Page 27 of Hunter

Hunter took a deep breath, concentrating on her energy. His eyes flashed to Viktor’s. Relief coursed through him; he’d been concerned that her traumatized wolf refused to surface. “She’s shifted.”

“Yes. All is well. Now before you go to her, tell me about what went on after I left.” Viktor changed the subject.

“I’ve got some of my guys out taking care of the vampires. Ones who have families. Whatever you all call them. Your friends? Coven…whatever. If they were close, they’re going to find out. The vampires who live here are going to have to find a new place to go for blood. Cheryl handled all that shit. I’m going to put my beta, Remus, in charge for now until we find a new vamp, get a club going. They can’t just go around biting humans that aren’t donors.”

“Technically you’re not supposed to,” Viktor said with a devious smile. “Accidents happen.”

“Don’t even fucking joke about it,” Hunter warned.

“They wouldn’t be wrong, tho. They blew up the whole damn building.”

“I’ve got every wolf in the pack on alert. I’ve got to catch and kill these assholes. My bet is that they’re on the run. We’ve got to get out there and start looking. They’re going to want Willa back in Hell.”

“Speaking of Hell.” Viktor strode across the living room. He moved to the bar and began searching through the cabinets. “If you hadn’t come to get me, I would have died.”

“Make yourself at home. Don’t be shy.” Hunter knew Hell better than anyone. The Alpha fell back into an oversized chair and leaned his head on the cushion, staring up at the ceiling. Although he heard no noise from above, he sensed her energy, her anger. Willa. “I’ve got to convince her to stay with me. It’s the only way I can keep her safe.”

“Agreed. You know, I never meant to bite her.” The vampire set a glass onto the counter and opened a bottle of whiskey, pouring a generous amount into it.

“Are we doing this now? Or should I say again?” Hunter fought long and hard not to live in the past. With his patience tried, he gladly reached for the drink Viktor gave him.

“I don’t know how long I was gone,” Viktor confessed.

“Over a month.” Hunter didn’t blink. He’d counted the days, carefully planning his rescue trip.

“I like to eat every day. The longest I’ve ever gone without….well…” Viktor’s brows furrowed in thought. He sank down onto the sofa, lifting his glass to his lips. “My sire was a vicious individual. You know what he did to Quintus. Killed Mao. He drew great pleasure from seeing us all suffer. Days without eating, driving us to madness. He’d laugh as we nearly killed the unwilling humans he threw at our feet. It was all a show to him. He wanted us to kill. To be like him. To turn to darkness. To revel in those demonic tendencies that drove his very existence. But you see that’s not how it works. One must have chosen this path in life in some aspect. Still it didn’t stop him from trying.”

“It’s not like you and Quint are a couple of boy scouts.” Hunter lifted the rim to his lips, the warm golden fluid gliding down his throat.

“We don’t kill for sport.” Viktor’s eyes locked on Hunter’s, his tone serious.

“Good to know.” A corner of his lip turned upward, his tone laced with sarcasm.

“Demons. They enjoy the sport. They enjoy the death and torture. In Hell it’s a free-for-all.”

“I know better than you think.” When he’d been trapped in the underworld, he’d lost track of time. He’d found out later he’d been gone for over a year.

“I’ve never gone longer than a week without blood and by that time, I’d been feral. So, when I saw Willa…”

Hunter slowly blinked, forcing himself to listen.

“I told you I didn’t hurt Willa, but I fed from her.”

“You could have drained her dry.” As his hands tightened around his glass, he sucked a breath, forcing himself to remain calm.

“I won’t deny it, but you can hardly blame me.”

“No, I kinda can blame you. For all kinds of things. But…but…” Hunter held up a finger. “You did not ask to go to Hell. That I do know. Which is why I decided to come get you. Quint had his hands full. And so…”

“We digress. Willa. I didn’t mean to drain her to the point I did, but there is only so much control I have. I did not hurt her.”

“I don’t want to know this part.” The thought of Willa in the throes of sexual release angered him. She didn’t ask for any of it.

“I know what you’re thinking, but you know how it works. There is no other way. But if you’re worried…I was in no condition to…well, you know…take things any further. And poor thing…she was in no condition either.”

“What is your fucking point, Vik?” Hunter forced an impassive expression, concealing his relief. Thank the Goddess he hadn’t touched her.

“Ilsbeth. I don’t know why she was there. Or how she got there. But she intervened. She offered me her blood.”