Their Dark Hunter (Masters of Darkness)

by Angelini, Alaska

  The narrowing of Harvey’s eyes told him the guy was angry, but he didn’t care. Staying was suicide. If Leon was anything, it wasn’t stupid. He knew how strong he was, and his power wasn’t comparable to the man he saw challenging him from across the street.

  “How do you expect to leave? I have the only car, and I’m staying.”

  Leon shrugged. “I’ll take a cab. I’ll fucking walk. My ass is out of here.”

  “You know, for someone who wants his wings back, you sure don’t seem to be making an effort to stay holy. The easiness with which those disrespectful words flow from your tongue is probably the simplest thing you can control, and yet you let the filth pour from you like an opened faucet.”

  Guilt ate at him, but not anywhere near as much as it would have weeks ago. Leon sighed. “I’m sorry, but you have no idea what you’re up against. When was the last time you saw Helix, Harvey?”

  “It’s been a while.”

  Leon pushed the card into his hand and made him take it. “You may be strong, but if you stay, you’ll die. I promise you. This is his territory. He made that clear to me. Now that I know, and you know, we should go. We’re asking for a fight if we stay.”

  “Eternals don’t have territory. They don’t belong in our world.” Harvey opened the back door. “Wake up. We’re here.” The sound of the slam easily marked how angry he was.

  “Too much pride is a sin too, you know?” Leon knew he was only going to make the guy angrier, but if it were enough to get Harvey to leave, it’d save him trouble in the long run. “Let’s go, Harvey.”

  Deep blue eyes snapped in his direction. “I’m staying. End of discussion.”

  Leon nodded. “Nice knowing you.” He headed for the front desk. The air conditioner felt good against the heat from outside. Even though the sun was setting it was still humid. “Hi, can you call me a cab?”

  The lady smiled and picked up the phone. As he sat in a chair and waited, Leon wasn’t sure what he was going to do. Harvey was already unloading and going inside. He doubted the immortal would be looking for him come first thing, tomorrow morning. It was probably best if he went home, but where was that? Melody’s home had been the only place he’d felt at ease. Maybe he’d just crash at her place and get lucky. He doubted it, but at least he knew it was a roof over his head where he’d be most comfortable. And, if she did happen to come back, he’d be waiting.

  ***

  Vex blinked, trying to bring the room into focus. Aching took over every inch of his body as he tried to move. What a night. Hell, what a week. The last seven days had been filled with nothing but he, Trace, and his mate, bonding. He couldn’t believe how absolutely perfect things were between them. Happiness wasn’t supposed to be in the cards for him. At least, he’d never thought it would be, but this? What the three of them had was the closest thing to Heaven he was sure he would ever get.

  A smile came to his mouth and he turned to take in her sleeping face. Vex lifted his arm and winced. Damn, had they really gone that hard last night? He couldn’t remember it being any different than the other times. Maybe the days of constant lovemaking were starting to catch up with him.

  Gently, he traced his knuckles over the side of her beautiful face. There wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for her. Just looking at her made him feel like he could accomplish anything. He wanted to be good. To make her love him as much as he loved her. Vex pulled back his hand, not wanting to wake her. He stood and a groan came from his mouth. He looked at the other side of the bed and noticed Trace was gone.

  The food trays were still sitting next to the bed and he wiped them away with his hand. Every step to the shower had him clenching his jaw. He shut the door and turned toward the mirror. His eyes always came to one thing first. At what he saw, Vex froze.

  The badge on his shoulder was still there, but completely blank. His finger traced over the symbol, and he could feel his heart racing. What did this mean? Well, obviously it represented that he was no longer the master of the city, but if he wasn’t meant to lead, why was the outline of the medal still there?

  Shorts immediately appeared on him and he eased the door open and raced downstairs. Trace was sitting on the couch, leaned forward, staring at the TV. His eyes glanced at Vex, and went back to being glued to the screen. “Have you ever watched this Sons of Anarchy show? There’s a marathon on. You should sit and check it out. I’m positively hooked.”

