A Hunter's Challenge [The Hunters 3] (Siren Publishing Allure)

by Suzy Shearer

  He turned to look at Erica strangely, his face filled with wonder.

  “You told us that you had to save this man. That you were the only person in the whole world who could. I remember we used to ask you several times what you was going to save him from.”

  Her parents looked at Anthan in confusion as her father continued.

  “We could never understand what she meant. She always said, ‘I have to save him from the sun.’”

  The four Hunters and the sisters all gasped in shock. Anthan had visibly paled. Erica leapt to her feet and ran to him.

  Martin was stunned. He was shaking his head. Arthur was looking puzzled from one to the other. Ken seemed as puzzled as the two parents. But Dragoş and Nicoleta were looking at Erica in awe.

  “I don’t understand,” Arthur said.

  Martin cleared his throat.

  “You do know now about Hunters?”

  Arthur and Madeline nodded.

  “Yes, when Nicoleta first contacted us, she told us everything. Of course since then we’ve seen things that only prove it all.”

  “Okay. Well, Anthan here is Hunter royalty.”

  They looked at Anthan in surprise. Anthan burst out laughing. Shaking his head, he said, “Get real.”

  “Anthan, you know it’s true. You mightn’t have been born a king but as far as Hunters are concerned you are. Who led the original Hunters? You. Who knows more about our enemy? You. Who is the wisest and oldest? You. I know you only consider yourself as our Leader but we think of you as our king.”

  “It’s true, my lord,” Dragoş said sincerely. “I feel honoured to just be in your home, to be talking with you.”

  Anthan held up his hands.

  “Okay. Okay I get the point!”

  Martin gave a little bow with his head.

  “Anyway, as I was saying Anthan is considered our king. You also need to understand that unless we have found that One person destined to be our mate, we are alone. We have friends but there is no one to share our pain, our lives. It’s a lonely existence.”

  Amy squeezed his hand.

  “So we all search for that one person who completes us. We search through the hundreds of years. Some of us are lucky.” He smiled at Amy. “Some are not.”

  “Anthan was one of those who were unfortunate. They’re destined to spend thousands of years alone.”

  Anthan shrugged his shoulders as the others looked at him.

  “It wasn’t by choice.”

  Martin nodded. “Being alone can be painful. You have nothing to share. Your life is built around hunting the strigoi. After a while, all the good fades. You still have hope that one day you will meet your One but then after a while that starts to fade.”

  He looked at Anthan.

  “I have no idea how you managed to last this long, my friend.”

  Anthan held Erica’s hand tight. He took a deep breath and looked at Arthur and Madeline.

  “I had given up. The day I met Erica, I was about to walk into the sun. I no longer had the strength to live. If a Hunter stays in the sun, he dies.”

  Madeline gasped in surprise when she realised what he was saying.

  “The sun!”

  “Yes. Erica stopped me, she saved me. I was standing in the sun and she pulled me back and saved me.” His eyes were bright with unshed tears as he looked at Erica. He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it. “She is my savour, my strength.”

  Silence fell as they all thought on Anthan’s words. That Erica was destined for him was a given. But for her to know as a child that she would save him, and save him from the sun was amazing.

  Arthur broke the silence.

  “Just how long did you have to endure being alone?”

  Anthan gave a sarcastic snicker. “Too long. Almost four and a half thousand years.”

  “Oh my god!”

  Arthur had visibly paled as he looked at Anthan. It was easy to see he couldn’t comprehend anyone living that long. Madeleine broke the tension.

  “Well, you were right, Erica, he is an old man.”

  It was a perfect response and everyone began laughing releasing the painful memories that had been stirred up on all sides.

  Erica stood.

  “Who’d like a coffee, tea? No more sad talk tonight. Instead we celebrate.”

  She and Amy began making drinks for everyone. When Erica went into the pantry and came out with trays of sweet things, Anthan, Martin, Nicoleta and Dragoş leapt to their feet. Erica was laughing and trying to get the trays safely into the family room where everyone had gathered.

