Hunter Reborn (15 page)

He could hear her behind him, but ignored her as he raced toward the cabin. He slowed when he reached the back of the place and crouched low as he raced along the edge of the outer wall. Risking a quick glance behind him he was surprised to see Teresa still in her human form—holding his fallen weapon. He knew the female could use it well, but he didn't want her getting tangled up in whatever the hell was going on.

Forcing himself to drag his focus from her, Ryan peered around the corner of the house. He assessed the situation in seconds. There were two shifters in wolf form, one he recognized as Natalia, battling with four vampires. One vamp was on the ground, likely dead. Three were taking on the unknown male wolf who was ripping them to shreds, while one vamp grappled with Natalia.

Ryan looked up at Teresa and growled low in his throat. She seemed to understand him because she nodded and stayed put. Without making a sound, he crept across the snowy ground, barely feeling the chill
against his paws as he zeroed in on the blade-wielding vamp.

The male raised his knife out to the side as Natalia bit into his other forearm. Growling, she tore into him, making the male howl in pain. But he didn't drop the knife, poised to stab her through the side, possibly piercing her heart. The vamp's expression was filled with rage. He didn't even see Ryan until it was too late.

With a burst of speed, Ryan covered the final few feet between the vamp and Natalia. The vampire's glowing amber eyes went nuclear as Ryan launched himself through the air. The vamp dropped his blade and rolled off Natalia as Ryan slammed into his shoulder, throwing him off balance.

Adrenaline pumping through him, he landed on all fours, but swiveled back quickly to face the male. Though Ryan saw Natalia in his peripheral vision, he ignored her, focusing on the threat instead. Growling low in his throat, he flattened his ears against his head.

The vamp dove for the blade and Ryan struck hard and fast. He clamped his jaw around the male's throat, ripping and tearing until he reached the bone. He didn't savor killing any being, but this bastard had been trying to kill his packmate. A second after the male went limp, Ryan completely severed his head. Crimson stained the white ground in a macabre display.

Not dwelling on the gory sight, Ryan started to turn when a very distinctive puff of air filled the air.
His weapon.

Moving lightning fast, he swiveled to find the three
vamps, who'd been attacking the unknown male, already dead. Two had been ripped to shreds, their heads severed. The third lay in a pool of blood, gasping for air. A red stain covered the front of his shirt, where Teresa had clearly shot him.

Depending upon his age and strength he might have been able to survive the injury. That wasn't happening. Before Ryan could move, the other male wrapped his jaws around the vamp's neck and ripped it off as if it were paper.

After he was done, silence reigned in the forest for a long moment. Ryan was aware of Natalia behind him and Teresa off to his right, weapon still in hand. The gray wolf stood near the headless vamp bodies, watching all of them carefully.

Using his hated gift, Ryan tried to sense the male's state of mind. The only feedback he got was a sense of satisfaction. No rage or anger directed their way. Taking a chance, Ryan shifted forms, letting the change come over him in a rush of energy until he stood in the snow. For how much adrenaline he had pumping through him, he barely felt the cold. He kept his gaze pinned to the greenish gray eyes of the male wolf.

“You okay, Teresa?” he asked.

She nodded and in his peripheral he could see her hand slightly shaking. “Yeah. That vamp was going after you. It's why I shot him,” she whispered.

Shit.
He wanted to reach out to her, to comfort her, but held off. He wasn't making a move until he knew who this other male was and what threat he posed. If any. “Natalia, you okay?” he asked without turning around.

He heard her making the change from shifter to human and a second later she said, “Yes. Thanks to him.”

Ryan's gaze remained steady on the male. “Shift to human or I'm going to consider you a threat,” he growled softly, his threat very clear. If this wolf didn't shift, Ryan was attacking.

A few moments later Aldric Kazan stood in front of them. Now that Ryan knew the male and Jayce were related, he could clearly see the family resemblance. This must be what Jayce had looked like before he got those awful scars. Wherever they'd come from. “Aldric Kazan,” Ryan said clearly, wanting it known that he knew exactly who this male was.

