The Alien Huntress Series

by Gena Showalter

  Love. Devyn barely stopped himself from rolling his eyes. Love could be found in the arms of anyone, anywhere, if only people would abandon the silly idea of monogamy. What was the point of giving yourself to only one? Boredom, that’s what.

  “I’m guessing a patrol has been sent out to look for him,” he said.

  “Correct. So far, no sighting. Who knows? Maybe I’m wrong, and he’s not out there screwing everyone he meets. Maybe he’s keeping to himself, hoping to die with a little dignity. You know, without an AIR audience. Or maybe he caught a solar flare home.” Solar flares were what opened the wormholes that allowed the travel between the planets. That was how Devyn so easily moved between this one and his own. “There’s been no new case of infection.”

  “None that have been reported, at least.” One thing Devyn knew about those in power: they kept secrets. Many women could have been infected by Nolan and eliminated by the government already.

  And one thing Devyn knew about men: they liked to have sex. Nolan needed sex more than most, not just for pleasure but for survival. He was sleeping around, keeping himself strong, no doubt about it. There would be no dying with dignity.

  “Nolan didn’t return to his planet,” Devyn said. “It was wiped, remember? All of its people were either infected or killed. And then, of course, the infected traveled to Eden’s planet, Raka, wiped it, then ventured here. We have to catch him, and we have to kill him this time.”

  Dallas shook his head. “We can’t kill him. He’s the only one who knows about the Schön queen we’ll soon be fighting. Speaking of, I wish there was a way to send the bitch a message. Come here, and we’ll hang you with your own intestines.”

  Devyn, too. “We’ve questioned Nolan repeatedly. Hell, I even tortured him. He never broke and managed to keep every one of his secrets. And the fault was not mine. I’m a damn good torturer.” It wasn’t something he usually enjoyed, but he’d been the only one for the job. Touching Nolan hadn’t been an option. Spilling his blood hadn’t been an option, either. The disease inside his body was alive, with a will and agenda of its own, and it only left a host when another was nearby.

  Devyn had not wanted to become one of those hosts. As he could force objects to move in the same way he could force people, manipulating their energy, he’d been able to shatter every bone inside Nolan’s body without ever setting foot in the room.

  “It’s time to end him,” he added, “before he begins a pandemic.”

  Dallas scoured a hand down his tired face. “That’s what we decided, as well.”

  Wait—what? “Then why the hell’d you hassle me about keeping him alive for his secrets?”

  “Mishka spent an hour trying to talk us out of killing him. She cried, Dev. Real damn tears.” The agent leaned his head against the back of the couch, staring up at the ceiling. No one was tougher than Mishka, who had once had a chip in her brain. A chip that had forced her to do things she hadn’t wanted to do. Murder people she loved, have sex with people she didn’t. Only recently had it been removed. “I wanted to cut out my heart and give it to her. Now you waltz in here, late, and state as pretty as you please the very thing we had to fight her for.”

  “One, I’m late for everything but what really matters. And two, had I been here, we both know her tears wouldn’t have affected me.” Tears never affected him. It was almost like he was missing the sensitivity gene or something. For sex, he could pretend like he cared that he’d upset a female. But actually care? No. Emotions, he’d learned from ruling his people and being responsible for their fates, were foolish. Wasted, even. “Now, why don’t you tell me what this is really about.”

  Silence. Thick, heavy. Then Dallas laid his arm over his eyes and said, “It’s Kyrin. Ever since he saved my life, there’s been a desire to please him inside me—and it’s not from gratitude! Anything he says, I feel compelled to do on a cellular level. Like the blood inside me knows it used to belong to him and wants to cater to his every whim.”

  “You’re talking as though the blood is alive, as with the Schön.”

  “Maybe it is. I mean, if Kyrin told me to blow him, I’d blow him, even though I don’t swing that way. And yeah, I know he’d never command me to do something like that, but still. I can’t stand even the possibility of it.”

