Changed (The Hunters #1)

by Rose J. Bell

  Actually, Jason had intended to talk to her, but as Rosa stood before her, exhausted and tired—he didn’t want to hold her up any longer.

  I really have a weakness for her, Jason thought.

  “Maybe you should rest and we can talk tomorrow,” he suggested.

  Rosa smiled gratefully. “That would be a good idea.”

  She turned away, but then stopped and looked at him.

  “Thank you for saving me, Jason,” she said and smiled. Her smile exploded so many feelings in his chest.

  “You’re welcome.”

  They looked at each other in silence. Jason couldn’t tear his eyes from her. He looked at her face, took in every detail, and wondered how a girl could be so beautiful and strong. He wanted to step forward, say something, but he didn’t.

  Rosa smiled. “Good night, Jason,” she said.

  “Good night.”

  Jason looked after her until she disappeared into the elevator.

  “Oh, man,” Matt groaned. “My head is pounding.” Matt laid his head on his palm as Rosa began to massage his head with one hand.

  It was Saturday—the day of departure. The flight was at three o’clock. Until then she had time to relax.

  “You shouldn’t have drank so much yesterday, Matt,” said Rosa, smiling.

  They sat on a bench on the roof terrace of the hotel. The view from up there was beautiful. The sun bathed the city in a golden light. The air smelled of wet earth and a cool breeze blew.

  After Rosa had showered yesterday, she immediately fell asleep, and had slept until noon. As Matt had seen her face with bruises, he naturally wanted to know what had happened. Rosa told him a lie, which he believed. Rosa didn’t inform him about what had happened with Jason—not yet.

  “I know,” said Matt and rose. “But I had such a good time.”

  “I should always take care of you. Then this wouldn’t happen.”

  He grinned broadly. “Maybe you should.”

  Rosa laughed. “That would please you, wouldn’t it?”

  “And how!”

  Even if she didn’t return his love, Rosa liked it that Matt was in love in her. She felt special, like she wasn’t only on the earth to obey orders.

  “Ice Princess, can I talk to you?”

  Rosa turned around and saw Jason standing behind her. The golden light made his eyes sparkle like diamonds. Her heart beat automatically, and the warm tingling spread through her body.

  Calm down, Rosa! Don’t show him that he has such a strong effect on you.

  “Sure.” She stood up as Matt gave her a quizzical look. “We’ll be right back,” she said, giving him a kiss on the cheek. She followed Jason out as he led her to roam around the hotel into a small forest patch. Rosa was about to ask where he was going, when he stood in front of a bench.

  “Sit down,” Jason ordered, gesturing with his hand on the bench. His voice was fierce, and didn’t tolerate any contradictions.

  Rosa took a seat and put her hands between her thighs. Jason sat down beside her, but didn’t start to speak right away.

  She was aware of his presence as strong as ever. She could feel the tension between them, but there was also something else. Was it anger? Or hate?

  Rosa didn’t dare to look at him. She was too scared to be caught in his gaze again.

  Instead, she regarded the forest. A few people walked through the forest, but none paid them any attention.

  “Well,” Jason began. Rosa felt his burning gaze on her.

  “Why did you steal the book?”

  She sighed deeply. It wouldn’t make any sense to deny that she had done it. Therefore, she decided to tell him the truth.

  “I broke in your house, because I thought you and Philip had a plan, and I wanted to find out what it was. I searched your apartment for possible information and found the book. So I took it,” she explained without looking at him.

  “And how did you know that we have a plan?” Jason wanted to know.

  Now she looked at him. The sunlight fell directly on him and made him seem like an angel. Rosa bit her lower lip to handle her suddenly longing for him. She wanted to feel his skin, trace her fingers along his beautiful face, and taste his lips…

  Shit! What am I thinking? She gave herself a mental slap. She had to get her feelings for Jason under control.

  Rosa noted that Jason had noticed her staring at him. She blushed and looked away; suddenly the stones on the ground were very interesting.

  “Why would you be in Boston then?” Rosa asked.

