Honoria Ravena (4 page)

***

I got dressed in spite of the protests of the nurses and my doctor. I was anxious to get out the hospital. Part of me wondered if Zarek could find me here, since he’d obviously been in my dreams. I couldn’t wait for him to just show up. There were too many innocent bystanders. And before I encountered him again, I had to have information, or I was bound to lose another fight.

I’d made it past the front desk when I realized I had no transportation. I sighed and turned around to go use the telephone to call my brother when the nurse came rushing up to me.

“You forgot these, dear.”

She handed me a sheet of paper and car keys. Her brow wrinkled with worry as she looked at me, but she said nothing as she walked off.

I smirked. Jason thought of everything. He had bought me a new car. The note said it was in the hospital parking lot. I found the car quickly and slid in. There was another note on the passenger’s seat.

Luckily our vampire hunting had made us a lot of money, because we tended to total a lot of equipment. Jason had actually driven his car off a bridge when a vampire had punched through his windshield. We’d also had to pay for a lot of weaponry over the years. I looked down at the note and skimmed it quickly.

Figured I’d get you a new car since yours was trashed. Small and fast, just like you like them. New clothes in the trunk. I just grabbed the hunting outfit laid out on the bed. Watch your ass and call if you need backup.

-Jason

Smiling, I glanced down at the prescription I’d been given before I crumpled it up and threw it in the backseat of my new car.

I tried not to think about why I didn’t need it. I should have craved anything that would ease the pain of the injuries I’d endured. Instead I felt damn near normal. My wounds were healing way too fast for a human.

If I weren’t terrified of Zarek, I would have marched back to him and demanded to know what he had done to me. I would have said he had changed me, but that process took days and was incredibly painful.

My cell phone went off, and I jumped. I hated the damned thing. It ensured that anyone could get in contact with me whenever they wanted. And these days they could be tracked. Unfortunately, they were necessary for my business.

I looked at the tiny front screen. Unknown number. Crap, it was probably a client. People who hired vampire hunters liked anonymity. I flipped the phone open, and a garbled voice came over the line.

“You didn’t finish the job.”

I rolled my eyes at the distorted voice. It was way too “spy movie” for me. It made me think my employer was unprofessional or an amateur.

However, he was paying good money, so I kept my trap shut. “I always get the job done. I’ve just had a minor setback.”

It was probably a lie. As a firm rule, I never skipped out on a job, but then again, I’d never lost round one. I might try again, but it would be with a bomb, from a nice safe distance.

“No, he owns you now. I’ll have both of you taken care of.”

Hello!
“You can find another person to take down Zarek, but if you come after me, I’ll find you and stomp your balls, asshole.”

I could only keep my mouth shut for so long, and I was already having a bad day. He’d just used up the last of my patience. But he hung up before I could tell him off. Or at least convince him not to try and kill my ass. Spec-fuckin’-tacular. On top of my vampire problem, I now had a possible assassin problem. If my week got much better, I was going to take a flying leap off a tall building.

I pulled out of the hospital parking lot and headed for Alaric’s house. I needed some information, fast.

***

“Great,” I mumbled. Jumping off a building was starting to sound like my best idea yet. I parked in Alaric’s yard. It was packed with cars.

“Dang, he should really think about putting in a parking lot,” I muttered to myself.

The music thumped from the house. Jeez, if it was that loud out here, it would burst my eardrums inside. I really didn’t want to deal with other vampires at the moment. Unfortunately, hunting outfits made me look like a billboard for the vampire version of fast food.

As I got out of the car, I was grateful for the scant clothing. It was sweltering and so humid, it was like breathing water instead of air. I immediately started to sweat, and my clothing attached itself to my body like a second skin. Gross.

I walked to Alaric’s door, and after a second’s hesitation, I knocked. A vampire wearing a light blue polo shirt and khaki cargo pants answered. I blinked and stepped through the door while I stared at him.

Alaric dressed in eighties punk, and he usually hung out with people who dressed similarly. This guy looked like the preppy boys I’d gone to high school with.

Someone seized my arm in his bruising grip. “Regan, what are you doing here?”

Before I could attack, I jumped and slapped my hand over my chest, glaring at Alaric. “Shit, where did you come from?”

He pulled me down the hall and shoved me into his study. He came in after me and shut the door.

“Regan, there’s having balls and then there’s being stupid. This was stupid. Why did you come here? There are some incredibly powerful vampires in there, and most of them know who you are.”

“And how would they know who I am?”

“News spreads fast. People know a vampire hunter attacked Zarek, and that he blood-bonded her. Even if they aren’t aware of who you are, you reek of him now. They’ll be able to spot you as a hunter, and they’ll return you to Zarek. He wants you. He’s looking for you. He might even show up tonight. And good God, Regan, I’ve got my own problems right now.” He raked his hands through his hair and sighed.

“Well, I needed information. What do you mean by blood-bonded? And what problems do you have?”

He pushed me into a chair and then sat across from me. “My youngest brother is in love with a vampire hunter.”

My jaw dropped. I couldn’t control it. Misha was definitely the sweetest of the brothers but… All the boys hated vampire hunters and tended to kill them on sight. They barely tolerated me.