Aldric's dark eyebrows raised. “That's right.”

“What the fuck are you doing here? And who are—were—those vamps?”

“He saved me,” Natalia said softly, coming to stand next to Ryan.

Ryan ignored her. “Answer me.”

The male rubbed a hand over his dark, military-short buzz cut. “I followed the female from the club. She mentioned something about Jayce and I wanted to know if it was my brother so . . . I tracked you guys to that ranch last night. When I saw her sneaking out this morning I didn't think anything of it until I spotted those fuckers following her. So, I followed them. End of story.” He shrugged, his expression so similar to Jayce's it was jarring.

“What the fuck were you doing at that club last night?” God, it seemed like an eternity ago, not the night before. So much shit had happened since then.
Ryan didn't know much about Aldric, something that pissed him off. Normally he could find out anything about most anyone. But this guy had no pack and appeared to live most of his life off the grid. Not completely, because almost everyone left a paper trail, but his was very thin.

The male's eyes hardened. “None of your fucking business. I talk to my brother and no one else.”

Ryan's jaw tightened. He didn't like it, but he also didn't like having Teresa and Natalia out here so exposed. He wanted to get them out of the cold and back to safety. “We dispose of these bodies. Then you can follow us back to see Jayce.” Of course Ryan would be alerting Connor as soon as he could get to his phone.

The male snorted obnoxiously before stalking to a small green duffel bag. When Aldric pulled out a blade, Ryan tensed, ready to attack. Teresa raised the SIG, no shaking hands now. Ryan inwardly smiled. That was his female. Or he hoped she would be soon.

Aldric looked between the two of them. “Untrusting bunch, aren't you?” he muttered before slamming the blade into the nearest vamp's chest.

Ryan watched in fascination as not only the body turned to ash, but the severed head as well. That was some serious magic. Like Jayce's blades. Moving quickly, Aldric finished off the rest of the fallen males before tucking his blade back into the bag and pulling out fresh clothes.

“Why were the vamps after Natalia?” Ryan asked.

“She killed their maker,” Aldric said, as if it should be obvious.

Okay, that sounded on par with what Connor had relayed in his last couple of texts. “You parked nearby?”

“Yeah.” The male flicked a glance Teresa's way, noting the weapon still in her hand.

“Look at her again and you're not going anywhere.” The words were out before Ryan could stop himself. His canines and claws broke free at the thought of anyone remotely threatening Teresa. Aldric wasn't even doing that, but Ryan hated the entire situation and his inner wolf wanted to strike first and ask questions later. Teresa was his, and right now the urge to keep her safe and secure was very real.

“Jeez, jackass. Took you long enough to go all protector male on her,” Natalia muttered next to him.

He ignored her, but the comment seemed to defuse the tense atmosphere. Teresa sheathed the weapon in the back of her pants and Aldric took a step away from them as he picked up his bag. “I know where the ranch is, but I can follow you there?” The last part was a question.

Ryan nodded. “We're parked not too far from here.” He pointed in the direction they'd come from. They could get Natalia's vehicle later because he wasn't letting her out of his sight.

“The road leading from this cabin connects with the main one. I'll wait until you go by and follow.”

“Fine.” Ryan waited until Teresa and Natalia moved into action, not taking his eyes off the other male.

Aldric did the same, keeping his focus on Ryan as he picked up his bag and headed to wherever his vehicle was. Once they rounded the corner of the house, Ryan
pulled Teresa into a tight embrace, running his hands up and down her arms and looking her over.

“You're okay?” he asked, inspecting her even though she hadn't sparred with anyone.

She looked at him incredulously, her dark eyes wide. “I should be asking you that.” Before he could respond her gaze snapped to her sister who was hovering a couple of feet away. “And you! What the hell were you thinking running away like that? Connor's ironed everything out. You just need to stay at the ranch for a day until word spreads that you did nothing wrong.”

To Ryan's surprise Natalia burst into tears. She looked impossibly young, maybe because she was naked. Even though nudity wasn't a big deal with shifters, he felt uncomfortable standing there while she was nude and her emotions so exposed. He turned away as Teresa rushed to her sister's side and pulled her into a tight hug.

