Bite Deep (27 page)

* * *

When Lydia rushed the Hunter, Jericho's hand darted behind his back for his 9mm. The six-shooter popped once before Lydia was on Coulter, howling like a wild animal, fists smashing into him. Before Jericho could intervene, the Hunter managed to spin Lydia around, jacking one arm behind her in a painful lock. She bucked and screamed against the hold, managing to knock the six-shooter from his grip. Coulter swore and Jericho sensed his chance, shooting forward. A small
snik
sounded, as Coulter pulled a small push-dagger from his belt. He pressed it against Lydia's throat and she stilled, fury twisting her face.

Jericho's beast roared, and a surge of primal power washed through him as his beast pulled at him like a riptide, demanding to be released.

‘Stay where you are, mutt,' Coulter said, peering out from behind Lydia.

‘Kill him, Jericho,' Lydia hissed.

He ignored her, eyes only on Coulter. ‘She's your kin, you're not going to hurt her.' His shoulders bunched, ready to spring forward, then he stilled when a trickle of blood wove down Lydia's throat and she stiffened in pain. Jericho tried to relax and not look like he was ready to slam into Coulter with everything he had.

‘You overestimate my sense of family loyalty, mutt. After all, she's been bitten.' Coulter frowned at him. ‘I admit, I never thought I'd live to see the day Breed wanted to save Hunter blood from being spilt.'

‘She's not one of you,' Jericho said. ‘She's not part of this fight. Please. Release her.'

A part of Jericho was horrified to hear the desperation in his voice, but he knew he couldn't allow her to be hurt. He had delivered death blows before to those deserving, but to have her blood on his hands would be more than he could take. Coulter shuffled towards the door with Lydia and Jericho saw his knife hand clench. Thinking he was about to draw the knife across her throat, Jericho leapt forward, moving nightmare slow.

Praying his aim was true, he fired a single shot, aiming just beyond Lydia's left ear. Coulter shouted and stumbled back and as he did, the blade slid across Lydia's tender skin.

Not registering the injury at first, she turned and slammed her palm of her hand against Coulter's nose and the Hunter's head snapped back. Then Jericho launched himself forward as Lydia stumbled aside, clutching at her bleeding neck with both hands.

Jericho slammed into Coulter and both men went down. A searing pain in his side blasted through him, and a glance down showed Coulter's dagger thrust into his side. He grabbed the Hunter's wrist, stopping him before he could push the small blade in further. His other hand squeezed Coulter's neck, knowing he couldn't risk allowing his beast to slip out to fight, even though the bloodlust beat against his brain in a bright explosion of firework.

‘
Move
.'

A shout came from the front door and Jericho thrust forward, head-butting Coulter in the face. The blade slipped free and Jericho threw himself to the side. Rolling to his feet, he spied the Morgan in the doorway with a crossbow. A click, and the bolt split the air, slamming into Coulter's stomach. The Hunter doubled over with a scream.

Morgan raised the crossbow, resting it against one hip. ‘Been itching to do that since he arrived.'

Jericho staggered to his feet, the pain in his side making him slow. He stumbled towards Lydia, seeing her slumped against the wall. Her hands sat around her throat, slick with blood, and the beast in him retreated with a soft whine, knowing the human side of him had the best chance of saving her.

‘Here.' Morgan stooped to grab a shirt from the duffel bag on the ground and threw it to him.

Jericho moved her hands and pressed the shirt hard against her neck. Lydia whimpered, eyelids fluttering.

‘It's okay, baby,' he said. ‘I won't hurt you.' He pulled his cell and punched in Turk's number.

‘Bulldog?' The old man answered on the second ring, annoyed. ‘Someone said you left the bar with the cop. You aren't in jail again, are you?'

‘I need clean up at the Red Roof Inn, and one Hunter in need of new accommodation.'

‘You're kidding. We checked that place.'

‘Not well enough, I guess.'

‘How dead is the Hunter?'

‘Not dead yet. Arrow in the gut.'

Turk grunted. ‘Inventive.'

He disconnected, not willing to explain about Lydia, reluctant to share how he'd risked her life by agreeing to come here. Bending, he scooped her up in his arms, ignoring Coulter as he lay moaning on the ground, hands around the bolt in his stomach.