  Vex shook his head and waved the television off. “Trace.”

  “Hey, man! What the hell?”

  “Trace!” Vex pulled him up. “Tell me if you notice anything.”

  The demon looked at his body. “Did you lose weight? We’ve been going at it nonstop. I think maybe I’ve lost a few pounds.”

  A growl came from Vex. “I’m not fucking with you. Look closer. This is serious.”

  Trace twisted his mouth. As his eyes raked over Vex’s chest his stare got big. “Oh…shit.” He met Vex’s eyes. “You’re not a master, anymore. At least not over demons, you’re not. The oath is gone, and the location of your territory has disappeared. What does it mean?”

  “I don’t know.” Vex felt like he was going to be sick. “I woke up this morning and went to take a shower and it was blank. My body is actually aching all over.”

  Trace’s lips parted. “You know, mine is too. I’ve tried to ignore it, but I can’t shake how tight my muscles feel. I’ve never felt anything like this before. We’re not supposed to feel pain.”

  Vex nodded. “Something is wrong. Do you think we’re about to be sent back?”

  Panic came to Trace’s face. “I’m not fucking going anywhere. Hurry, and let’s do something evil, quick! We’ll make the power come back. Here,” he pulled Vex to the front porch and pointed into the distance, at the traffic on the highway. “Let’s cause an accident.”

  “What?” Vex turned to him, shocked. “You’re crazy. We can’t do that. What if a person gets seriously hurt? For all I know, someone’s Melody could be in there. I won’t risk causing that sort of pain to a person.”

  Fear engulfed Trace’s features. “God, you’re right. I wouldn’t be able to do it, either. Shit.” He shook his head back and forth, slowly. “What in the hell is happening to us? We wouldn’t have hesitated months ago if we thought it had come down to losing our status.”

  Vex rubbed his hand against the growth on his face. “Let’s just see what happens. I doubt we’re about to get sent back. We’re probably just feeling the effects of not doing our jobs or something. And the badge doesn’t mean everything. So I’m not the master of the city, anymore. Who cares? I’m obviously still a master. My symbol is still there. Maybe once I get home and get back to work it’ll come back.”

  “And if it doesn’t?”

  Vex shrugged. “I still have the club. Corpus Christi will get a new master, and I’ll just live a normal life. I think I like that idea, actually.”

  “You’ve lost it,” Trace said, shaking his head. “I don’t even feel like I know you anymore. You’ve been so different this last week. You haven’t once threatened me with something, or come after me with the intent to invoke mass amounts of pain like you used to. The anger and hate is gone, Vex. You may still be a master in the bedroom, but your demon is different. No wonder the words disappeared. You’re weak.”

  Vex pushed the back of his head, forward. “I’m far from it. There. How was that?”

  “Better.” Trace smiled and rubbed where the connection was made.

  “Don’t underestimate my power just because the words are gone. I may not be your master anymore, but I am just as strong as one. Don’t forget it.”

  Trace rolled his eyes. “Yeah, yeah. Well, I’m pretty strong myself. But what lies in store for us when we get back to the city is beyond me. I have to tell you, I feel pretty different too. It’s kind of scary.”

  “It is.” Vex looked toward the road. Helix should have found them by now. The demons were probably causing all sorts of chaos in the ci
ty. Maybe they needed to go back and see if they would find him there. “I think it’s time to go home. Apparently, Helix isn’t concerned. We’ll just have to keep a close eye on Melody.”

  “But what happens with us once we return?”

  Vex sighed. “I don’t know. The way I see it is you’re free, Trace…at least for now. I’m obviously not your master, anymore. We can all stay at the penthouse, and we’ll figure something out.”

  “Wait.” The demon shook his head. “No one can know that you’re not master anymore.”

  “Why not?” He pulled the door open, readying to go wake Melody. “I’m done, Trace. I’m not going to pretend to be something I’m not. Plus, the demons will pick up on it anyway. The façade might last a while, but the moment one tries to defy me or leave, I won’t have the mind pull I had with them before. Yeah, I could hurt them and order them to listen, but I don’t want to.”

