Page 43 of Prey

Tessa’s head lowered and she hugged her chest tighter. The cleavage drew me in, but I tried like hell to ignore the way my body reacted to hers. Now wasn’t the time.

“Actually, I did. I spoke with him.”

“What?” I leaned down to be able to see her face, but Tessa lifted, looking at me.

“I was stupid. I saw him and I barely remember even chasing after him. I don’t know what I was thinking. Well, I wasn’t, I was drunk. He’s the one who forbade me to go back.”

My mouth opened, only to shut. Then it opened again. “He could have killed you! Tessa, oh my God, what in the hell is the matter with you? Do you want to die, is that it? Do you have some sort of death wish that I’m not aware of? What…” My hands stood, hovering in the air, looking just as lost as I felt. It didn’t make sense why she’d be so stupid. Didn’t having her throat nearly ripped out count for anything?

Tessa kicked off the stilettos she wore and dropped a few inches in height. “You don’t understand, Hunter. To be there…I felt…” Her head went back down. “I feel like I belonged. Like it’s the first time in my life I actually fit in somewhere.”

I rubbed against my short hair, trying to understand. “It has to be him. He has to be using some sort of power or magic to lure you there.”

“No, he’s not,” she said, angrily. “He doesn’t want anything to do with me. I do believe it might be his blood in me, though. It’s made me part of their world. I think I’m meant to be there.” She glanced up, frowning. “I didn’t even want to come home, Hunter.” My silence had her taking a few steps toward the room. “I’m going to take a shower and climb into bed. I just want to lie down.”

This couldn’t be what things were coming to. I was losing my best friend to not only Marko, but…to them. Would she leave the world above for the one below? Alienate all humans until they turned her into a monster, too? Misery never held such a crippling sensation than when it was paired with betrayal. I hated him for choosing her. For not only turning Tessa away from me, but from everyone.

I didn’t serve my country for twelve years to come home and have my dreams destroyed by a blood sucking monster. Marko Delacroix would pay. They all would.

“Tessa, wait.” I pushed into her room, making her jump as she tried to cover herself. The black, lace, sexy panties were see-through and went down in a V, displaying the firmness of her stomach and accentuating the curve of her hips. The strapless bra pushed her generous breasts together and I mourned for something I would never know. Tessa had been so young when we’d lost our virginity to each other. There wasn’t much to appreciate then, but now...fuck, I’d worship her body like it was the most prized possession in this world. And in mine, it was.

“Hunter.” Her eyebrows lifted while she waited for me to leave. My head shook and I surged forward, jerking her into my body and pressing my lips against hers. I held, waiting. As my hand slid in her hair, I felt her pull back. Our eyes searched each other’s and I knew. It sliced like a blade right through my heart. Tessa wasn’t mine anymore. She’d never be again. It wasn’t like I could remove Marko’s blood from her body. She’d never be the old Tessa again. Never love me like I loved her.

My hand dropped from the dark waves and I pressed my lips together, still feeling the tingling from the kiss she never returned.

“I’m moving out. I won’t witness your self-destruction. You’re going to die and I will never be able to help you when you won’t even help yourself.”

Bile burned the back of my throat. I didn’t want to move out. Couldn’t imagine leaving her defenseless to die at the fangs of that vampire.

“I think it would be best,” she whispered.

Even as she said it, I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. My statement had been meant to gauge her reaction on where she stood, and it was all too clear. My Tessa was already gone. She had died the day I’d left her to visit a friend. The night Marko somehow conned his way inside of her home. Tessa was dead.

A fog clouded my mind and I turned, slowly walking from her room. The constant heaviness in my chest drifted to my stomach and entered each of my limbs. This was my fault. I’d felt the evil in him that night he’d been following her. Somehow, I knew, yet still, I had left.

Thoughts blurred while I pushed my door open and looked around the space she’d made up just for me. I could still see her that first night, laughing and so excited at my arrival. I’d stood a chance then. She was still my Tessa in those moments.

Grief had tears burning my eyes. I reached for the dark green bag I’d come with, so full of hope for my future. Didn’t I fucking deserve it for what I’d been through? What I fucking had to do and what I saw? I pulled the top open, tossing it on the bed, now drowning in my sorrow. The bathroom door shut and I listened to the shower turn on as I pulled my clothes from the drawers.