Morgan adjusted the crossbow on her hip. ‘Guess I'll just hold tight until your boys get here, shall I?'

Jericho paused. ‘Who are you?'

‘Just an old witch with a grudge,' she replied.

‘You're a witch?'

‘Last time I checked. Non-practicing, mind you.'

‘I thought any surviving witches left Camden years ago,' Jericho said, shocked a witch had been living in his town without him knowing.

‘I'm retired.' She shrugged. ‘Having your coven murdered tends to take the sparkle out of life.'

Jericho glanced back at Coulter. ‘How did you know he was a Hunter?'

‘Because he looked like an asshole. I might be a drunk, but I'm not an idiot.' She nodded at Lydia's still form. ‘Get her to the medical centre.'

Jericho's eyes dropped to Lydia's pale face. ‘There's a chance she's infected.'

Morgan's lips thinned and a hard glint appeared in her eyes. ‘I see. Well, I won't ask how, that's your business. You best get her to Crystal Waters. I heard there's a real nice set-up there. After all, from what I hear, you don't know who you can trust in this town.'

Chapter 26

Karla put her hands on her hips, glaring out the open kitchen window, thinking hard. So, Jericho had a girlfriend. How lovely. The woman had reeked of him when she'd walked through the door and desire had poured off Jericho in waves when he'd seen her. When Karla had returned to Crystal Waters, a few phone calls had revealed the woman was the new constable in town, Lydia Gault.

‘Want a coffee?'

She turned to see Renee behind her, dressed in her white technician's coat. Her hair was pulled back and multiple pens were stuck in the bun at the nape of her neck.

‘No, thanks,' Karla answered shortly.

‘Are you okay?' Renee walked over to the coffee machine, opened a cupboard above her head and pulled out a mug. ‘You look upset.'

‘I'll be okay.' Karla tried to smile though her disappointment. She'd lost Jericho, lost him to a cop, of all things. Not even another Breed. The insult was staggering.

‘I've been working on tweaking the Lycaease strength for Jericho.' Renee poured herself some coffee. ‘But I'm just having trouble keeping it stable after a certain point. I might need some new equipment.'

Karla didn't reply. Right now, she didn't feel like helping Jericho. Right now, she felt like growing some claws and ripping his throat out.

‘Karla?' Renee said her name softly. Karla took a deep breath, not wanting to snap at the woman. Though she was just a mutt, Karla knew she was lucky to have the talented geneticist as a resident at Crystal Waters.

‘Karla?' Renee gently touched her arm. ‘What's wrong?'

‘Nothing.' Karla gave her a calm smile. ‘Just lost in thought.'

A noise caught the attention of both women, interrupting them. It sounded like a car taking the gravel driveway way too fast. Karla's mobile chirped and she answered it quickly.

‘Ben Jericho is coming.' The sentry's voice was tight. ‘He's driving real fast and he's got blood on him.'

She ended the call and hurried for the front door. Had he found Anna's killer and taken revenge? Her earlier anger at him dissolved into a frantic worry. If he was coming here, that meant he was hurt and hurt bad.

‘What's wrong?' Renee asked. Karla glanced at her, smelling a sudden rush of fear from her.

‘Jericho's here,' Karla said briskly, not showing the alarm she felt. ‘I think he's hurt. Prep the treatment room, I'll bring him down.'

Renee dropped her mug in the sink and fled, shoes pattering down the hallway that led to the residential quarters. Karla took a deep breath to steady herself, then hurried outside.

In the driveway, a ute she didn't recognise braked sharp, then Jericho got out fast enough that Karla felt relief. If he was moving that freely, then he wasn't hurt bad, though she noted bloodstains on his clothes. She hurried over to help, her feet skidding to a stop when he pulled a bloodied woman out of the back. Karla almost hissed when she recognised the cop.

‘What happened?' she demanded, trying to understand why Jericho would bring a human here. ‘Why did you bring her?'

‘For a fucking cup of tea, Karla. Why do you think?' he growled. The cop's head lolled on her shoulders, a blood-soaked cloth wound tight around her neck. ‘She needs help. Now.'

