Hunter's Blood Special Edition (Cursed by Blood Saga)

by Marianne Morea

  Lily just stared at him. As his words registered, her face fell, her eyes wet with tears. She sucked in a breath, and the sound was between a choke and a whimper as she walked into his arms and rested her head on his chest. “This sucks, because I think I love you too.”

  His hand came up to rest on her back, and she felt him chuckle. “This isn’t funny Sean, what if I am infected? Will I turn into some kind of crazed beast like your brother?”

  He sobered instantly. “I don’t know. It could go either way. Our lab is supposed to have their latest results ready this morning. I’m supposed to be at a meeting in the clinic, but I wanted to see you first. Maybe you should come with me, now that you know. You might as well hear everything from the doctor first hand.”

  ***

  Lily couldn’t help her nerves as they entered the clinic. Biting her lip, she could feel everyone’s eyes on her as she walked in with Sean’s arm wrapped protectively around her shoulders. There were already five people in the reception area, including Mitch, Rissa and Stephanie. The room was quiet, but the tension thick, as the doctor hadn’t yet arrived.

  “Uncle Sean!” Stephanie squealed running up to him. “You did it! You hung up my picture! See it! It’s on the wall by the desk!”

  “I know sweetie. I hung it there myself.”

  Stephanie looked up at Lily, her curious eyes noticing the way her Uncle had his arm around her. “Who’s this?” she asked.

  Sean smiled down at the little girl. “This is my friend, Lily,” he said, sliding his gaze sideways toward the woman tucked under his arm. “Lily, this is my niece, Stephanie.”

  Lily smiled, taking in the girl’s pretty strawberry curls and inquisitive eyes. “Hi, Stephanie,” she said. “Your drawing is beautiful. Horses are my favorite animal, too.”

  Tilting her head to one side, Stephanie studied Lily for a moment. Her drawing forgotten, she seemed to study the pretty dark haired lady standing so close to her uncle. Lily stiffened. Waves of power flowed in and over her mind while clumsy, little jabs, probed her thoughts like ten sticky, little fingers.

  The sheer magnitude of the power Stephanie possessed was unbelievable. Too stunned to react, Lily scrambled, trying to close the little girl out of her mind. Lily’s memories were hard enough for an adult to bear, let alone for a child. But it was too late.

  Backing away, Stephanie’s eyes filled with fear. “You’re bad. You’re not our friend. Uncle Sean, come on, come on…she’s bad…that lady hurt my daddy!” She insisted, tugging on Sean’s arm, trying to pull him away from Lily.

  The room went silent. “Stephanie!” Rissa scolded. “Apologize, this instant!” Mitch held Rissa’s hand, his face hardening as he stared at Lily.

  Stephanie’s small lips trembled. She opened her mouth to do what her mother asked, but instead started to cry. Running back across the room, she buried her face in her mother’s lap.

  Rissa looked at Lily, the pain in her eyes obvious. “I’m sorry. Stephanie doesn’t understand the gravity of what’s going on, or what actually happened with her father.” The woman’s voice broke. “She only knows that he’s gone. You’ll have to forgive her, she’s only four.”

  Lily couldn’t bring herself to speak. There wasn’t a hint of accusation in the woman’s voice, only grace and sympathy. She had to blink back her own tears watching Rissa comfort her child, and her heart broke for the two of them.

  Terry shimmered next to Lily. “I guess I can stop holding my breath now, huh? You finally found one.”

  Lily just nodded, tears running down her face. “I certainly did find one.”

  “Found what?” Sean asked a little confused.

  “Another reason to stop hating,” Lily answered squeezing his hand. Letting go, she took a breath and stepped closer to Stephanie.

  Looking down at the mother and child, Lily’s heart broke again watching the little girl’s tiny shoulders shake in grief and fear.

  Lily knelt down next to her. Stephanie hid her face while her mother whispered softly, rubbing her back. Mitch stood, his fists clenched at his sides. “Leave Stephanie alone. I think you’ve done enough damage for one day.”

  Rissa eyes locked on Lily’s. “It’s okay, Mitch. If Sean trusts her, then I do. She’s not going to harm Stephanie. Let her speak.” With a nod to Lily, she sat back, giving her room to get closer.

