by Bryce Evans
The Hunter’s Protector
Death Hunters, Book #3
Bryce Evans
The Hunter’s Protector © August 2019 Bryce Evans
Art and Logo Copyright © Bryce Evans
All rights reserved.
Edited by: Tina Winograd
Artwork by: Andy Atkins
Formatted by: Stacey Price
Published by: Bryce Evans
EBooks are not transferrable.
This book is intended for the purchaser’s sole use.
Sharing or downloading to other individuals or devices is illegal.
This work is fictional. Any resemblance to real persons, places, or events is purely coincidental.
All Rights Are Reserved.
No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the author, except in the case of quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
Contents
Blurb
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Also by Bryce Evans
About the Author
Blurb
Hot male shifters and kick-ass females resistant to their charms. Love, suspense, and danger. What more can you ask for?
Greer O’Neill has been on the run and hiding her entire life. She holds magic that can dominate the paranormal world. After everyone she’s ever loved has been killed by mages hunting her, she stumbles into the only place that can keep her safe—the home of the Death Hunters.
There she meets Reed, a sexy Death Hunter. Every bone in her body aches for him. But if she loves him, he will be killed, perhaps by her own magic.
Reed McDaniel thinks life is great as a Death Hunter. He has a new home, a job he loves, and friends who would die for him. But he’s never known real fear until he set eyes on the one they call the White Bear. One look and he knew Greer was his mate. Convincing her is a problem and protecting her could cost him his life.
Now an ancient evil knows where she is and danger threatens every life in New Hope.
To my family. I love you all very much.
To the Bryce Evans Fan Club. Thank you for sticking it out with me. To my new Review Team. I can’t wait to see what we can do together.
To my PA and friend, Janka Dustan, who keeps me grounded and on task. To KD Jones, my sprinting partner and friend who talks me off the edge. To Carmen Alicea who has come into my life and been a great friend. Thank you, girls, for all that you do.
Please be kind and leave a review on the site you purchased the book from.
Chapter One
“Is she the one?” Greer listened as the mages talked about her. Where was Aunt Jean? She had to help her. She couldn’t see anything. They had something over her eyes. She didn’t like it.
“Yes, I feel her power. She’s the one. We will need the others to complete the spell. Go now and summon them all.”
“What about this one? We should go ahead and kill her.”
“Are you crazy? This is Jean Deloaux.”
“Who?”
“All of you are idiots,” the mage spit out. “You don’t even read the history of our kind. Her magic is old and powerful. We save her for last. Hecate will want to examine them both.”
Greer prayed Aunt Jean would help her. She needed to wake up. They were going to steal her magic.
“She will take it all and leave nothing for us. The Ol--”
The sound of something slamming into the wall made her jump. Her whole body shook as the commotion came closer.
“You fool. Never say that name out loud or you will deal with Hecate. She will rip you open if she learns the name was spoken.”
“All these rules. I’m growing sick of them.”The mage sighed.
Greer struggled, trying to loosen the ropes. It was no use. They were tied too tightly. She needed Aunt Jean. Her bear was hidden. She was going to die. The rough touch of someone’s finger slid up her arm. She felt the bile traveling up her throat as it drifted to her face.
“What are you doing?”
“So soft and pretty.”
“You fool. Do what I said.”
“You just want her for yourself.” As something crashed into the side of the table, her body slid off. This was it. They were going to kill her.
“Go…before I kill you.” The man’s voice was angry as her body was lifted and thrown onto the table. Her head bounced on the hard surface as she dropped. Her arms were pulled farther up as someone re-tightened the ropes.
“It hurts. It hurts,” she cried out.
“Shut up.” The slap across her face splintered her heart. The pain ran up and down her body. Nobody was coming to help her. She wanted her aunt. She wanted to go home.
Aunt Jean, it hurts.
She inhaled deeply, and the scent of death penetrated her senses. She knew others had died in this room. The odor of bleach was on the table where she lay. Her mind continued to wonder as tears trickled down the side of her face.
Greer, can you hear me?
She didn’t move as she heard her name inside her head.Her head hurt as she strained to stay conscious.
Greer, answer me, honey. I can talk to you this way. It’s Aunt Jean.
Her aunt had never spoken to her in this manner. It was a trick and the mage was in her head now.
If this is my aunt, then what did I want to eat last night?
You wanted nachos and spaghetti.
Oh…Aunt Jean, Aunt Jean. I can’t move. My hands are tied. I’m so scared. Please, help me.
Listen to me, Greer. We don’t have long before the rest of the coven arrives. You can do this. We practiced this.
No…no, I can’t do it. I tried. Remember? You said I must be too young.
Greer. Listen to me and calm yourself. You have to save us both. I was wrong, sweetheart. You can do this. I know you can. Do what I say. Do you hear me?