The sound of faint singing had my head bowing and the tears dropping to the floor. What happened to New York? To my dreams of taking Tessa to the smoky room of a lounge and listening to the singers, knowing they couldn’t hold a candle to the woman who’d be at my side. I wanted to see her stand on the stage. To blow everyone away with her beautiful voice. We could have had such an amazing time. Fuck, an amazing life. I wanted to show her so much. All I wanted was for us to happy. God dammit!

Those vampires were going to pay. Every single one of them. I’d figure out a way to end their lives if it was the last thing I ever did. Their blood was going to puddle in the streets. I’d soak the city of Austin in my enemies by the time I was finished. There wouldn’t be a vampire alive who didn’t know who I was. They’d fear me…because they’d be next.

Chapter 19

Tessa

Singing had always been my escape. My make-everything-disappear-and-leave-me-in-this-moment-forever route. Dismissing Hunter so coldly had broken my heart. God, I loved him. And that was the true kind. It was pure, focused solely on my feelings for everything that made him the person he was. Knowing he was leaving so devastated killed me. All I wanted to do was rush out, apologize, and beg him to stay. Regardless of what he believed or thought, I was terrified of what was happening to me. That night Marko had almost killed me had been the scariest moment of my life. I felt torn on what I needed to do and what I felt I should. I was so scared to face this alone. Hunter had always been there for me when I needed it the most, but I couldn’t allow that anymore. The underground called to me as if it were my home. The one I’d always longed for but could never find. I’d always struggled with finding my place in the world. To feel like you never fit in was the worst. But there, even afraid amongst the people surrounding me, the calling was all too clear. To keep Hunter as I was battling the realization was wrong.

And then there was Marko. I longed for him. Loved him. And didn’t. Beneath it all, my mind still held onto what and who he truly was. I’d never be able to forget or forgive his actions, but I couldn’t necessarily blame him either, seeing as it was in his nature. Nothing was right. Not the facts. Not the emotions. And definitely not my behavior.

A sob left me and I put my hand over my mouth, letting myself sink to the floor of the shower. My mind was literally going to drive me crazy. Everything congealed into the biggest mindfuck I could think of. What the hell was I going to do? Marie wanted me to come back to her place tonight for more stories. She used Marko as my crutch and I let her. To learn more about him was something I felt I needed to do. But the other half of me wondered why I was even going to bother. He’d kill me. I could feel it in my soul. I wouldn’t be here much longer. So what was I doing wanting to go back to the underground? I should be spending time with Hunter and my family. Except¸ my family was overseas right now and Hunter was exactly where I needed if I wanted him to survive. He’d fight for me for all the wrong reasons and I couldn’t allow that. I knew he wanted a future for the two of us, but I couldn’t give it to him. My heart wasn’t my own anymore. Besides, he would be safer away from me. I didn’t want him to die, too, and he would if he stayed under my roof. Marko might have said he wouldn’t kill him before, but that didn’t apply anymore. Hunter was fair game and I couldn’t be responsible knowing I’d been the death of my best friend.

Another sob left me as I let the water pour down over my back. Minutes went by, then what felt like hours. The water was like ice and I numbly reached over, turning it off. Still, I sat, shaking from the cold. To say I felt alone was an understatement. I was alone now. So what did I do?

I stood, pulling back the curtain and grabbing a towel. The moment I opened the door, I knew Hunter was gone. An eerie silence rested throughout the house and as I peeked through his open door, all the drawers were still open and empty. My heart instantly broke. I wiped away the new tears and forced myself to face this by myself. It was for the best. I’d never needed anyone. I shouldn’t start now. Hunter would be safe. That was the most important thing.

Thoughts began to invade as I headed to my room. My bed stood ahead of me and I pulled back the covers, not even bothering to get dressed. I climbed in, removing the towel and snuggling in as I stared toward the still open curtains. It didn’t take long for heaviness to pull my eyes closed. Marko was already waiting for me, but not like I had dreamed. His fangs extended and he smiled evilly as he began to circle around. A groan came from my mouth as I tossed and turned, trying to make him go away so I could fall asleep.

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