Tall, Dark and Paranormal: 10 Thrilling Tales of Sexy Alpha Bad Boys

by Opal Carew

  She began to cut up her roast. Eating would give her strength, and she’d need every ounce of it to take down the worst vampire of them all. But after the meal, she was determined to learn how to hunt human vampires to ready herself for Piaras himself.

  When she began working on her meal, the conversation started up again. The entertainment had ended.

  She glanced up to see Gregory watching her. Was he the one who’d stay behind to make sure she was safe?

  Retiring to bed following the meal was her plan. After that, she’d wing it. But she had to wait until the hunters left the house first.

  Once she finished her meal, she stood. Again the dining room grew quiet, like a silent scene in a snow-filled winter landscape.

  Uncle Tobias quit speaking to his cousin Brent and turned to her. “What is it now, Rachael?”

  “I was going to retire to my bedroom.”

  “Sit and wait for the rest of us to finish eating.”

  Her blood heated. “I was going to lie down.”

  He stood. Not a good sign. Then he walked around the table to where she was. “Come with me.”

  He waited for her to comply, then she walked with him out of the room. The conversation renewed about idol talk, but she was certain after she and her uncle were out of earshot, the conversation would again center on her. Not to be conceited or anything, but controversy was always a preferable topic to the mundane.

  After Uncle Tobias took her into his office, he motioned to a chair and shut the door. When he sat in his desk chair, and she was sitting opposite him, he said, “I’ve not been the best... father for you, I’m afraid, Rachael. But in truth, I do want the best for you. Seeing that you weren’t interested in settling down as young as most of our huntresses do, I allowed you to continue to hunt. Granted, not human vampires. I couldn’t let you…” He looked weary all of a sudden. “I couldn’t afford to lose you like I did my brother and sister-in-law. I owed it to the memory of them to keep you safe. And frankly, after having sons and nephews to keep in line, having a niece was refreshing.”

  He shifted in the leather seat. “But it’s time for you to select a mate.” He took a deep breath. “However, this situation with Piaras must be resolved first. I hadn’t wanted to upset you with the details concerning who had killed your parents once we learned who had done the deed.”

  She didn’t believe him. Like her cousin, Michael, she rebelled in a lot of ways. Her Uncle Tobias probably assumed she’d target Piaras by herself. And he was dead right.

  “And, Rachael, until Piaras sent this vampire to bring you to him, we really hadn’t believed his marking you meant he’d attempt to claim you when you were older.”

  As much as she wanted to believe Adonis was totally being honest with her, what if he really was the vampire’s pawn as much as she was? What had Adonis said? That Piaras couldn’t control him for the most part? Which part? The one where he was ordered to bring Rachael to him, maybe using any or all means available to him?

  Rachael’s thoughts began to merge into a muddle.

  Piaras had sent Adonis to deliver Rachael to him. That much seemed to be the truth. She rubbed her temple, trying to soothe the ache that stitched its way across it. What if his smooth talking seductive moves were all a show?

  Well, truly, she didn’t believe they could be. But what if he had no real intention of keeping her for himself as he said, but only pretended he planned to kill Piaras? That in the end he couldn’t kill the bastard, any more than he could allow her to? Maybe not even consciously realizing it?

  She took a deep calming breath. “How did you find out that Piaras was the one who’d killed my parents?”

  “One of his bloodsuckers volunteered the information when Zachary had him cornered the night before the ball. The rogue vampire knew he was going to die, but he wanted the last word.”

  “Had Piaras killed my parents when they were on a hunt?” But then again, only her father would have been hunting, she assumed.

  “No. That’s what confused us. They’d had dinner with me that evening, but when they returned home, they never made it inside. He’d attacked them in front of their house. Your father defended you and your mother the best he could, but the ancient vampire still killed both of them.”