  From the corner of her eye, she saw Jason smile slightly.

  “Clever,” he said. The desire to touch him increased, so she pressed her thighs tightly together so that her hands weren’t tempted to touch him.

  “Am I right?” Rosa asked.

  “I think it would be better if you would look at me when we’re talking.”

  Her heart quickened. She couldn’t look at him again.

  “You know, Jason. I’ve seen your face so often that I need a break from it,” Rosa said.

  It was a complete lie. She loved to look at him. His handsome face fascinated her every time. Sometimes she wondered why it took her so long to recognize his beauty. Maybe it was because all the Nephilim were beautiful, and Rosa had put Jason’s beauty in a drawer with the others, without realizing that he had his own beauty.

  “But I cannot get enough of your face,” Jason said in a low, husky voice.

  Her heart threatened to explode. Rosa felt a tingling joy that spread all over her body.

  She laughed to conceal her joy at his compliment. “Many people say that to me. My face is just beautiful.”

  “And how beautiful.”

  She had to look at him.

  Jason looked at her intently and his eyes glared with heat.

  Could it really be that Jason felt the same for her, as Rosa did for him?

  Could it be that he was attracted to her as much as she was to him?

  His eyes, his every posture, pointed to a yes, but Rosa could not imagine it.

  Both knew that their relationship was forbidden. Why would he take the risk and fall in love with her? Anyone with common sense knew that this love had no chance. Besides, Jason was a Nephilim. How could she know that he wouldn’t play with her, and betray her?

  It didn’t seem to her that he was playing with her.

  Don’t trust him, Rosa! He’s an angel. They have killed your father. They are your enemy, her inner voice told her.

  To change the subject Rosa repeated her question, “And I was right?”

  Jason nodded slowly. “Yes, you were right.”

  Suddenly, all her feelings for Jason disappeared and made room for her hunter instincts.

  Rosa tilted slightly her head. “And what is your plan?” she asked.

  “I don’t know if I can trust you,” Jason replied seriously.

  You can trust me, Rosa wanted to say, but restrained herself. Of course, she understood why Jason didn’t trust her. She had done nothing to gain his trust. On the contrary, she had made sure that he didn’t trust her.

  “You’re right,” Rosa admitted and leaned back. “You have no reason to trust me.” Then she looked at him. “But don’t expect me to give back the book. Give and take. That’s the way it runs.”

  Jason folded his hands on his lap and curled his lips together. “I should have guessed. Well, if you don’t give me the book, I won’t tell you my plan.”

  Jason looked at Rosa defiantly as he challenged her.

  Rosa returned his gaze.

  Once again, they held a staring contest.

  “How long should we look at each other, Jason?” Rosa asked.

  “This time I won’t look away,” Jason said. His face was serious.

  Rosa sighed and looked away.

  “How about if we just start over?” Jason suggested as he leaned his elbow on the armrest.

  She rolled her eyes. “What’s the point?”

  He shrugged one
shoulder. “Maybe I’ll know the real Rosa then.”

  “I am the real Rosa.” She glared at him.

  “I don’t believe you. You’re under the influence of clan fighters. You act as if they have a hold on you.”

  Anger rose in Rosa. “Oh yeah? And you’re not the real Jason,” she said angrily. “You stand under the influence of the archangel.”

  Jason leaned forward. “But I’ve more freedom than you.”

  Rosa clenched her teeth. “I’m a born hunter.” She held out her wrists. “The mark shows it.”

  He leaned forward and regarded her mark. When he lifted his head, his golden eyes glittered strangely.

  “So you’re the huntress with the gift of fight,” he said. It was more than a statement then a question.

  She nodded and crossed her arms over her chest.

  Jason moved closer. He still had the strange gleam in his eyes. Rosa frowned and was not sure how she should interpret the sparkle.

  “It means that if a hunter has the gift of fight, you cannot touch a Nephilim.”

  “That’s right.”

  “So, you cannot take hold of me without killing me?”

