Page 31 of V for Vindictive

Vampires in strong clans like these were inherently linked with their elders. These type of bloodline vampires were weakened temporarily when their elders were defeated. Typically, there was a period of vulnerability when the next elder was being chosen by the blood connection within the coven. It took anywhere from minutes to days for the power from the previous elder to find a worthy vampire in the clan.

Under normal Hunter circumstances, this offered us a great advantage. But we weren’t any normal Hunter crew. Still, taking every advantage available to us was good vampire hunting and meant it wouldn’t get messy. Although, truth be told, I needed it a little messy right now. Between my head and body pining after Sloan and my heart aching for Phillip, it’d be a welcomed distraction.

“Sloan and V will take the elder out, and then the rest of us will wipe out the other fifteen. If we play our cards right, we’ll be home in time for dinner,” Kris announced, smirking. “This number shouldn’t be any trouble for our group.”

With a nod, the group broke apart, but Nigel lingered by my side. I offered him a look before his eyes dodged over to the front door. “Can I talk to you?”

“Room for one more?” Sloan asked when I struggled to agree.

Nigel made a sound in his chest before nodding. “I need to speak with both of you, so let’s go outside for a bit.”

After following the two men out, some distance from the house and away from prying ears, Nigel gave the area a short onceover before sighing. “I smell it on you. Did you run into trouble earlier?”

What a fucking nose this dude has on him.

“I thought you might ask,” Sloan said, crossing his arms and offering me a small look. “We did, but it’s handled.”

“What’s to say this mission isn’t a trap? There’s someone in the Organization ballsy enough to send a damn assassin wherever she goes, and you’re not the least bit worried about this little coven invasion?”

Sloan’s body tensed under the attack of Nigel’s words, but he didn’t seem at all surprised by it. “It may not matter soon, but trust me when Isay that I’ve prepared for every possible outcome with this mission, and I don’t take her safety lightly.”

What wouldn’t matter soon?

But I’d had enough of the back and forth where both acted like I wasn’t party to the conversation or capable of speaking for myself. Mostly Nigel. Though, it wasn’t new he came across overprotective. It didn’t used to bother me. I used to think that genuine care looked that way, but Phillip and Sloan proved that I was plenty powerful on my own. Nigel needed to trust me more, and I wasn’t sure if he ever would.

Crossing my arms, I cut in, “I don’t need anyone protecting me, Nigel. Believe it or not, I’m the reason we survived today.”

I didn’t relish gloating about a kill like the one today since it was totally by accident we won, but someone had to put Nigel in his place. Maybe this time he’d listen to reason. Maybe one day we could overcome this obvious flaw in his personality.

Nigel’s lip twitched and his jaw tensed perceivably. “You?”

Smirking, I bumped my arm into Nigel’s and his soft smile made my heart pound.

Feelings I’d long thought buried came clamoring into my throat, and the telling blush in my cheeks nearly gave me away. Nigel would always be my first boyfriend, and no matter how much of an overbearing jerk he’d been, he was still the Nigel I’d drooled and dreamed about for years.

Sloan’s hair caught a gust of wind, and the light hit him a second later when the brilliant sun peeked out of the cloud cover. “She’s telling the truth. As embarrassing as it is to admit it, her skills were what saved us on several occasions.”

By skills he meant this uncontrollable power living inside me, but whatever.

The werewolf’s olive complexion seemed to glow in the unfettered sunlight, and it made me miss him. Miss the playful banter we shared for all those months we dated. Miss the way he smiled at me. Miss the ease of our relationship, even if it was more of a friendship in the end than a passionate love affair. It’d been a comfortable place to go when Grams and Hunter life weighed heavily on my shoulders. His arms were welcoming, his smiles always a comfort, and I’d missed it honestly, enough to make my eyes drop to the thickly-corded arms crossed over the Shifter’s chest.

“You don’t have to worry about me,” I finally stated softly, cheeky grin on my face.

Before I could continue, the hair on my body stood on end and an electric jolt took my spine captive. Strangely, the sensation of someone nearby caused me equal parts alarm and excitement. With my eyes shooting from Nigel to where I felt the bizarre presence, I immediately discerned a familiar figure.

Outfitted in a vest with an obnoxious looking sword strapped to his back, the newcomer was leaned up against a 1967 Ford Mustang.

When did that get there?

“That’s my lass. Telling off some overconfident dog in the middle of the road,” came his sultry Austrian accent, and I’d never wished to hear a voice more in all my life.

For a second, I hesitated. The Siren took the shape of Grams, and it wouldn’t be far off for it to figure Phillip was a good sell for the next one. Clutching my dagger, the two men around me stiffened at the sound of his distinctive voice. Every movement the gorgeous bastard made was entirelyPhillip, but I didn’t let my guard down for a single second. Still, Sloan didn’t move to attack or remove a weapon. Only Nigel seemed ready to go for the man’s throat.

“Took you long enough, mate,” Sloan finally said, his happy grin making my grip loosen on the dagger I held. “Nearly started the party without you.”

“We can’t have that. I’ve been itching to use Blood Slayer on some deserving vampires.”

Lamest sword name, ever.

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