H.U.M.A.N.S (The Veiled World Book 1) (14 page)

I took a long moment to figure out how I was going to spring it on him.

“Sort of the same way one would quickly treat a venomous snake bite.”

“I see why he volunteered then.” Cole was cynical, pursing his lips with brows furrowed in anger. “We saw the way he was looking at you that night. I didn’t like it then and I don’t like it now.”

I rolled my eyes and sighed. “That’s beside the point. We have no idea what’s been going on around here lately and he is a Hunter, Cole. He was a hunter before he was bitten by a Nocturn
a
—just like I was.”

With my last words, Cole’s pupils completely dilated, making his eyes appear almost full black. He was frozen, unmoving and silent for a really long time, making the connection of what I finally revealed to him and why I smelled like a Nocturna. To me, that part won’t be the hardest and most difficult to swallow.

—Wait until I tell him about my new diet.

Chapter 20

We
decided to take the conversation up to my apartment after that last bomb. Cole listened carefully when I revealed everything to him, especially the part where I had to reiterate that Gage was looking to see if there was a way to reverse it and how many of us may be out there. In fact, he was really becoming fascinated with the whole awakening of our sub-domina by Nocturna venom. Although it sounded good on the surface, I had no idea what the long term side effects may be or if there are any disadvantages, which was why I still needed

Gage.

Why couldn’t he be single or available? Though I was going to try and keep my distance, I knew it would only be a matter of time before I needed to…no, wanted to see him again.

I went on to inform my brother that Gage was behind the corpse we found, and that he’s been keeping the level of human casualties to a minimum as far as his hunting goes. However, if Clee and the other animators closed the Los Muertos gateway, then the source of food for me and him would be gone and then I’d have relocate outward, maybe even back to the North American States. I didn’t want to be selfish and put so many at risk and in danger by suggesting we wait to close it but I didn’t see any other way of being able to keep myself fed. I suppose that’s why Gage stocks up. Guess I’d better learn how to do the same soon.

“You had me at the whole killing Nocturna part, that’s cool, but feeding from them? No thanks. That’s nasty as hell.” He shivered in revulsion.

“Trust me, if I could survive without it I wouldn’t even touch it. I’m going to try as hard as I can to avoid drinking it altogether but I can’t control the need and the craving and I hate that. Anyway, if I see him again or if he shows up here then he’s an automatic member of the bar too. That means that he gets the same respect as anyone else and I want him to feel welcomed.”

Cole didn’t appear to be enthused about that.

“Then I suggest you inform everyone one else as soon as possible. I personally need to know more about this cat first. Until then, he can hang out here but trust that we’ll all be watching him closely.”

“Fine.” I groaned and got up from the couch.

I was relieved that Cole had accepted this as well as allowing Gage to become a member, not that I didn’t think he would.

The only thing that I didn’t want him to know was the threat of being hunted down by the hardcore members of the Ascendants. Even if I told him that I would be alright as long as they had no idea what I really was, then it wouldn’t matter.

“I’m not sure how everyone else may take the news.”

“What? You mean you haven’t even told Isis or Aqua man yet?”

I shook my head no, flashing him a wry glance.

He laughed heartily, humoring himself.

“As long as he doesn’t show up hanging and swinging like Marquez did then I won’t have a problem.” Cole warned.

I chuckled lightly reminiscing over those good times.

“I want to know more about what’s going on with you too, what this will mean, and if it may be worth it.”

“What do you mean worth it?” I looked at him curiously now.

“Meaning, if this is the direction we as hunters should take in order to prolong and protect ourselves.”

Now I understood what he was getting at. I shook my head.

“I don’t think this is the answer, Cole. Everything has a consequence.” As much as that scared me to think about, I had to admit it even though I had no clue what those consequences might involve.

“Yeah and sometimes the pros can outweigh the cons in the greater scheme of things. I don’t like the thought of you having to deal with this by yourself.”

“I’m not…at least, I won’t be with Gage around.”

“Uh-huh. And what makes you so sure he’ll stick around?”

I didn’t have an answer for that. More than likely, he wouldn’t especially since I turned him down sexually. That much I did know.

Cole sighed heavily and stepped closer to me. “Anyway, when he does show up, I want to talk to him one on one about it. I want to know, no…we all as hunters need to know everything about this. And for future reference, you know better. There’s nothing that you can tell me that will make me love or accept you any less. I just want to make sure that you’re careful and you stay safe. We’re the last ones left from our class. Regardless of your new found strength and appetite, things could get even more dangerous for you now.”

He had no idea how close he’d come with that statement.

Cole hugged me this time. First, it was a kiss on the forehead the other day and now it was a hug? He was going to make me cry.

I nodded.

“Same thing goes for you too.” I mumbled with my face buried in his chest.

He pulled back, looking down at me as a slow grin pulled at either side of his mouth. “Agreed. She’s gonna kick my ass for telling you first but Clee and I just found out that you’re going to be an aunt.”

An Aunt! I was thrilled and a wee bit jealous.

Even at twenty four, I felt like my biological clock was ticking. Most of the few female hunters that there were usually had their first children by the age of sixteen in our world. It wasn’t super important to me but it was definitely a goal at some point. Oh well, being an Aunt was just as good.

Marq was already at the bar by the time we headed back downstairs and beside him was a girl I’ve never seen at the bar before. Thank God they were both wearing clothes.

The morning crowd, along with their children, were filtering in for the magic show.

Erian was waving me over to his cluttered table, which was covered with a few open books and the remnants of his breakfast.

Erian wasn’t particularly the kind of guy I pictured Isis with, given her personality. They were definitely opposites but he treated her like a princess and that was the most important thing. He was the quiet bookworm on the outside but he was an extremely powerful Mage that you did not want to mess with in any way underneath. You’d never know it simply by looking at him though and that was his best defense.

