Page 20 of Blood and Hexes

She hadn't thought of them as tyrants back then. Not truly. The Eirikrsons had felt like anecessity, because vampirekind had recognized no authority. Many took humans for pets, murdered without a thought as to the lives, the families they were destroying. They'd needed something to fear, something to keep them in line. Things had changed since. Things were good. Now that vampires and the rest of the paranormals were out of the shadows, there were authorities in place to ensure they stayed in line. The huntsmen were more numerous and had adequate resources. While still comparatively weak, humans weren't the simple prey they'd been before. They had weapons that could help even in the field. Hell, even a camera on a phone was a deterrent, as no vampire wanted to risk being seen crossing a line and hunted down by their own kind and the huntsmen. The Eirikrsons were a bygone relic from a world drenched in blood, and should have stayed buried.

She remembered the last time she'd seen the Eirikrsons.

After Alexius had lost it, hunting down whatever he could sink his teeth into, they were about to go find him and kill him. Diana had waited until her mother was napping to get out and run to Skyhall when she'd heard. She'd walked into the intimidating, dark great hall, to face the monsters her parents had told her about. "Be good after you turn, Diana, or the Eirikrsons will destroy you." Shivering like a leaf, she'd gone anyway.

"Well, if it isn't our little songbird," the great warrior lady who led the Eirikrsons had teased her at the entry hall. "Come in. Let's get you out of the cold."

She'd shaken her head. "I'm not here for pleasantries." Her voice had held more strength than she'd felt. "I'm here because of my brother. You can't kill him. You can't. Kill me instead."

Liz Eirikrson laughed. "Why would I do that? You're not a murderer. Yet."

"I am," she started. "I was from the moment I was born. And it's my fault Alexius turned out bad. I'll pay for it."

The woman had watched her with her bright, calculating blue eyes. "You're strong, child. And loving, too, which is rarer in your house. But all your love and strength can't save the boy. Only his can."

She'd been dismissed, sent down to her house with a blanket, escorted by guards who made sure she was safe.

But Alexius had beenbrought home in one piece—no thanks to her.

"Mikar," she said, right when they reached the Helsing ground.

She turned back to the man. "Mikar Ash."

He'd been one of guards trailing her that day. Only, in her mind, the strong, silent, deadly vampire had felt like a giant compared to her.

He smiled approvingly.

"You're an Eirikrson slayer."

Mikar chuckled. "Certainly not."

She frowned. "You were working for them back then, weren't you?"

"I suppose I was, for a time." He walked past her and dropped her bike in front of the house's door.

Diana noticed the noise inside. There were at least a couple dozen people in there—dancing, singing out of tune, and drinking, by the smell of it.

She focused on Mikar. She really wouldn't have taken him for a slayer. Generally, Diana could tell the difference between a turned vampire and a child of the seven houses, born into this life. She would have sworn he was the latter.

"Who do you work for now, then? Alexius?"

Her brother howled like it was the best joke he'd heard in years, before walking in the house. "I'll leave you two to it."

"I'm one of the De Villier slayers," Mikar told her. "Levi and I go way back. He doesn't get on my nerves."

Diana narrowed her eyes, trying to understand him. "And you're content serving someone else?" She didn't get it. "Men like you generally don't follow well."

His answering grin was downright panty melting. And dangerous."You think you know many men like me, little Helsing?"

She didn't, actually.

"Whatever. Thanks for carrying my bike." Her tone seemed to say you can go now. Naturally, he ignored the dismissal, and gallantly held the door of her own house open. "You realize that no amount of groveling is going to make me forgive you for threatening to bite me, right?"

"I don't grovel," he countered.

She tittered. "You could have fooled me."

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