Yes…
Bring the fire, Greer. Bring the fire and burn the ropes. Stop the mage or we will both die. Do you want to die?
No! she screamed in her head. The tears continued faster. Her aunt never talked to her like that.
Now, Greer. I hear their car pulling up. Do it, now!
Her heart pounded so hard, she felt sick. She tried calming her nerves, but nothing worked. She wanted to go home. They had never practiced this. She couldn’t do it.
I can’t.
Yes, you can. They’re coming. I hear them.
“Oh, Deloris, look what we have here. The white bear is finally ours.”
“I never thought you would be able to capture a Deloaux. Does Hecate know yet?”
“Yes. She will be here in the next two hours.”
“Maybe we could have a little taste of the Deloaux woman and see what she has to offer. Let’s see if the rumor is true.”
“Hecate won’t like it.”
“She doesn’t have to know.”
They are going to kill us. Do it now, Greer, or I will never forgive you!
Greer cringed as the screech penetrated her ears. It was Aunt Jean.
&
nbsp; “No…Stop,” Greer screamed. Her arms felt warmer as she struggled to get loose. Then she smelled the smoke from the rope.
“Shit. I thought you put the binding spell on her.”
“I did.”
Greer’s hands broke free. She jerked the cover, freeing her eyes as her body shook. A mage with a knife was cutting into Aunt Jean’s stomach. Blood dripped to the table as the shape of a pentagram became visible.
“I thought you tied her up.”
“I did.”
Greer screamed and pointed at the mage as fire flew from her hands, slamming into the woman, knocking her to the ground. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she flicked two fingers at the mage holding the knife. The flame surged up her cape as if it had a mind of its own.
She watched as the fire moved up her body, feeding on the flesh. Her cries barely noticeable as Greer’s eyes focused on the others trying to get the door open. Her lips quivered as rage pulsed through her as Aunt Jean lay motionless.
Flicking her fingers, she aimed the spark on the rope holding Jean to the table. The binding fell, allowing her to pull her aunt from the table. With one hand holding her, she helped Aunt Jean to the floor.
The others still trying to pry the door open gave her the opportunity to shove the window up. She pushed her aunt until her body rolled out of the frame. Before she jumped up to the sill, she reached out with her mind giving the fire what it wanted. It was time to allow the fire to eat. It was the last thought she had before she followed her aunt to safety.
Greer O’Neill’s life rested in the hands of New Hope’s three alphas. They had the option to let her stay, banish her, or kill her.
She sat on Jade and her mate’s back porch, nerves wound tightly like a cork ready to pop out of a champagne bottle. She never had been good at waiting. Her mind played the what-if game over and over. What if they felt she was a danger to others? What if the Death Hunters had to put her down?
No, Jade and Haven would have warned her. Just stop.
She needed something to pull her thoughts from the craziness and nightmares she continued to have every night. Aunt Jean told her that she wasn’t crazy. Her heart ached thinking about her aunt. She did what she had to do to save them.
She would never forgive herself for not saving her aunt the second time she was captured. Two weeks after the first coven took them, the Winter coven found them and Aunt Jean told her to run, but Greer stayed and hid, thinking they would leave her aunt and chase the false trail she had set.
Each night she dreamed of the mages and what they did. The nightmares were getting stronger. The pain in her head had returned. She was getting worse. Her only hope was to ask Scarlett and the others to help her. If only they could.
Rubbing her temples, she closed her eyes. The noise from the backyard drew her out of her grief. She turned toward the best entertainment she had ever seen. The Death Hunters were training. She itched to show them a spell or two that would help when they hunted. But they were scared of her right now. She couldn’t blame them. Especially with her crazy magic.
She shook her head thinking back to the night of Jade and Lennox Bartley’s wedding/mating ceremony. What a disaster because of her. A wave of magic had jumped from her and blew up a tree without her command. It scared her so badly, she screamed for everyone to leave the area. She was a total basket case.
It was the end of the night and most of the guests had already left, but she could have hurt someone, or worse, killed them. A cloud of uncertainty floated around her and her fate: would she have to keep running or would they let her stay? Oh, she prayed they would let her stay.
She loved it here and already loved the people. Especially Haven who made her feel so welcomed. She was her true friend.
She never had a friend or a permanent home. This place made her feel safe for the first time in eons. Ever since she left Ireland as a child, she’d never had a room of her own or a back porch like this one. If they would let her, she’d stay on the porch forever. She loved being outdoors. If she could, she would live outside. If only.
She glanced at all the blossoming flowers. They were so beautiful and smelled great. She inhaled as the breeze flowed across her face. The sweet scent of florets and something else.