“What’s up?” I asked, pulling out a chair and sitting down across from him.

Marq glanced over at me expectantly but I held up a finger up to signal that I’d be right over.

That girl was looking at me too. She was young and very pretty with a mass of golden, shiny tresses curling down her back. “Nothing new under the sun as they say, with the exception of all the buzz going around about you guys’ encounter in the last few days.” He said making sure not to mention the word Nocturna out loud.

“Yeah, I think we’ve got it under control so far. Isis said you wanted to talk to me?”

“I do. I was a little puzzled as to why the potion that I gave you didn’t seem to be taking effect, so I did some research on any potential reasons.” He began as he thumbed through one of his binders filled with his own notes.

“Actually, it’s healed completely already.”

He looked up at me and raised both brows in surprise. “It did? When?”

“Yesterday but it wasn’t because of the potion.”

He appeared confused. “No? So, natural healing ability, I see. I read up on that and the different types of Nocturna venom.” He pointed to one of the open books with lines of what looked like rune coding to me.

“Different types of Nocturna venom?”

“Yeah. There’s several actually. I think I just didn’t get the right one but I suppose that’s a good thing then if it’s already healed. There may be some side effects that could show up later though. I wanted to see if you wouldn’t mind giving me a blood sample so I could make sure none of them have or will affect  you.”

Blood sample? Wait, maybe the Mages could work with Gage to try and come up with some sort of a reversal.

“Side effects? Like what?” I wanted to know if he was going to say what I already knew to be true.

He shrugged a shoulder. “I’m not sure. I’ll know when I look. Would you be willing?”

I thought about it for a moment. “Yeah, if you think it will help but I do have to tell you something. In fact, I have to tell all of you something but I’ll wait until tonight after the kids have left… and maybe after a few rounds of drinks too.” I joked.

He looked at me quizzically. “Oh, okay. Well, I’ll stick around for a little bit but I’ll be back later on tonight to get the sample.”
“Ok, cool. Thanks for all your help, Erian.” I smiled, getting up and heading over to the bar to help Riza.

“Good Morning.” I smiled at Marq and the mystery girl.

She smiled back at me, sipping on the orange juice spritzer sitting in front of her. She appeared to be close to my age and if I looked at these two from a strangers’ point of view, I’d say that they made a very good-looking couple.

“Morning.” Marq’s greeting sounded a little flat and he seemed upset.

Marq was always in a happy-go-lucky, flirty playboy mood and he literally lit up the room with his charm, looks, and personality alone.

“You didn’t want anything?” I asked, seeing that he had no drink in front of him.

He shook his head no.

“Are you two here together?” I had to ask.

The girl perked up and answered before Marq spoke.

“Yes and no.” She gestured with slender, well-manicured hands. “My name is Anya, and I’m…

Marq cut his eyes to her and rudely cut her off. “Just a minute.”

“Are you busy tonight? I thought maybe we could head into town and get some dinner and a show.”

I was a bit thrown. “Tonight?”

“Yes, tonight.” He asked as if he were expecting me to say no.
  “Oh. I can’t.”

I was going to Fin’s tonight.

His lips were pressed into a tight line and then he sighed and shook his head. “So when can you pencil me in?”

I know he wasn’t trying to get an attitude with me.

“Uh, I’ll just call you when I get back.”

The girl aggressively re-entered the conversation, much to Marq’s annoyance. “As I said, I’m Anya. We haven’t met before but Marquez has told me a lot about you, Kai. I know you two have been in a relationship for a while, so I came with him today to meet you and to let you know that even though I am pregnant with his child, there is nothing else between us that you should feel worried or threatened by. This is simply an arrangement and custom of our people because Marquez happens to be a very virile and eligible bachelor, nothing more.”

Awkward.

I don’t think I’ve ever felt more uncomfortable in any other situation than I did right now.

Was that why he brought her here?

I shifted my gaze to Marq who was scowling at her though she was smiling at me, nonplussed by his expression.

Then he turned to me. “Can I talk to you upstairs?”

I was momentarily still speechless. “Now?”

“Yes, now. I promise that I won’t take up too much of your valuable time.”

What the hell was his problem? I licked my lips and reluctantly waved Riza over to cover a little longer for me.

I tried to mentally prepare myself for this conversation once Marq closed the door behind him.

“Look, Marq, I know it seems like I’ve been avoiding you lately but I promise you, I’m not doing it on purpose.” I held my hands up.

“No? Then tell me what’s going on? You said there wasn’t another guy but Noemi said you didn’t get back until early this morning.”

“First of all, it’s no one’s business where I go, when I get back, or who I’m with but for your piece of mind, there is no other guy. Why are we even having this conversation? Is that why you brought her here with you? You thought maybe the fact that you were going to be a father was making me avoid you?”

“Is it?” he asked, hands on his hips.

Yes, partly and the first part of what I said wasn’t necessarily true.

Even though there was nothing between me and Gage past mutual physical attraction, I didn’t want to completely rule him out.

I exhaled uncomfortably.

“Not really. There’s some things going on with me right now that I can’t explain to you just yet. I’m still trying to figure them out.”

His face softened and he moved over to me, pulling me in for a hug.

“Well that would explain why you look and smell slightly different to me. Is it a hunter thing?” He asked.

Was it that distinct? Well, as long as it wasn’t bad or offensive, it was going to be something that I’d have to learn to live with for now.

“Sort of.”

“Well, I’m here and I care, Kai. You can talk to me.”

“No, I really can’t. Not about this.” I shook my head and laughed a bit at the reality of how Marq would react if I just bared my fangs right now and pretended to want to bite him.

“I know in the beginning we both agreed to no attachments. But I’m sorry, I can’t keep it to myself anymore and I think you already know it too.”