by Opal Carew
“Will do.”
God it felt good to be part of a hunter family again. If only he could keep up the charade sufficiently.
Adonis strode toward the door, not waiting a second longer to make his way to Rachael’s room. He heard Michael say to Tobias, “I told you he’s in love with her, Father.”
Tobias didn’t say a word, as Adonis slowed his step to hear his response. Although Tobias didn’t agree, he didn’t disagree either.
Adonis hurried up the stairs. Before he made it to the second floor, Michael dashed up them.
“My father thinks you’ve influenced me by using Danai as fish bait.”
Adonis raised his brows at Michael. He’d never have called his sister fish bait.
Michael’s face grew flushed. “I mean... well, that went really well. I meant to say—”
“I know what you meant to say. You and I understand each other perfectly.”
“Zachary’s dying to know about your other sister.”
Adonis shook his head. “She’s as petite as Rachael and Danai, but feisty. The one who reins her in will have a time of it.”
“And you don’t think Zachary stands a chance?”
Adonis glanced down the stairs. Zachary listened to them, his all assuming interest evident in his perked up brows and widened eyes.
“She likes the rogue type.” Adonis headed for the door of the room.
“He’d do anything to please her.”
“She’s twenty-four and a total terror.”
Michael smiled.
Adonis frowned at him. “You’re not having a change of heart, are you?”
“No. I have enough fight in my work. I’d prefer my social life to be a bit calmer.”
“Danai’s got a lot of spice, too. She just isn’t really sure of herself right now.” Adonis knocked on the door.
Danai opened it and smiled shyly at Michael, then walked back over to the bed. “She’s been asleep.”
Michael motioned to Gregory, still sitting beside her. “We have a hunter’s meeting.” He speared Gregory a look that could kill. If Michael knew the full extent of what Adonis’s family had suffered, he probably would have wanted to murder Gregory himself then and there.
Gregory jerked a thumb at Adonis. “What about him?”
“Go, now, Gregory. Adonis will visit with Rachael for a while.”
Gregory rose from his seat. “Tobias didn’t say he could—”
“He’s allowing him to pursue Rachael.”
Gregory swore under his breath and headed out of the room.
Michael patted Adonis on the shoulder. “I thought I’d have liked Gregory as a brother-in-law although he didn’t think much of my rogue behavior. However, I can see now, his temper could get the better of him. You have much more control in that regard. And if what you say is true about the dating site…” Michael looked over to see Rachael sleeping. He cleared his throat and spoke again to Adonis, “See you downstairs in a bit.”
He shut the door on his way out.
Adonis turned to Danai. “I want you to leave us.”
“No, Adonis. We’ve managed to get this far with the hunter family. We can’t spoil it now by any one of them finding you making love to Rachael in bed.”
He folded his arms. “She’s injured. Why would you think I’d do such a thing?”
“If you woke her now, she’d invite you right in. And you very well know it. Despite your best intentions, you’d not be able to resist her. Here I’d thought you’d charmed her, and come to find out, she’s the one who’s captivated you.”
He frowned at his sister, then walked over to the bed and kissed Rachael’s cheek. She licked her lips and sighed deeply. Yeah, that angelic look had charmed the pants right off him.
He sat down on the bed next to her, took her hand in his, and turned to Danai. “What happened to the two of you?”
“Two of Piaras’s human hosts arrived while I was unpacking boxes in the storage room. I didn’t hear them until it was too late.”
“But your strength is vastly superior to humans. How did they manage to—”
“They’d gotten hold of one of our daggers and held it to my throat. They said Piaras had given them permission to kill me if I didn’t go quietly.”
She swallowed hard. “I heard someone enter the shop. Your idea of adding the bell to the door was a good idea, except while I was busy banging around in the back, I hadn’t heard it ring the first time. Of course, I didn’t know who had entered the shop when it rang when Rachael arrived. Halfway expecting you, the men kept a tight grip on the dagger and me. But when Rachael tried to turn on the light in the storage room, one of the men headed for her. The other loosened his grip on me, and that’s when I had the advantage.”