  Lily didn’t say a word. Instead, she laid her hand gently on the child’s arm. “Stephanie, I know what you saw in my head scared you, but please, I need you to listen to me. Your daddy was terribly sick, only he didn’t know it. He didn’t know what was wrong or what was making him do the things he did. Your Uncle Sean tried to help him, but it was too late. I hope someday you can understand. I’m so very, very, sorry.”

  She let Stephanie see how heartbroken she was for hurting her and her mother. She let her see her own grief, but also let her know she didn’t have a choice in what happened, making sure to shield her from any further memories.

  Slowly Stephanie turned her head, resting her tearstained cheek on her mother lap. Her eyes found Lily’s, but she remained silent.

  Rissa’s hand gently stroked her daughter’s hair. As her finger glided through the soft curls, she glanced at Lily. “Because Stephanie is so young, we still share a mind link. I heard everything you said to her. I apologize for her intrusion into your thoughts. I’ve been trying to teach her that just because she can, doesn’t mean she should. Her psychic gifts go way beyond that of simple telepathy—not unlike your own. She’s just barely four years old and it’s a bit much to master.” Shrugging, Rissa exhaled sadly. “I’m afraid she doesn’t quite get the concept of privacy. This entire situation has been hard on all of us, but your words did help, and for that, I’m grateful. Hopefully, Stephanie will understand more as she gets older.”

  Dr. Volkmann walked into the waiting room like a hurricane, oblivious to the tension already swirling around the room.

  “Good, good, you’re all here. The lab results are in. Let’s talk in the examination room as there’s too many of us to squeeze into my office.”

  Sean helped Lily to her feet. Winking at Rissa, he helped hand off Stephanie to one of the nurses before heading toward the examination room. “Doc, this is Lily Saburi, the girl whose blood you’ve been testing,” Sean introduced them, trying to be delicate.

  “Oh. I wasn’t expecting to see you, my dear. Why don’t you stay in the waiting room while I talk to Sean? I think you’ll be more comfortable out here.”

  Sean felt Lily stiffen. “Doc, she already knows, so we might as well include her in the conversation, especially since it directly affects her.”

  Volkmann took a deep breath, looking back and forth between the two. “All right, this way then,” he motioned, opening the door.

  The room was a large examination suite. They filed in one after the other, pairing off on either side of the tiled floor. Volkmann stood by the exam table against the wall, rifling through his files, his wire rim glasses perched on the edge of his nose.

  “Jesus, Doc, enough with the paperwork. What did the lab find?” Mitch asked impatiently.

  “Yes, of course, I’m sorry,” the doctor said clearing his voice. “There’s just no easy way for me to say this, so I’m just going to say it. The results from the last round of tests were all positive.”

  Rissa buried her face in Mitch’s chest, his jaw tightening as his arms went around her shoulders.

  Stunned, Lily’s breath froze in her throat. The little man in the white coat had just handed her a death sentence. One way or the other she was going to die, either by Sean’s hand or by her own. There was no way she was going to allow herself to become some mindless, beast.

  Sean’s face was grim. There was no way out, now. In one day, Lily wouldn’t be Lily anymore. He felt his anger rise, and clenching his fists he turned and punched the opaque glass separating the two rooms causing it to shatter. The people in the waiting room screamed as Sean growled for them to get out!”
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  Stephanie cried for her mother, her arms flailing as a nurse scooped her up and took her out of the room, mumbling something about ice cream while the rest of the patients fled.

  “Leighton, please! I haven’t finished. Rissa’s prognosis isn’t as bad as it seems, at least not yet. Her being pregnant is actually a Godsend in more ways than one. It actually buys us time. Not only for her, but for the baby as well.”

  “What exactly are you talking about, Doc.? Are you trying to tell us you’ve found a cure?” Mitch demanded as Rissa looked up, sniffling. “Could you just spit it out? We’re upset enough. If you can offer us some hope then get to it and stop beating around the bush.”

  Volkmann nodded. “Of, course, of course.” With a grim look, he peered over the edge of his wire rim glasses at Lily. “Rissa’s hope is standing right over there.”

