When Hunter Meets Seeker: (An Arcane Society Novel - Paranormal Demon Romance)

by Betty Shreffler

  “Those lips are incredibly sexy.”

  Feeling more comfortable in front of his camera, she turned on the stool and glanced back at him. She heard a roused breath escape his lips as the camera clicked repeatedly.

  He set it down and came to her, kissing her back where her wings clung to her. She fluttered her wings at the sensual touch of his lips. He turned her on the stool, facing him, and then lifted her. She folded her wings down as he carried her to the bed.

  She opened her eyes to the warmth of the sun streaming through his full glass windows. His warm body covered her backside and his arm lay tucked around her waist. Pleasure filled her at the scent of them and the memories of their night. She eased out of his arm and tiptoed to the camera. She wasn’t sure what to expect, but was eager to see how they turned out.

  When she turned it on and pulled them up on the display, her jaw dropped. They were stunning, sexy, provocative and gorgeous.

  “What do you think?”

  She glanced back at him, raised on his elbow, watching her. She was so enthralled she hadn’t even noticed him wake.

  “They’re absolutely beautiful, Dex. I love them.”

  “Good, then you won’t mind when I blow one up and put it on my wall?”

  “What about visitors?”

  “Don’t care. It’s too beautiful not to put it up.”

  “Dex, I’m almost naked in it.”

  Dex moved off the bed. She watched the sheet fall off his hips. She admired his naked ass as he walked toward the bathroom.

  “I’ll blow up the one where you’re looking back at me.” He glanced over his shoulder at her and grinned. “It’s the sexiest one anyway.”

  A moment later she heard the shower turn on. She set the camera down and dashed to the bathroom to join him.

  He cooked breakfast for her while she got her gear ready for the gym and her kickboxing classes. He set two plates on his small, round table.

  She salivated at the smell of bacon, eggs and hash browns. She hurried to the seat across from him and dug in.

  “I love your cooking,” she said in between delightful bites of bacon.

  His lips raised into an appreciative smile. “How long are your classes?”

  “An hour long each. I’ll be out of the gym by one o’clock.”

  “Coming back here afterwards?”

  “Yes.” She smiled at his eager tone. “I’ll need to stop by the house and gather more stuff, then I’ll be over.”

  “What do you think about working at Donatello’s? You’d do well in security. It would fill that itch you have to fight.”

  She laughed. “You noticed?”

  “Of course. You’ve been trained to fight, you’re used to doing it on a regular basis. You’ll need something to replace it. There isn’t anything that goes on in the club that you couldn’t handle and I’d be there if there was.”

  Excitement tickled her belly at the thought of being able to see him at work as well as putting her skills to use.

  “All right. I like the idea. What about Carl? Do you guys need another person and do I have to watch the screens the whole time?”

  “If I tell Carl we need you, he’ll be fine with it. If you don’t like watching the screens you don’t have to. You can be floor security.”

  “Would you be my boss?”

  Dex grinned. “Technically, yes.”

  She twirled the butter knife in between her fingers as she gnawed on her lip, thoughtful.

  “We might have to do some negotiating on that.”

  “You know I’m open-minded.”

  She finished off her eggs and smiled at his mischievous grin.

  Chapter 19

  Anya walked out of the locker room as Jackson entered the gym, grinning from ear to ear.

  “Looks like we both had a great night.”

  Jackson wrapped an arm around her. “I like her, a lot.”

  “Did ya have some sexy cuddles?”

  Jackson dropped his gym bag on the bench and dove inside for his boxing gloves.

  “Oh yeah, and then some.”

  Anya laughed. “When you seeing her again?”

  “Tonight.”

  “Oh, you do like her.”

  Anya held the boxing bag steady as Jackson eased into a rhythm, putting fists to bag.

  “I do like her. She’s sweet, bubbly, funny, big…”

  He glanced at her, turning red.

  “Yeah, I know. I have eyes.”