  “Shall I kill him for you?” Devyn’s loyalty belonged to this man, not to the Arcadian. Dallas had broken several AIR rules for him, placing his own career and future in jeopardy. He’d even saved Devyn’s life, jumping in the way and taking a blade meant for Devyn. Of course, the agent’s new Arcadian blood had caused him to heal quickly, but that hadn’t lessened the impact of the gesture.

  More than that, Devyn liked him. Dallas had no inhibitions, and he was as open as Devyn was about his sexuality. Those blue eyes never judged him, and the man himself had been as desperate for a friend as Devyn had been. Mia, his last BFF, was now dating the very man responsible for Dallas’s gifts—and torment.

  “You’d do that for me?” Dallas asked.

  “Of course.” Yes, Devyn respected the enigmatic Kyrin and would hate to see him eliminated. And yes, anyone who could put up with the violent Mia Snow for more than a single bedding deserved his respect. But if Dallas wanted Kyrin gone, Devyn would take care of it, no questions asked. He owed him that much. At least.

  Wasn’t like he got all emotional about his kills. To be honest, he could eliminate almost anyone with no hesitation and no sense of remorse. He’d been that way since defeating his sexual shame. With its fall, his other emotions had seemed to crumble as well. He didn’t cry. Ever, for any reason. He didn’t become attached to people, places, or objects, in the sense that he craved them, needed them, and had to be with them. And he certainly didn’t mourn when those around him kicked it.

  Perhaps, though, he wouldn’t tear the otherworlder’s limbs from his body and choke him to death with his own hands, as was Devyn’s custom. Perhaps, too, he wouldn’t sneak up from behind and slice his throat. He was fond of doing that, as well. Maybe he would challenge the alien to a fight, win, of course, and then bury the body and pretend like nothing had happened. It was the only honorable thing to do, really.

  “No,” Dallas said on a sigh. “Don’t kill him.”

  “Bummer. I had just come up with a gold star plan, if I do say so myself.” Devyn knew why Dallas had declined his offer. Dallas still loved Mia like a sister, and Mia loved Kyrin. The agent would never do anything to hurt her, which meant he’d never do anything to hurt his new blood master, no matter how much it might beleaguer him. “You change your mind, you let me know and it’s done.”

  Dallas straightened, some of the tension leaving him. He even gifted Devyn with one of his wry—so rare these days—smiles. “Just for that, I forgive you for being late.”

  “Does that mean you’re not breaking up with me?”

  Snorting, Dallas launched a pillow at him. “You could be so lucky.”

  The small square of material slammed into his chest. Devyn collected it and propped it behind his head, getting comfortable. But damn it, what the hell was still poking him in the back? Finally he reached back, fingers wrapping around…a vibrator. He blinked at it. Large, pink, and beaded.

  “Want to explain this?” he said, holding it up to the light and smiling.

  His friend shrugged sheepishly. “Had a girl over and we had a three-way with it.”

  “Wait a second.” Devyn tossed the device to the floor and peered over at the agent in disbelief. “Back up. Two things shock me about your story. One, you actually brought a female into this dump? And two, you had a three-way yet you’re still moody? Sounds like you need a few lessons in ménage etiquette.”

  Dallas shot him the bird.

  “You wish. Okay, subject change before you start slobbering on yourself over the possibility. When do we start hunting Nolan?”

  “Tonight. The others are out there now, and we’re their relief.”

  “Let’s not wait. I’m bored.”


  “But I’m tired. I worked all night and haven’t had a chance to catch any Z’s.”

  “Excuses, excuses. Man up, get off your ass and grab some weapons. We’re going hunting.”

  CHAPTER 3

  Finally they caught sight of the bastard.

  Devyn remained in the shadows, back pressed against a wall of peeling red paint and metal. Fourteen days of flashing Nolan’s picture to everyone they encountered, fourteen days of interviewing people who might have interacted with the poisonous alien. Fourteen days of passing out their cell numbers—and having to answer the calls of supposed sightings that were really women trying to date them—waiting for something, anything to break. Fourteen days of disappointment and failure. Until now. Nolan had come out of hiding to score a prostitute.

  Fitting, that sex would be the man’s downfall.