He wanted to tell them to hurry and save the tears for later, but knew he couldn't. As it was, he was walking a tightrope with Teresa. Very soon he planned to lay himself bare to her in a way he'd never done to anyone. Once he did, she held all the cards. If she rejected him, he'd deal with it. Even though he was afraid to hope she'd accept him as he was, if she did, he was going to publicly claim her. Well, more publicly than he already had. Then he was going to win her heart.

H
er room is two down from this one.
Larissa projected to him as they reached the next door in the long hallway.
And mine is the one after. In case there's an ambush we should go in through the neighboring room. Or I'll go in from the balcony.

Agreed.
He'd seen Larissa in action before and knew she could scale an outer wall by holding on with just her fingers. She moved more nimbly than a feline shifter. The outside of this hotel was all brick, so if necessary, she could infiltrate the room from the outside. But he hoped it didn't come down to that.

When they reached the door right before Magda's room, he handed the master key to Larissa. Her eyebrows rose, her indigo eyes flashing bright blue for a fraction of a moment before she took it. While every fiber inside him screamed to take over, to move in ahead of her to check for potential danger, he decided to make a small concession and treat her like the
powerful vampire she was. Plus . . . he couldn't scent anyone inside. If he had, his wolf never would have allowed him to let her take the lead just yet.

Moving whisper quiet, Larissa slid the key card into the door so silently he didn't even hear it. With just as much precision, she opened the door, paused, then continued inside without glancing back.

No one's in here,
she said, even though he scented they were alone.

He eased the door shut behind them. This room was just as big as the one they'd been in, but the floor-to-ceiling gold-and-white-striped curtains had been pulled back, letting sunlight filter inside. When Larissa stepped into a stream of light it illuminated her, reminding him of the first time he'd seen her. Before they'd even spoken.

She'd arrived with her coven members, and while the majority of their vehicles had been understated, she'd been driving a new Ferrari right off the line. A 1953 twelve-cylinder red thing of beauty—he still had it in storage. For some reason he'd never been able to part with it even though it was just a physical object. It had kept him connected to her. One of the few things of hers he still owned.

That car hadn't compared to her though. When she'd stepped out decked from head to toe in leather, with high-heeled boots, that thick dark hair shining under a rare sunny Highland day, it had been all his fantasies rolled into one tight little package. He'd been absolutely dumbstruck. And she'd looked right through him. Or so he'd thought. She'd admitted later that she'd
been just as affected—but her attraction had angered her.

Things between them had been physical at first, but their time together, short as it was, had forged a bond between them nothing could have ever pierced if they'd had the chance to thrive as a couple. At least he believed that to be true. Even after all their years apart that fundamental link between them was still there, titanium strong.

What's wrong?
Larissa's worried voice cut through his thoughts and he realized he'd been staring at her.

Shit. He was going to get himself killed. Or worse, lose focus and not be able to protect her. He gave a sharp shake of his head.
I'm good.

She didn't look convinced, but lightly tapped a finger against the adjoining wall.
No one is in there. Should we use the door or the balcony?

The balcony would give them the element of surprise if there was a trap waiting for them, but Aiden didn't think the witch wanted to hurt Larissa. Not yet at least. She'd kept her alive—albeit weak with crap bagged blood—for a reason. Aiden wanted to find out what it was.
The door will be the least conspicuous mode of entry.

They both moved back toward the front of the room, stopping at the connecting door. When Larissa went to open it, Aiden snagged the key card from her fingers. Maybe he wasn't as evolved as he thought.

Her lips pulled into a thin line, but she stepped back, as if she'd expected his reaction.
Sorry,
he said.

No, you're not.
A smile tugged at her very kissable lips.

Ignoring the way his body reacted to her, he slid the key card into the door with the same amount of stealth she'd used. Seconds later they were both inside the empty room. As he stepped inside he felt almost . . . dirty. He couldn't explain it. Inhaling, he wondered if it was something left behind by Magda.

