I almost groaned. Of course, Mandatum hunters traveled in packs. Seven to be exact. Elias, Thomas, and now Sung. Great. The more of them, the higher the risk of them discovering they had rescued more than just Harper.
“Where are the others?” I asked, trying not to sound apprehensive.
Sung nodded back at the door. “I am bathing Elias.”
“You are not bathing me,” came the German’s strong voice. “We are cleaning my wounds.” Elias limped into the room.
Wearing nothing but underwear.
Those boxer type, the tight ones I’d seen on models. These were blue. Almost as dark as his eyes. And tight. Very tight. I forced my eyes up to the scratches left by my claws which still marred his abs, but the cuts were shallow. On his leg, only the gash from the stabbing bled at all, and it was minimal.
“Bloody hell, Elias,” Thomas said as he saw me staring. “Could you put on some clothes?”
Elias smirked. “She’s the one so desperate to get in my pants that she stripped them right off my body.”
I felt a blush. That was new. I didn’t think I’d blushed since…ever in the couple of years I’d arrived on earth as a demon.
“To save your life!” Sung said and pointed excitedly at me. “You are alive because of her!”
“Yes,” Thomas asked with curiosity. “How did you manage the tourniquet so well?”
“And with all the blood!” Sung added with amazement. “You pushed past your fears. Awesome!”
“Well, she should have.” Elias said. “Since I am hurt because of her also. And why do I have a busted lip?” He put a hand to his mouth.
Thomas answered, “When Sung scared the crap out of her yelling—”
“Fighting!” Sung shouted with enthusiasm.
“Oh shut up,” Elias snapped.
“—she fell backwards and hit her head on your face which knocked her out.” Thomas wiped more blood off my face.
“Thanks a lot, Harper.” Elias folded his arms across his chest.
“Blame Sung,” Thomas told him.
“Me?” Sung looked astonished. “I am the hero. I used my excellent tracking skills to find you.” Then his voice turned dramatic, and he raised his eyes and hands toward the ceiling. “Channeling the spirit of my mystic Korean ancestors who always watch over me and guide my path of destiny.”
Thomas rolled his eyes. “You used an app on your phone.”
“A brilliant idea given to me by my ancestors.”
“I told you to do it.”
“And you should be honored that my great ancestors chose to speak to me through you.”
Thomas laughed. “You are mental.”
As far as I could tell, they all were.
“And why are you complaining so much?” Sung said to Elias. “You have been injured much worse than this before.”
“I’m talking about my jeans.” He gestured toward his bare legs. “They were my favorite and she ruined them.”
“Seriously?” I said, having enough of his complaints considering I really did save his life. I put on a heavy German accent. “Vat happent to, ‘Oh, Harper, I vas so afraid I’d lost you.’”
Elias’s cheeks reddened slightly. “First, I don’t sound like that.”
“You kind of do,” Thomas said.
Sung nodded. “It’s true.”
Elias ignored them and continued. “And second, I said I was afraid we’d lost you, because, of course, we need you on the team.”
Not how I remembered it, but I let it go. This was so weird. Talking to Mandatum hunters like we were friends, which as far as they were concerned, we were.
“And you love her,” Sung said, his broad grin returning. “We all love you, Harper. Even if you don’t love us.” He hurried to the bedside and hugged me.
While it actually felt nice, I had automatically cringed, still expecting pain upon contact. Sung didn’t seem to notice, but Thomas did.
“Enough,” Thomas said and pushed Sung away. “Sasha and Xander will be back with a Healer any minute.”
Five hunters. Men. They had to be close in age, so mid to late twenties, and in top physical condition who all must possess significant skill to still be alive. Perfect. Of course that’s who I’d end up trapped with. Anxiety fluttered my heart. Would a Healer be able to tell I was in here? How quickly would they kill me?
I said, “The Healer should see to Elias first.”
The three men shared an incredulous look.
Sung shrugged. “Maybe she cannot feel it.”
