“I believe so.”
Her shoulders sagged with relief.
Hunter frowned and placed his head on Lance’s forehead. “There’s something not quite right here,” he muttered.
“I, uh, I think that bullet is creating more damage with every breath he takes.”
Hunter raised an eyebrow at her. “Oh, so now you’re a doctor, too, huh?”
She frowned. “No, but I am a witch, and I sensed something dark in there, like a shadow that is expanding inside him.”
Hunter nodded. “Poison. Looks like the bullet was possibly tainted. If the bullet had just passed through him, he would have been really sick. With that bullet fragment in there, and the sustained exposure to the toxin, it’s killing him. His body hasn’t got a chance to rejuvenate with that thing eating at him.” Hunter tilted his head. “But that’s not quite what I meant. There is something...unnatural here.”
“Oh, that would be me. I worked a dormancy spell.” She couldn’t think of anything else to do for her friend, and the knowledge of her limitations was excruciating.
She met his gaze, and was surprised by the flicker of approval she saw there.
“Smart move. It slows the spread of the toxin, but still keeps his system active.” Hunter folded his arms. “A dormancy spell, huh? I’m surprised you’re still standing. So, he’s human, or at least part human? I mean, I have to assume that, otherwise you would have used a suspension spell, right?”
He seemed to possess an uncomfortable amount of knowledge on witchcraft. The suspension spell could be used on most of the pure-breeds, like full-blooded vampires, and those that were undead in their natural state. She nodded. “He’s a dhampir.”
She saw his brown eyes widen.
“A dhampir? As in, vampire hunter? But that would make him a shadow breed.” Hunter’s brows dipped with confusion. He’d never seen a dhampir in action before. Sure, he knew the basics; they consumed vampire blood. Their human nature still desired food and drink, but to build their strength and other enhanced physical qualities, they had to consume the blood of the undead. Nature’s solution to the vampire abomination. Half human, half vampire, they became a natural-born vampire hunter. Most didn’t survive to maturity, having been killed off by the vampires before they could become a true threat. Those who did survive that long spent the rest of their lives with a target on their back, hunted by the entire vampire breed. It was an interesting relationship, but one of equal footing, the hunted also becoming the hunter.
“But you hate shadow breeds, remember? You go on and on about how you wish we’d all die.” He rolled his hands as he spoke. “On and on.”
Melissa lifted her chin. “Dhampirs hate vampires just as much as I do. Dhampirs want vampires dead. Ergo, that makes them the good guys.”
Hunter gazed absently at the wall behind her as he considered her words. “So you don’t hate all shadow breeds, then, huh?” He leaned forward. “Ergo, there’s hope for me yet,” he whispered in her ear.
“No, there isn’t.” She pulled back a little, ignoring the little kick-start to her pulse. No. No way in hell would she be going there. She checked behind her to avoid stepping on Lexi. He was so big, and warm, and...cheeky, damn it. “What do you need to get started here?”
Hunter turned around the room, taking an instant visual inventory. “We’re going to need more water, for starters. Towels, bandages, scissors, tweezers, needles, candles—lots of candles.” He counted off the items on his fingers. “And alcohol. Bourbon, preferably.” He glanced meaningfully at Lexi, who nodded and hurried out of the room.
“Bourbon?” Melissa’s brow wrinkled as she tried to remember the medicinal purposes of the liquor. Maybe sterilization?
Hunter nodded. “Yeah. That’ll be for me.” He shrugged. “Five months...”
She folded her arms. “You can’t—”
“Tut-tut. Whatever I asked, remember?”
Her eyes narrowed. She knew he was going to take advantage of the situation. She guessed she should be relieved it was just a drink or three. “Don’t screw up,” she warned him.
Hunter grimaced. “Can’t promise that. I’m renowned for screwing up, just ask my brother.”
Melissa took a deep breath, praying for patience, and he waved a hand at her. “Relax. I’ll be fine. Soon.”
