On the way, the team puts the final details in place. I try to pay attention; I really do. But all I can think of is how Rizo will respond to my returning.Will he be angry? Will he punish me?A lot of it will depend on how good a story I can spin, and honestly, that’s not my strong suit. The flight passes all too quickly, and then it’s time to head out. We timed it so that we would arrive at dusk, so I can travel without worry.
The team gets into place, and then Bryce stops before Hunter and me. “Keep each other safe.”
“We will,” Hunter says. I stay quiet. I’m still trying to figure out a way to get in there without making Hunter have to follow me. So far, I haven’t come up with any great ideas. I’m running out of time to figure something out. All I know is I’m not taking him in there with me.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Hunter
I keep Sherese in my line of sight at all times as we make the commute to vampire territory. I don’t trust her not to leave me behind in some misguided attempt at keeping me safe. Eventually, she’s going to figure out I want to keephersafe. I figure we’re about one mile in with about four more to go. She’s barely talked today, and I can’t imagine what she’s thinking. I hate that we’re doing this; I hate that she has to go back. The only reason I’m going along with it is that I know she’ll just go without me if I put my foot down. After we go a little further, I touch her elbow. “Hey.” She turns to me. “No heroics, okay? No, trying to get rid of me.” I see guilt all over her face and know I’m right. “If you go in there without me, I will just follow. So, you may as well just let me go in with you.”
“Hunter.” She shakes her head. I know this is so the wrong time, but I love the sound of my name on her lips. I do my best to stay focused. “We’re doing this together. We’re going to get in and get the lay of the land and then get Ajax to Garrett’s team. Then we get out. A few days tops.”
She nods. “Okay.”
Before she turns away, I have to give hersomething. “You’re not alone this time, okay? I’ll be at your side the entire time.”
“Not if they split us up.”
I stare into her eyes. “Let them try. I’m not going anywhere, okay?” She’ll learn in time that she can trust me and my word. Hopefully, she’s picking up on the fact that I’m not talking about just this mission. She turns away, and I let her. This isn’t thetime to burden her down with anything else; we have a mission to focus on.
The next few miles pass in silence. It's only when we get close that we start to slow down and get a lay of the land. “They’ll know when we get close. They’ll most likely send someone to get us,” she whispers to me. We stay in the trees for cover and move closer. I can hear her breathing speed up, and my heart tugs in my chest. I hate that she’s coming back here; I hate all of this. She suddenly puts a hand on my arm, stopping me. She turns to me, and that mask is back in place. It’s the mask she wore when I first met her, and it came with her to Phoenix. I’ve enjoyed watching her lose it more and more.
They’re coming,she mouths to me.
How many?I mouth back.
Four.
Adrenaline floods my body, but I keep it in check. I take a step closer to Sherese. Knowing that these first moments will be some of the most crucial, I take another step closer and put my hand on her lower back. She turns to me in surprise.What are you doing?She mouths to me.
Just getting ready to play my part,I mouth back.
I drop my head to the spot between her neck and shoulder. Her entire body tenses up. “Relax,” I whisper against her skin. “You have to act like you’re used to this.” I take a deep breath, trying to find the sweet scent of her healer's blood beneath the vampire scent. I draw in a deeper breath, hoping to finally catch her true essence, but I can’t. It’s just not there.
She turns to me suddenly, her eyes wide with panic. I go still, letting my senses reach out and find the threat. “What?” I ask in a low voice.
“You have no marks on you,” she whisper hisses at me.
I stare at her, uncomprehending. “What?”
“If you were really enthralled by me, you’d have bite marks all over you.”
“Well, get busy.”
Her eyes go so wide, I worry they’re going to roll back in her head. She shakes her head. “I can’t; I don’t...”
I step close, so I can talk in her ear and not be worried about our enemy hearing us. “You don’t have to drink my blood. Just give me a couple of bites.” Her gorgeous brown eyes meet mine, and I can see her panic. I realize I’m going to have to take matters into my own hands, or things are going to fall apart before they even start. I tug my shirt to the side. “Bite me.” I intended for the words to sound teasing, but they sound anything but. “Hurry.” We’re running out of time, and she’s right. Showing up without a single bite mark is sure to draw the kind of attention we don’t want. I can tell the moment she makes up her mind. She steps towards me. I bend over slightly so she can reach me better. “I’m sorry,” she whispers right before she bites me. I feel a sharp pain, and then there’s nothing. She’s already moved to the other side. She bites the other side hard. I know I’m going to have bruises tomorrow, and yet, I can’t find it in myself to regret it. If I had more time to analyze it, I would, but right now, we have to prepare for four incoming vampires.
One minute, there’s no one there; the next, they literally appear out of thin air. “Sherese,” one of them says in a voice that’s devoid of any kind of emotion. It’s hard to get a read on him. “We’re supposed to take you to Rizo.”
She raises her eyebrows. “Obviously, that’s why we’re here.”
They move towards me, and she whirls around, eyes flashing. “Don’t touch him.” They all pause and then look at her. “He’s mine.” Her words are husky, and it’s honestly the sexiest thing I’ve ever heard. I know she’s just playing a role, but hearing those words come from her has my blood pumping and my heart racing.
“He’s not coming with,” the vampire who seems to be in charge says.
“Oh, but I think he is,” Sherese all but croons. I force myself not to respond, but she’s making it rather difficult. She flips her hair over her shoulder and steps close to me, reaching a hand up to my shoulder. I force myself not to respond when she all but drapes herself across me. “He comes with.” Her words are low and ominous. I watch as the lead vampire takes a step towards her. My body tenses, but Sherese gives me a warning elbow in my ribs. I keep any and all expression off my face, going for just a blank look.