  A frustrated sound filled the air. “Vex, you can’t just walk away from everything. You say I’m free, but I don’t know anyone besides you and Mel. What would I do? I can’t get a job or anything, I don’t have skills.”

  The air conditioning felt good. Vex walked into the kitchen and pulled down a coffee cup. He placed his hand over the opening and watched as the steamy liquid appeared. At least he hadn’t lost his gift to materialize. “Trace, I don’t know what to tell you. Mingle. Find some friends. Hang out with Malcolm and Dray. Pick up a damn hobby.”

  “Are you at least going to open the club back up so I can continue to work there?”

  “Sure.” Vex shrugged. “You can run it for me. That’ll give you something to do.”

  A sense of contentment went through the room and Vex narrowed his eyes. He’d always been able to detect emotions and energy, but the strength he’d just felt went beyond what he was used to. Dizziness hit him hard and his arms reached for the countertop for stability.

  “Whoa, buddy, you okay?” Trace caught him before he hit the floor.

  “Vex?” Melody rushed over, but his sight was all wrong, sideways and in black and white. Voices filled the room, but they were blurred together and slowed to an unrecognizable jumble.

  Dark spots began to take over. Vex blinked hard, trying to focus. The cold beneath his back penetrated into his bones, and he could feel himself shaking. God, was he dying? Probably. Maybe Hell wanted him back to punish him for his betrayal.

  As he looked up at his mate’s distorted form, he didn’t care. If he were going to go, at least he’d have memories of the best week of his life to keep him company for however long he’d be gone.

  ***

  Melody’s fingers barely had to cover the pulse point on Vex’s wrist to feel his heart racing. Sweat drenched his body while he lie there, unconscious. Her eyes went to Trace. “What happened?”

  The demon shook his head. “I don’t know. He was fine, and then,” his hand gestured to Vex.

  “Think, Trace! Did he say anything that might indicate he wasn’t feeling well?”

  “Well, yeah. He came down, freaking out. He’s lost the position as master of the city.” Trace pointed to his chest. “The lettering is gone. Status is still there, but not over a territory.” He took a deep breath. “He mentioned something about feeling achy. But so do I.”

  “All right.” Melody swallowed hard. She may have been a nurse, but when it came to the paranormal, she was lost. The same rules didn’t apply, by far. “Let’s get him to the bed. I don’t want him on the floor.” Her hands were trembling as she looked around. Just the thought that something was happening to her mate was downright terrifying.

  Trace lifted him and headed for the stairs. As Melody followed she wracked her brain. There had to be something she could do. Trace swayed as he lowered Vex to the bed. Melody rushed forward. “Are you okay? Trace, talk to me.”

  His eyes were big while he was looking around. Slowly, he lowered to sit on the bed. “Mel, I don’t feel so well. I feel really dizzy.” He swayed again, and she helped him lie down next to Vex.

  “Trace, keep talking to me.”

  “I can’t see anything clearly.” His hands rubbed down his face. “Fuck. I’m seeing spots.” His breathing increased and she watched his eyes roll back.

  “Trace!”

  His head fell to the side and she slapped at his face. Her hand automatically reached to his pulse. It was pounding away like Vex’s was. What should she do? Call 911? What the hell would she tell them, her demon mates had passed out and they needed to be rushed to the hospital?

  “Dammit!” She knew there were no medical supplies here. Melody rushed into the restroom and wet some washcloths to press against their heads. For three hours they lie in a comatose state. She had no idea how long they were going to be out, but she knew without any supplies, she’d be screwed if something worse happened. A sinking feeling took over. There was only one place to go, and that was home. She had supplies she’d collected over the last year of demon hunting and there had to be something she could use.

  Melody grabbed Vex’s keys from the nightstand and rushed to his Maserati. She sped down the dirt road and hit the highway. Immediately, she took advantage of the speed of the car. The land stretched out for miles to the side of her once she rushed through the town of Tivoli. Within half an hour she was entering the outskirts of her town. The traffic wasn’t anywhere as thick with tourists as it usually was. By the time she got on the bypass, it didn’t take but a few minutes before she was hauling ass down her dirt road. The sight of her home didn’t bring the relief she thought it would. All she could focus on was getting back to Vex and Trace.