“Feel what?” I said.
“Your head.” Sung tapped the back of his.
I touched my skull and immediately understood their worry. The collision with the lamppost had left a deep, bloody indentation. While I’d managed to fix the worst of it, the damage was still extensive. No wonder I was having problems accessing my host’s memories. She was defective. At least I hoped that was what was going on.
Thomas put an ice pack in my hand. “I’ve been using this. Keep it on for now. Sung, go away.”
“Good idea.” Elias grabbed Sung by the neck and dragged him back into the steaming bathroom.
But not before Sung raised his fists high. “Fighting!”
Thomas quickly got to his feet and headed out the door, saying, “I’m going to check on that Healer. And drag one here myself if need be. We all need to be in top form for this mission.”
“The child that the demons kidnapped,” I said. “Any word on him?”
“Just the same.” Thomas paused in the doorway. “Mandatum provides the dates and location of The Gathering, or they kill the boy.”
I didn’t know much about The Gathering other than it was some big, important meeting of all the high level Mandatum members.
“How old is he again?” I asked.
“Fourteen,” Thomas said sadly. “And he doesn’t have powers so he’s defenseless. We’re his only hope.”
“Unless the Mandatum gives them the location,” I said.
“And go against protocol? I don’t know.” Thomas sounded doubtful. “And I don’t want to take that chance. Which is why you need a Healer and we need to find him. Be right back.” He smiled then raised his voice toward the bathroom. “Guys, keep an eye on her.”
“Sure,” Sung said, then shouted, “Yell if you need anything, Harper!”
But what I needed, a hunter couldn’t help me with.
9
I clamped my mouth shut and silently rolled off the bed to my feet. My vision swam. Nausea hit with enough force to almost knock me back on the bed. I took a steadying breath and moved on shaky legs for the door.
In the bathroom, Elias stood in the shower, his wounded leg propped up on a stool, while Sung danced.
Yeah. Seemed odd.
Sung had lively music playing on his phone. He sang along in an Asian language with the many male singers on the recording. He even danced. Seriously smooth with swinging arms and gyrating hips. But stranger than all that, the water moved to the catchy tune. Liquid swirled and arced, washing over Elias’s leg, the bloody water diving down the drain as more fresh water swayed and spun through the air and continued to clean the wounds.
“Is all that really necessary?” Elias said.
Sung didn’t pause a beat. “It is my process. Passed down to me from my great ancestors.”
Elias snorted. “Your ancestors taught you how to use your power while dancing to Korean pop boy bands? I don’t think so. Next you’ll be dying your hair pink again.”
“It was not pink. It was magnificent maroon.”
“Pink,” Elias said. “And it made you look like a ridiculous child.”
Sung snapped his fingers. Water slapped up into the German’s face.
“Sung!”
Sung spun away laughing.
I almost laughed too, then clamped a hand over my mouth and used their distraction to slip out the door.
An unsettling silence filled the narrow hallway. Down one end, I saw Thomas’s bac
k as he turned the corner. So I headed in the opposite direction, past the elevators and followed the signs for stairs and the garage. I moved slow. So dreadfully slow that I toyed with the idea of trying to leave my damaged host now. But it was too much of a gamble. I may need Harper as a disguise in case I ran into more hunters before I was completely free.
On a team, four of the seven hunters had powers of air, water, earth, and fire. The other three hunters could be anything. I’d met the air and water hunters. I wasn’t sure about Thomas, or Harper for that matter, and I had no desire to meet the other three. Two were on their way probably using the fastest routes possible, the elevators. If I took the long way out, my chances of exposure lessened. Or so I hoped.
I made it to the bottom of the stairs and an exit door.
“Ok, Harper.” I lowered myself to the floor and rested carefully against the wall, “This is where we part ways.”
I closed my eyes and focused on me, the real me. Thoughts of disentangling myself from my host. I steeled myself for the pain of my demonic skin. The sores, the ooze, the smell. All of it was better than being killed by hunters and sent back to Hell.