I feel it too,
Larissa said, as if she'd read his mind. Since he hadn't voiced his thoughts aloud or even telepathically, he realized that meant she was starting to be more in tune with him on a subconscious level, but didn't mention it. As a supernatural, he was superstitious by nature and he wasn't going to jinx anything. If she was starting to be more in tune with him without even realizing it, he was going to let it happen naturally. Larissa didn't look at him as she scanned the pristine room.
I was never in here before. She always came to my room. I wonder if she even slept here,
she projected, seemingly more to herself than to him.

Aiden inhaled, taking in all of the scents and memorizing them as he moved to the closet. Larissa moved to the bed and looked underneath it as he opened the closet door. Like the perfect team they'd once been, they scanned every possible inch of the room in less than a minute. As they moved with their supernatural speed, he still couldn't shake the strange feeling moving over him, like oily fingers skittering over his bare skin.

That bitch.
Larissa's voice sounded loudly in his head.
Something rattled loose in my fucked-up memory—I know what we're feeling because I felt this centuries ago thanks to another witch. Magda spelled the room. I don't
know what the purpose is for, maybe just an alert spell, but I don't like it. Let's move to my room. Stealth be damned, since she likely knows we're here.

Aiden knew what an alert spell was. It was like a supernatural alarm system. And it made sense Magda had left one. “Let's go now,” he ordered. Whatever this was, it wasn't an alert spell. He didn't know how he knew it. He just did. Whatever he was feeling was starting to weigh on him, making him feel sluggish. Right now of all times he couldn't afford to have his reflexes dulled.

They flew out the main door in seconds and hurried down to her room. Once he was sure no one was inside, he went in first. The room felt normal, but there were more scents that accosted him now.

“You smell that oakmoss scent?” she asked as she hurried to her closet.

“Yeah.” It was sharp and woodsy.

“That's Magda. Memorize it,” she muttered as she rifled through her clothes.

He would. It was the reason for their trip here. Aiden hated even being in this hotel, but he'd needed to get Magda's scent for himself. Larissa could have tried to describe it, but it wouldn't matter. His wolf needed to scent it to track it. Now no matter what, no matter how many years passed, if he ever ran into this female again, he'd know her scent. Closing his eyes, he inhaled deeply. Oh yes, he would never forget the scent of the female who had dared lie to Larissa about his existence. Aiden's phone buzzed in his pocket and when he saw Angelo's name he answered immediately. “Yeah?”

“Saw two human males entering the hotel. They both look like fucking underwear models,” he muttered.

“That kind of thing interest you?”

“Fuck you,” Angelo growled. “If you'd let me get to the point, I heard them talking and their convo was fucking weird. One of the males said something about ‘following the female and reporting in with their findings.' They didn't say much more before they disappeared inside, but it was strange enough that I wanted to let you know.”

“Thanks, man. Did you get a picture of them?”

“Yeah, texting as we speak.”

“If we see them, we're going to tail them. Get the SUV ready.”

“On it.”

Once they disconnected Aiden found Larissa peeking out from the doorway of the bathroom watching him.

“Find anything interesting?” he asked.

She shook her head. “I heard what he said. We need to leave?”

“Yeah.” If these human males were of interest, Aiden wanted to track them. “I think you should leave everything here. I want to burn it all just in case. We can use the tub.”

Her expression grim, she nodded in agreement. Without a word, she grabbed the few clothes from the closet and he started taking anything that looked like it belonged to her or even smelled like Larissa from the drawers. Once everything was in the ceramic tub,
Aiden started to light one of the matches from the matchbook he'd grabbed from the desk when Larissa's hand sparkled that familiar fiery blue.

Relief surged through him at the same time she yelped. “What the hell?” she squeaked, the flames flickering out, but not completely dying. Her wide eyes met his and grew even wider. “You're not surprised. . . . You
knew
I could do this?”

He nodded. “Yeah. You didn't try to fry me yesterday so I figured you either hadn't regained your powers yet or didn't remember.” This was one of her deepest secrets, the power passed on from her mother's line. He wondered if she understood that she possessed more than this simple ability to create a beautiful fire. Way more.