  She looked at him. “That’s right, too”

  “But I have touched you. Back in Madison’s apartment. But nothing has happened.”

  “I have taken a magic potion that paralyzes my gift for a couple of hours. During that time, I can touch you.”

  “Have you taken this drink now?”

  “Yes.”

  “Can I touch you then?”

  “Yes.”

  “Without you trying to kill me?”

  “Yes.”

  Jason’s mouth curled into a small smile. “Can you also say something else than yes?”

  “Yes.”

  They both looked at each other and burst into laughter. It felt good to laugh. Rosa realized that she laughed quite often in Jason’s presence.

  Jason suddenly stretched out his hand and touched her hair. Rosa winced in surprise.

  “A streak has broken away from your hair,” he said.

  Suddenly, she was too nervous to say anything.

  Jason placed her hair between his fingers. “Your hair is beautiful,” he whispered, looking at her.

  So many feeling rose in her, and the heat between them grew.

  “Thank you,” Rosa replied.

  She waited for Jason to pull his hand away, but he didn’t. Instead, he gently touched her cheek.

  Fireworks exploded in Rosa’s chest. She stood very still, but the turmoil inside her chastised her calm exterior.

  No one had ever looked at her as Jason did, full of tenderness in his eyes. Rosa had no control over her feelings. They beat on her like a wave—powerful and unstoppable.

  Jason’s warm hand wandered to her neck, and sent a pain of desire through her body. Rosa felt like she would melt away under his touch.

  She had no control over her body.

  Jason moved very close now.

  Would he kiss her now?

  She wanted him to kiss her.

  His face was so close that Rosa saw his black pupils. Jason looked at her as if she was a miraculous discovery.

  His lips came closer and closer...

  Rosa closed her eyes and her lips opened slightly.

  “Jason!” a voice called suddenly.

  Both froze. Rosa opened her eyes. Jason moved back and turned around.

  “What?” he shouted back harshly. It was clear that he didn’t like the interruption.

  Philip stepped between the trees. “Dude, where are you?” he asked annoyed. “I looked for you. Matt told me that you were with Rosa outside—”

  Philip paused, and looked at Jason and Rosa, who sat very close together.

  “Oh,” he said with a grin. “Have I interrupted something?”

  Rosa stood up abruptly, extremely embarrassed.

  “No, no, you haven’t interrupted us. We were just having a conversation.”

  He raised his eyebrows skeptically. “That was probably a very intimate conversation.”

  “Philip,” Jason growled and stood up. “Shut up.”

  His friend grinned mischievously. “Tell me where you are next time, and I won’t bother you.”

  Jason sighed in exasperation. “You could have just spoken to me through our minds, instead of going on a man-hunt.”

  Philip put his arm around Jason’s shoulder. “Yeah, I could do that.” Jason snorted but said nothing.

  Rosa was glad that Philip didn’t bother to ask about their “conversation,” but she was sure that he sensed something was going on between them.

  When they walked back to the hotel Jason looked at her, but Rosa ignored him. Their almost kiss, and her strong emotions, had made it clear she had fallen in love with Jason—her enemy.

  This love didn’t have a chance. It was dangerous, risky, and forbidden. It would get both of them killed.

  It would be best to keep my distance from him, Rosa thought.

  Although it would be the most difficult thing she had ever done.

  Rosa ran.

  She was trapped in a dark tunnel. Her goal was the light at the end, but the light just kept getting further away.

  No! I have to reach the light!

  Rosa ran faster, but hands were grabbing her, dragging her back, away from the light. She screamed, trying to free herself, but the hands moved her more and more into the darkness.

  She heard her name like a mantra in her ear.

  Rosa. Rosa. Rosa.

  Then she fell.

  No sound came from her mouth as she tried to scream. She landed hard on her back, without feeling any pain.

  When Rosa sat up, she was in a courtroom. Hundreds of people sat around her; Lord Constantine and her Uncle Sergei were at the forefront.

