“It was nice to meet you all,” she said softly as they walked quickly from the room, entangled in each other happily.
I couldn’t focus. Soon it became a battle in my brain—to stay on my studies as best as I could and not risk becoming a vampire or to look through the textbook and figure out what had purple eyes. I was pretty sure of what I’d seen. The latter won out, and I worried the two boys by frantically ruffling through the textbooks. I considered my investigation a test for my soon-to-be hunter self.
“What are you doing? Forget a study note?” Sam teased, confused.
I found the page I was looking for. Succubus. I shut the book quickly and went back to my scribbles.
“Yeah, I just thought I might have missed something, but it’s all good. Everything’s sorted now.” I smiled up at him reassuringly. I satisfied his confusion enough to watch him return to his own work. Luca looked to be struggling with whatever he was rereading from the copies of notes he’d been given. “Everything okay, Luca?”
“I probably need a break to reset my brain back to study mode,” he replied. “I might just go for a run around the block.”
He didn’t wait for a reply. He just picked up his rowan-dipped knife and slid it into the belt my father had given him. Dad was so proud of him, and he wanted to learn whatever they could teach him, although admittedly it wasn’t much. It was frowned upon to be given too much extra teaching; you had to make it through these tests on your own. Luca headed out, leaving Sam and me downstairs to our own devices. I watched him move into a jog outside the front window and head off.
I looked up to see how focused Sam was; his eyebrows were pushed together as he concentrated on the page in front of him. He looked at it like he’d read it a million times, but somehow it was still a welcome friend. It was enchanting to see him at work, amending points with fresh eyes each time. Unfortunately, he felt my glance and looked up, leaving me unable to explain my staring.
“You good?” He smiled, surprised.
“Mm-hmm.” I nodded, unsure of what else to say or do but avert my gaze and bury myself in my notes again. After a while, the prickling on my neck reminded me that he could watch me while I aimlessly scribbled to look busy.
“So your parents don’t give you any help with becoming a hunter yourself?” he asked, breaking the silence and making me finally look up. I wasn’t sure why I was surprised to hear him converse with me, but it took a moment to process and answer.
“They’re not allowed to. It should be on my own,” I said. I had fought with my parents repeatedly in the past, pleading for even just the smallest tidbit of information that could put me ahead, but they were determined to follow the code. Most of what I knew was to keep me safe on the streets—rowan as a weakness, easy indicators and eye colors for the most common dangerous supernaturals. “But no, they don’t give me helping hands. They play by the rules. Does your brother?”
“He doesn’t have secrets like your parents do, but yes, he does. He gives me pointers. He hated history in that school, but he’s more focused on sparring with me and being sure of the situational stuff.”
“I don’t know if I can spar well yet. Would you be able to spar with me at some point before the final testing?” I asked, knowing he’d had preparation. There were no second chances. This would decide my future.
“Certainly,” he said unflinchingly. “So … is there anything between you and Luca? I know he said there was nothing, but I just wanted to check with you too.”
“Huh? No, nothing! Best friends, is all.”
“You look after him pretty well,” Sam pointed out.
“He looks after me more than I do him.” I laughed, slightly confused at what Sam had observed. “It’s almost always been one-sided in that respect.”
“Not anymore.” Sam smiled wholeheartedly. “How did you two get to be so close anyway?”
“Um …” I stopped, remembering things I was terrified of. I knew I could trust Sam, maybe even with my life, but sometimes it felt too painful to think about what Luca had done for me. I owed him my life. “When I was younger, I got myself into a bad situation with a supernatural. We were eight at the time, and he walked into the situation and got both of us out of it.”
“Wow,” he breathed. “It’s good that he got both of you out of there unscathed.”
“I wouldn’t say unscathed.” I pulled down the shoulder of my sports singlet, turning and showing him the middle of my upper back. He could see the scars of teeth that had held my small body in its grasp. I turned around and faced away from him. And despite the years, I tried not to cry. “Luca has been my protector from the day I met him.”
I could feel him moving, no doubt shifting uncomfortably in his seat at the sight. I shivered as his cold fingers touched the scars, and I turned my head to see Sam mesmerized by them.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered. I pulled my sleeve back up and turned to the table, refocusing intently on my work. Reluctantly, Sam did the same.
CHAPTER 8
Bianca
I was finally at the gym with Luca and Sam. Usually I left my exercising to times when I was running or doing reps at home. I tried to avoid the gym, but here I was.
The boys had me punching the sandbag.
“No, you need to use your hips to help power your arms,” Sam insisted, so I twisted my body side to side with each punch, but it felt like I was getting worse. “No, have your stance kind of side on. One foot farther forward than the other. Good. Now when you punch, feel the power from behind your shoulder. Twist your hips a little to help push your upper body forward.”
I punched, and I could already feel my arm muscles complain. Crap, I was in need of some extra muscle. I was fit, I knew that, but strength was not my strong suit.
“Good,” he finished, leaving me to push my body with each punch. Eventually, the sandbag started to swing, and Sam came to steady it, almost hugging it as he watched me, amused.