  Sean looked at the doctor in disbelief. “What are you talking about? You just said Lily was infected. How does that make her a hope for Rissa and the baby?”

  “Her blood. The type of antibody it’s begun to produce is highly effective and can be distilled into a vaccine. It won’t cure her, but we can harvest her blood to provide a cure for us.”

  Incredulous Lily started to back away. “No! No way…you’re all crazy!” There was no way in hell she was going to let them keep her as some kind of lab animal. Harvest her blood…no fucking way!

  “Where are you going? I haven’t finished yet,” Volkmann barked after her.

  “Oh, yes you have! Keep away from me! I’d rather die than let you use me like that.” Panicking she ran for the door, but couldn’t get it open. She was trapped.

  Mitch lunged for her throat. “You fucking bitch! If you won’t help us, then I’ll kill you and drain your carcass myself!”

  Lily screamed. In a blur of speed, Sean phased, vaulting over Mitch. Teeth bared he stood between them. With a sneer, Mitch reeled back, phasing on the fly, as well. The two wolves hurdled forward, snarling and with jaws snapping, their large bodies colliding in mid-air as they fought, fur and blood flying around the room. The noise was deafening.

  Sean grabbed Mitch by the throat, his teeth shredding skin and clothing, before sending him crashing into the side wall. Volkmann grabbed Rissa, pulling her out of the way, yelling for Lily to get down. Mitch reared back, the muscles in his hind legs coiling as he rebounded, lunging for Sean again, blood coating his massive chest.

  Rissa covered her ears, her color draining with each snarl and yelp.

  “Can’t we stop them? They’re going to kill each other, and it won’t change a thing,” Lily shouted her voice desperate.

  The two wolves crashed into the examination table. The room was in chaos, papers, broken glass and instruments everywhere. Volkmann ordered the women to the far wall, away from the frenzy. With the door blocked, his gaze flicked to the side cabinets and the only option left. As best he could, the doctor crawled across the floor and grabbed a tranquilizer gun from one of the smashed supply cabinet drawers. Fisting as many cartridges as he could hold, Volkmann loaded the cannon, praying Sean’s presence of mind was still intact before he pulled the trigger, aiming for Mitch.

  The large wolf reeled back before slumping to the ground in a silent heap. Sean’s wolf froze. Sniffing the air, he growled, swiveling his big head in Volkmann’s direction. Gun ready, the doctor tranquilized him next, and the alpha wolf chuffed out a soft whine before sliding to the ground, as well.

  Volkmann’s shoulders slumped, and he dropped the gun, the sudden quiet, unnerving. Lily glanced at Rissa who looked as if she would pass out at any second.

  “I’m sorry, Rissa. I’ll give the Doc as much of my blood as I can until it’s too late. Hopefully, that’ll be enough to help you, but I can’t allow myself to be used as some sort of caged lab rat.”

  Volkmann stood up and brushed the debris from his knees, his eyes flicking between the two women. “Lab rat? What are you talking about? Who said we planned cage you like an animal?”

  “I was just being figurative, Doc. Nevertheless, I won’t let you keep me alive in that crazed state just so you can harvest my blood.”

  Volkmann frowned. “That’s why there’s no place for this kind of emotion in my research lab. You didn’t allow me to finish, none of you did before this craziness erupted! While it’s true, your blood tested positive for the pathogen, for some reason you are asymptomatic. Your human blood is immune. All tests show your blood wouldn’t allow the pathogen to alter your DNA. When Jerard bit you, he passed on some of his Were traits, but not enough to activate the virus. Since you can’t phase, you have the unique opportunity to have your own antibodies build to the point that even if you were to become a full Were, you would never be at risk for infection.”

  Lily looked at him in confusion. “I don’t understand.”

  “In this instance, your blood is like a fine wine. The longer it sits intact in your body, the better it will become. Preliminary tests have already shown it’s a powerful antiviral. God willing, everything will turn out fine, for everyone.”

  Rissa sobbed openly after hearing what the doctor had to say, and Lily wrapped her arms around her in reassurance.