“You killed them?”
“Yes.” Tears filled her eyes. “I didn’t want to. Not like that. Unarmed it was the quickest thing I could do.”
He rose from the bed and pulled Danai from the chair. Hugging her soundly, he said, “You did what you had to, Danai. Think nothing more of it. I can’t have lost you, too. And your quick action saved Rachael.”
She wiped the tears from her face. “I took Rachael to the house first, then came back and carried the bodies out to the dumpster. When the police find them, they’ll suspect Piaras has been in the area again.” She looked over at Rachael. “I take it that Tobias gave you permission to see Rachael.”
“Yes.” He kissed her on the top of the head, then walked back over to the bed, and sat down beside it. He touched Rachael’s cheek. “Tobias is waiting for me to prove myself to him before he gives permission for much else.”
“Well, you should expect that. He’s seen the other eligible hunters hunt. He hasn’t any idea how you can handle hunting. Or even the way you and Rachael interact with one another.”
“Yeah, well, I don’t even know if I can hunt vampires now.” His body tensed with the notion. He’d been one of the best. Could he kill them now that he’d been turned? He thought so, but maybe Piaras’s test proved he really was incapable of killing a vampire. Even Danai had only killed human hosts, not blood-bonds. “But as far as Rachael and I interacting with one another... “
“What did you tell Tobias about us?”
“The whole story, except about how we were turned. I think he was pretty sympathetic about our misfortunes. Zachary, Michael’s brother, wants to see Pasha, if we’re able to free her unscathed.”
She snorted. “That’d be the day. He doesn’t know her like we do. And Zachary doesn’t seem very, well... “
“Rogue like.”
She whispered, “But Michael—”
“Said he wasn’t interested in getting mixed up with a woman like that. He prefers them quieter.”
She frowned. “He doesn’t know what he’d get into with trying to know me.”
“Yeah, well, you’d better practice keeping those canines tucked away and that temper of yours under control. Tobias asked about the hunter who had lured Meghan here. I had to tell him it was Gregory Devine.”
“Good, then Tobias and his people can deal with the bastard. I can’t believe I said that Rachael should marry the monster.”
“I agree.” Adonis leaned over the bed and kissed Rachael’s lips. She stirred. He pressured her mouth harder.
Danai cleared her throat. “Let her sleep, Adonis.”
“I want to speak to her in private before mealtime.”
Rachael’s eyes fluttered open, then she smiled. “Adonis,” she said groggily and pulled at his sleeve. “You’re safe.” She sighed. “I had the worst nightmares.”
“We’re fine, Rachael,” Danai said. “Thanks to your arrival, you distracted the human hosts, and I was able to break free.”
“They’re dead, aren’t they?” Rachael asked, her voice soft.
“Yes. I had to protect you. They were after me, not you. They planned to kill you, not realizing you were the one Piaras wanted.”
“Thank you, Danai.”
/> He’d halfway expected her to ask further about how Danai had killed the men, but was either too tired, sedated, or didn’t want to know the ugly details.
“Is my…my uncle allowing you to see me now?” Rachael asked.
Adonis smiled. “Yes. He can’t keep us apart. I keep telling you so.”
Footsteps approached, and then Mary opened the door. She motioned for Adonis to leave. “Curt and Brent expect you downstairs to draw up the plans of Piaras’s house.” Her eyes narrowed. “What in the world did you say to Tobias to get him so riled up about Gregory?”
Chapter 16
“Adonis!” Michael hollered from downstairs, interrupting the chance for Adonis to explain what was going on with Gregory.
What had happened now? Rachael was dying to know.
Adonis leaned over and kissed Rachael’s lips, but she wasn’t satisfied with his light touch. She grabbed his arms and pulled him against her body, smothering her mouth with his. “So you won’t miss me,” she whispered against his cheek, wishing she could be alone with him again.