Except I didn’t slip out.
Well, it is my first time after all. I cleared my throat, sighed, rolled my shoulders and…let go. Let myself spill out. Unburdened myself from this slow, heavy, defective body.
Still, nothing happened.
I stared at my perfectly unblemished hands. “So how do I get out of you?”
“Harper!” Sung’s desperate cry, though muffled, was easily heard.
“Dammit Harper,” I hissed. “Want to give me a little push out? Have your life back? They need you for this mission.”
She had to still be in here with me, right? I tried to remember what Culus had told me about possessions. I’d seen him do it. He’d slipped in and out like he was walking through a door. It had seemed so simple. But at the thought of him, I lost focus. My blood boiled.
Culus. The bastard betrayer. I had a lot of questions. Which I’d ask once I tracked him down. And before I killed him.
But to do that, I could not be stuck in a demon hunter’s body. “Harper, if you’re in there, I know they won’t take kindly to me being here. They might even hurt you to get to me. Let’s split ways, you can always hunt me later. After you help save this kid. Be the heroine.”
Nothing.
Maybe she was too hurt, or I was too weak because of her.
It was easier to repair damage in small doses, but I didn’t have time for that. I focused all my energy and concentrated on healing. My body tightened into a rigid spasm. I fisted my hands and clenched my teeth against the pain.
Heart rate and blood flow increased to rapid levels. Bone seared back together with the occasional crackle and pop. Bruises pulsed hot and ugly as they began to shrink. Muscle, tendons, internal organs, all reconnected and repaired. This body didn’t recover as fast as my demon form, but I kept working at it.
Finally, I dropped to my knees, panting, exhausted, but healed.
A door banged open above, followed by Sung yelling, “Harper, where are you?”
I wiped the sweat off my brow and pushed to my feet. Figuring out how to unpossess the girl would have to wait. Escape just became the priority. I shoved the exit door open and ran out into a parking garage.
Directly into the path of an oncoming car.
10
Tires screeched. A horn honked. Headlights blinded me. The SUV tried to stop in time, my wobbly legs tried to leap out of the way, but it was all too late. I raised my hands in an automatic but useless defensive gesture and braced for impact.
An arm clamped around my waist and spun me sideways. I ended up with my back against a concrete pillar and a man holding me tight, his face inches from mine.
“Trying to escape, Harper?” he said, his demeanor stern. “I do not think so.”
He was bigger than the other hunters. Tall and broad. Deep olive skin. A heavy and rather unruly, five o’clock shadow on a wide jaw. His dark wavy curls long enough to be pulled back tight in a short ponytail at the base of his neck. He wore low slung jeans and a white Henley shirt stretched over his bulked-up chest, shoulders, and arms. The stark white of the textured fabric contrasted nicely with his dark skin. The top three buttons were undone, showing off a well-muscled chest.
Sharp lips twisted in a frown, he waved for the driver of the car to move on and then his mint green eyes scanned the garage before settling on me. He did not look happy.
I fisted my hands. Could I use my powers in this body? We were about to find out.
In a sudden move, the man cupped my face in his hands and crashed his lips down upon mine.
Oh.
His mouth moved, hard and demanding, capturing mine completely. Pleasure rippled down my spine, I unclenched my fists. He slid one hand to my lower back and yanked my hips against his. A deliciously wicked sensation swirled deep in my abdomen, hot and wanting.
Oh, yes.
My pulse accelerated. Just as I closed my eyes and started to relax into him, the hunter broke the kiss to rest his forehead against mine.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “But trying to get yourself killed twice in one night? Elias said he thought you were dead and I rather lost it. Thankfully you are here and seem,” his eyes raked over me, “good. And very much alive.” His accent was subtle. Not much of an H sound. A slight rolling of his R’s. Greek. And certainly gorgeous.
He kissed me again, but just a soft press against my brow. Then he released me and stepped back, glancing over his shoulders.