I recovered myself. “Anyone I know?”

“Probably not. She’s a witch. That type of hunter tends to frown on the whole bounty-hunting thing. And she’s young. She’s a senior in high school. Her name is Casey McCormic.”

“Oh, I know her older sister. She’s a bounty hunter too. I wouldn’t hurt her if I were you. Kori will kill you. She loves her little sister.”

“Jairdan said he considered killing her. I told him not to. It would hurt Misha more than anyone else. He’s head over heels for the girl.”

He raked a hand through his hair. “When Misha found out what Jairdan wanted to do, he blew a gasket and tried to beat the crap out of him.”

I grimaced. Alaric was constantly keeping his younger brothers from killing each other. They loved one another, sure, but some days…

Alaric scrubbed his face with his hands. “I don’t know what I’m going to do. Misha has times of great maturity, but he is stuck in an eighteen-year-old’s hormonal body. I can’t keep him away from this girl.”

“Well, just be careful. I don’t think Casey will hesitate to kill him, and I know her sister will kill you if you hurt Casey. Now, you mentioned something about a blood-bond, and then you didn’t answer me when I asked about it, so answer please. What’s a blood-bond? And why don’t I know about it?”

He licked his lips and leaned forward. “Blood-bonds are mortals who have swapped blood with a vampire. It makes the mortal a slave to us. The exchange of blood will kill a witch, very slowly and very painfully. It takes about a week for one of them to die, and the whole time they’re writhing in pain and can’t possibly escape you. By the end they’re begging for death.”

“It’s not something the vampires advertise, particularly not to hunters. A witch could find us through our blood-bonds. There’s even a ritual that can kill a vampire if he sacrifices the blood-bond. Fortunately, there are few witches who will actually kill a human.”

He crossed his arms and leaned away from me. “And that’s why I don’t understand why Zarek won’t force you to him. The bond works over any distance.”

“You sound like you’ve done that to a witch,” I stated calmly, though I was anything but calm. The thought that Alaric, the man who had raised me, was capable of such cruelty was horrifying.

Alaric’s eyes grew distant, like he was thinking about the past. “Yes, I’ve done that to a witch. I didn’t relish it, but it had to be done.”

“When is torture ever needed?”

His gaze snapped to me. “You don’t know jack shit, little girl, so shut your mouth.”

I stared back at him. He rarely spoke to me like that.

I changed the subject. “Well, as long as I’m not being drawn to him I guess I’ll just avoid him.”

Alaric rolled his eyes. “If Zarek wants you, he won’t be ignored, pumpkin.”

Jairdan burst through the office doors and then stopped short. He crossed his arms over his chest and sneered at me. “Oh, you’re here. Good, that means Alaric doesn’t have to call you.”

Jairdan had always disliked the idea of Alaric adopting Jason and me. He’d despised us since we became vampire hunters.

Alaric sighed. It was a long-suffering sigh. He got so frustrated when he dealt with us. He rubbed his forehead. “What is it, Jairdan?”

“Jason has been kidnapped by…I’m pausing for dramatic effect. I really would like a drum roll.”

I stood so quickly my chair crashed to the ground as I gripped Jairdan’s shirt in my fists. “You’d better spill it, you piece of shit.”

“You’d better let go of me, little girl. I’m not above killing you. It would piss Alaric off, but he won’t kill me for it.”

Alaric stood. Power rolled off him in waves, making the hair on my neck jump to attention. “Enough, both of you. Regan, let him go. Say what you came to say, Jairdan, and get out.”

I released him slowly and took a step back. Jairdan continued to glare at me.

“Jairdan!” Alaric shouted when his brother remained silent.

“Oh, right. Jason’s been kidnapped by Zarek. He called and told Misha that he has him. He says Regan knows where to find him if she wants her brother back.”

I stepped around Jairdan and headed for the door. I couldn’t breathe. What would Zarek do to my brother? I wouldn’t put it past him to kill Jason just to spite me. My stomach turned over, and I had to fight the urge to lose my breakfast. I shouldn’t have let him leave the hospital without me.

“Regan, wait,” Alaric called after me.

I paused at the door and turned to face him. “Alaric, if Jason is in trouble, I have to save him. You of all people should understand that.” Alaric was incredibly loyal to his brothers. If they needed him, he would be there in a heartbeat.

“He’ll kill you, Regan.”

I rubbed the bridge of my nose and shook my head. Murdering me wasn’t the worst he could do in my opinion, and I was beginning to suspect it wasn’t even on his mind. Though, considering the injuries I’d dealt him, he could very well want me dead. “You think I don’t know that? I have to try. The last thing I want to do is face him again, but I haven’t got a choice.”

Alaric opened his mouth to protest, but Jairdan interrupted him. “Good luck, little girl.

I shot him a surprised frown. Wow, Jairdan hadn’t spoken a civil word to me in years. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you respected me a little more.”

“Gotta respect a woman who will march into hell and face the Devil to save her brother.”

I nodded at him, smiled at Alaric, and turned to leave. I chewed my bottom lip and hesitated.

