Masters of the Hunt: Fated and Forbidden

by Sarra Cannon

  “How so?” Slick’s curiosity would win out every time, even over his hate for vampires—or at least one vampire. Sometimes it was hard to tell if his prejudice extended to them all or just the one.

  “Well, apparently phage eat raw flesh, but can’t drink blood.” She sniffed the air as Slick put the car in park.

  “Wouldn’t that put vamps firmly in the suspect category?” Casting some sniffs of his own, he shifted to the bloodhound’s nose.

  She tried not to laugh at the dog’s wide nostrils on his face. “No. Considering the victims had pieces of their flesh torn like animal attacks, it’d put the phage as suspect number one.” A pickup truck barreled down the street. They waited for it to pass, before exiting the car. “They’d have to drain the blood first...before feeding.”

  “If that’s true, then where did the blood go? Wouldn’t it have been on the floor or something?” As they approached the walkway, Slick took the lead and motioned for her to guard his back.

  His taking point put her hackles up, but she was the better shot. Smarter to cover him. “Good point. But my money’s still on newbie phage as our perp murderers and maybe a political rival as the head douchebag.” She tapped his shoulder and pointed toward the house at the end of the block. “Although, I wouldn’t necessarily rule out someone with a grudge against Sera herself. It may have nothing to do with her father.”

  “Then, why the blackmail? Guess we’ll just have to wait and see who’s right.” He nodded at her direction.

  The house was coated in pale siding and sat on a wide cul-de-sac. The front door and windows possessed iron bars that appeared out of place with the quiet residential neighborhood. A set of dilapidated wood steps led up to a worn porch. Jame spotted the 108 in white letters over the mailbox, ensuring they had the right place.

  “Hopefully, we won’t have to wait long to see who wins our bet.” She held up a finger to her lips, whispering, “Let’s scope this out first. I’ll go right, you go left, and we’ll meet around back.”

  “Works for me.” Slick palmed his gun and aimed it at the ground, taking off down the left side.

  Unease settled around Jame as she worked her way along the right side of the home. Nine times out of ten, her weapon of choice was her shifting abilities, but today the touch of firepower in her grip gave her a measure of comfort. A buzzing nagged at the back of her mind. Something’s off.

  She sucked in the air, capturing every scent. The night surrounded her cool and crisp, calling to her shifter nature. Moisture clung to the unkempt lawn, making the grass smell fresh and wild. Insects moved between the green blades, tiny sentinels tracking her motions. She put her back to the wall and proceeded with measured steps.

  So quiet. She peered into the darkness, watching her feet to avoid walking on anything that would risk breaking the silence. Crouching, she stalked along the ground like a fox. Only the faint scuffle of rubber on dirt betrayed her movements. Looks like no one’s home.

  Her eyes shot upward. A soft breeze fluttered a curtain beside the window above her head. The motion drew her gaze to the wood ledge. A potted plant rested upon it, bringing the fragrance of lilies. The cracked window gave no more than two inches of space, but it would be an ideal way in, if not for the bars. “Damn it.”

  A faint aroma wafted toward her, but between the flowers and the damp grass, she couldn’t get a fix enough to identify it. She snorted and pressed on. Spotting no other entry points, she rounded toward the back of the house. Slick stood waiting for her with his hands crossed over his chest.

  “Seems we came all this way for nothing.” His gun rested safe in its holster. Jame would have preferred it gripped in his hands. The unease continued to scratch at her mind. “Lights are all out. Windows are barred. And we don’t have a warrant.”

  “When has that stopped us before?” She raised her eyebrows, feigning nonchalance, but couldn’t stop her gaze from sweeping over the backyard and the house. Everything appeared mundane—small square shed, small square porch, small square yard, plain suburban home. So, why did ice trickle down her spine?

  “True.” He palmed his gun, much to her relief, and waved toward the back door. “Come on.”

  She didn’t move an inch. “Don’t want to knock on the front?”

  “Why? To let the whole neighborhood know we’re here?” His foot rested on the porch step as he pivoted toward her.