He strode by and Karla swore, hurrying to catch up. She followed him inside and towards the elevator doors that led down to the kitchen. Lifting a foot, Jericho kicked the button, then turned to her, breathing heavy.

‘You should have taken her to the hospital,' Karla said in a cool voice. ‘This facility isn't for her. It is for Breed only.'

‘I had to come here.' His voice was strained. ‘She's had her throat cut.'

‘So?' Karla demanded.

‘She was bitten recently.' His eyes dropped, refusing to meet hers. ‘I need treatment for the cut and then I need to check if she was infected.'

Karla's eyebrows snapped together. ‘If she was bitten by a reverted Breed, then she's as good as dead.'

He shook his head. ‘It's more complicated than that.'

The doors slid open with a hushing sound and Karla followed him inside the lift, hitting the button for the underground treatment facility. Who had attacked her and when? And what was complicated about that? Jericho knew the rules.

‘Tell me who bit her.' She rubbed her arms, suddenly not sure she wanted to know.

‘I don't have time for this,' Jericho said, gaze dropping to the cop's blood-splattered face.

Karla turned to face the elevator doors as they slid open, revealing Renee waiting with a gurney by the door. Jericho laid the cop down, asking Renee to test her for the virus. Karla listened with growing anger. She had offered Jericho the chance to be a part of a powerful partnership and he had slapped the offer aside, chosen the human cop over her, a full-blood.

Renee's voice interrupted her thoughts. ‘Karla, why don't you take Jericho upstairs? I'll call when I have something to report.'

She gave a curt nod and turned, punching the lift button harder than necessary. A glance back showed Jericho staring blankly at the heart monitor, erratically beeping with Lydia's heartbeat. She turned back to the lift doors and punched the elevator button again. If the bitch somehow survived the bite, it wouldn't be for long. She would see to that personally.

* * *

Jericho sat at the kitchen table, staring into his cup of coffee, feeling Karla's eyes on him. He knew he had risked a lot by coming here. But he hoped that she would see he had no option. After what Coulter had told him about Hunter genetics, he had to know for sure if Lydia was safe. When he looked up, he saw her pull a phone from her pocket and begin to dial.

‘What are you doing?' He surged to his feet, nearly pushing his chair over.

‘I'm calling Vaughn. He needs to know what's happening.'

‘Put it down.' He tried to keep the warning from his voice, tried to make it sound like a simple request.

Karla paused, then did as she was asked, placing her phone down on the table. ‘Then you need to work with me. Tell me who bit her.'

He backed up and leaned on the kitchen bench, needing space. He didn't want to confess, but knew only the truth would serve him now. ‘I did.'

Karla stilled. ‘Why?'

‘It was a terrible accident,' he told her. ‘But I wasn't fully reverted, so there's a chance she's okay.'

‘When did it happen?'

‘She passed the danger period,' Jericho said, then almost bit his tongue, wishing he'd had the presence of mind to lie. Trying to explain why the virus hadn't manifested itself yet would lead the conversation into a direction he knew he didn't want to go. He frantically sorted through the information he could pass over to Karla and what he should keep to himself. After all, he still needed a good working relationship with her, if only for the sake of the men under his care.

‘The virus should have manifested itself by now,' Karla said. ‘You know that. What else aren't you telling me?'

Jericho chose his words with care. ‘Her father was a Hunter, and I found out her genetics could cause a delayed reaction to the virus. That it might be dormant for a while.'

‘She's related to a Breed Hunter?' Lydia's eyes were accusing and he was glad at that point he hadn't told her everything.

‘She was never approached by the Association, or trained as a Hunter,' he went on, trying to make her understand. ‘She's not our enemy, Karla.'

Karla tapped a manicured fingernail on the table, before picking up her phone. ‘I'm sorry, Jericho, but you're wrong on this. Vaughn needs to know about her being here. This whole situation is a serious security breach.'

Jericho's gut tightened. ‘I told you. She's not trained in their ways. She was never recruited. You have to trust me.'

‘No, I don't have to trust you at all. I'm responsible for the safety of the women here. You, of all people, should understand the risks associated with bringing her here.'

‘Stop.' Jericho lunged across the room, snatching the phone from her hand. He threw it on the ground and smashed a heavy boot against it, fragments of plastic flying about the kitchen floor.