Too many people had nice stories about her, and she soonstarted to drift away. Where was Athan today? She flashed back to a time in theearly 1920s when he’d unexpectedly shown up at her flat.
The knock at the door surprised her, considering it waslate, so she hustled to open it. She was up reading the newest projections forthe stocks she’d just purchased under one of her assumed names. It wassurprising how much talent she’d discovered in her ability to project winners.There was no danger in opening her door at midnight. Her penthouse was wellprotected by doormen and security throughout the building, so only a friendcould even reach her doorway.
Athan sagged to the side, his shirt and trousers intatters and blood pouring from several wounds. “Ivy,” he whispered, his eyesshowing bizarre gold spikes through the blue.
She pulled him inside, her heart thundering. Withoutbeing asked, she lifted her wrist to his mouth.
His fangs instantly pierced her flesh, and he starteddrinking. A feeling she’d learned to identify as desire swept through her,swishing along her skin and digging deeply into her body. As she watched, thewounds on his neck and chest closed, the skin stitching together smoothly. Heslowly withdrew the pearly points from her and licked her wrist clean.
She shuddered, feeling like his tongue was everywhere.
He leaned back, his eyes their shearing blue again. Thenhe kissed her.
Shock immobilized her for two seconds, and then she sankinto the devastating sensations. Growling, he wrapped an arm around her waistand drew her against his hard body. They’d met once a year for decades, andthis was the first time he’d kissed her.
It was heaven.
Finally, he released her and pulled away.
She blinked, touching her tingling lips. That was somuch. “Are you finished with your hunting job?” she whispered.
He blinked. “No.”
Disappointment crashed through her, but she struggled tosmile. He’d promised her life and had given it to her. She shouldn’t want formore and should be grateful. Even though she was finding her own way in life,she sometimes still felt beholden to him. Yet the more she learned and lived,the more she felt a spirit of independence awakening inside her. “What is thishunting job, Athan?” He never wanted to talk about it, but she deserved someanswers.
He sighed. “There are more than vampires out there, darlin’.Our enemy, the Kurjans, have been creating werewolves out of shifters.”
Shifters? “Excuse me?”
“Shifters can change from human form to animal, andthey’re our allies—well, usually.” He pulled off his destroyed shirt to reveala broad and muscular chest.
Her lungs stuttered, and heat flared in her face. “Theybecome animals?”
“Yes. But werewolves are pure animal—no humanity and noconscience. We’ve hunted them for centuries because Maxwells have an instinctfor them, which doesn’t speak well of us. But we’re the best at hunting andkilling them.” He reached out and ran his thumb along her jawline. “The Kurjansare trying to create the monsters in a quantity that could harm the populationon this planet.”
On this planet? Were there others? “I don’t understand.”
“I know.” His hand dropped, and her skin felt chilled.“It’s hard to explain, but three prison worlds were created far away from thisone, and that imbalance has allowed more werewolves to be born and bred. Untilthose worlds fall, and this one gets back in alignment, I hunt killers everyday.”
None of that made a bit of sense, but she believed him.“Perhaps you need somebody by your side,” she murmured, wanting to ease historment.
He leaned over and kissed her gently on the nose.“Anybody by my side gets bloody and most likely dead. I appreciate the offer,and I admire your kind spirit. But this is just a short stopover before my nextfight.” He leaned away, taking his warmth with him. “I am getting weaker,though. We’ll need to meet twice a year now.”
It was embarrassing how much pleasure that thought gaveher. Twice a year? She’d never admit it, but she lived for these moments ofbrief intimacy. It was sad, actually.
Leah jerked Ivy back to the present and pulled her to stand.“Everyone is done and clearing out. Are we finished admiring what’s left ofyour life here?” she muttered.
Ivy shushed her and turned to walk down the center aisle,leaving the intricate urn behind. Somebody was supposed to bury it the next day,but she was finished with this life. “Knock it off. This is fun. We spent allday at your funeral, if I remember right.”
Leah nodded. “True, but at least I had a full band so peoplecould dance.” For a moment, she lost the gaiety always present in her eyes.“It’s hard to see everybody we know die. Right?”
Ivy nodded. “Yeah, but at least this time, I waited to passon until all my friends had. It was nice growing old with them…well, kind of.”She’d only pretended to grow old when they truly had. If nothing else, she’dalways have Leah, who was also mated to one of the Maxwell jackasses butsomehow seemed to stay off their radar. Ivy usually kept Athan informed of herwhereabouts. However, she was keeping her new venture under wraps, and anotherdeadline loomed.
Several people stopped her to express their condolences.
Leah let out a fake sob.
Ivy barely kept from rolling her eyes. “I’m not surprised tosee you here, Leah, but we have to be more careful.” They had strictinstructions to stay away from each other because the last thing they wanted todo was bring notice to any Maxwell mates. There were enemies out there whowould like nothing more than getting their hands on either of the women.
