Hunter Reborn (13 page)

“T
hink Juhani and Narek know we own this property?” Liam murmured as they drove down the long, winding dirt road to their meet-up place.

Connor shrugged. He'd had his brother buying up property all over the state in the past couple of weeks. None of it was under the pack name, but that didn't mean members of the Brethren couldn't figure out who the owner was if they did enough digging. “I'd say there's a fifty-fifty chance they know.” He didn't give a shit if they did. Especially not after what had just happened at the ranch.

“I don't like this,” Jayce muttered from the backseat where he sat next to his mate.

Connor glanced in the rearview mirror to see Kat roll her eyes. “You don't like it because I'm here.”

Jayce grunted and linked his fingers through hers, holding her hand possessively.

As they drew closer to the dilapidated barn he
planned to demolish in the next couple of weeks, they all tensed. There were two SUVs already there. Connor glanced around the expansive property. The barn sat in the middle of the land with nothing but snow-covered grassy plain surrounding it for about eight acres. It would make an ambush damn near impossible. Unless the vamps had a sniper waiting somewhere. Good thing Connor had that possibility covered.

“West-side tree line, about twenty yards left from that gnarled-looking oak,” Liam murmured. “Saw a flash. Could be nothing.”

Connor tapped his earpiece to turn the volume up and repeated to Erin what Liam had said. Once she gave him an affirmative she went silent. They'd dropped Erin and Noah off at the main road and the two had trekked onto the property on foot. If these vamps thought to attack with snipers, they were going to get very dead.

“We knew they wouldn't come alone,” Connor said in a small attempt to ease the tension he felt building in the vehicle.

But Kat was a witness to the killing. Though he hadn't planned to bring her originally, after the shit that went down at the ranch, he wanted her to give her firsthand account to the two Brethren members. They'd be able to sense if she was lying. Unfortunately her presence made Jayce slightly unpredictable. The enforcer might live at the ranch, but Connor wasn't his Alpha and the male didn't take orders from anyone. Except Kat. If it remotely seemed as if she was in danger, Connor was worried Jayce would kill first and ask
questions later. And that would cause a war. Killing powerful vamps was one thing. Killing a Brethren member . . . hell no.

As they neared the other SUVs, Erin's voice streamed through the earpiece. “Two vamps down, both had sniper rifles. We've got them cuffed. They're not talking, but they're also not being aggressive. They didn't fight back once I identified myself.”

The lack of aggression was a good sign. “One of you, secure the rest of the perimeter.”

“Noah's already on it.”

“We're going in. Keep your volume on.” If anything happened, he needed her to know immediately. She could communicate with her mate telepathically and the two of them could either back them up or get the hell out of here if the situation demanded it. But Connor already knew neither Erin nor Noah would ever bail.

“Will do.”

Connor parked and the two SUVs carrying half a dozen of his warriors parked next to him. After scanning the area again, he and his group exited the vehicle. He motioned for everyone else to stay put, including the group of warriors holding the three vamps from the ranch. They'd bring them out when necessary. Only he, Liam, Kat, and Jayce would attend the meeting.

Moving with stealth, they crossed the thirty yards to the entrance in seconds, barely making a sound over the snow-covered ground.

He and Liam went in first, with Jayce and Kat behind them. Upon entering they found Juhani, the tall
blond Finnish vamp lounging on a bale of hay with his hands behind his head as he leaned against one of the rickety-looking stable doors. He wore faded jeans, black boots, a black T-shirt, and a green bomber jacket that had seen better days. Narek on the other hand, stood next to him, arms crossed over his chest and a frown on his face. The man wore a three-piece suit complete with vest and pocket watch and looked as if he'd stepped off the cover of a magazine.

Seriously?
Liam asked telepathically.

Connor's lips twitched but he didn't respond or look at his brother because he was afraid he'd laugh if he did.

“Is there a reason you insisted we meet in this hovel? And is there a reason you arrived with . . . backup?” Narek sneered in a cultured European accent as he flicked a disdainful glance Jayce's way.