  They had to be careful, had to treat this situation like they were patient admirers and Nolan a skittish virgin. (Devyn happened to be very good at that.) Nolan could cloak himself with invisibility and disappear in the blink of an eye. It was a skill that had almost gotten several AIR agents killed the last time they’d dealt with him, because it was nearly impossible to win a fight with a ghost.

  Earlier, before he’d actually seen the little shit, Devyn had feared he’d already made a wrong move, alerting Nolan to his intentions and causing the Schön to follow him. Every so often, he’d felt as if someone was watching him, studying him. Waiting. Perhaps judging. That gaze had blistered him, seemingly alive with fury.

  It was as that fury had grown that he’d begun to think that maybe it wasn’t Nolan. Maybe it was the vampire. Bride. I’ll come after you. I swear it, she’d shouted heatedly. Once, he’d even thought he’d caught sight of her. But she’d been blissfully, erotically naked, more curved than possible, all rose-tinted skin, blood red nipples, and dark hair.

  Because he’d caught this wondrous glimpse on a crowded public street, he’d known he hadn’t really seen her. He knew women. No matter their race, they didn’t traipse around naked. (Much to his consternation.) There was simply too much shame involved. (Again, much to his consternation.)

  After that, though, he’d begun to look for her. Which was odd. He’d already dismissed her from his mind. Hadn’t he? But he couldn’t deny that a true glimpse of dark hair now sent his pulse racing. Pale skin caused moisture to flood his mouth. Green eyes caused his cock to harden painfully.

  And each time his body reacted to thoughts of her, he remembered the way she’d rebuffed him. How she’d wanted no part of his (magnificent) body. Not sexually, at least.

  His desire to see her, really see her, had increased.

  If he put the vastness of his sensual knowledge to work, would he be able to tempt her to his bed? He just didn’t know, and every fiber of his being sparked with the challenge of finding out.

  He was going to have to find her, he decided. Surely she’d succumb, just like everyone else, and he’d stop thinking about her. Exactly as he’d done with everyone else. Life was too precious to waste wondering if Bride’s eyes would sparkle like emeralds when she came. If her nipples were really blood red. If she had any tattoos, birthmarks, or scars. The scars he might enjoy kissing all better. Or was kissing boo-boos an Earth custom she would hate? Had she been raised here on the surface? Or had she escaped the underground to avoid punishment for something? If so, why? And did that mean she would make love like a naughty little criminal?

  He had to know. The sooner he found her, he thought, the better.

  He’d use the databases at AIR, of course, but would they be able to lead him to her? All he had was her first name. And what a strange name it was. Bride. Who had named her? Why had they named her that? Was she mated?

  “Can you believe the balls on this guy?” Dallas muttered. They were on opposite sides of the alley, yet Devyn heard him as if he’d spoken directly beside him. They were both wearing sweet little headsets that allowed them to communicate quietly and privately no matter the distance between them.

  They were dressed in black from head to toe, and even though Devyn knew his friend’s exact location, he had trouble making him out in the sea of red and shadow. Helped that clouds covered the moon, and the closest streetlights offered only a minimal glow.

  “Yeah, I can. I’d be doing the same thing.” He spoke in a whisper so low not even the wind could pick it up.

  “No, you wouldn’t. If he screws her, she’ll die. You’re pretty fucked in the head, but you wouldn’t knowingly kill a woman.”

  Not necessarily true. Many times during his marriage he’d imagined cutting his wife’s heart out with a spoon and eating it in front of her. “Can I approach him now?” Devyn couldn’t wait to finish off the Schön. He wanted to be looking for the vampire, and that he wasn’t…“Huh, huh, huh? Please.”

  “Worse than a child.” Dallas sighed. “I told you. That’s not how AIR works. There are too many civilians around. We can’t protect them and take Nolan. We have to wait for backup.”

  “AIR can suck it. How much longer before we get to give up on backup? ’Cause at this rate, they’ll never get here. The pimp is almost done giving the price list. Nolan’s growing impatient, and very soon he’s going to lead the female inside, where we’ll have to involve a shitload of other civilians. We have to take him here.”