“Soon?” Oh, hell, now what did he want? What cockamamy demand was he going to make? His words finally registered. He’d be fine soon. Which implied he wasn’t fine now. Her mental alarm bells started to ring. “What do you mean?”
Hunter turned to face her. “You’ve kept me locked away,” he said coolly, and took a step toward her. She eyed him. He was going all predator on her. She took a wary step back. Uh-oh. He wasn’t chained to a wall anymore.
“Five months in the dark,” he grated, and she saw the muscles in his jaw clench. He stepped closer again. Damn it. He was going to try to kill her again. This had all been a ploy for him to get out of those iron cuffs. She cast her gaze toward Lance, unconscious on the bed. He couldn’t help her. Her fingers tensed.
“I’m dry,” he told her, his stare intent.
She hesitated. Frowned. “Dry? What do you mean, dry?”
“I have no energy,” he told her quietly. “Your friend—he’s going to need some serious energy, and I don’t have it at the moment because you’ve kept me in the dark for so long.”
She blinked. “Oh.” She’d researched, but there wasn’t a great deal of information available about light warriors. Any records that mentioned them were notoriously sketchy. They siphoned energy from the sun, flame, some light—but they couldn’t draw energy from the blue fluorescence. She backed away again, only to come up against the bedroom wall. “Uh, what—what do you need?”
“Candles,” he told her, and rested his palm against the wall, right beside her head. She swallowed. He was close. Really, really close. The corded strength of his arm was right there, tendon, sinew and muscle covered in golden skin. He even smelled...clean. She guessed the fire hose and a mini-blizzard had that effect on a man. There was no aftershave, no cultured scent, just him. He smelled pleasant, with a hint of amber and male musk.
Nope, she wasn’t going to think about musk.
She snapped her attention back to the conversation. “Uh, well, Lexi will bring some in shortly.”
Hunter nodded, placing his other hand on the wall on the other side of her head, effectively hemming her into a space within his reach that was growing smaller with every breath she took. She could sense the warmth of his body, so close, that naked chest just inches away from her own form. Warmth and heat. Heart pounding. Male musk. Muscles.
“Fire,” he told her, his gaze on hers, and she could see the flare of heat there, too, as though he could feel the sizzle between them.
“Fire?” she repeated, then cleared her throat at the hoarse sound. “Fire?” she repeated, this time in a stronger voice. Oh, dear. That chest, those muscles, covered in that smooth, golden skin.
“I need fire,” he said, and her eyes widened. Did he mean he was going to set her place on fire again?
“I need to draw energy from fire,” he told her, apparently reading the concern in her gaze. He bent his elbows, drawing himself even closer, his gaze lowering to focus on her neck, her shoulders...her chest. “I’m a light warrior, Melissa. I need light to do what I do.” His voice had dropped to a whisper. “Light. Warmth. Heat. I draw energy from it. It’s like blood for vampires—I need it to survive.”
She swallowed. Well, she could certainly help him with the heat. Her cheeks were hot, her mouth dry. “Oh. Uh, well, those candles...”
“Your friend is going to need a lot of energy, Melissa,” Hunter said, and dipped his head toward her neck. She heard him inhale.
“Uh...” Good grief, he wasn’t even touching her, but her nippl
es were tightening in reaction.
“It’s going to take time for me to rejuice, heal, rejuice, heal,” he told her. His chest was so close, all warmth and naked skin. If she took a deep breath, they’d be touching, breast to breast. She swallowed.
“There is a way I can get some pure energy, fast,” he whispered, his breath against her neck.
She closed her eyes. “There is?” Good grief, he was so there, so big, so...sexy. All tall and broad shoulders, male musk and—
Something delicate and damp flicked against her neck, and her eyes sprang open. He’d licked her. He lifted his head, his gaze meeting hers.
She gasped. His eyes. They’d gone from dark brown to warm hazel, with shards of golden amber flecking his irises. Even as she watched, her gaze never leaving his, he pressed closer, his chest coming into contact with hers, separated by her cream blouse and lacy bra. His eyes brightened. Not with emotion, but actually brightened. Sparks of amber brightened to flecks of gold, and his eyes glowed.
