by Addison Fox
Chapter 14
Meghan gasped out loud and staggered backward, torn between horror and the desire to help him, save him. Except she knew he didn’t need assistance. This was what he did. Today was the solstice and Gabe was Rejuvenating. He was a Helios, and what she’d just seen meant all the old legends were true. Her family truly were Hunters and Helios existed in more than their collective imaginations.
Instinctively, she pulled out her phone and snapped a few photos. Then, realizing what she’d done, she jammed her cell back into her pocket, appalled.
What now? She had to move, had to hide before he saw her. She had no idea what would happen if he saw her, if he realized she’d watched him catch on fire.
Nauseated, she ran back in the direction she’d come, her bottle of wine forgotten. Looking up, she realized there were security cameras, like everywhere else in the casino. Everywhere except that concrete fortress area where Gabe had burst into flame. If he reviewed the footage, he’d know she’d been there and realize she’d likely seen.
Though panic had her heart pounding, she tried to maintain her composure, at least on the outside. Inside, she was a jittery mess of nerves.
When she reached the elevator, she jabbed the down button, praying it would hurry and arrive. A moment later, the doors slid open and she stepped inside.
Once inside the elevator, she began to shake. All these years, she’d considered her family, with their absolute devotion to the hunt and belief in the Helios, wrong. She’d been hurt, angry and finally indifferent to their passionate quest. Now, it turned out she was the one who was wrong. Helios were real. She’d just watched one go up in flames. Rejuvenation. The archaic term suddenly took on life. She even had photos to prove it.
She had generations of Hunters in her blood. Even though it had been years since she’d participated in the hunt, she had a duty to find Damon and let him know what she’d just witnessed.
Or did she? Because this particular Helios was the man she’d halfway fallen in love with. Gabe.
What to do, what to do? She’d already once turned her back on her heritage, but that had been before she’d realized that they were truly after a being that actually existed.
Her family lived to hunt. Nothing else mattered more to them.
But then what? With an inward groan, she realized she had no idea what they would do once they caught a Helios, probably some sort of horrible torture in an attempt to get information out of him before they killed him. That was how things worked, at least according to the lore that had been pounded into her as a child.
But beyond that, she had no idea. She’d actually stopped paying attention to their rantings and ravings when she’d become a teenager.
The elevator doors opened and she hurried to her room. Hands shaking, she slid her key card into the slot in her door. But the light stayed red. Her room key wouldn’t work. She couldn’t get into her suite. Though she had a spare, she’d left it on her kitchen counter.
Turning the key card over in her hands, she realized what must have happened. Somehow, her key and Gabe’s must have gotten switched. That would explain why the elevator had allowed her to go to his private access area.
Now what? She assumed she could go down to the front desk and get another, but that would involve making her true identity known. Too much risk and one she’d rather not take, especially now.
She could contact Gabe, assuming he’d finished his Rejuvenation. But how could she act normally around him, knowing she and he were sworn blood enemies? Even if she didn’t want to be. No, that idea wouldn’t work, either.
Until she figured something out, she’d simply walk. The casino, the mall, the streets. She’d lose herself in the crowds and hope a solution came to her.
She pulled out her phone and eyed the text messages she’d exchanged with her brother. While she might have renounced her status as a Hunter, her duty to her family seemed clear.
As mud. Clicking off her phone and placing it on the counter beside the elevators, she knew she couldn’t. Not now, not yet, maybe not ever.
* * *
As he let the flames consume him, Gabe raised his arms above his head. An instant before the blackness took him, he muttered a quick prayer to the ancient gods, aware it would be at their whim if he was to awaken in one piece, refreshed and new.
Sometime later—seconds, minutes, or more—he stood whole again amid smoldering embers, the scent of burning flesh lingering.
Again, he’d been reborn. A new earthly body for his Helios spirit. Though in appearance he looked identical, he’d been given back his waning powers. A clean slate, the better to defend against the Hunters, though none had ever even managed to get close to him, though one had attacked Rafe recently.
Rejuvenated, he always felt as weak as a newborn baby. With unsteady legs, he walked from the bunker out into his private garden. It worried him that he’d somehow lost one of his room keys. Good thing he always kept a spare.
Later, he’d have to have them recoded, but right now, he needed to shower off any ashy residue and take the rest of the night easy. Over the next several hours, his powers would continue to build. By this time tomorrow, he’d have regained his full strength, plus more.
This was why the Hunters always tried to catch a Helios either mid-flame or right after, because this was when they were most vulnerable.
About to step into the shower, he went back outside instead, intending to cool off just a little more. He toyed with the idea of contacting Meghan, but knew he wouldn’t be up to another night of intense lovemaking. Unbelievably, his body stirred at the thought, making him grin. How she could always have this effect on him he didn’t know, but he sure as hell liked it.
His cell rang. Rafe. “The Hunters are here,” Rafe said. “Security just alerted me. The cameras picked up the guy in the gray hoodie.”
“Where?”
“Meghan’s room.” Even Rafe sounded worried. “He’s with two others. They appear to be looking for something. They’re in her suite.”