  Melody threw the car in park and left it running as she burst through the front door. At the sight of Leon sitting on the couch, eating a bowl of popcorn, she felt her heart drop.

  “Mel.” He slowly stood and put up his hands. “I’m not going to hurt you. Please, don’t run.”

  She rolled her eyes at him. “I’m not running anywhere. You have explaining to do. What the hell were you thinking trying to take me away from my mates?”

  Weird vibes pushed against Melody’s skin, causing red caution flags to go off in her mind. The time to run was near. She could feel it. For the first time, ever, she feared her friend. The supplies overpowered the emotion and all she needed to do was get to the kitchen.

  Melody watched him from the corner of her eyes while she walked to the cabinets and grabbed down her box.

  “We immortals are at a turning point in our earthbound lives. Demons have always been our enemies, but now we have a new one. A breed so powerful that they need to be stopped before it’s too late.”

  Melody rested the box on the kitchen table. “What are you talking about, Leon? None of this makes sense. One minute you’re my friend, and we’re going over plans to figure out who put the picture of Helix in my drawer. The next, you’re barging into Vex’s club and demanding that I leave with you and Harvey. You turned your back on me. Why? What happened after you left?”

  He sighed. “Nothing much. I started dropping hints about you a lot, hoping someone would start showing interest. Then I was talking to Harvey and I happened to mention that Vex had changed since the last time I saw him, and you two were mated. When I told him you were mated to Trace too, he flipped. Then he let me in on a secret that changed my life and made me open my eyes.”

  “And, what was that?” Melody could feel her heart racing.

  Leon collapsed to the couch, but he continued to stare at her. “I just told you.” He sighed. “Let me put it this way. I saw Helix, Mel. He is your father.”

  Numbness raced through her legs as the adrenaline pumped through her veins. She made her way to the couch, barely feeling herself walk. “Where did you see him?”

  “Gonzales. He runs the territory there, I think. At least that’s the impression I got when he was staring at me. The eternal is so damn powerful. I—“

  Melody held up her hand. “Wait. Eternal? What is that?”

  A shuttering breath came f
rom Leon and he stood. “They’re demons who’ve broken the connection with Hell. They’re too good to be demons, and too bad to be angels. They’re like Hell’s substitute of the immortal.”

  “Vex and Trace.” Melody looked around the room realizing what must have been happening to them. Every night they’d been together, she could feel herself sucking something from them. It had to have been her good, cleansing them of their evil. Was she already an eternal? Was that why the men couldn’t place her scent? “I’ve got to go.” She raced and grabbed the box. Leon was suddenly standing before her.

  “I can’t let you leave, Mel. If Helix finds them, or vice-versa, we immortals are screwed. I need your mates to stay demons. The only way for that to happen is for them to be separated from you. Which actually works out perfectly for me. You see … I’ve been doing some thinking. I was stupid to ever leave here.”

  Fear consumed her as she looked into Leon’s eyes. They were starting to illuminate and she knew what that meant. Tingling erupted in her palm and she concentrated on calling the light she held within.

  “Move, Leon.”

  “Not gonna happen.”

  Melody wedged the box against her side, holding it with one arm. The moment Leon reached for her she let the power from her free hand explode against his chest. The immortal crashed into the wall and she took off running for the door as fast as she could. She hadn’t even made it half way there before he had his arm wrapped around her waist.

  “When the hell did you get powers?” Leon said, pulling her into his body.

  “Who cares? Let go of me.”

  He knocked the box out of her hand and pulled her into her room. “I told you, you’re not going back to them. You belong with me now.” He grabbed her belt and pushed her to the bed on her stomach. Melody instantly started to thrash and fight the pressure of the hand that rested in the middle of her back. Leon definitely was a lot stronger than she’d ever realized. The arm braced against her was not movable.