“You’re getting there. At home, you need to do things that you usually don’t. Do you do push-ups at home?”
“No. Just sit-ups and core things,” I admitted sheepishly. He didn’t need to answer. The look on his face told me what I should be doing.
After a while, he decided I had done enough boxing and encouraged me to the mats in the middle of the gym. I didn’t know any of the basics of fighting.
“You’re small and fast when you want to be. That will be a good strength for you, if you can use it,” he pressed. “First, the basic punches and blocks for karate now that you’ve got the stance I taught you down.”
The hour following was hell. Everything ached as I pushed each block, kick, and punch to its limit. By the end, he started throwing his own punches and expecting me to dodge or block. He was fast though, and I never got to press an advantage. I quickly learned how to avoid the hits. The pain minimized. I would be going home with bruises.
“Done. But you’re going to need to practice it.”
I nodded, knowing this was only the start.
* * *
We were studying at Sam’s. Again. Luca wasn’t there; he’d chosen to study on his own. I should have done the same. Sam’s closeness had me reading the same sentence repeatedly. My skin was on fire every time we brushed each other, and the heat in my face was becoming embarrassing.
“I need a glass of water,” I said, cutting into the silence and abruptly moving into the kitchen. I braced myself against the sink, willing myself to cool down and focus. I grabbed a glass from the cupboard above me and filled it up. It went down my throat quickly, and I reached to fill it again.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you were in here,” a female voice said, making me turn in surprise. Lucinda wandered around me, letting her hair fall to cover her eyes as she too went to get some water.
“You’re a succubus,” I whispered. The moment the words left my mouth, I
could feel myself shaking, as if she might simply reach out and kill me with a single swipe. She lifted her face, not trying to hide her features anymore, and her purple eyes greeted me.
“I am,” she said with half a smile. “There’s nothing wrong with that.”
“It’s just unusual for humans and supernaturals to be involved,” I said, trying to hint at my suspicions. “I don’t know what your kind does, but I’m keeping an eye out for Sam’s family.”
“I’m glad, but I just want to be with him like I have since the day I met him,” she replied, and I could see how much she meant it.
“Sorry for prying,” I said, feeling uncomfortable. “I’ll leave you to it.”
I retreated to my study spot beside Sam, somewhat glad to feel the warm brushes once again. I still couldn’t concentrate, and when I looked at the clock, all I could think about was the eighteen hours till final examination.
“What happens if I fail something tomorrow?” I sighed, finally making him look at me.
“You won’t. You’re ready. And if you stay focused, you’ll succeed with flying colors,” he said. I wished I could have the confidence in me that he had. But then again, Luca had always reminded me that I didn’t have the trust in myself that I should. “Actually, I’ve got something for you.”
I was confused as I watched him get up from the table and quickly head upstairs. He came down the stairs with a hand behind his back and a playful smile plastered on his face. He stood near me, expectant.
“Close your eyes and put your hand out,” he said, and I did. I felt light touches on my wrist, and when I opened my eyes, I was greeted with a black-and-brown weaved leather band. It wasn’t breathtaking like a glorious jewel, but it seemed to fit there on my wrist perfectly. “It’s supposed to be good luck. There’s a stone underneath that presses against the skin, and witches have used it for centuries for protection.”
“But you can’t trust witches!” I said, blurting out the obvious. He didn’t seem deterred by my abrupt statement.
“I know, but that doesn’t mean it has less power. I thought it would be a nice sentiment,” he replied slowly, the grin slowly fading. I could see he’d thought it a good idea despite my fear of dark supernaturals. No one trusted witches; they were humans that had surrendered their souls to darkness.
“It is! I’m sorry for freaking out. Thank you!” I stammered quickly, trying to save his feelings. It really was a nice thought. “This will get me through the exam in one piece, I’m sure.”
CHAPTER 9
Bianca
The final decision. I could feel my hands starting to sweat as my brain went over every scenario and every possibility that wouldn’t make me a hunter. I scanned my peers, most of them I only knew in passing, and I could already tell the students who had obviously failed sections of their schooling. The ones who failed only the physical would be put into intelligence-based work—jobs that could help the fae determine antidotes or medicines for new or yet uncured magickal illness and hybrid viruses, advanced technologies, and help with alchemy. The student that failed the academic faced something new entirely. They had good physical results and could fight and protect, but they didn’t have the quick thinking and problem-solving it took to be a hunter. The more successful of the physical students would be bitten and claimed as wolf shape-shifters, whereas those less physically inclined with no academic success would be allocated to the vampires, trading blood for protection. And maybe in time they would receive the bite. No one could say for sure. From what I knew, though, neither supernatural life was an easy option from the choosing.
We all waited, though, each as nervous as the other.
Click.
I slid the pocket knife in and out of its safety catch inside my pocket, trying to find something to keep me occupied, channeling my nervous energy into a dangerous weapon, and making my best friend standing beside me even more nervous.
Click.
“You’re going to be fine.” Luca smiled at me, straining his lips with effort as he stood to my right, and I understood.
Click.