Gabe swore. “Do you have a security team on the way?”
“Not yet. I thought I’d check with you first.”
“Good call.” Shaking off the lingering weakness, Gabe pulled on his slacks.
“Have you...?” Rafe asked.
“Yes. I’m all done. A bit weak. If we’re going to confront them, I’ll need your help.”
“I’m on my way. Wait for me there. Don’t do anything until I arrive.” After barking this out, Rafe ended the call.
Dressing hurriedly, Gabe hurried out into the hallway. He took the stairs instead of the elevator, figuring this would give him an additional element of surprise. While he couldn’t lead a direct attack, he could still defend himself. All he needed to do was goad the other men into making the first move.
As he rushed down the stairs, willing strength into his rubbery legs, it occurred to him that maybe Damon had intended to surprise Meghan for Christmas. But then why wreck her suite?
When he arrived to find her door slightly ajar, he didn’t even consider waiting for his brother. He stepped quietly inside, stopping short at the sight of three men all staring at a cell phone.
“A Helios,” one said. Meghan’s brother caught sight of him then and made a gesture for silence.
They knew. How?
“What are you doing in this room?” Gabe asked, putting on his hotel owner/manager persona. “This suite is reserved for a VIP. Security has been alerted and are on the way to remove you.”
“I’m her brother,” Damon Frost said. “She’s expecting me.” The other two men stayed silent, though alert.
“Is she?” Gabe pulled out his cell. “Let me call her and make sure.” He pulled up his contacts and hit her number.
The phone in Damon’s hands rang.
“You have her phone?” While Gabe wasn’t sure what that meant, he knew it wasn’t good. “Is Meghan in danger?”
Instead of answering, Damon advanced on him, eyes narrowed. “You,” he said, holding up the phone. “You’re the guy I’ve been seeing around with my sister. I found this by the elevators. Where is she? I need to ask her about a couple of pictures she took an hour or two ago.”
A chill snaked up Gabe’s spine, though he was careful not to reveal anything. An hour or two ago would have been around the time he’d Rejuvenated. What if Meghan had his missing room key card? Was it possible she had seen?
“Let me see.” He held out his hand for the phone.
Instead of handing it over, Damon took a step back and slid the phone into his back pocket. He glanced at his two associates, then spoke two words that set Gabe’s blood ablaze. “We hunt.” And then Damon lowered his head and charged.
Hunters. This was what Gabe had been waiting for. Damon had attacked first, which meant Gabe could fight to defend himself.
Gabe met the other man full on, knocking him back with ease, despite his weakened state. With a roar, Damon attacked again. This time, his two cohorts attacked with him.
Luckily, at that moment Rafe and two armed security guards burst through the door, weapons drawn.
At the sight of the guns, Damon backed away, hands up. His helpers did the same. “We’re unarmed,” Damon said. He glanced at Gabe, his lip curling. “I have a message for you to deliver to my sister. Since clearly she’s seen our quarry, tell her not to try to take down the Helios herself. If she can’t reach us, there are others.”
Though his new blood turned to ice, Gabe pretended not to understand. “What does that even mean?” he asked, his voice as harsh as the pain inside.
“None of your business.” Damon met his gaze with a show of defiance. “Just tell her. She’ll know.”
Careful not to look at his brother, Gabe slowly nodded. “Let me have her phone.”
The other man didn’t move.
“Now!” Gabe held out his hand.
Reluctantly, Damon handed over Meghan’s cell.
“Take them down to my office,” Rafe ordered. “We already have a call in to the police.”
As the security guards moved to do as he asked, the three men moved as if synchronized. Two of them twisted and knocked the pistols from the guards’ hands while Damon headed for the door. The others were right on his heels.
By the time the stunned security officers dove for their weapons and gave chase, the three were way ahead of them.
Gabe and Rafe didn’t move.
“Do you think they’ll catch them?” Rafe asked.
“I doubt it.” Staring down at Meghan’s phone, Gabe cleared his throat.
“Are you going to look at it?” Rafe came closer. “I’m guessing it’s not password protected, otherwise Meghan’s brother wouldn’t have been able to view any photos.”
Gabe pushed the on button. “No password. As a matter of fact, this is an older model.”
“That’s weird. You’d think a superstar like her would have the latest and best phone.”
“Actually, it’s just like her.” Again Gabe felt the crush of grief, as if someone had died. Not someone, he thought. But something. The bright and shiny future he’d thought he and Meghan had ahead of them. All gone. Not once had it even remotely occurred to him that she might be a Hunter.
Touching the icon for photos, Gabe swallowed hard. The first picture to come up showed an inferno in the shape of a human body. Him. Rejuvenating.
“She knows.” Until he spoke the words, he hadn’t realized how much he’d hoped that she hadn’t. “Though her brother doesn’t.”
“It’s only a matter of time.”
Aware his brother was right, Gabe turned the phone off and placed it on the kitchen counter. “What a mess.”
“I agree. What are we going to do about this?”
“I don’t know.” Briefly, Gabe let his shoulders sag. “I refuse to battle Meghan. I just can’t.”