  “What’s with the stampede?” Ken asked.

  “It’s cakes!” Erica was laughing so much she almost dropped the trays. “Hunters are addicted to sweet stuff.”

  When she finally managed to get them to behave and sit, she and Amy finished making the drinks and handing them out to everyone. The next few hours were much happier.

  Both girls filled their parents in on what had happened when their grandmother had taken them. Their parents were shocked to think the girls had spent their lives believing their mother dead and their father lost to them.

  They told them about their careers, Amy proudly telling them of Erica’s wonderful achievements.

  “That reminds me. I have to ring my boss.” She looked at Erica. “I told him I had a family emergency but that was almost three weeks ago. I’ve sent him a few texts to say I want the month off. But now I’ll have to leave.”

  Her mother looked confused.

  “Why will you have to leave?”

  Amy blushed. “I’m—well I’m accepting Martin’s offer to stay with him forever.”

  Understanding slowly flitted across Madeline’s face. She looked at Erica.

  “What about you, Erica?”

  Ruefully she said, “Well considering Anthan and I have already made four exchanges, there isn’t much chance of me staying mortal.”

  She held out her hand to her mother.

  “You don’t mind?”

  “Sweetheart, all these years we’ve searched for you, prayed you were alive. Now we’ve found you. Now we know you are both happy with wonderful men. And now the knowledge that you will always be here is...well I guess it’s just the icing on the cake.”

  “Mind you, it takes a bit of getting used to. All this immortality and vampires. I still can’t quite grasp it all. All those fears my mother pushed into my head, I know they were false—built from jealousy. But it was all based on truth, she just distorted it all. In the short time I’ve known the truth I’ve realised how much we owe these men for protecting us. “

  She looked at the three Hunters and their mates.

  “You do a thankless job that very few people know about. I imagine there are many who would misunderstand, think you are the villains. Anyway, Arthur and I thank you all.”

  Ken spoke fervently. “I’ll second that.”

  The Hunters all looked embarrassed and mumbled their thanks.

  The remainder of the night went swiftly. Anthan called a halt when he saw the five mortals all struggling to stay awake. It had been agreed that Madeline and Arthur would sleep at Amy’s tonight, as well as Nicoleta and Dragoş. Anthan would need to sort out the bedrooms at his house later.

  It was a little congested.

  Ken was sleeping in one. One had Erica’s two single beds crammed in it and the other had the double bed that Martin had used as well as Erica’s bed pushed onto its side against the wall. Plus the flat was empty and needed a good clean.

  Erica made a teary farewell to her parents as Amy led them outside. The house seemed quiet once they had all left. There were only a few more hours till sunrise.

  Anthan was taking Ken home first thing in the morning. Ken had begged Anthan to let him go. He said he felt better but wanted to be in his own home. Ken told Anthan he would keep in touch. He said he’d been changed by his experience. Anthan understood and agreed. Anthan reminded him that he could expect visitors over the next few mon
ths as various single Hunters came out to meet him.

  Ken told him he was excited by the prospect. In the short time he’d known about Hunters he’d become intrigued by them.

  Anthan had already visited Ken’s boss and inserted a memory. The man had rung the police apologetically saying he had a postcard from Ken and had remembered he was on holidays.

  Ken was an accountant. He also taught meditation and karate a few nights a week. While Anthan was sorting out the boss, Martin had smoothed the police and now all that remained was for Ken to get back to his life.

  He was still coming to terms with his ordeal but had spent hours talking to Martin and Anthan. They were both sure he would recover fully mentally now that his body had healed. It would still take months of healthy eating before he was back to his usual weight and muscle tone but he was on the right track.

  Anthan carried a sleepy Erica to their bed. He settled alongside her, with her cradled in his arms.

  She kissed him gently.