  “Rosa Petrova,” said Lord Constantine, fixing her with his cold eyes. “You betrayed the hunter clan by revealing your identity to a Nephilim. This is now your second betrayal.”

  “What?” Rosa asked in confusion. “What is this all about?”

  “This is your trial, Rosa,” Lord Constantine replied. “You have disappointed me as a huntress. We had such great plans for you. You were our best hunter. And now? Now you are a traitor.” He shook his head in disbelief.

  Rosa shook her head vigorously. “No! Please! Let me explain! “

  “Rosa, I have raised you, trained you to be a huntress, gave you a roof over your head and this is the thanks for it?” Sergei asked her now. His eyes were full of contempt and disappointment. It hurt Rosa.

  “Uncle, please listen to me! I...”

  He silenced her with a gesture. “I am disappointed in you, Rosa. Very. Your father would not be proud of you. You are not my niece anymore. You are a disgrace to our family.”

  Tears burned in her eyes. “Please! Listen to me!” But nobody wanted to hear her.

  “Bring them!” Lord Constantine ordered his men.

  Jason and Matt were brought into the hall. His men threw the unconscious boys in front of Rosa.

  “What did you do with them?” she asked terrified. She looked in horror at Jason and Matt. They were badly bruised and bloodied.

  Lord Constantine smiled wickedly. “Matt, the boy who loves you, but you do not love him. And the Nephilim, who loves you, too. They must die because of you, Rosa, because they have fallen in love with you.”

  “What? No! It isn’t my fault.” She wanted to move but her body was frozen. Her legs didn’t move.

  “Of course, it is your fault, Rosa. You should not let it get that far to allow them to fall in love with you.” He looked at his men. “Kill them!”

  “No, please!” Rosa couldn’t do anything but watch them die.

  Before her eyes, Jason and Matt were killed. The pain in her chest exploded. Hot tears ran down her cheeks.

  “So, Rosa,” said Lord Constantine. “Do you want anything else before you die?”

  Rosa was not able to do or say anything.

/>   The pain tore her. She welcomed the death.

  A rope was wrapped around her neck and pulled tight.

  I’m dying!

  I’m dying!

  I’m dying...

  Rosa awoke with a jerk. Her hand touched her throat and she tried to pump air into her lungs. Her heart was racing.

  “Rosa, calm down,” Matt said to her. “It was just a nightmare. Take deep breaths.”

  Rosa tried to calm herself, as she took several deep breaths. It was only a dream! It was just a dream, she kept telling herself.

  Slowly her heart calmed down and she could breathe normally again.

  “Are you okay, Rosa?” Matt asked her. She looked at him.

  They sat on the plane back to Boston. Rosa didn’t intend to fall asleep, but somehow she had, and had the terrible nightmare.

  The dream showed the significant consequences of her actions. If the hunter clan found out a Nephilim knew who she was, and they were in love with one another, her life would end.

  It was only a dream, Rosa. Just a dream. Dreams are not reality.

  She knew she had to end her relationship with Jason if she didn’t want to end up like her dream.

  “Are you okay, Ice Princess?” Jason asked, leaning forward.

  He sat next to Matt. Rosa nodded briefly without looking at him.

  Why? Why had she fallen in love with him? Why couldn’t she just hate him? Why did he have to be so damn hot and charming?

  Rosa growled internal.

  “Guys, I’m feeling so lonely here,” Philip complained.

  “Well, bro. Only the cool people sit in the front,” Jason replied and leafed through a magazine.

  Philip kicked Jason’s seat.

  “Kick my seat as long as you want, Phil. But that won’t change the fact that you’re uncool.”

  Rosa had to smile in spite of her bad mood. Even Matt grinned.

  Philip gave Jason a blow to the head.

  “Hey! Don’t destroy my hair, you idiot,” said Jason, and ran his fingers through his dark hair.

  Philip snorted. “You haven’t even got a style to your hair.”

  “That is my style of having no style,” Jason explained. A sigh was heard from behind.

  Rosa leaned her head on Matt’s shoulder and closed her eyes. Her head began to roar.