“Shit,” Sam whispers. “Sorry, Captain.”
“You’re only sorry because you missed your target,” Riot laughs, his retaliating ice ball clocking Sam in the face.
“Ah, bastard!” Sam yells, batting at his neck.
“Whatever, Sam. You deserved it,” Grace spits, prancing past his struggle under my arm.
I look back over Grace’s shoulder, narrowed eyes pinned on my Hunter, and shake my head. Sam drops his newly loaded snowball with a scowl, and Riot smacks him over the head.
Rhett stomps ahead of us, hands shoved into his pockets, and leads the way as ten Hunters tail us out of the house. We snake the back trails of Southend, snow piled to the edges of cobblestone streets and muddied paths. Human citizens bustle about their afternoon, our party receiving curt nods and curious glances from storefronts, and children scurry home from school. The Hunter legion is revered, but we’re nothing more than bedtime stories for most. Our existence is intentionally kept quiet, whispered—legend. Of course, vampires know we exist, but we keep our numbers and locations as discreet as possible. After last night, though, it seems our king might be very aware of our strong presence in Southend.
We reach Lou’s bar, and I yank open the door.
“As I live and fight,Captain Kade,” Lou says, his warm smile stretching to his ears. “Never seen you in the daylight hours.”
My party files into the tavern as I prop the door.
“Sun’s almost down, Lou.”
He chuckles at me, embracing Rhett barreling into his side. “How’s my son?”
“Good, Pops. Captain taught me a new move last week.”
Lou eyes me over his son. “Is that right?”
“He’s good with a blade,” I admit.
Hunter Rhett will be a station leader someday, I have no doubt about it. He’s a skilled fighter, but he’s also intelligent and reads people well. Much like his father.
Sam and Grace greet Mother Hollie before Rhett wraps her in a hug, and then they all make themselves comfortable at the corner table while Lou steps behind the bar again.
Lou and Mother Hollie have run this tavern for as long as I can remember, and Rhett knows he’s a lucky Hunter, with both loving parents still alive.
“What brings you in here so early?” Lou asks, pouring three fingers of my favorite as I sidle up to the counter.
I tip the liquor into my mouth. “Safehouse was hit last night. Pretty sure it was an orchestrated attack by the king. I called a meeting for the Central outfit.”
Lou narrows his eyes at me. “No way.” The old man was one of the best Hunters we’ve ever had before he retired, and he knows Goreon vampires and their habits better than anyone.
I shrug. “They were trained, Lou. Infiltrated the house with strategy, hit us on all sides.”
Lou takes a swig right out of the bottle, wipes his mouth clean, and meets my eyes. “Fuck.”
“Aye,” I mutter, staring into my whiskey and wondering if confrontation with the Goreon King and his soldiers is in our near future now and no longer on our terms after the Night Kingdom territory stabilizes.
My gaze flits to Lou’s stern face, but his eyes are twinkling. “Goreon is due for a flushing.”
I snort. “Been due,” I say, tilting my glass for another sip.
“Well, if anyone is going to do something about it, you’re the one to do it,” Lou growls.
My magic simmers at his words, in agreement and with excitement.
Interesting.
“Mother Diane wasn’t home when I checked last night. Any news on your end?” I ask, changing the subject before we’re overrun with Hunters from Central.
“Damnit,” Lou grumbles. “No, haven’t heard a whisper.” He shakes his head. “She’s gone.”