“Later,” he said, hushed against her ear, promising sweet wickedness. He seemed reluctant to leave and finally gave her another heart-warming hug and left to join the men.
Mary frowned at her. “Rachael Lee Bremerton, I know you’ve lost your heart to him, but really, you must try to control yourself around him. The other bachelor hunters were mad enough that Gregory staked his claim to you early in the game first, but—”
“I’m not interested in the others.”
Mary sat down on the bed beside her. “I know. But you really must control your actions with him. You’re putting him through an awful lot of agony and... “
Danai chuckled.
Mary whipped her head around. “Oh, my goodness, Danai, you’re so quiet and Rachael’s un-huntress like behavior toward your brother disturbed me so, I’d forgotten you were there.”
“Don’t mind me, ladies,” Danai said, softly, her mouth still curved up.
“Do you want to stay with her, Danai? I was going to help the ladies make lunch.”
“Yes, of course.”
“Good.” Mary gave Rachael another look meant to chastise her for her behavior, then left the room, closing the door behind her.
“What did Adonis say about Gregory? The man is already incensed enough about Adonis courting me. Do you know what has happened now?” Rachael asked Danai.
Danai explained how Gregory was involved in her family’s downfall—the hunter dating site, how the hunter hadn’t told Tobias or anyone else about Meghan or her death.
Rachael swallowed, but her throat was dry, hardly believing one of their own hunters was to blame. Hell, not just one of them, but Gregory. And here he had let Meghan die, intentionally or unintentionally, and then sought to make Rachael his mate. Without ever coming clean about this other matter. And only a month after Piaras had murdered the huntress. What had Gregory said? For four years he’d wanted to court Rachael. So had he given up on her finally? Or had he been involved in the dating site for a long while, pretending he was really only interested in her? If she had her computer here…
She sat up in bed. Her brain grew fuzzy, and she held her head.
“What are you doing? Do you need something?”
“I have my computer at home.”
“You can’t go to your apartment, Rachael,” Danai warned.
She frowned at her. “I know that. I wanted to go to Mary’s room and use her computer.”
“For what…oh, to see if you can find out more about that dating service.”
Rachael thought of how awful it would be not only to have been turned by the vampire, but for part of her family to live under the constant threat of death, or worse. “Have you seen your family recently?”
“A week ago. They were holding up fairly well.”
“If I’d known, I could have convinced my family to raid his place.”
Danai shook her head. “Outsiders who come into another hunters’ region and get themselves into a mess like this without apprising the local Hunter League what’s going on, are on their own. But then Piaras made it clear that he wanted you. You were the key to everything. When Adonis desired having you for his own, and you wanted him in return, everything changed. Adonis became determined to keep you safe at all costs. And, too, your uncle wants Piaras terminated for threatening to take you for his own. If it hadn’t been for your part in all this, your uncle may very well have never gotten involved. Plus you must remember, if your uncle knew about Adonis and my unusual condition... “
“You’re so much like my own family, I forget sometimes that you’re different.”
Danai’s smile was the brightest Rachael had ever seen. “That’s the sweetest thing anyone could ever say to me.” Then she sighed raggedly and ran her hand over Rachael’s shoulder. “Adonis wants to prove to your family that he’s capable of hunting vampires. But we’re not sure he can. Neither of us has killed one since we were turned.”
Rachael stared at Danai. “But if he can’t and the other hunters see this, he’ll be disgraced, turned out.”
The same sadness filled Danai’s eyes.
“He can’t go then.”
“He has to. They’ve invited him. He’s already told the others he’s going. He can’t back out now.”
“What if the vampires recognize him? What if—”
“None of us know what will happen tonight.”
Rachael pulled the covers aside and sat on the edge of the bed.
“Are you ill again?”
“I want to use Mary’s computer and then I want to be with Adonis.”
“You shouldn’t see Adonis until after the hunt... if all goes well.”