  “Right.” The gnawing grew stronger as if a spider crawled inside her skull. “Slick, hold up a minute. Let me go first.”

  “Why should you have all the glory?” He laughed low, then stopped.

  Her body tensed, the urge to get the hell out of there too strong to fight.

  “What is it?” He put a firm hand on her shoulder.

  “Bad karma or something. This doesn’t feel right.” A cloud covered the moon as she spoke, bathing the simple backyard in a black wash. The shed loomed out of the darkness like a phantom. The porch grew bigger as if it would swallow up her partner. The yard tripled in size making escape so far away. What is this, a panic attack? You’re second-in-command and lead on this bust. Ease off the paranoia.

  “Hey, it’s okay.” He pulled her by the elbow, forcing her feet into motion. “Happens to all of us.”

  “I have it under control.” She shrugged and tried to shake off the feeling. “Go ahead. I got you covered.”

  Jame followed him up the porch steps, scanning the surrounding area for a sign of what was bugging her. The wind swirled about the yard, kicking up stray leaves and tantalizing her with new scents. She blocked out everything and focused on the task. Her eyes snapped to the door handle as Slick turned the knob and found it unlocked.

  “Hell and a half,” he said, snatching his hand away. “That’s weird. Barred windows, but an open back door?” He brought his gun to chest level and aimed at the door. “Move back a step. I’m not taking chances.” His fingers curled around the knob again. “On three. One...two...”

  Time ceased in an instant. As Slick called out three and the door creaked open, the odor hit her and realization smacked her upside the head. The nagging in her mind exploded into clear awareness as the door blew to fragmented bits of wood and metal. A fireball erupted and the last thought to register through her consciousness, the last piece of the puzzle that had escaped her was the oily scent that had been masked by the fragrant night. It all tied together in a single word—bomb.

  Chapter 20

  GRAND LUX HOTEL, CALGARY, ALBERTA

  “Flippin’ A. This is definitely not Kansas.” Sera’s eyes widened like oversized tires. She spun in a circle, almost stumbling into the granite covered concierge desk.

  Talon suppressed a smile. Every second in her company hacked a piece from the carefully constructed wall around his heart. Her voice alone made him want to shirk his duty—honor be damned—and carry her to his bed. Watching her gasp in awe at the hotel’s opulent lobby reminded him of her gasps in a far more intimate setting. His body hardened in response.

  “No.” The word escaped him dark and sensual. He cleared his throat. It didn’t help. “Not Kansas.”

  Her gaze snapped to his face, holding him captive with a magnetic pull. She pushed a strand of amber gold hair behind her ear. A blush crept to her cheeks, which she tried to hide behind a coy smile. “So, how’s this five star gaudy palace supposed to be safe?”

  “Don’t let the Taj Mahal feel fool you.” He winked and patted a marble column. “This place is more secure than Fort Knox. Makes that old military relic look like a child’s toy.” Thrusting his chin toward the chandeliers, he pointed out the crystals along each rung. “See those?” He leaned close to whisper in her ear. “All cameras. Three hundred and sixty degrees of pure surveillance.”

  She angled toward him, their lips inches apart. “And does that surveillance go everywhere?” Her breath came hot and fast on his neck.

  A deep yearning coursed through his veins. Desire so strong, he beat down the intense sensation with nothing but
iron will. Not even the shifter urge in his youth had burned this bad. “Holy hell, Sera.” He muttered her name low like a prayer and a curse wrapped in one. He palmed her cheek, unable to resist touching her smooth skin. His thumb feathered across her lips. As she drew a quick intake of breath, he damned his weakness and let his hand fall to his side. “What were we talking about?”

  “Cameras,” she said, but her voice hitched at the end, hinting at uncertainty.

  “Right.” He cupped her elbow and guided her to the check-in counter. The woman behind the desk nodded to them with a smile. Her chestnut brown hair trailed down her back in an elaborate braid. Her hotel attire, a black suit jacket and matching skirt, screamed sophistication. Any other time, Talon might have found her attractive, but with Sera by his side, the receptionist held no appeal for him. He slapped his PCD ID on the counter. “We need a secure room.”

