Page 18 of V for Vengeance

So, Nigel couldn’t pull one over on my razor-sharp Hunter mentors. Grams told me shortly after returning that she’d always suspected Lux, the same way Phillip had, but not once did she sense Nigel was playing both sides. Her confidence fed my own. But I wasn’t ready. I hadn’t seen the wolf since…

I killed two people he cared about.

Tonight, we’d be meeting with him in the woods. Original, I know, but it was the best place for it to happen. If he was somehow connected with Lux, this ensured they didn’t get the jump on us.

Grams, Jo, Cash, and Kris would be concealed and ready for the whole thing to go pear-shaped. After a few sly looks from Jo, I almost thought she hoped it would. More than once I’d seen that killer gleam in her eyes, hungry for something to go wrong. The girl had issues. Jo was kind of like an animal locked in a cage, ready to rain hell down on any poor bastard who opposed us.

Again, I was very glad she was on our side.

When I wasn’t thirsting after the gorgeous woman, I was in fear of what she would’ve done to me should I not have passed whatever test she laid out for me. It was evident after a few weeks that Jo had planned to destroy the weapon the Organization created—aka, yours truly. I was just grateful she saw something in me that made her think twice.

But those lips…

Fuck, that kiss she and I shared still haunted me. The way she touched me, kissed me, pressed up against me and slid her leg between my thighs still lived in my dreams every night. Which was impressive when I had two gorgeous men bringing my every fantasy to life daily.

I idly wondered how any of us got anything done with how much sex I was having lately. Or how shameless we had to be to do it with Grams, Jo, or Cash always somewhere nearby. I’d complained about not getting any only two weeks ago. It was like the universe laughed, said “Hold my beer!” and then I couldn’t keep them off me.

Both men looked for any and every opportunity to steal me away for a heavy petting session or quick romp in a very inappropriate place. Thankfully, my vampire body didn’t need much sleep, or I’d be struggling every day to keep up. But to think that even with sex as often as I breathed, the two beasts still weren’t enough for my insatiable appetite…

I blamed my Siren and vampire blood. It was a convenient excuse, but it stopped me from feeling crazy for staring at the vixen who was now lounging on my bed like it was hers.

Jo hadn’t done anything remotely sexually satisfying since the night we took out the Blood Mage Bros. If anything, it almost felt like the Fae was teasing me on purpose—keeping enough distance to leave me questioning and wanting. Craziest part was I was into it. Likereallyinto it.

I’d never really chased anyone like her before. It wasn’t the frustrating, near violence-inducing chase I suffered with Phillip. It was fun, playful, and exhilarating. Granted, it might all be in my head, but even if it was, it still made me eager to see what the killer beauty might do next. How would she tease me tonight? Tomorrow?

I turned, sifting through my hair and acting like I hadn’t been captivated by Jo’s beautiful body for a full ten minutes. Taking out my phone, I stared at the messages I sent to Nigel earlier and his cold, all-professional responses back.

My throat burned when I thought he might be angry with me. Maybe Nigel blamed me for their deaths. I couldn’t blame him. I came waltzing back into his life like they didn’t matter. Likethe alpha hadn’t lost two people he loved. Like he hadn’t been betrayed in the worst kind of way. But I couldn’t let my affection for Nigel cloud my judgment. We might not think the Shifter was in cahoots with that asshole Lux, but anything was possible, and a good Hunter always prepared for the worst-case scenario.

So, as far as Nigel was concerned, I’d have Phillip and Sloan by my side. Tonight was a test. One I really hoped the Shifter passed because I couldn’t handle another betrayal. The wolf might’ve broken my heart once, but I regarded him as a dear friend, and his betrayal might really break me.

So, a lot rode on tonight going well.

I headed for the door, and Jo slithered her way off my bed in order to follow. We both entered the kitchen where Grams and Kris prepared the weaponry for our rendezvous with Nigel.

They’d brought everything from gold to slow down and injure werewolves to iron so they could scorch any Fae who decided to join in. Stakes, holy water, and silver were stuffed into another pack for any vampires we encountered. Then the usual must-haves—my favorite crossbow and daggers. They were waiting for me on the table, and I stroked the crossbow with a little smile. I had different abilities now, but I’d always favor it. With all the weapons and Phillip’s favorite inventions laid out, it was really a Mary Poppins bag of shit.

Let’s be fair, my life was the real Mary Poppins bag of shit.

I eyed the group.

Sungho had joined us tonight, and the quiet Shifter stood paces away, watching me. I nodded my greeting, and he nodded back, alluding to a smile. I appreciated how little he had to do to make me feel comfortable. I was always surprised to see him since the bulky Shifter had his own pack to watch over, per his one-time explanation. I hadn’t thought they’d spare him as often as they did, but maybe things within his pack were different.

Unlike Nigel, Sungho shifted into a panther. I’d always wondered if other Shifters existed, and it turned out they did. So, the steely-eyed Shifter didn’t fuck with wolves, and they didn’t fuck with him. His words, not mine. From the way it sounded, panthers weren’t terribly fond of wolves, and I could almost guess that was the reason the Shifter was all too happy to join our group to hunt them down. Maybe if I got him talking he’d tell me the reason.

He was friendlier with me despite his mad-dog glare. I liked him better than Phillip most days because he never spoke out of turn or thought himself cleverer than me.

I noticed right away that the Shifter was sticking close to Kris’s side, and I laughed a little with how many looks the two shared. When that purple, curly head turned my way and the gorgeous Hunter’s eyes met mine, I quickly figured it out. Sungho and Kris were getting down and dirty. I’d know that look anywhere. Good for her. She deserved a little relief from all the fucking tension our group dealt with over the last few months.

The growing stress was already at max, especially with the few lingering stares Cash offered me after our little trip to L.A. I pretended I didn’t see them—we had enough to deal with—but the Dark Fae wasn’t as cowardly as I first thought. In plain view of the other two, he’d beam those pretty smiles and cat eyes at me, then he’d find outright ridiculous reasons to talk to me whenever he could.

For some odd reason, the pale-haired Karen Impersonator wanted to impress me. Oftentimes, giving us information of his own accord. We didn’t have to drag it out of him anymore. He’d come right over to me, ready to spill all of his secrets. I’d get cutesy emojis and pictures anywhere he went. No surprise, the man loved taking selfies and sending them to me, unbidden.

I’d never admit how often I smiled; how eagerly I opened them whenever my phone pinged. I couldn’t help it. They were alwaysso fucking funny, and it was addicting to get a rise out of the Dark Fae with emojis he couldn’t quite figure out.

“What does that mean, bird?! Why are you sending me an eggplant and a heart?”he’d rush-text back, thinking I was implying something sexy. I’d spend all day giggling until Cash got back, and then I’d drop the bomb and tell him it was an accident.

In fairness, I hadn’t expected Cash to be so useful, but he’d lived up to his informant title. He was a wealth of intel the minute he heard the names Fred the Fuck muttered. Granted, the other three were pretty knowledgeable about Three and Six—the next boyband members on our hit list—but Cash’s knowledge was next level.

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