  Jackson smirked. “They’re nice. I buried my face in them.”

  Anya laughed. “Stop, too much information.”

  Jackson grinned. “How was your night?”

  She blushed, immediately thinking about it.

  “That good, huh?”

  “I did my first modeling shoot, almost naked.”

  He stopped hitting the bag and tilted his head, clearly interested.

  “Dex is a photographer. A really good one. He does black and white. They’re stunning. He took photos of me last night. I was shocked by how good they were.”

  “That’s hot, smokin’ hot.” He frowned. “My sexy cuddles don’t seem so sexy now.”

  Anya’s belly flexed as she covered her mouth laughing. “I’m sorry.”

  He returned to hitting the bag. “It’s cool, you’re giving me ideas.”

  “Oh boy.”

  A small laugh escaped his lips between punches.

  “Dex offered me a job too.”

  “At the club?”

  “Yeah, he offered me a position as floor security. He recognized that I need something to put my skills toward and something to fulfill that itch to fight.”

  “He knows you pretty well already, huh?”

  “He does. I feel like we’ve known each other a lot longer than we have.”

  Jackson stopped punching and removed his gloves. He tossed them aside and held the bag for her. Her fists fired into a smooth, aggressive rhythm.

  “You taking the job?”

  “Yeah, I think so. He’d be my boss though. I don’t know if that would be weird. I’m used to taking orders via text message and not having supervision. I’m nervous about him being my boss and boyfriend. Would it be too much on the relationship?”

  “He seems pretty chill and seems to understand you. I think he’d give you free reign to do your job. You’d see him every day. You good with that?”

  Butterflies tickled her stomach. “Yes, I am.”

  “Then it should be fine. If he does anything too boss-like, just tell him you’re used to doing your job with no supervision.”

  “He probably knows that, I think.”

  “Probably. If he’s offering it and doesn’t think it would be a problem, then I don’t imagine it will be.”

  “Okay, I’m taking the job then.” She grinned as her last punch shook Jackson from his stance. “I’m excited.”

  “You should be. You got two jobs now, a boyfriend and the start of a Victoria Secret modeling career.”

  She punched his shoulder and he rubbed it tenderly. “Ow.”

  After two great classes and workouts she walked the few blocks home. She checked the mail, pleased to find her insurance check in it. After a shower she called a taxi to take her to the bank. She deposited the check and then took the taxi to the car dealership where she’d seen a Jeep Wrangler similar to her old one. She settled on a burnt orange color over the hunter green she had before. The salesman gave her a cheesy, excited grin as he handed her the finalized paperwork and keys.

  She pushed her tension down into her gut as she hopped in and breathed in the scent of a new car. She ran her hands over her steering wheel and fiddled with the buttons and gadgets until she felt comfortable with them. She drove home, a little nervously at first. When the breeze caught her hair and the sun warmed her skin, she finally settled, enjoying the comfortable ride.

  She pulled into her driveway and waved at her nosy neighbor. She stepped inside, excitement filling her over her new car. She could
n’t wait to show Dex and Jackson. She looked up and froze, tension building in her chest.

  Leo sat at her table, leaned back, one ankle over the other knee. His pale tan and green eyes locked on her. His black hair was slicked back and his broad shoulders and chest hid the chair he sat in.

  “Long time, no see, sister.”

  His voice sounded strange, overly friendly with underlying tension. He stood from the chair, his giant six-foot-three height towering over her five-foot-six. He eyed her with interest.

  “Aren’t you going to give your big brother a hug?”

  “What are you doing here?”

  “I was worried. Emerson said you haven’t reported in. Your last order wasn’t fulfilled. I thought something happened to you.” His jaw twitched. “I’m glad nothing did.”

  “I heard you got promoted. Congratulations.”

  His head tilted, studying her with his cool, unreadable eyes. “It was time. I earned it.”

  “How long are you staying?”

  “Maybe a day or two. Thought I’d stay with you, if that’s all right?” His question seemed like a challenge to say no.