  “Yes, sir.” The smile never left the woman’s face. She picked up the ID, punched his number into the computer, and nodded. Two electronic key cards sputtered out of the machine complete with visible microchips. She scanned them both, running an infrared light over the plastic. A low beeping emitted from the computer. Holding the keys by the outer edge, she placed them both on the counter. “Please press your thumb onto each key, Agent Rede. Your room number will be imprinted onto the keys with your fingerprint authentication.”

  “Thanks.” Talon placed his thumbs on the plastic. The cards shone the number 306 in black, then disappeared. He leaned over the counter, looked the receptionist in the eye, and inclined his head over his shoulder. In a hushed tone, he said, “I need twenty-four hour monitoring in the hallway and any entrance points into the room.”

  “Not a problem, sir. I’ll see our security teams are aware of your order.” Her fingers clicked rapidly over the keyboard.

  “Appreciate it.” He nodded at the woman, then turned his attention to Sera. Her pursed lips and narrowed eyes didn’t bode well. He feigned a boyish expression and handed her a key card.

  She snatched the key without comment and stalked across the lobby. Her hips swayed with her steps, drawing his notice to where her bottom rounded inside her snug jeans. As if she sensed his thoughts, she stopped and spun around. Her eyes blazed fire, but whether from jealousy or desire, he couldn’t tell.

  Better diffuse this before she burns you alive. He tried not to laugh, he really did, but an amused snort escaped nonetheless. The thought of her jealous made his smile widen. He closed the distance between them. Wrapping his arms around her slender frame, he drew her tight against his chest. The thin red sweater he’d given her—and damn if it didn’t pump up his ego to see her wearing it—pulled taut, emphasizing her ample breasts. The key card chafed his back pocket, beckoning him to open the door to paradise. He envisioned a swank hotel room with a king size bed. Don’t push it. You’re supposed to be making up for your stupidity. Remember?

  His body had other ideas about that little assessment as she shimmied against him. The fire in her eyes glowed with longing, the jealousy having faded with their close contact. Her feminine core rubbed his manhood as she rose on tiptoes, setting flames racing through his blood despite her jeans, his jeans, and an additional two layers of cotton—assuming her panties were cotton, not silk, or a string thong, or she wore them at all. Not. Going. There.

  “So you going to show me this secure room or we going to make a scene right here?” Her voice trailed over his senses.

  “Damn.” Lust shot him worse than any bullet wound. Okay. Maybe going there. He backed up a step to suck in some air and put much needed distance between them. “You’re killing me.”

  “Your call, Talon,” she said, cocking a hip out to the side and tossing her hair. Her laugh bounced off the marble lobby. “Now that I know I’m not going to burn you, and that you’re not a total d-bag...”

  He narrowed his eyes at her.

  She laughed again. “I see no reason not to—”

  Talon didn’t wait for her to finish. He pulled her into his arms, kissed her soundly, and then headed for the elevator. Her boots clicked over the tiled floor as she fought to keep up. When they reached the elevators, he punched the key into the slot and counted the seconds until it arrived. At twelve seconds, the doors chimed and slid open.

  After they stepped inside, he waited a brief moment before dragging her into his arms again. She met his urgency with a fiery need of her own, melding their lips together, tongues dueling. He couldn’t get enough of her. His hands wandered over her back, down her hips, and squeezed her...

  “Talon,” she cried, rubbing her ass. An evil smirk crossed her face. “You’re going to pay for that.”

  The doors flew open. They stepped into the hall. “Looking forward to it,” Talon said.

  The hallway blazed bright and luxurious like the lobby below. Crystal chandeliers hung every five feet with more intricately laid cameras. Mosaic tiles ran a hip high border across the walls. They passed several doors until they reached room 306.

  “Your key card opens and locks the door as well as controlling the lights.” He stared at the ceiling, pretending to check the surveillance. “No one can use the elevators without key cards and no one gets those without a security check in. You’ll be safe.”

  She nodded and tested her key. The door slid open without sound. Her hand rested on the knob, but she stopped, half in and half out of the room. A blush brightened her cheeks. “So...”