  Would have been easier if at least one of the others had arrived, yes. Devyn didn’t mind admitting that. Breean could move faster than the eye could see. Mishka was stronger than ten men combined. Kyrin could heal with a drop of his blood, and Mia was just plain mean. Eden and Macy, well, they were good soldiers, but Devyn preferred them as eye candy. But damn it, this inactivity was driving him insane.

  Of course, none of the other agents would have been necessary if Devyn’s own ability worked on the Schön. Unfortunately, there were some people that were immune to his telekinesis, able to move normally when he attempted to control them with his mind.

  It was strange, though. Most that had been raised here on Earth, no matter their race, he could lock on and control. Outside of Earth, it was iffy. Their energy frequencies were usually too jumbled.

  “Someone should be here,” he griped. “What the hell is holding them up? You made the call half an hour ago.”

  “What do you want to bet Mishka’s the culprit? She wants Nolan alive.”

  “Then she should be here to save him from our wrath.”

  “She would be, if she thought we were competent. To her, you’re a slut and I’m a bad shot.”

  “Right on both counts.” Devyn’s lips curled into a smile. It had been the last time they’d battled a Schön that Dallas had turned on Mishka, squeezing off a few rounds in her direction. Yes, he’d wanted to kill her, thinking he would be saving Jaxon from her evil intentions, as his vision had led him to believe. That’s when he’d hit Jaxon instead. “Doesn’t matter, though. We have to act. Nolan’s pale, unsteady on his feet, and perfect for plucking.”

  “If we fail…”

  “We won’t.”

  “You’re not the psychic in this relationship. If he opens fire on civilians, our heads are gonna roll.”

  “And that would be a damn shame, pretty as I am. Give me a minute and let me see if I can move people away from us.” Pissed him off that he hadn’t thought of this sooner. He blamed Bride. Damned red nipples. Devyn propelled mental fingers out of the alley and down the connecting streets, grabbing onto every pulse of energy he could and commanding each body they belonged to, to perform the same act: turn north and keep moving one foot in front of the other.

  Pulling the strings of that many humans tired him, but he fought through the lethargy until they were a good distance away. “Done. No civilians will be hurt in the making of this war zone.”

  “You’re scary, you know that?” Dallas said with quiet affection.

  “I know. It’s hardly fair to others that I’m a triple threat. Pretty and talented.”

  “That’s only two, moron.”<
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  “I thought it’d be rude to mention my cock.”

  Dallas chuckled. “All right. Here’s the deal. Despite Mishka’s belief, I’m the better shot, so I’ll do the firing. You and Mr. Happy just sit there and look pretty.”

  A given. But he would be wearing heat-sensitive goggles just in case Dallas missed and Nolan did his invisible thing and tried to run. “Next time at least try and challenge me.”

  Dallas uttered another of those raspy chuckles.

  “Oh, and before I forget, I think you should stun him rather than kill.”

  “Planned on it,” Dallas said.

  That was good; they were agreed. But…“Why not kill?” Devyn knew why he wanted the little shit alive but frozen, but he doubted his reasons were the same as his friend’s.

  Dallas didn’t like to show it, but killing bothered him.

  Devyn could tell. The knowledge was always there, dulling the light in those baby blues. That was why Devyn had wanted Dallas only to stun. When the bastard was immobile, Devyn could move in and finish him off.

  Still not a drop of the Schön’s blood could be spilled. Not without causing that pandemic. So he’d have to content himself with something simple, like stomping on the guy’s trachea.

  “I mean, we both know it needs to be done,” he added when there was no reply. “We even agreed to do it. I’ve been looking forward to it.” Did his eagerness mean he had a skewed sense of right and wrong? No. Something needed to be done about the Schön’s treachery, before it was too late, and to Devyn, taking his life would be the same as taking out the trash. “Why?” he repeated.

  “Mishka, man. I still remember those tears…I was thinking we could take him in and have Mia gas him.” Since Jack Pagosa, the iron-fisted ruler of AIR, had retired a few weeks ago, Mia had taken his place and now called the shots.

  “I don’t think so. Too big a chance for another escape.” Just as Devyn reached up to pull his goggles over his eyes, he saw Nolan stiffen. Sniff the air.