  “Yeah, that’s fine. Actually I’m staying at my b…friend’s house. You can stay here, sleep in my bed.”

  His arms crossed over his chest. “You seeing someone?”

  She swallowed, nervous about discussing the subject. “Yes.”

  His eyes narrowed. “I’d like to meet him.”

  “Maybe, not sure about this visit. I think we have a lot of catching up to do.”

  His jaw twitched again. “Yes, we do. Want to have an early dinner? Unless you learned to cook.”

  Was he mocking her? Her gut tightened as her cheeks flushed. “No, I haven’t.”

  He gave what seemed like a sympathetic smile. “It’s okay, Awn, you can’t be good at everything.” He moved forward, his movements fluid and confident. “Where to?”

  “I know a good Thai place a few blocks away.”

  “You always did like Asian food. Sure. It’ll be my treat.”

  Leo’s large hand took hold of the small of her back and nudged her to a table he pointed at. “Let’s sit back there, where it’s private.”

  He glanced at her belt, running his finger across it. “Still wear it everywhere you go?”

  She took the seat across from him. “Lately, yes.”

  “Why’s that?”

  The waitress brought two menus and two cups of water. “Drinks?”

  “Sweet tea,” Anya answered.

  “A beer if you serve them.”

  The waitress nodded and scurried away.

  Leo leaned on the table. It shifted beneath his weight. “You were saying.”

  “Yes, I wear it a lot. It’s one of my favorite weapons.”

  “Hmm, I like the long blade or hand to hand myself.” He glanced at the menu. “What’s good here?”

  She pointed to the menu. “The garlic and black pepper chicken. It’s got just the right amount of spice.”

  His eyes roamed over the menu. “I think I’ll go with the ginger chicken.”

  She couldn’t take the on-the-surface niceties anymore. She closed her menu and set it on the table with a thump. “When did you realize you’re a demon? When did your transformation happen?”

  Leo leaned back in the chair, his lips curving upward into a humored smirk. “High school. Happened after a football game loss. I’d taken a hit from a player on the opposite team, busted my shoulder pretty good and affected my throw. We lost the game because of it. That night I put my fist through a door as I transformed. Fortunately one of my abilities is I heal quickly. A few days later my torn rotator cuff had healed. I was good to play the next game.”

  Her brows raised as she clicked her tongue against her cheek. The waitress returned with their drinks.

  “Ready?”

  “Garlic and black pepper chicken.”

  Leo handed her the menus.

  “Ginger chicken.”

  She dashed away. Anya’s eyes narrowed on Leo. “Makes sense why you never got injured. Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “I didn’t know if you were the same. Father swore me to secrecy. Told me you couldn’t know. That you were better off naïve to what we were. You never showed any signs of being like us. I think father actually believed you were more human. When did you transform and what did you transform into, little sis?”

  “What did you transform into?”

  His eyes gleamed with apparent amusement. “A vuall demon.”

  “Makes sense why I never sensed you were a demon.”

  “Handuit, right?”

  She evaded the question. “How is it we are so different?”

  “Twins, but we didn’t share the same sac. Even from birth we craved individuality.” Leo adjusted in his chair, leaning forward, eyeing her carefully. “Are you a handuit demon, Anya?”

  “Is there something special about a handuit demon?”

  His jaw tensed. “Answer me, Anya.”

  “Yes, I am.”

  He leaned back, his tongue pushing against his teeth, making a sound of displeasure.

  “Now answer my question. Is a handuit demon special?”

  His eyes roamed over hers. “When did you transform?”

  “During a car accident when a shadow walker tried to kill me.”

  “A shadow walker? Did you piss one off?”

  She shook her head. “No, he said someone paid well for my death.”

  “Have you seen Dillon lately?”

  Her brows pinched inward. “Yes, right before his house went up in flames. I got out just in time to be caught in the claws of two furor demons.”