  Rachael touched her shoulder, remembering being frightened to death because her father was fighting with a vampire, and her mother was holding her tight, but the vampire had been between them and the house. And so there had been no escaping him. That’s why she imagined Uncle Tobias had set up the housing development outside Dallas for hunters, exclusively for them and their families. Some lived on their own in different parts of the city, but many lived together as a protective force.

  She sighed. For years, she’d had nightmares about the dark. Something evil lurked there, waiting for her... just as Piaras had hidden in the dark. Sometimes the scar on her shoulder burned during her nightmares, waking her. Even now when she had to force herself to explore the darkness, her heart would quicken as if she were attempting to outrun the devil himself, and her scar would prickle with apprehension.

  “Why didn’t he just kill me, too?” she asked softly.

  “We never knew. Some thought your Uncle Brent and Uncle Curt, who’d left my home later than your parents, heard your mother scream, and scared him off before he could take your life, leaving him only enough time to mark you. Others felt he scarred you on purpose and planned to return for you when you were an acceptable age. When your birthdays continued to pass without incident, we decided the notion he wished to return for you was incorrect.”

  “Apparently not.”

  “We thought maybe someone had taken him down also. He’d vanished from the area for several years. Rachael, I don’t want to lose you. And I owe it to your father, my youngest brother, to keep you safe as well.”

  For the first time that she could remember, her uncle’s eyes watered. She swallowed, trying to keep her composure, then stood. When she walked over and gave him a hug, he seemed surprised at her action, his jaw dropping and his eyes round. “You’ve been the only father that I’ve ever truly known. My dad would have been pleased you raised me as well as you have.”

  Her uncle’s gray eyes sparkled. He kissed her forehead. “But you must mind me, and allow me to take care of this the best way I think it should be handled.”

  She had no intention of doing as he asked. She couldn’t live in fear of Piaras coming for her forever. And Adonis was right. It was an expected practice that hunters’ children would take down the vampire that killed their parents... although normally it would have been only the father who would die hunting a vampire. Traditionally the hunter’s sons would hunt the rogue. In fact, she’d never heard of a huntress doing such a thing. But being an only child, she’d have to avenge her parent’s death. She’d set a precedence.

  The blood in her veins surged with vengeance, and she desired to find some balance in her life, to chase away the shadows that haunted her nights. To rid herself of the fear—of the devil vampire himself…Piaras.

  Her uncle broke into her thoughts. “I’ve asked that Michael stay to watch over you tonight.”

  She attempted to prevent her breathing from escalating too quickly. Michael would keep her under his thumb, she was certain, and at the same time, make his moves on Danai.

  “But Gregory asked to allow me to have him remain behind instead.”

  Rachael nearly quit breathing. Gregory was a milk toast around her, most of the time. She’d get around him somehow or another.

  “All right, Rachael?”

  Attempting a subdued appearance, she mutely nodded, afraid to speak and reveal her enthusiasm. Her uncle would be sure to think she was up to something. And change his mind.

  “Then let us return to the meal, and when everyone is done, the hunters will leave. Afterward, you may visit with the ladies or retire to your room. It’s your choice. Although Gregory will be disappointed if you hide away in your bedroom.”

&nb
sp; He rose from his seat, then paused. “I don’t want you to see this Adonis Cameron any further, however.”

  She gulped.

  His eyes turned hard. “I mean it. He’s not to get near you again.”

  They walked out of the office. Her uncle would have to tell Adonis that then. No way was she going to convince the hunter turned vampire to stay away from her. Nor would she want it.

  When they walked into the dining room, the conversation ceased. The dinner plates had been removed and most everyone sipped coffee while several were eating slices of chocolate cake—energy for the fight ahead.

  She took her seat while her uncle sat in his chair. How could she sneak out of the house and participate in a hunt on her own? How would she find renegade vampires that needed to be terminated? Not all vampires were evil, after all.

  Those were the questions that plagued her now.

  ***

  As the hunters headed out to their vehicles following the meal, Michael lingered to say goodbye to Danai, and Rachael hated seeing the interest the two had in each other. Wringing her hands, Danai glanced at Rachael. Worried about Michael’s attraction to her? And maybe how Rachael would view it?