Behind him Jayce growled so low in his throat Connor could barely hear it. All humor evaporated and he let his wolf show in his eyes. “Is there a reason three vampires breached my ranch an hour ago in an attempt to take Natalia?”

At the question Juhani straightened, unfolding his long legs and moving to stand next to Narek. “What? Who?”

“They're all daywalkers and supposedly of Emil's line.”

Juhani's jaw tightened as he shot an angry look at Narek. The two stared at each other, their eyes glowing in an electric blue Connor had seen only in certain bloodborns. Most vamps' eyes glowed amber. He also
knew some vamps could communicate telepathically and had no doubt that's what they were doing.

A few moments later they both turned back to the four of them, but all their focus was on Connor. “Where are they?”

“Here.”

“We did not authorize anyone to infiltrate your ranch. We request that you let us speak to them, here, in full view of you, but you may do with them as you wish afterward. I want to know if they're working alone.”

Relief that they hadn't been behind this surged through him as he nodded. “We'll bring them out after we're done here. How many snipers do you have in the woods?”

At the question Juhani grinned, the action making the ancient male look almost boyish. “Just two. And I'm guessing your people have disabled them because we can't reach them.” He tapped his ear, indicating his own earpiece.

Connor found that interesting. Maybe they could communicate telepathically only with certain vamps. Maybe it was a power-level thing or a distance thing. Later he'd have to ask Aiden if he knew. Connor didn't respond to Juhani's statement because there was no need. “What are we going to do about your brother's death?”

Juhani lifted his shoulders. “I hated Emil and his death is no loss to our kind. However, if his death had been intentional, your packmate would be dead by now.” His eyes flashed bright blue for a moment before
reverting to their paler hue. “As it is, I saw a video feed that streamed live from the building. It was self-defense. There will be no vengeance from my family line or from Emil's line.”

Behind him he heard Kat snort and resisted the urge to smile. She was still learning so much about their ways. Snorting at the words of a Brethren member wasn't done. But he didn't blame her reaction considering three of Emil's line had just trespassed on their ranch.

Juhani's eyes narrowed a fraction, but he didn't glance Kat's way. “After
today
, after we have spread the word to his entire coven, there will be no attempts on the female's life. I will make it clear that if anyone goes after her, they'll be punished by me. Keep her locked down for twenty-four hours while we spread the word.”

Connor nodded, surprised by how easy the meeting had gone. Under other circumstances that might have made him suspicious but after working with these males, albeit via satellite and phone conferences just a few weeks ago, he had a better feel for them. No one wanted a supernatural war. They had enough of their own shit to deal with. “I'll trust you to keep your word.” If he didn't, Juhani would find himself at war with Connor's pack. Something Connor didn't need to say aloud.

“Before I talk to those little bastards from Emil's line, what are your thoughts of the vampires and humans high on vamp blood the news has been showing recently?”

Connor flicked a glance at Liam.
How open do you think I should be?

Liam shrugged.
Be honest. I think they're fishing for information because they're just as lost as us. Either way, it generates good will if we're open with them.

Especially after what had happened with Natalia. Neither of them said it, but Connor knew his brother was thinking it.

Connor looked back at Juhani and Narek. Juhani was clearly the spokesman of the two, but he divided his attention between the two of them out of respect. These were two very powerful vampires. “We're not sure what's going on, but Kat”—he motioned behind him—“saw something interesting at the club last night. Kat?” He didn't take his eyes off the two vampires as he spoke. It didn't matter that the vibe in the barn was mellow, he wasn't turning his back on these males.

In his peripheral vision he watched her and Jayce step forward, Jayce a foot in front of Kat, blocking her with his body. She cleared her throat. “I've always been a seer, even before I was turned. I read auras, moods, and before you guys came out to the world, I've been able to see your true nature. Last night I saw something I've never seen before and it was freaky as shit. Your brother and the other vamps there looked as if they were like—I don't know how to describe it—but almost like they were puppets. They weren't in control of themselves, something dark was. Something . . . I don't know what it was. It was like this dark mass had invaded their bodies.”