As a rule, I kept people at arm’s length. It was easier on them if you happened to get killed. I’d also kept Alaric even further away from me. It wasn’t right for a vampire hunter to be associating with her prey. I also never said good-bye because I was arrogant enough to think no one would ever best me.

I spun and rushed back to Alaric. I threw my arms around him and held him tight. Today I wasn’t feeling so arrogant.

Chapter Four

I stood in front of The Devil’s Trap while the people rushed around me. Going in seemed like a bad idea, but I had to. My brother was waiting for me. The longer he was in Zarek’s hands, the more danger he was in. I had no doubt that the vampire would kill him just to hurt me. I raked a shaky hand through my hair.

Then there was Zarek himself. The vampire was trouble with a capital T. There was something about him that drew me in. Something I had difficulty denying and it had been there before he’d blood-bonded me. He was gorgeous, and his eyes sparkled with his ancient intelligence. He also had that sense of humor I found so irresistible in lovers. I almost couldn’t fight his hold over me in dreams; how was I supposed to fight him in reality?

“Are you going in?” A dark voice interrupted my thoughts. I spun around and glared. I recognized him as one of the shape-shifters lounging in the bar the night Zarek and I had fought.

I stepped away from him. “Yes, I plan on going in. Eventually.”

He stepped around me and gestured to the door. “Well, come on, sweetheart, your master is waiting for you.”

I snorted. “My master? No way in hell. And don’t call me ‘sweetheart,’ shape-shifter.”

He snarled at me, revealing fangs. “I’m not a shape-shifter, brat. I’m a werewolf. Do you know the difference?”

I took another step back. I knew the difference all right. Wereanimals were unpredictable and incredibly contagious. Once upon a time, a disease existed among shape-shifters that made them rabid. When they bit or scratched a human, most of the victims died but some survived to become wereanimals.

“Don’t worry, we aren’t like what the shape-shifters say we are,” he said quietly. The hurt in his expression made me want to apologize. “I’m in control of all my faculties. Most of what you hear is propaganda. I’m Laedan, by the way.” He stuck out his hand, and I hesitated a heartbeat before I shook it.

“I’m not that pleased to meet you, Laedan, considering whose side you’re on.”

He laughed and slid closer to me, placing his hands on my waist. “Well, maybe we can be good friends when your master resolves this.”

I arched an eyebrow.

He laughed and leaned in so his lips brushed below my ear when he talked. “Zarek and I have shared lovers before. You’re full of so much fire, I’m really hoping to get a taste of you.”

I opened my mouth to say something scathing. He took the opportunity to kiss me. The kiss was gentle and coaxing. His tongue tangled with mine lazily. I couldn’t help it; I responded.

When he drew back, I was dazed. Where was my control? One of my hands rested on the back of his neck. Yeah, he was definitely skilled.

“Won’t Zarek be pissed about you taking liberties with his ‘property?’”

“Nah. A kiss is nothing.”

He grinned down at me before sliding to my side. He threw an arm around my shoulders and urged me forward. “Let’s go visit your master, shall we?”

“Ugh, will you stop calling him that?”

“Sorry, but that’s what he is. You’re blood-bonded to him, sweetheart. He rules you. Actually, I find it odd that he even bothered to take that brother of yours when he could just call to you and you would have no choice but to come.”

He walked me through the club to sit at the bar. “I’ll be right back. I’m going to go find Zarek for you. He’s probably with your brother.” Laedan shook his head and sighed. “Boy, are you going to be pissed when you find out what Zarek has done.”

A shiver went down my spine. He turned and left before I could ask him what the hell he was talking about.

My gaze circled the bar. Everyone seemed to have their eyes on me. I shifted uncomfortably. Being the center of attention was not my thing. The very nature of my job required shadows and dark back alleys. But maybe I was just being paranoid and self-centered. Probably not.

There were, of course, several vampires strutting around. I also recognized some other patrons as either shape-shifters or wereanimals. A group of humans were shooting up in the corner.

Almost simultaneously, everyone’s eyes shifted to the spot behind me. I slid from the barstool and turned to face my current enemy. If Alaric was right and he had some kind of supernatural hold on me, I was screwed. It was bad enough that he had a hold on my libido.

Zarek was shirtless and shoeless again. Overcome by the urge to lick those chiseled abs, to kiss his perfect mouth, I wanted to throw down and do really dirty things to him despite the fact the whole bar was watching.

I’d taken a step toward him when I remembered Alaric’s warning. I looked away from him and tried to regain whatever power he’d wrenched from me, using my magic to shield my mind from his influence. When I was confident I had control of myself, I glanced up at him. Damn, he was beautiful, but I didn’t have the overwhelming urge to run my hands and tongue over his body anymore.

I crossed my arms over my chest and tried to pull off bravado. It could also be considered putting off the fight. “What’s with the whole not wearing a shirt or shoes thing? And could you be any more pale? Get a tan.”

He smirked, noticing the lame attempt at an insult. “I hate wearing shoes. I spent most of my human life without them. It’s the middle of the summer, so I don’t feel like wearing a shirt. And I haven’t been in the sun in a couple thousand years. Gives me a headache, not to mention the killer sunburn.”