“Then what? Do you plan to let her win? You know Hunters. Once they locate what they want, they don’t give up unless they die. It’s either them or us.”
Crossing his arms, Gabe glared at his brother. “I’m definitely not going to kill her.”
“Someone has to.”
“No. No, they don’t.” The thought of Meghan, beautiful, vibrant Meghan dead made Gabe feel like a huge chunk had been ripped out of his heart. “Damn.” He closed his eyes. “I can’t believe this.”
“Me, either.” Rafe’s eyes narrowed. “Her show.”
“What about it?”
“We’ve got to find a way to break that contract.”
Suddenly exhausted, Gabe shrugged. “She can still do it. It’s business.”
“That doesn’t make sense,” Rafe argued. “She knows you’re a Helios. Tradition dictates—”
“Screw tradition. You know there’s an alternative. We’ll have to erase her memory.” Which would also erase him, and them, from her mind. A stab of wild grief made him want to double over. Instead, he cursed again.
“That might work.” Rafe watched him closely. “But what about you? Are you going to be all right?”
All right? When even breathing hurt?
“I’ll be fine,” Gabe said. “But I’m going to have to leave.” Gabe didn’t think he could stand another lecture about tradition and ancient rivalries. Rafe loved to talk about history and could go on for hours if he got wound up.
“You’ll what?” Rafe gaped at him, clearly unable to understand Gabe’s level of pain.
“Leave. I’m due a vacation.” Gabe bit out the words. “It’s been a long time since I’ve traveled anywhere. I can go to Australia or New Zealand. Canada or Mexico, even. Hell, I might just go back to Greece and visit family.”
“For the three entire months?” Though Rafe rarely raised his voice, he did now. “You plan to abandon the Archangel—and me—for ninety days? How can you possibly think that’s fair?”
Fair? Life wasn’t fair. Though Gabe knew he was acting childishly, he’d never had to cope with this level of betrayal and grief. Rafe didn’t know how close he’d come to giving Meghan Frost his heart. Seeing her every day, knowing she’d betrayed him, not only by being a Hunter, but not telling him the truth.
“Why not?” The more he thought about it, the more reasonable it sounded. “You can handle it. If you have to, bring in more staff to pick up the slack.”
“No.” Rafe crossed his arms. “I refuse to let you do this.”
From somewhere, somehow, Gabe summoned up something close to a laugh. “You refuse? Just try and stop me.”
And then, before he broke down completely, he turned around and strode out of the room.
Chapter 15
Several months ago, one of Meghan’s crew had given her an exercise tracker. She wore it around her wrist diligently, but rarely thought of it except when the thing vibrated to tell her that she’d reached ten thousand steps.
This winter solstice, as she strode through the crowds heading up and down the Las Vegas Strip, the display showed she’d logged more steps than she’d gotten since she’d first put it on.
Gabe. She went for her phone, wondering if he’d texted her. With a sense of shock, she realized she’d left it in her room. Just great. One more oddity in a world that hours ago had felt full of promise. Without her phone, she felt naked, oddly detached from the rest of the world.
Detachment. Her ever-present suit of armor. All she’d ever wanted for most of her life was her family. And now, she had a chance to do the one thing that would guarantee her acceptance and admiration by the very people who ostracized her.
She could capture a Helios. A real, live Helios.
&nbs
p; Who also happened to be the man she honestly thought she might be in love with.
Finally, after hours of aimless wandering, she found herself back in front of the Archangel. Taking a deep breath, she pushed through the double doors and entered the lobby. She didn’t want to go up to her room, not yet. And she couldn’t really go to Gabe’s, since her intrusion earlier had nearly cost her everything that mattered.
That left her amphitheater. The one place where, beyond question, she felt as if she belonged.
As she used his key card to enter, she thought of the man who’d made all this possible. Correction, the Helios. How she wished she hadn’t seen, didn’t know. She’d give anything if things could go back to the way they were before she’d decided to trespass in Gabe’s private garden.
Their relationship could never, ever work. Despite her disallowance of her heritage, it was her sworn destiny to kill him. Not that she could. Yet that alone would be a river too big to cross.
Groping blindly in the dark, she made her way to the stage. Though she needed to find the light switch, for now it was enough to be here, breathing in the scent of new construction and listening to the solid sound her feet made on the wood. Familiar scents and sounds, bringing her comfort.
The lights came on, making her jump. Just the backdrop lights, not the main spotlight, but enough so that she could see.
“I thought I might find you here.” Gabe, stepping from the shadows into her sight. His beloved voice made her ache.
Her heartbeat skipped. “I...” Stunned to realize she hovered on the verge of tears, she choked on whatever else she might have been about to say. He didn’t know she knew, she reminded herself. He had no idea that her entire world had changed.
He came closer, his movements both sure and oddly hesitant. “Here,” he said, holding out his large hand. “Your phone.”
She froze. “Where did you get that?” Had he seen the pictures she’d snapped?
Instead of answering, he cocked his head. The shadows made it difficult to read his expression.