He looked like he was about to say something else, when the elders came through the doors, and all hushed. Anxious whispers were now silenced. Each elder came from different walks of life—wolf, vamp, fae, and hunter. The main groups were represented. There were of course others, and any species that wanted could try to be an elder, except witches. I looked at each of the elders and tried to recite what facts I could about each, keeping my mind distracted.
Vladamir Bâsescu, one of the oldest vampires in existence, had helped to create the feeding-protection program. About 2,500 years old, he looked to be ninety human years old, which was a nice way of saying he looked really young for his actual age.
Huxley Darch, alpha of the largest pack known to this world, became an elder to ensure his species’ survival and protection. He was 500 and still looked like a hot thirty-year-old.
Click.
Kenrick Dubois—part of the Royal Fae Court. His brother was the king of the Seelie Court before the prince married and took over rule in the Tir Na Nog. The Tir Na Nog was the Land of Youth, a realm within the Otherworld where the fae—including elves, banshees, faeries, trolls, dryads, and more—resided. More often it was the place they went to for peace from all others. He became an elder for diplomacy. In peaceful times, he was one of the few fae hunters would ever get to meet. The rest hid in their realm—the Otherworld. They did not like to deal with anything but themselves and had had a very long-running rivalry with witches.
Click.
Axton Gates. At fifty years old, descendant of the first hunter, he became the best hunter within two years of leaving extended hunter training. The only things to defeat him were fae, and they had taken two of his three lives.
Click.
Axton stepped forward and called a list of names. One by one, they all moved away from our group. I knew no names in it, but I watched as the kitsunes stood ready and forward during each announcement of assigned roles in case of trouble. I watched as students in the called group started to cry, not for lost friends, but because there was nothing they could do. This group would become assistants in alchemy, tech, medicine, and several other academic-based professions.
Click.
Some looked relieved, others disappointed. A sigh of relief escaped my lips. I hadn’t failed the physical, but I still had no idea about the academic or the problem-solving. The next list was read.
Luca Fay.
My blood ran cold as my best friend reluctantly stepped forward.
Click.
He wouldn’t have failed the academic or physical. No, that couldn’t be right. I wanted to be a hunter with Luca, not any sort of recruit. As the list title was read, I processed it—wolf recruit.
I wasn’t in control of my body; I ran for my best friend. The kitsunes were fast, holding me back in the line as I thrashed uselessly, tears falling faster and faster. I was losing my best friend. The electricity jolted through my body as one of the thunder-type kitsunes gave up on letting me struggle, and my body fell to the floor. But I paid it no attention. I was breathing hard as I waited for the burning and tingling to subside, waiting for my body to have pain-free nerve feeling once again. The elders remained calm and complacent, their eyes stroking over everything as if nothing was wrong. There wasn’t even a pause as they glanced over me, still on the floor. My best friend was gone, and his multiple lives didn’t matter anymore. He would be stripped of his two extra lives and given the strength of the full moon and new brothers. He wouldn’t even know my fate.
The next list was called—again, no names I knew well—and titled Vampire Recruits. I was still on the floor, relieved yet still broken, my body finally starting to respond again. There was one group left, and it was one I wanted, but I’d always imagined me standing here triumphant with my best friend. I slowly made my way to m
y feet as the last list was read.
“Samuel Fresca,” Axton called, and the man to my left stepped forward, a triumphant grin on his face. He turned and smiled at me, only wavering a little as he imagined what I must be going through.
“Sorry,” he said, his blue eyes conveying everything else before the smile took over his face again as the next name was called.
“Bianca Delacroix.” I stepped forward, nodding to Sam and letting myself celebrate a little. I had passed every aspect of the training. I made it.
I forced myself to follow my fellow hunter recruits, stroking the leather band on my wrist, headed toward my new future.
CHAPTER 10
Bianca
The gym was quiet. I guess not every hunter thought working out at 3 a.m. was a good idea. Once again, it seemed that sleep and I were not good friends. I had been stuck in the hunter facility for two weeks, and I still had fifty weeks to go. It was hard, and despite my parents telling me so, I assumed it was easier than this. In my dreams, I always imagined Luca cracking jokes when times got hard and always being there. I changed in the locker room into my sweatpants and sports bra before going back out to the empty gym. At first I was bored and found ways to keep myself distracted from sleep, practicing gymnastics moves they had started to teach the agile people to give them a fighting edge. I flipped, balanced, and worked on my strength, but eventually the need to hit something overtook my need to be distracted. I wrapped my knuckles and fought my own thoughts.
I hadn’t seen my family in two weeks either. Not that it was a long time, but I didn’t even have the chance to say goodbye after the ceremony. No one had; they didn’t want to run the risk of people being able to run away from their new destinies or have parents trying to fight it. We were all moved into the facility quickly; our only company were the other hunters or teachers. Half of them got on my nerves, and the other half I didn’t know yet because I’d been too busy getting beaten on my ass. I felt like an amateur next to the other new hunters. I wasn’t picking up things as quickly as everyone else. I thought I would be good at this. On top of that, I missed Luca; he was the one I usually went to when I wanted to talk about my issues. I’d heard at the start that the shifters’ new life felt like every bone breaking into a shape.
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