  He titled his head, allowing his eyes to trail down her face. “So?” Smiling, he gripped the edge of the door and held it open. “Am I allowed in?”

  Her eyes blazed gold. “Well, I was going to make you work for it, but...” She dove at him, wrapping her arms around his neck and crushing their lips together.

  Her unbridled passion, the fury of her kiss, took him by surprise. When her soft curves molded to every part of his body, he lost all hesitation. Desire struck deep in his gut and danced in his blood. Her skin heated hotter than the hungriest fire. He met her seeking mouth with a blaring urgency, parting her lips and tangling their tongues in an age-old clash. Light flickered in the hallway, sneaking to the corner of his closed eyes.

  “The cameras,” he mumbled, pulling back and scanning the hall. “Let’s go inside.”

  “Not up for an audience.” She laughed. The little vixen flew from his arms and strolled into the room. With each step, she shed a piece of her clothing. First her jacket and boots, then her red sweater and dark jeans, until she stood in nothing but a lacy bra and skimpy panties.

  He growled. “I’m not up for sharing you with anyone.”

  Sitting atop the king-sized bed, she stretched out her arms. “Then, come here.”

  He kicked the door closed, stripped naked, and answered her siren’s call.

  — —

  Talon came at her like a hungry wolf, a predator stalking prey. His arms crushed her to his chest as he lifted her off the bed and guided her legs around his waist. She squeezed his sides with her thighs and tangled her hands in his hair. He sat on the bed, her bottom resting snug against his manhood.

  An unquenchable thirst seared her throat. A blaze licked up and down her skin, sending her temperature soaring to new heights. She feared exploding in his arms, bursting into a thousand little flames.

  “Talon,” she whispered his name.

  He groaned and pushed her higher. His tongue found her breast through the lacy fabric. She cried out when his teeth scraped the taut peak. Her back arched in response. “You have one second to take this off before I shred it.”

  Smiling, she slowly brought the straps off her shoulders. His lungs expanded on a ragged breath as his eyes tracked the movement. The blue hue shadowed to midnight black in the darkness. She reached behind her and undid the bra’s fastening, holding the two ends in place as she brought her hands to the front. Draping an arm over her breasts, she pulled the bra free and threw it to the floor.

  One hand snaked from around her waist to grab the arm covering her breas
ts. His touch was firm and gentle on her wrist, but sent desire racing to her core. He flipped her hand over and planted a kiss in the center of her palm. With slow languid strokes, he licked his way from her wrist to her elbow, then up her shoulder and neck. Allowing her arm to fall away, she grabbed his biceps when he moved to her collarbone. The first long stroke over her breast had her arching once more into his mouth.

  She squirmed as he lavished the same attention on her opposite side, starting again at her wrist until she moaned and pleaded with him. When he again caught her breast between his lips, she screamed. “I can’t take this.”

  “Yes, you can,” he said. Whips of electricity crackled between them. He shifted on the bed, laying her down on the cotton comforter. The cool fabric against her back did nothing to ease the fiery ache.

  “Please.” Her voice sounded small and foreign to her ears.

  “Don’t worry.” He bent over her. His teeth elongated a touch to leave light scratches along her skin. The friction nearly sent her over the edge. She bit back a cry as he skimmed her stomach and inner thighs. When his tongue swirled against her hidden nub, she saw stars. He showed no mercy as he licked and stroked, sucked and caressed. The shudders crashed over her and the fire leapt from her skin. She cried out as the orgasm took her under.

  He left her for a moment still riding the waves of pleasure. She titled her head to the side to watch him. His erection jutted forward. He rolled a condom over it. Her heart beat double time. Anticipation had her insides tightening once more. She licked her lips.

  He smiled at her, then pulled her to the edge of the bed. He hooked her knees under his arms and buried himself inside her. Colors burst before her eyes, shades of yellow and red. She soared skyward as he thrust hard and fast, his rhythm causing her own pleasure to rise. When at last she thought she would never come down from the high, he roared his release. Her inner walls gripped him, claiming him, welding him to her. Intense joy filled her heart. Waves of warmth swam through her body and soul.