A deep, sexy grunt pulled her attention from her thoughts. Reed McDaniel captured her eyes whenever he was around. He was a dominant bear and very handsome. Her pulse thrummed frantically, heart climbing up her throat. Her churning stomach lurched just thinking about him.
Unfortunately, looking was as far as it went. She could never mate like the others. Her magic was too unpredictable, and she wouldn’t take a chance on someone, including her mate, getting hurt.
She caught the gorgeous man glancing in her direction several times. Fanning herself, Greer watched as Reed flipped one of his team members. She cringed as Leo hit the ground hard.
Leo, one of the Death Hunters, lay on the ground, laughing. Reed stuck his hand out, helping up the giant. Both laughed until their beta, Cosmo Fitzgerald, marched over, getting onto them for horsing around. Observing frequently, she knew they worked hard at their job. If they didn't, someone could be killed.
As she sat, her magic pushed against her, wanting out. If she didn't release the pent-up energy soon, something bad would happen. Before that occurred, she would leave. Scarlett and the others would be here shortly to tell her how the rest of her life would be.
“Whatcha doing?” Jade asked from the back door. From the unexpected sound, fearful adrenaline raced through Greer. She grabbed her chest, gasping for air. She jerked her hand down before magic released. She couldn’t speak. In one single moment, she was back in that room where death lived, and she had taken a handful of coven members and burned them to ash.
Rushing over to her, Jade sat beside her. “I’m sorry, Greer. I didn’t mean to startle you. I thought you knew I was home.”
Opening her eyes, Greer calmed her nerves. That was too close of a call. She’d let her guard down watching the hunters train and almost hurt Jade.
Her friend sat beside her, rubbing a hand up and down her back. “Thanks for not killing me.” The smile on the alpha mate’s lips told her she wasn’t serious, but yet, she was.
“It’s me who should apologize, Jade. I...I let my guard down, my shield. I should’ve known you were there. It was my mistake and I’m so sorry—”
“Stop belittling yourself. Nothing happened.”
“But...but I could have—”
Jade pulled Greer’s shaking hands to her face, giving comfort as she nuzzled against them. “But you didn’t and that’s all that matters. I’m sure your magic knew it was me, your other half.”
Greer smiled. She couldn’t help it. Jade always did that for her. “Maybe, but I don’t want another incident like at your wedding. I could have...” She inhaled deeply looking away, trying to keep the tears from falling.
“But you didn’t,” Jade insisted.
Heavy footsteps came from the porch steps. “How’s the newlywed doing?”
Both ladies turned toward the voice. Holy moley. Greer’s breath caught in her throat. She straightened and just stared. The man had his shirt off, wiping the sweat from his body. His stomach had more ridges and valleys than Tennessee. She licked her lips, wondering how he tasted.
His bicep bulged with each flex. Oh my, even his fingers wrapped around his shirt were drool worthy. If he’d turn, she’d examine his other side.
With a mental slap, she wondered what the heck she was thinking. Fantasizing about the man would do nothing but get her hot and bothered, and how embarrassing would that be since everyone was a shifter.
Jade said, “Good, oh and thanks, Reed, for the basket. I loved every piece of chocolate. And the statue, well, it is breathtaking. You are a true artist.”
“I’m glad you like it. I didn’t know if I’d get finished before your mating.”
“I love it. It fits perfectly on the front porch beside the door. Everyone talks about
it when they see it. You should have sold it. It’s too nice a piece. I’m sure you could have gotten a lot of money for it.”
“But it was a gift for you and the alpha. I want you to have it.”
“It’s my favorite gift, but I still think you should start selling your art.”
“Maybe one day.” Reed glanced at her. “How are you, Miss Greer?”
She froze more than she already was if that was possible. She swore molten lava oozed over her face as she stared at him. Not one word came out of her stupid mouth.
“Oh, she’s fine. A little shy, but she’s good.” Thankfully, Jade answered for her.
“That’s good. Well, I—”
At that moment, Lennox, Arden Dixon, Ben Crenshaw, and Scarlett walked out the back door. She wanted to know what Reed was going to say, but this was the meeting she had been waiting for.
Greer’s heart dropped into her stomach from their expressions. Even Jade looked taken aback. She had her answer. They were kicking her out of New Hope.
“Reed, can you give us a minute.” Lennox Bartley, alpha of the Death Hunters spoke.
“Sure.” He smiled at her before he walked off. The image of his handsome smile would always be at the forefront of her mind when she had nothing to smile about.
“Greer, we’ve already held a meeting and would like to discuss our decision with you,” Arden said, pulling one of the rocking chairs to the swing. Jade gave her hand a small squeeze. She would remember the wonderful woman forever even though she’d done too much to her. Greer disfigured her face and body and then put half of her crazy magic inside her. Just like Bane said, she shouldn’t let that go.
