Page 74 of The Huntress

Mike’s here too?She flashed a huge smile at Dimitri, unable to contain it.

“Do you wish to feed?” He offered her his wrist. “I give freely.”

“No…thank you. The only suckblood I wish to drink from is Gabe.”

“Suckblood?” He chuckled. “So not starving?”

“Stavros summoned a steak for me. I’m super thirsty, though. Could I have another bottle of water?”

“Water?” Confusion furrowed his brow and narrowed his eyes, but he created a bottle out of the ether for her.

She took it, giving him a nod of thanks before opening it to drain it. She tossed the empty bottle on the bed and reached for George. He scurried up her arm to find a seat on her shoulder. Despite Leo’s warning, she climbed the narrow stairs, finding the steel-heeled boots easy to move in. She stepped into the moonlight, inhaling the fresh air deep into her lungs, picking up a myriad of other scents she couldn’t identify.

With a contented smile, she scanned her surroundings until she found Gabe with his fingernails embedded in Darius’s throat, drawing rivulets of blood as he lifted the man off his feet.

“Callie’s mine.Mywoman,” Gabe roared, his knuckles whitening as he squeezed harder, enough to silence the murmurs escaping Darius. “I will not allow this to go unpunished.”

Every curve and line of his face was visible to her, and she paused to memorize him, imprinting his furious yet handsome image into her mind.

“He’ll always be her sire,” Leo said.

Gabe grunted, ripped his fingers out, and severed Darius’s head with one smooth slash. He raised his bloody hand to the heavens, and a bolt of lightning struck Darius’s healing corpse, incinerating him in seconds. “Not anymore.”

She stumbled back, bouncing off Dimitri’s chest. “Holy shit.”

She had never seen the like. Gabe had said they had power over the elements, so that didn’t surprise her. What took her breath away was the beauty of her man seeking vengeance on her behalf. Desire made her core throb just as a white heat dropped her to her knees. She cried out under the sheer agony coursing through her veins. Wave after wave swept through her body. Tremors and spasms followed.

Gabe called her name like a whisper in the wind, but she couldn’t gather the strength to look for him. Dimitri scooped her into his arms as the blessed relief of darkness claimed her.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

AT LAST

Gabrielstaredatthescorched concrete, at the black charred marks in the shape of Darius’s headless body. The lightning strike was final, but he couldn’t regret his actions. He’d have to answer to the Drimari and the council, not that he gave a damn now.

He glanced at Mike who nodded, a primal pleasure in the old detective’s eyes. The man approved, and for that, Gabriel was grateful. As much as he warned Syl not to, Gabriel didn’t want to bring the police down on the de Winter Hold either.

For Callie, he didn’t give a shit about the Hold.

The cry that pierced the nocturnal silence was one he’d recognize anywhere. He spun as her scent reached him. The vision of her crumpling into Dimitri’s arms was bittersweet. She’d never looked as beautiful, the clothing she wore arousing more than relief within him. Dimitri’s hands on her skin made Gabriel’s vision tinge a crimson to match her bustier. He bolted forward and snatched her out of his friend’s arms, extending a warning with his pheromones, as well as his posture. His Callie was to remain untouched. He hunched over her in a protective embrace.

“Relax, Gabriel. I didn’t want her hurting herself on the concrete.” Dimitri held up his hands in a submissive manner. “She’s yours,brat.”

“Why did you dress her so?” Gabriel roared, not liking that thepal’tsywere ogling her. He glared at each one, forcing them to look away.

Dimitri raised his hand, and his mendispersed.“I did not. Stavros did. His scent lingers in her cellar, and Callie confirmed his presence.”

“Stavros? That can’t be. I killed him in Paris.” At Dimitri’s wince, Gabriel sighed. “I’m sorry, Dimitri. I didn’t mean to imply you scented wrong. I can’t imagine how he escaped my death trap.”

“You didn’t bolt him?” Dimitri’s green gaze darted to all that remained of Darius.

“I wish I had. Then this wouldn’t have happened. I wouldn’t have endangered her. My arrogance has cost me, us. Dimitri, I…can’t live without her.”

“Stavros has targeted her, but he hasn’t harmed her yet.”

Gabriel cuddled her closer, only then noticing the eyes peering from the depth of her curls.A rat?The one that had formed a fondness for Callie? He eyed Leo, nudging his head at the observer.

“Leo, is this our rat?” A smile curled his upper lip. Many aspects had united to locate Callie, including this little rodent.

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