It was so much easier to find prey. These days, they gathered together for them. All they had to do was order drinks and pretend to be human for a bit. Although he’d heard of some Apollites who were beginning to open places like this that catered to their people to make it easier on them to find meals, both Apollite and Daimon.
He hadn’t found one yet, but he was hopeful, especially as he was supposed to meet up with Xyn for their annual rendezvous.
Theo laughed beside him with his friend Manades. The two of them had gotten into Urian’s last batch of bloodwyne and were passing it around quite liberally.
That had become a lucrative product in their world. Thanks to Ruyn.
And Sheba. After all these centuries, Urian still thought about her from time to time, and wondered what it would have been like had she lived.
Xanthia … she’d died a few centuries back when she failed to renew her soul on time.
That was a delicate matter for them. One they had to be careful about, as it was as much guesswork as science. Each soul was different, and how long it would keep them alive was completely dependent on the person it belonged to.
No two were ever the same. Some souls could last for a few months and some for only a few hours. Until a Daimon claimed the soul, he never knew its endurance. The exterior of a person was no guarantee. A tiny human could have a remarkable soul that wouldn’t be defeated, while the most arrogant giant could have a shriveled-up, cowardly soul that was good for nothing.
When Theo went to guzzle the wine, Urian snatched it from his brother’s hand to take a swig. “Wish you would sober up. I need you both to pay attention.”
“Sorry.” Theo snickered, which led him to believe that the apology wasn’t sincere.
Urian rolled his eyes. Until he spotted a possible victim off to the right. It was a huge brute of a bastard and he was groping a tiny serving wench. She looked as if she’d rather be anywhere else, while the man laughed at her misery. When she tried to pull away, he backhanded her so hard that it was a wonder he hadn’t broken her neck.
Yet no one lifted a finger to help her or even looked in her direction.
Urian slapped at his brother’s arm and jerked his chin to let Theo know he’d found his prey.
Yeah, that bastard needed to be removed from the gene pool. He wouldn’t mind listening to a soul that cruel beg for mercy for a while.
They had to wait until the human decided to take a piss before they got up to follow him out back. Urian was already salivating for his soul, especially when he overheard his words to the girl asking her if she had a younger sister he could plow.
Disgusted, he could barely refrain from murdering him.
Instead, Urian paused to hand the girl his purse.
She was so skittish that she actually flinched.
“It’s your tip,” he assured her. “Please, take it.”
Her hand trembled, but not as much as her voice. “Thank you, my lord.”
He narrowed his eyes on Theo. “And that’s why I don’t want Nephele in the human realm.”
“I know,adelphos.I have two daughters. You think I ever sleep?”
Manades snorted. “Try having six. I haven’t slept since the day the first one was born, and it hasn’t gotten any better as they’ve aged.”
Not wanting to think about that, Urian drew up short as they left the building and a tall, dark-haired man cut them off on their way to kill their prey.
“Excuse us.” Aggravated, Urian tried to step around him.
He intentionally moved to stand in their way.
Urian arched his brow. “Did you not hear my apology?”
“I heard, Daimon. Just don’t care.”
That sobered him quickly, as it’d been a long, long time since anyone in the human realm had known who or what they really were. Their breed had been lost long ago to myths and legends. “Who are you, stranger?”
“The who isn’t important. I’m a Dark-Hunter.”