  “Thank you. Thank you for giving me back my parents.”

  “I wish I could do more.”

  “Oh, my love, you’ve done everything. I love you so much.”

  He kissed her.

  “You need to sleep, Iubită. It’s been a long day and night.”

  “I know. I’m having trouble keeping my eyes open.”

  She snuggled into him and laid her head on his chest. Wrapped tightly in his arms she fell asleep.

  * * * *

  That week was filled with such joy and happiness but Anthan and Erica did manage some time to themselves.

  One evening when Amy had taken their parents back to her house, Anthan was standing behind Erica and began to kiss her neck. She arched her head, revelling in the feel of his mouth against her skin. He began to push her toward their bedroom, kissing her neck all the time.

  When Erica reached the bed Anthan turned her around and pushed her down. He followed her and his mouth was soon pressed against hers. The kiss deepened as she let her arousal take control. Anthan kissed her back with equal passion, his tongue between her teeth. He felt her hand run across his chest, then move down toward his growing erection.

  He gasped against her mouth as her hand reached its destination. She fought against the zip of his jeans and won. His cock burst free and her fingers brushed against his skin.

  He broke the kiss and Erica pushed him backward to lie on the pillow. She pulled off his shirt then tried to remove his jeans and he lifted his buttocks to help her. She threw them across the room.

  Erica sat back and looked at him.

  He grinned up at her.

  “Not fair.”

  “What isn’t?”

  “I’m naked and you’re not.”

  She giggled and ran a hand from his lips down his chest. He grabbed it and pulled her down onto him. He whispered in her ear, “I need to see you naked, Iubită.”

  “Oh do you?”

  She pulled herself out of his arms and sat up. Slowly she lifted her T-shirt over her head. He groaned when he saw her nipples outlined through her bra. She shimmied off the bed and dropped her jeans. Standing there in just her bra and panties.

  He couldn’t take his eyes off her as she reached behind to unclasp her bra. It fell to the ground.

  “Oh god, Iubită.!”

  She went to take off her panties but Anthan grabbed her and dragged her back onto the bed, his erection pressed tight against her stomach.

  He began to kiss her face, her neck, her ears. Slowly he worked down her body until he reached her soft breasts. He began to lick and suck each one, his hands cupping each one, pressing them together. Anthan thought he would explode so he moved down a little further to kiss her tummy, then her navel.

  He ran a hand down between her legs. Her panties were moist with her arousal. He looked up into her face. Erica’s eyes were wide, her mouth slightly open as he began to rub her slit through the filmy fabric.

  He pushed a finger between the panties and her skin. Rubbing it up and down until he pressed against her swollen clit.

  She gave a little moan. He pressed harder and rubbed the hard bead with his finger. Her moans were getting louder as he pulled the panties down to her knees and used two fingers to enter between the soaking lips. Erica grabbed his shoulders, trying to pull him up to her.

  “I want you.” She gasped. “I need you inside me.”

  He knelt and removed the panties completely, then pushed her legs apart. He held his turgid penis at the entrance and looked at her.

  “Ah yes, now!”

  He pushed into her and began to move. Erica matched his thrusts then wrapped her legs around him. Anthan pushed deeper, then pulled back almost withdrawing before slamming back into her hot pussy.

  Anthan doubted he could hold on much longer. The feeling of her tight sheath around his cock was sending him crazy. His orgasm was so close. He tried to ignore the way it was building but then Erica clenched her muscles tight and her nails gripped into his shoulders. She let out a soft scream as he felt her climax grabbed his dick hard. The spasm from her muscles send him over the edge and he pushed down hard and came yelling her name.

  He fell weakly against her and rolled to the side, pulling her with him. Her panting matched his. He tried to bring his heart back to a normal rhythm before he kissed her. Anthan looked at her, he had tears in his eyes as he realised this wonderful woman was his.

  Since he had found her he realized that for the first time in his life, he felt true peace and happiness. It filled his heart, his mind, his whole body.