“How could I not remember,” she whispered as her eyes glazed over for a long moment. “Oh my sweet Lord.” She stared at him for a hard moment, a hundred questions in her eyes before she focused on the tub. Holding out one of her hands, she let loose a tiny stream of lightning-like blue flames. All her clothes and everything else they'd grabbed that wasn't nailed down burst into a kaleidoscope of shimmering colors before turning to ash. “Holy. Shit.” After a long look at the ashes in the tub, she stared at him. “What else haven't you told me?”

There was even more to her gift, but he wouldn't tell her. Not when the gift could benefit him. This was something she'd need to remember on her own. And the last thing he would do was stunt her memories. So far everything she'd recalled had been on her own. He
refused to tell her things if it could affect her recall. “We need to leave.”

“You
will
tell me what you're holding back,” she growled, sounding more shifter than vampire as they hurried from the room.

He snorted and motioned toward the opposite end of the hallway than they'd come from. “Let's wait by the stairs. If the humans come up the stairs we'll hear them. We'll tail them after they leave.”

“What if they're not part of all . . . this?”

He shrugged. “Then we'll find another lead.” Aiden knew his packmate Ryan was hard at work finding more about this Magda and he trusted the male and his entire pack. They would give Larissa her life and memories back. She was already starting to remember so much. The ability to start fire and not burst into flames herself was unique for a vampire. But what she could do with that fire was incredible. Like nothing he'd ever heard of before. Nothing he'd ever seen. “I'm not telling anyone about your gift.”
And you shouldn't either,
he said as they reached the door to the stairs.
Absolutely no one.

He could sense her apprehension as she nodded. Once they stepped into the stairwell, he left the door open a crack and watched the hallway with interest. If the humans Angelo had overheard were involved in this mess, there was nowhere they could escape to now.

*   *   *

“Something seems different about you,” Brianna said from the front passenger seat of the SUV as she watched Larissa intently. The fae female had turned around in her seat as they waited outside the hotel to see if the
two human males exited soon. Both Angelo and Aiden were inside keeping an eye out for the males.

Larissa half smiled and shrugged. “I'm just starting to feel more like my old self, that's all.” That wasn't remotely it, but she couldn't tell this royal member of the fae that she'd just discovered her amazing power. Some part of her subconscious had simply triggered it in the hotel bathroom. They'd needed to burn her belongings and she'd created that fire or whatever it was. She hated that she couldn't remember this part of herself. It made her wonder what else she was forgetting. And she really wanted to try it again. It had filled her with the most amazing sense of power.

“Hmm, or more like you're starting to connect with Aiden.” Brianna's blue eyes were kind and warm, so unlike the few fae Larissa had interacted with in decades past.

Larissa was still unsure who she could trust about pretty much anything, but talking about Aiden was a safe enough subject. “Yes.”

“He's a good male. I watched him save a human who'd been on death's doorstep without pause. He had nothing to gain for his good deed. He always steps up if anyone in his—and now my—pack needs anything. And Connor, even though his parents were killed by fae, has never made me feel unwelcome. Not even before I mated with Angelo.” The petite female snorted. “He was actually protective of me when I didn't need it.”

Larissa nodded, trying to figure out why Brianna was telling her this. “Okay.”

“I love the entire Armstrong-Cordona pack. They're my family now.” Something dark glinted in the female's eyes. It was there so fast, then gone in the blink of an eye.

But Larissa knew she hadn't imagined it. And she knew exactly what Brianna wasn't saying aloud. If Larissa hurt anyone in the pack, Brianna would be her enemy. “I might not be able to remember him, but I once loved Aiden enough to defy my coven and leave behind everything I'd known to be with him. I would never hurt him or any of his packmates.”

A faint smile ghosted across Brianna's lips at that. “You two rocked the supernatural world back then with rumors. I still can't believe this Aiden is the same one who mated with a Danesti vampire.”

“Do you think my parents are really dead?” Larissa blurted. Aiden didn't know anything about their disappearance and she felt uncomfortable talking to him about them anyway. Not when they'd hated him enough to send assassins after him.