They glowed. His expression looked stunned for a moment. “You’re so—hot,” he whispered finally, and lowered his lips to hers.
Chapter 7
This was no dream. His lips were warm and supple against hers, and she closed her eyes as he kissed her. Even with her eyes shut, though, she could sense his heat, a sensual haze creeping over her, through her. Her heart thumped in her chest, and he changed the angle, drawing back for barely a moment before pressing his mouth to hers again, his tongue darting in to tease at hers.
The sensations were at once familiar and alien. She remembered passion, she remembered arousal, desire...she just hadn’t felt any of that in so long.
Her breasts swelled, and he sighed as he rubbed his chest against hers, her nipples peaking at the delicious contact. His tongue caressed hers, causing a tremble to start low in her stomach and ripple outward...down to her core and up to her breasts. His kisses were well practiced, expert—drawing a response from her, a surrender she wasn’t prepared for. She was panting, trying to catch her breath, but not wanting to relinquish the sweet, hot hold of his lips. She realized her hands were pressed against the wall by her sides, as though she was trying to hold herself back.
Screw that.
She raised her arms, and his hands left the wall, his fingers intertwining with hers. He raised his head, panting, his beautiful golden eyes staring down at her. He looked like he was going to come back for round two, and then he blinked. The golden fire in his eyes banked, and the passion of his expression cooled into a remote mask.
“Thank you,” he said politely, taking a step back.
She gaped at him for a moment, feeling a chill wash over her. “What for?” she whispered hoarsely, although glimpsing the glow and golden flecks of his previously dark brown eyes, she thought she knew.
“I, uh, needed that.” He licked his lips and stepped back again.
“Needed what?” she asked, strength returning to her voice, her limbs. Despite the passion and excitement of a few seconds ago, she felt drained, exhausted.
“A small recharge.” He indicated Lance on the bed behind him. “You know, to look after your friend.”
She hid her dismay. All thoughts of Lance had fled her mind as soon as Hunter’s lips had touched hers. She’d been swept away. Excited. Horny. Hell. She hadn’t kissed anyone since...
She blinked once. Twice. No. She clamped her lips tight, as though they could keep her horror, her pain and her shame hidden away inside her. She’d kissed Hunter, and she’d forgotten all about Theo. She’d been totally lost to the passion—with Hunter, of all people. A light warrior—a damn shadow breed. And he’d just been using her to “recharge.” Guilt hit her like a solid punch to the gut. She wasn’t going to tear up, damn it. She wasn’t going to give pyro jerk the satisfaction.
She took a breath, sagging back against the wall. For a moment, the room swirled, and she flattened her hands against the wall for balance.
“Melissa,” Hunter spoke softly, stepping back toward her, his hand raised.
She hit it away. “Don’t touch me,” she rasped. “Not ever.”
He halted, something flashing in those eyes that looked almost like hurt, but she ignored it. He was incapable of empathy. “You need to break the dormancy spell,” he told her. “You’re—drained.” His gaze flicked away for a moment. “You need to break away from Lance.”
She shook her head, but he nodded, his chin lifting. “You have to. I can’t do what I need to do if he’s dormant. Let him go.”
She eyed him. If she let him go, Lance’s injuries would flare up. He’d feel pain. The poison would spread. He could die.
“Trust me,” he told her softly.
She blanched. After what he’d just done to her, he expected her to trust him? Anger flared, and if she’d had the energy, she would have punched him. She wanted to lash out, make him hurt as much as she did.
Hunter dipped his chin, meeting her gaze squarely. “I will heal your friend, Melissa, but you need to trust me to do it.”
She fixed him with a glare, pouring as much anger and bitterness into it as she could. “If anything happens to him, I will kill you.”
He nodded. “Understood. Now, let go.”