  Through the remainder of the night, he watched her sleep. Listened to the tiny snuffles she made occasionally, the way her stilled hand lay across him when she rolled over. How she would snuggle into him as she rolled back.

  The sun had risen and still she slept. Anthan knew she hadn’t slept much while her parents were here so he made sure he didn’t wake her but just after eight she opened her eyes.

  He nuzzled her neck, then bent his head lower to press his lips against her breasts. He wriggled a hand between the blanket and the hardening peak, tweaking it until Erica was moaning.

  Both attacked each other, there was no other word for it.

  Erica wrapped a hand around his cock, as Anthan fastened his mouth on one nipple and pushed a hand between her legs.

  In frenzied movements Anthan crawled further down the bed and settle between her legs. Using his fingers and his tongue, he began to lick and prod her clit and the wet lips. He could feel Erica’s hands on his head as his fingers pushed inside her channel.

  She was so wet, so tasty!

  He began moving his fingers in and out as his tongue licked and sucked at her hard clit. He felt her hands tighten as he gave a hard push with his fingers. She screamed his name and he felt her grip his fingers hard. Feeling the little tremors that shook her, he lifted his head and kissed her mouth, keeping his fingers in place.

  Erica was panting into his mouth as he broke the kiss.

  “Merge with me,” he whispered as he took his hands from her pussy. Holding his cock at the entrance, he felt her join his mind.

  With a hard jerk, he pushed his cock into her. He almost came as the two sensations from his and Erica’s mind threatened to overwhelm. He slammed in as deep as he could when Erica wrapped her legs around his torso.

  He could feel little pulses against his cock, so he pushed a hand to press against her clit.

  Neither could control their passion. Erica screamed his name as she came. The feeling of her spasms grabbing his cock was his undoing. He jerked hard into her as he, too, screamed and came.

  He could feel sweat on his face as he tried to settle his racing heart. Falling to her side, she cradled his head against her breasts as they both lay panting.

  “Hell, Anthan, it’s so hard not to bite. All I want to do is taste your blood and have your fangs sunk in me.”

  Anthan groaned.

  “I know, Iubită, I never realised how hard it woul
d be to go this week without tasting your blood.”

  Erica laughed. “Well at least we know in a few more days I’ll be immortal.”

  Anthan took her face between his hands.

  “My beautiful queen.”

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  The two girls spent as much time as they could with their parents and relations. It was a sad evening when they finally had to leave. Anthan had arranged for the Council’s jet to take them home. They all gathered sadly at the airport late one afternoon.

  Nicoleta and Dragoş were returning as well. They promised they would keep in touch and would visit often. They hoped the girls would come and see them over the coming years.

  Viorel had already started the process to allow Madeline and Arthur to emigrate. It would only take a month or so with him pulling many strings. In the meantime, Madeline and Arthur would decide whether to sell their property or keep it. Arthur confided to Anthan that he didn’t want to sell it but felt it was silly to leave it empty.

  Then Anthan had suggested they should keep it if funds weren’t an issue. He reminded them that both girls would soon be immortal and could keep an eye on it and even use it. He even suggested that there were other Hunters who could spend time there caring for it as well. They readily agreed that it would be perfect.

  Both girls felt torn when their relations boarded the jet. It was only the knowledge that their parents would soon be returning that stopped them breaking down completely.

  Finally, they waved good-bye as the plane taxied down the runway. Sorrowfully, they made their way to the cars and headed back home.

  Martin and Amy headed back to her home after saying good night to Anthan and Erica. Anthan drove home, putting the car into the garage and the two went upstairs.

  He sat down and pulled Erica onto his lap.

  “Well, my love. I have you alone at last.”

  She laid her head on his shoulder.

  “And what do you intend to do?”

  “Mm let me think, the possibilities are endless.”

  Suddenly he stood, almost dropping her onto the ground.