He couldn’t fail or be injured, or worse, never return. She clenched her teeth. “If not?”
“I can’t say, Rachael. Things haven’t gone well for Adonis and me lately. I would hate to even speculate what will happen tonight.”
“I want to see him.”
“It’s best that you don’t. He’s going to be pretty keyed up about the hunt. He doesn’t need any distraction.”
“That’s all I am to him now? A distraction?”
Danai gave her a wicked smile. “Totally.”
***
When it was time for dinner, Adonis sat next to his sister at the meal while Michael sat on the other side of her. Because of his sister being so thin, he’d insisted she come to dinner instead of staying with Rachael as she’d wanted to do. Trish remained with Rachael instead.
Michael plied Danai with food to Adonis’s amusement. He was doing a much better job of getting her to eat. Did she want to please the hunter, or was she having a difficult time saying no? He wasn’t sure, and it really didn’t matter as long as she ate well.
His thoughts shifted to Rachael, and the wealth of worry her expression had shown. He’d assured her the best he could that he’d be fine during the hunt, concerned that in Trish’s presence the woman might wonder if something more was wrong.
The stairs creaked and he expected to see Trish bringing Tobias some news concerning Rachael. Instead, Rachael walked toward them dressed in hunter’s clothes. He raised his brows and hurried out of his seat as Trish shook her head and helped Rachael across the living room. Adonis joined her before she got much farther.
Rachael attempted a small smile. “I wanted to eat with you.”
“Are you feeling better?”
“Much.”
He didn’t believe her, but lifted her into his arms and carried her to the table.
Looking displeased, Tobias frowned at her.
Dr. Stevens motioned to her with a wave of his fork. “If she’s feeling well enough and she’s hungry, that’s a good sign.”
Trish snorted. “Right.”
Adonis stifled a smile. Rachael couldn’t stay away from him, any more than he could stay away from her, whether she was hungry or not. Although because of the pained expression in her eyes and the way she win
ced when he lifted her in his arms, he imagined her head still hurt from the blow she’d taken. But hopefully her arrival meant overall she was feeling better.
Brent moved his plate so Rachael could sit next to Adonis. After Mary brought her a plate of green beans, roast ham, and mashed potatoes, the conversation renewed.
Adonis heard none of it as Rachael slipped her hand onto his lap and caressed his thigh with a gentle touch. He lost his fork and several glanced up to see what the matter was. His face grew hot.
Rachael quickly removed her hand from his lap, and her own cheeks reddened. She poked her fork into her ham.
Although the conversation had renewed, everyone observed his behavior with Rachael, and he had every intention of playing his cards right—at least in front of her protective hunter family.
Uncle Tobias watched the way that he and Rachael behaved toward one another as if he were judge and jury. But then again, if Adonis had a daughter, he’d feel the same way toward any hunter who might pursue her.
Rachael toyed with the napkin in her lap and continued to poke her fork into her mashed potatoes, her face too pale. Reaching over, he squeezed her hand. She looked up at him, a smile softly playing on her lips. But she didn’t look well.
He leaned over and kissed her cheek, her skin silky soft.
But she suddenly tightened her grip on his hand. “Can you take me back to bed?” Her whispered words were panicked and her brow knit in a tight frown.
“Are you ill?”
“A little.”
He nearly knocked his chair over, trying to stand.
“What’s wrong?” Tobias asked, half rising from his seat.
“Rachael’s feeling ill.”
Tobias quickly gave orders. “Michael, take her up to her room. Mary, would you join her please, if you’ve finished eating?”
Michael lifted Rachael in his arms. She smiled at Adonis. I love you, she mouthed.
Adonis waited until Michael reached the stairs before he retook his seat. If Rachael had pretended to be sick so that he could be alone with her briefly, her ruse didn’t work.
But when Michael returned to his seat, he said to the doctor, “She’s throwing up. I guess she wasn’t really ready to eat.”