  He rubbed his hands together in front of him, his elbows resting on the table. “Have you reported all this to Emerson?”

  “I reported the shadow walker. He dismissed it. Didn’t seem worried.”

  “I should stay longer than a couple days. I think you’re receiving retaliation for a demon you’ve killed. I’ll report it to the board. We’ll bring you in if we have to. Keep you safe until we find out who is behind this.”

  She hadn’t expected that. He seemed worried and was quick to offer her protection. The waitress brought their food. She studied Leo as she ate, trying to read every detail of every facial and body movement.

  “Anya, you seem tense. What is it?”

  “You still haven’t answered my question. Is there something special about what I am?”

  He took another bite. His jaw tensed. “You’re one of the last handuit demons there are. You’re a special breed. Those wings of yours are impenetrable. An extraordinary defense mechanism. Clipping a feather from one of your wings can offer the recipient a lot of protection. If you draw the enzyme from the shaft of your feather, mix it into a tonic and drink it, the recipient will become stronger, age slower and their body will be nearly impenetrable. They could take a bullet and survive.”

  Her stomach knotted. “How do you know you can clip a feather and mix the enzyme into a tonic?”

  “Father did it with one of our mother’s.”

  Her dinner rose to her throat. She choked it back down. “He was a sick man. He used her to create us, used her for her wings, then he murdered her.”

  “Dillon tell you those things?”

  “Yes.”

  Leo nodded. “You shouldn’t believe everything Dillon told you. Our mother was a whore. She’d been having an affair with Dillon for a couple of years. Father found out. They fought and he accidentally hurt her. She died in the hospital. Mother gave one of her feathers to father to protect him.”

  Her eyes darted over the food she could no longer eat. She sank into her chair. She didn’t know what to believe or who to trust.

  “What else did Dillon lie to you about?”

  “Nothing.”

  “You sure?”

  “Yes.”

  “Glad I could clear that up for you.” He smiled after another mouthful. “It’s good to see you. Your transfor
mation did you good. The tattoos suit you.” He took another bite and swallowed. “Tell me about this boyfriend of yours. He treating you well?”

  She twisted the fork in her fingers, feeling protective of Dex. “He treats me very well.”

  “What’s his name? What’s he do for a living?”

  Anya set the fork down and let out a chuckle. “My personal life is not open for discussion.”

  “Embarrassed about dating a mere human?”

  “Something like that.”

  “How’s Jackson? You two still as close as school girls?”

  She rolled her eyes. “Yes, we’re still close. He filled the void when my own brother wanted nothing to do with me.”

  “Is that what you think? That I wanted nothing to do with you? Awn, I wanted to protect you from what I am, from others, from our parents’ dark past. The best way to do that was to stay away. To watch you from a distance and make sure you were always safe.”

  The tension in her chest softened.

  “I’m here now. It feels good to be open with you. Now that you know what we are, I’d like us to be close. I’m a little jealous that you’re closer with Jackson than you are me.”

  Maybe Dillon had lied to cover the affair. Maybe there was an explanation for why Dillon thought Leo was dangerous. Maybe she was right and someone else did send the shadow walker after her.

  “I’d like that too.”

  Leo paid the bill for them and placed his hand on her lower back as he walked them out. The gesture seemed protective. Maybe he really was here to make sure she hadn’t been hurt.

  “Is your Jeep new?”

  “Just got it today. My last one was totaled in the accident.”

  He hopped into the passenger seat. “Nice choice. Where to? What would you normally do if I wasn’t here?”

  She’d be at Dex’s by now. She pulled her cell phone from her pocket. “Just a minute. I need to send a text.”

  Leo showed up at my house. I’m okay. I don’t think he’s responsible for the shadow walker. He’s staying for a couple days. I’ll see you tonight after you get off work.

  Dex peeled his eyes away from his framing project. He read Anya’s text. Tension filled his chest. He wasn’t as sure as she was that Leo wasn’t responsible.