  Rachael bit her lip. No way could she encourage the vampire to seduce her cousin.

  To Rachael’s surprise and consternation, Danai leaned forward and kissed Michael’s cheek. Was it the vampire in the woman or the huntress that made her stick her neck out so? Hell, Danai was as bad as Adonis.

  Michael’s eyes sparkled and his lips rose. Then he returned the kiss quickly against her mouth. Rachael groaned inwardly. Not a good sign. Already the mating ritual had begun. Michael walked outside and climbed into the driver’s seat of his SUV.

  Rachael prayed all her family and the other hunters would remain safe tonight.

  Gregory closed the front door and locked it. Turning, he smiled at Rachael with a speculative gleam in his eye, but the interest he seemed to have in her didn’t have the same effect on her as Adonis did. “I thought we might spend some time alone together in the parlor,” he said.

  Adonis would have suggested whisking her off to somewhere much more private than the parlor, and she would have embraced the notion. “I’m sorry, Gregory. After all that’s happened today, I’m exhausted. I’m retiring to my room.”

  He clasped her hand in his, possessive, forceful, his voice deepening a bit with a hint of a threat. “I really want to talk.”

  Casting him an irritated look meant to quell his insistence, she shook loose of him. “Later. Tonight is not the time.” Her raised voice caught the attention of Mary and Trish who both looked in her direction from the living area.

  Gregory seemed to take the not-so-subtle hint finally and bowed to her slightly. Maybe because the other ladies were present, and he didn’t want to create a scene that might be mentioned to Uncle Tobias. “As you wish.” But his words were couched in hostility.

  She assumed if she became his wife, she’d hear more about her actions from him later. But she had no intention of marrying him, now or ever.

  She said goodnight to the other ladies and headed for the stairs with Danai. Mary and Trish came after her, and she instantly squared her shoulders, preparing for a battle on a new front.

  Mary wound a shoulder length, dark brown curl around her finger. “Your uncle wished for you to stay with us a while.”

  “I have no intention of sleeping on the couch, again.”

  “All right. If you really are retiring to bed then... ,” Trish said.

  “I am.”

  “We’ll be up to check on you later.”

  Great.

  Rachael and Danai navigated the steps, then walked into her bedroom and shut the door. “Now what?” Rachael asked. She headed for the window.

  “Lock the door,” Adonis said, making Rachael gasp, and she wheeled around to see him behind her.

  Her heart beat wildly when he kissed her cheek. She didn’t wait for him to do anything else, but flung her arms around his neck in an enthusiastic embrace.

  He chuckled while he squeezed her tightly against his firm chest. “You missed me.”

  The way his dark eyes penetrated her with desire sent her whole body into hormonal turmoil. Yes, she missed him, although she needed to focus on business.

  Danai locked the door.

  “I want to hunt... to take down some human vampires before you deliver me to Piaras, but the other ladies are checking on me in a little while.” Rachael touched his dark hair still bound in a ponytail.

  “Danai will tell them you’re still sleeping. They won’t realize you’ve ever left the room, if all works as planned.” He nuzzled his smooth face against her cheek. She loved the feel of a hunter’s face against her skin. Although the vampire had the same trait... unlike humans who grew a prickly stubble in no time. “It’s time to learn how to kill a human vampire.”

  “I don’t have my sword.”

  He reached down and placed his hand on the dagger at her waist, his fingers touching her, sending a spark of desire straight to her loins. “You’ll have to use a dagger on Piaras. He’d never let you get close enough if you were wielding a sword.”

  She swallowed hard. She’d always used her sword on vampire dogs in an attempt to stay away from their wicked fangs. But she always wore a dagger, just in case.

  He led her to the window, then he slipped his arm around her waist. He swooped out of the window with her in his warm embrace, then landed on the ground.

  Clinging to him, she felt slightly dizzy.

  He frowned as he hurried her to his SUV. “Your family is going to the eastern part of the city.”