Connor watched as the two males exchanged an unreadable glance before looking back at them.

Juhani spoke. “Something strange is going on with some of our people. For once the news isn't wrong. We've never heard of vampires being controlled before, but anything is possible.”

“Could it be a witch?” Connor asked, thinking of the female who had lied to Aiden's mate.

Juhani nodded slowly. “It is possible, but it would have to be a powerful one. But for the scale with which vamps and humans are being controlled, I don't see how a witch could do it without draining herself constantly. She would fry her brain trying to control so many individuals. We think it's something darker.”

Connor's frown deepened. Darker? “You mean . . . demons.”

The blond vamp shrugged in that casual way. “They can control humans on occasion—why not vampires?”

Connor didn't respond because he wasn't sure what he thought. “What do you know of the Draculesti coven?” he asked, changing the subject, taking everyone in the barn off guard if the sharp scent of surprise rolling off everyone was any indication.

Narek took a slight step forward. “Why do you want to know about them?”

“I'm curious.”

Narek's amber eyes narrowed before they lit up blue. He watched Connor, assessing him, before they returned to his natural color. He was the first vamp Connor had met who had amber eyes in his natural state. “No one is just curious about the extinct line.”

“So they're all dead?” he asked, unperturbed by the hostile statement.

“I didn't say that.”

“Extinct implies it.”

“They're not dead,” Juhani interjected. “Well, we don't think they are. Vlad always did what he wanted, arrogant bastard. His coven could be living in Antarctica for all we know. Why are you asking about them?”

Connor glanced at Liam.
Go get the vamps.
Once his brother strode from the barn, Connor looked at Juhani and Narek. “We're bringing in the three males from Emil's line. As a show of good will, I'm giving them to you to do with as you see fit. They were upset because their maker was killed. I can forgive
that
. But they trespassed on my property. Cubs live there.” And he wouldn't forgive that. Something he didn't need to tell them.

Juhani and Narek both nodded, but Juhani spoke. “I will personally take care of them.”

Surprising him, Jayce took a step forward, everything about him menacing. “If that girl is harmed by anyone, I don't care if you aren't involved, I'll personally rain fucking hell down on all of you.” The threat was low, more animal than man.

Connor gritted his teeth. Jayce wasn't his packmate and wasn't under his purview. Besides, Natalia and Kat had become very close friends recently. Connor had a feeling that was the real reason Jayce was threatening the two vamps. If something happened to Natalia, it would hurt Kat.

Juhani and Narek didn't respond, just glared
daggers at Jayce. A moment later Liam and another member of his pack dragged the three vampires inside. Connor was glad to be rid of them. He wanted to get back to the ranch and check on his mate and cub.

“My pack is investigating vamp blood dealers in the area, among other things. If we find out anything of use, I'll contact you,” Connor said to Juhani, wanting to leave on a good note. He never burned bridges if he could forge a contact instead.

Juhani nodded his appreciation while Narek continued to glare at Jayce. Just freaking great. The last thing Connor needed was for those two to get hostile with each other. Nodding at his packmates and Jayce, they all started to leave.

As they exited the barn, he received a text from Ryan.
911.
Natalia ran away. Teresa panicking. Call me.

*   *   *

“What the hell was she thinking?” Teresa slammed down the note Natalia had left on the counter next to one of Ryan's computers.

“She's young and scared,” he murmured as he slid a SIG with a suppressor into a shoulder holster and zipped up his puffy winter jacket.

She shouldn't be surprised that he was carrying a weapon, but she'd never seen him armed before. It was sexy, even though that should be the last thing on her mind. Not when her younger sister had left a note telling her she was leaving the ranch because she didn't want to cause any more trouble for everyone. After the scare with the three vamps showing up a couple of hours ago, she'd apparently freaked out.