“Don’t worry. None of the team saw us, but go ahead.” The man put his hands behind his back and spread his feet apart. “Slap me.” At my hesitation, he gestured with his hand. “It is only right.”
He settled his feet again and slightly lifted his chin.
What the hell? A secret lover who knew her better than the others. Was this some sort of romantic ritual of theirs? Who the heck knew? So I reeled back my hand and slapped him. Although, I was so used to fighting for my life, that without thinking, I actually closed my fist and punched him in the jaw.
His face jerked sideways. He turned back to me, his expression shocked. A lock of his wavy hair had come loose and hung down to his chin.
“Well, I do not think I quite deserved that,” Lover Boy said, touching his fingers to his chin and moving his jaw. “But apparently, you do. How hard did you hit your head? Let me see.”
I let him look, keeping my mouth shut, afraid to say or do something else wrong.
“It is not as bad as they said. But you can never trust demons.” Lover Boy sighed and brushed my cheek with his hand. “What are you doing down here anyway?”
I pursed my lips and shrugged. “They were all making such a fuss, I needed a moment.” I started to lean into his gentle touch, but then caught myself and pushed his hand off my cheek. “Alone.”
“Sasha and I brought a Healer and there are more on the way.” He tugged my arm. “Come.”
Back to the room with even more hunters? No thank you.
“One minute,” I pleaded, sliding one hand up his chest, neck, to caress his scruffy jaw.
Lover Boy froze, surprised eyes following the movement with a gaping mouth. Whoops. Apparently, the seductive damsel was not a Harper move.
So I huffed and stomped back from him. “One minute alone. Is that so unreasonable a request after the night I had?”
A reluctant smirk pulled at his lips. Okay, apparently cold and snippy were more Miss Harper’s style.
“Fine,” he said. “But stay put. I will be back in one minute.”
At the door to the stairs, he turned. His mouth spread into a grin showing lots of white teeth. The smile seemed to light up the dingy garage. Not to mention send a shot of warmth through my chest.
“Because I am so generous,” he said, his grin widening, “I may give you five minutes. But you would have to promise not to jump in front of any cars while I am gone.”<
br />
“I promise,” I said, smiling back because I just couldn’t stop myself. Harper was one lucky girl.
“Good to hear.” He gave me a playful wink. Halfway through the door, he paused. “And then you can tell us what this is.”
He pulled a shiny object from his pocket and flicked it high in the air. I reached for it but missed. It pinged onto the concrete floor, bounced a few times, then wobbled, until it finally lay still.
As I stared at it, my stomach sank.
“Harper,” Lover Boy said. “Are you okay?”
“Where did you get this?” I asked, my voice hoarse.
“It was in your coat pocket. Elias said he thinks it must be what Culus gave you. We will need an update. See you in five.” Then he was gone.
Five minutes was all I needed to escape.
Easy.
But as I looked at the object, I realized that escape was no longer possible.
11
Elias’s van was easy to spot in the garage full of sedans. In my hand, I gripped the dreaded object Lover Boy had so casually thrown, hopped in and glanced in the rearview mirror. Then did a double-take.
I gaped at my reflection and brought a shaking hand to my face.
Free of sores and scars. Smooth uncharred skin. Full, pouting lips lifted in a smile. I pulled down the visor for a better view. Lights illuminated around the mirror as I leaned closer, marveling at the eyes which stared back. A bright cinnamon flecked with gold and rimmed with rich brown.
I laughed and ran a hand along my scalp. The deep brunette hair was matted in spots with blood and dirt, had some grass and leaves mixed in, but it was hair. I let it free of the ponytail and shook my head. Soft, luscious locks fell just past my shoulders. As I ran my fingers through the subtle waves, my vision blurred with tears.
“Harper, you gorgeous mercenary.” I leaned back and wiped the moisture from my eyes. The humanity of my look coupled with the freedom from constant pain. I sighed. “I will be sorry to see you go.” But that wasn’t happening anytime soon.
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