldn’t be his body or his voice. That would mean he’d just announced his claim. Everyone would have heard it. He couldn’t back out once the word was said.

  “Sorin?” his younger brother, Ronen, hissed. Like Sorin, Ronen led one of the more renowned armies in all of Staria. Very few would dare to challenge their word or honor and the fact made it even more impossible for Sorin to take back what he’d done.

  “Mine,” Sorin found himself repeating. Was he possessed? What madness was this? He kept walking toward her. She merely stared at him, those wide, gorgeous eyes capturing his. Straight blonde hair hung long down her back, just as a woman’s should.

  “Brother?” Ronen questioned. The shock was evident in his voice. Sorin couldn’t blame him for the surprise because that very day he’d been instructing Ronen to stay strong and not fall for a woman’s pretty face. And what
did Sorin do? He claimed a woman with a pretty face.

  The hall remained quiet. Sorin stopped before the woman, noting with pleasure that she didn’t cringe and fall away from his looming presence. Her strength would serve her well. Years of frustrated desires surged inside him. He couldn’t put them off any longer. Deny it as he might, he needed a woman. He would never admit the words out loud. The need was not just for physical release, but for the softness of her, the sweet smell and the temporary relief from the endless fighting that such a creature could bring.

  You tried this before, Sorin. Such things are not for you.

  Fool.

  Idiot.

  Weak.

  His accusing thoughts infuriated. Reaching for her bound arms, he took hold of the ropes. Not even his condescending inner voice could stop his actions. Sorin held her gaze steady, stating so she couldn’t mistake his claim, “You are mine.”

  To find out more about these books or to read other books from The Raven Books visit www.TheRavenBooks.com

  Lord of Fire, Lady of Ice by Michelle M. Pillow

  Medieval Historical Romance

  “She found herself unimpressed with him, having expected more of the legendary man—Brant. Lord Blackwell. Brant the Gladiator. Brant the Vigorous. Brant the Flame. Brant the Viking Hero. Della snorted in unladylike disgust. More like, Brant the Thorn in my Arse!”

  Lady Della the Cold-Hearted

  Lady Della despises all things Viking. They may rule the land, but they will never rule her. Unfortunately, her father doesn’t seem to agree. To prove his continued allegiance to the Viking king, the Ealdorman of Strathfeld betroths his only daughter to a respected Viking Lord—a warrior who’s legendary prowess isn’t reserved for the battlefield. Fighting the newfound craving in her body and the unwelcome fire in her heart, Della must choose between everything she knows to be true and the one thing she never expected…