Page 15 of The Huntress

He laughed, shaking his head as he meandered out of her apartment block and onto the moon-swathed street. Taking to flight, he was too energized to return to the Hold. He found himself knocking on a cellar door in a field in the middle of nowhere.

“Leo?” Gabriel banged his door open and revealed his displeasure at the intrusion. He grunted and gestured to Leo to enter. “Coffee?”

“Something stronger, because moon above, do I have a story to tell you.”

Leo had unburdened the Callista saga—his perceptions, his unexpected emotions, everything—onto Gabriel’s wise and capable shoulders.

“Intriguing.” He swirled his brandy in his tumbler.

The glint of amber caught Leo’s eye, so he raised his own glass to his lips. It always looked better than it tasted. He could recall, before he converted, how sweet, smoky, and intense brandy had been on his tongue. Now, only bitterness burned a path down his throat to pool in his belly.

“You say she’s beautiful?”

“Yes. A wealth of auburn locks. I wish you could read my mind, Gabriel.”

“It’s her sister’s scent you find addictive?”

“Yes, like a spicy fragrance luring me. It tugs here.” Leo tapped his chest, wishing he could describe the strange sensation.

Gabriel nodded as if understood where Leo didn’t. “Have you sought her out? I suppose not, unless you have and aren’t sharing the encounter with me?”

“No, I haven’t had a chance. Too late to prevent the fondness from forming for Callie though. Dawn’s near, so it will have to wait until after the festival.”

“Oh, yes…that cursed festival. Thanks for the reminder.” Gabriel downed his brandy with a grimace.

“I suspect Valerie might be participating. If Callie hears about it…” Leo chuckled. “Nowthatwould be entertaining. I can’t get over that she kicked me out.” He threw a smirk at Gabriel. “It felt…good.”

“I can imagine.” A smile twitched Gabriel’s lips but didn’t fully form.

Leo couldn’t recall the last time his friend had been happy. “Next time I visit either of the Devereaux sisters, you will be accompanying me. For the entertainment value, of course.”

“Will I?” Gabriel arched a brow, but there was a stubborn tilt to his chin.

“You owe me, so I’m calling in the favor.”

“Over this? It’s a waste of a favor, but I accept. I was more concerned you’d ask me to challenge for the right to rule.”

“I know.” Leo vanished his glass to the ether from whence he’d summoned it, the magic taking no more than mere thought. He had long since learned this power like all young vamps did.

After saluting Gabriel with two fingers to his forehead, Leo dissolved into molecules, easily carried on gentle breezes. This unique gift wasn’t as quick to learn. Some vampires never mastered it, but he was powerful.

He sped across the planes and into the Hold to reform in his chambers. With a flick of a finger, the lamps lit, and the fire blazed in the hearth. He ran a palm over his chest and met smooth skin, vanishing his suit as he readied for bed. A smile lingered when he slid between crisp, sun-kissed Egyptian cotton sheets.

A good day. The best he’d had in a while.

Chapter Eight

DESPERATION AND INSANITY

Callieneededsunlight—herpastyskin attested to it. A coffee break on her balcony would’ve sufficed. Not out in the wild, one hundred miles from civilization, where human women competed against each other for the ultimate prize—conversion.

She was here for Val, who’d tossed in her chips. She wouldn’t survive in her weakened state, which meant a swift and painful death. Fuck. Callie could kill Syl for this. For inspiring Val to get off her couch for suicide. For sending Callie into the disease-riddled bay and for distracting her from her actual investigation on Carter.

As a suckblood, Valerie would be cancer free. Either way, she died today. Callie had used her police siren to get here, which would cost her a few merits if Captain found out. She didn’t care. This was an emergency. She should’ve sensed something was up when Sylvester had nodded at Val. She should’ve listened to her instincts. Instead, she’d been more upset over the loss of that damn canister.

She sighed as she pushed against the crowd of eager women, searching for her sister. The sweaty, overly perfumed bodies nauseated her. Or was that fear coiling in her stomach like a cobra about to strike? Her heart pounded in her ears, but she ignored it, keeping her focus on the various women around her.

They came in all shapes and sizes, but all with either lust or greed on their faces. The suckbloods bussed them in so no vehicles remained abandoned on the land. And of course, all had signed a waiver. Just as she had. She was here to find her sister to talk her out of this stupid idea but couldn’t go in until she’d signed that silly thing. With panic overruling her innate distrust of everything, she’d signed it unread. So she assumed it was a waiver of liability.

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