  The little man smiled, patting Lily’s arm. With a wink, he jerked his head toward the larger of the two wolves just starting to stir. “Just don’t let him turn you, yet. Give it a year. That way we can be absolutely sure. After that…well, it’s up to you to decide if you want to race the moon with him,” he added with a shy smile. “So, will you help us?”

  Lily laughed, heat rising to the tips of her ears. “Of course, but can we stop these two from killing each other long enough to tell them the good news?”

  Chapter Eight

  ***

  Sean stood by the window waiting for Lily. It was open, and an early winter breeze drifted past carrying the scent of snow. Filling his lungs, he exhaled. The moon had crested, and it paced back and forth behind the clouds mirroring his impatience. “What’s taking you so long, Lily? You already know almost everyone on the Hunter’s Council. Tonight is just a formality.”

  The statement was true, despite the grumbling from a few traditional dogmatists. The Compound had its share of detractors, there was no denying that—still, no one in their right mind could deny the service and sacrifice Lily had given the community of Weres. She deserved this honor, and everyone knew it.

  “Relax. It’s not like they can start without us. Besides, I’m almost done,” Lily called from behind the bathroom door. “Don’t you want me to look nice?”

  Sean grunted. “That question is as loaded as one of your guns. I’ll tell you this, though, if you don’t hurry it up I’m coming in and carrying you out over my shoulder.”

  “Hmmmff,” was her only response.

  A month had gone by in a blur, so much so Sean could swear he had vertigo. Lily had gone from unknown quantity, to a possible threat, to lover and savior in one moon cycle. Adventure and miracle all wrapped up in one petite woman.

  As much as Sean hated gossip, this time the rumor mill had worked in his favor. There was no way he or his hunters could have spread the word that quickly. A test vaccine had been developed, and the initial results were remarkable, even Rissa and her unborn baby were responding well.

  Thanks to Lily, this typically volatile community had found a way to rally. So far, so good. Of course, he and Mitch would never live down the havoc they caused in the clinic that day. Volkmann and his staff would certainly see to that.

  Even so, people viewed Lily as a Godsend, so it was only fitting the Hunter’s Council acknowledge that. Tonight they would hold a blood rites ritual—an ancient act of initiation and acceptance. Originally used to unite different clans in kinship, today it was more symbolic, a traditional ceremony used to honor and acknowledge those who have been of great service to the pack. No one had actually demanded a true bloodletting in ages.

  Lily opened the door. Sean’s eyes swept the full length of her petite frame. “You look beautiful,�
�� he said, swallowing back the comment he had waiting for her on how long it took.

  She had traded her standard of black leather pants and biker jacket for a creamy cotton sweater dress. The knee length, clingy knit hugged every lush curve, while a low, square neckline dropped from her shoulders to skim the top of her breasts, tiny ruffled edges highlighting her cleavage. Her dark hair was curled and pulled back, falling softly to her shoulders, and high-heeled, winter white boots replaced her usual shit-kickers.

  “Too much?” she asked, doing a little twirl.

  “No. You look fabulous. But who are you, and what have you done with Lily?”

  Without batting an eye Lily pivoted, landing a perfect spinning back kick to his solar plexus, the point of her heel nailing him dead center.

  Pivoting back around she stood, head cocked to one side and her hands on her hips watching him recover his breath.

  “Who’s afraid of the big bad wolf?” she teased.

  Sean’s hand shot out like lightening, grabbing her around her waist and pulling her down in one fluid motion. Dipping her back, he growled low, licking her throat from her cleavage to her ear. “You should be.”

  At the raspy feel of his tongue, Lily shivered but gritted her teeth. “Don’t presume there’s no fist in the glove just because it’s made of something soft.”

  Sean straightened, keeping her body close. “So dangerous,” he whispered into a kiss, deepening his fervor until its heat threatened to take them over.

  Breathless, she broke away. “I thought you wanted to get going? You’ve been sitting around grousing for an hour that people are waiting for us.”

  Throwing his head back, he laughed. “Okay killer, after you.” Releasing her waist, he stepped back, smacking her butt in the process.

  Lily rubbed her backside in feigned disgust. “Just like Terry…has to have the last word!”

  ***

  The two walked into the great hall. The room was enormous, big enough to host twice the two hundred guests invited this evening.