  “After Piaras.”

  “They won’t find him there. But I’m taking you to the western side, just to ensure we don’t accidentally run into any of your family.”

  After closing her car door, he appeared in the driver’s seat. He drove slowly along the drive, attempting not to make too much noise while leaving the estate that would alert those left behind.

  “What about Danai? What if they discover I’m not in bed and treat her badly?” No way did she want her family to hurt Danai.

  “She can always make a hasty retreat like I do. But of course if she does, they’ll know she’s not what she says she is. We’ll have to hope that doesn’t happen, for all our sakes.”

  And then the hunt would be called off so the men could locate Rachael. She shuddered. She was certain her uncle wouldn’t make Rachael leave the family, like he’d done with Michael. But she’d be ostracized and remain with the family, which would be about the same kind of punishment or worse. “Where are we going exactly?”

  “To a furniture warehouse. Four Rottweilers guard the place. Some of Piaras’s vampires intend to turn them. We’ll beat them to the building, and you can take care of the vampires.”

  And if they got there too late? She’d be stuck putting down more killer vampire dogs. But then another worrisome thought occurred to her. “It doesn’t bother you that I’m going to terminate other vampires?” She couldn’t imagine Adonis wouldn’t feel something negative about her killing vampires.

  “No. I’m not really one of them. Only Piaras has any tie to me. The others barely tolerate me. They didn’t like it that he turned a hunter and his huntress sister. It’s never been done before, as far as I know. We’re not considered totally loyal. If Piaras dies, they’ll have it in for both Danai and me.”

  She couldn’t imagine how awful it must be for Adonis and Danai. The vampires wouldn’t accept them, nor would a hunters’ family willingly invite them to join them. The notion struck a chord of sympathy in her for them. Even though she sometimes felt like she didn’t fit in with her family, she was still very much loved. She wanted Adonis and his sister both to feel they belonged to a family again, as most hunters longed to be. “How did he turn you?”

  He hesitated to answer her. She studied him in the dark, wishing she could see his facial expression. Was he upset at how they’d come to be here?
Or was something else delaying his answer?

  Something that could prove not in her best interests?

  Chapter 9

  Adonis turned down another dark road that Rachael recognized led to a warehouse district, her skin cold with anticipation, her heartbeat accelerating. She wished she could command it to beat more steadily, knowing Adonis could hear her anxiousness with his super enhanced hearing, just as she could if the blood wasn’t pulsing so hard in her ears.

  “Before you hunt, you have to clear your mind of everything... anything that could distract you from your job.”

  “Yes.” She knew this from her hunter training classes. The key was to be able to concentrate on only the menace before you, nothing else, allowing no other distractions.

  “Emotions have to be buried.”

  Emotions. Now that could be a problem. When faced with a dog that was ready to rip her throat out, she could handle it. But what if the vampire rogue smiled at her sweetly, no fangs extended, no threat involved? Then what? Would she react too late?

  But Adonis was avoiding her question. “I know all this. What has any of this got to do with your being turned?”

  Again, he paused before he spoke. She imagined the memory was painful. Did he worry she’d be thinking about it when she should be concentrating on killing rogue vampires?

  “Not knowing will make it worse for me. I have a very vivid imagination, Adonis.”

  He reached over and ran his hand over her fingers resting on the console. “My... sister had lost contact with her friend and came here looking for her. When we discovered her body, we investigated and soon learned Piaras was at the heart of the matter. He had murdered Pasha’s friend.”

  “You sought revenge? You went to his estates and—”

  He released a ponderous sigh. “I’ll tell you everything, Rachael.” He lifted her fingers to his lips and kissed them. “Everything, but now is not the time.”

  With her free hand, she touched his shoulder. “I’m so sorry, Adonis. My uncle would have welcomed you into the family. I know he would have. We have one other that joined us from California. Some of my suitors and a couple of the women who married into my family came from other parts of Texas to ensure no one is too closely related. Had you only sought our help—”