She closed her eyes, her head tilting back against the wall. She was so gosh-darn tired. She didn’t want to argue anymore, didn’t have the energy. Summoning up the dregs of her power, she whispered an incantation that severed the magical link between her stores and Lance’s life source. It was like a small burst of light disappearing into the darkness.
She opened her eyes, and startled. Hunter had stepped right up to her, his face close to hers.
“You need to rest,” he whispered, touching her forehead gently. She tried to move away, to open her mouth to protest, but a warmth rolled through her mind, a comforting blanket of white that stole her consciousness, and then she knew nothing.
* * *
Hunter caught her as she started to slide to the floor, scooping her up and carrying her to the chair in the corner her friend—what was her name?—had sat in. He placed her gently in the chair, pulling up one of the cushions that had fallen to the floor and carefully placing it against the wall. He tilted Melissa’s head into a comfortable position, making sure the cushion was placed to prevent a crick in the neck, and squatted there for a moment, gazing up at her.
She looked so peaceful, so damn luscious. It always surprised him how a woman with so much sass and attitude could look so angelic. He took advantage of the moment, staring at her without worrying about her hissing, spitting, kicking or smashing his head in, because he’d sensed that was where she was headed when she realized he’d used her.
His mouth pulled down at the corners. He hadn’t lied to her. Light warriors needed sources of light to fill their energy stores. Sexual energy, though, was like a pure shot of adrenaline, a caffeine triple hit. It could also be draining for the source, if the light warrior was feeding and not careful. Most light warriors learned how to consume the energy without bringing their source to the brink of death, although it was possible to kill a partner if the light warrior didn’t stop.
Melissa’s energy was like an inferno. He wondered if that was because she was a witch. Regardless, her energy was a seduction in itself, especially with him being half-starved. With her lack of sleep, though, and the magic she’d expended on trying to heal her friend, she was dangerously low on power. It had felt so good, but despite their shared passion and it was shared—she’d reciprocated, he hadn’t imagined that—he could also sense the lethargy stealing into her limbs. He’d had to pull back.
Normally he wasn’t quite so—enthusiastic—in a light feed. He knew control, he knew discipline. He blamed it on subsisting on torchlight for the past few months, and not on any kind of magnetic attraction he might feel for the witch.
Her friend entered the room, carrying a bundle of towels and a bucket, steam curling up from the water. She halted when she saw Melissa sleeping in the corner. “What’s wrong with her?” Her expression showed her alarm, and Hunter rose, holding his hand out in a soothing gesture.
“She’s fine. She’s just really tired after working on your brother.” He took the towels from her. “Thanks...” He racked his brain for her name, but honestly, he’d been kind of focused on Melissa, and checking out her home, more than anything—including his new patient.
“Lexi,” she supplied. She indicated the candles. Some were just hardened puddles of wax, some could be relit. “Melissa used all of her candles earlier. Do you need me to run out and get some?”
He nodded. “Please.” He was good to go, but working on Lance was going to take some time and energy, and he’d need to top up and rest. Lexi nodded, then paused, clearly hesitant to leave him alone with her brother and Melissa. “He’s going to be fine,” he said, hoping he was right. There was never any guarantee with a patient, there were too many variables, but he would have promised Melissa anything to get out of that cell.
“Uh, okay. Well, I’ll go get some candles,” Lexi murmured, backing out of the doorway. She eyed his chest for a moment, and he saw the curiosity flare in her eyes before she glanced at her brother. “I’ll bring some clothes, too. For both of you.”
He smiled. “Thanks.” He didn’t offer her any explanation for his half-naked state.
Lexi left, and he heard her light tread on the stairs. He glanced around the room. Lance was still unconscious on the bed and Melissa was sleeping deeply in the corner. The whole apartment was filled with an eerie silence. He couldn’t even hear the tick of a clock. At present, he may as well have been alone.
He turned and eyed the door. He could leave. Lance was out cold, and couldn’t stop him—although the guy looked massive enough to present a challenge if he’d been alert. Melissa was in a forced sleep. She would waken when she was fully rested, her energy restored.
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