A Hunters Promise Page 3

Since Joelle Quinn had taken over communications for the Hunters, things worked much smoother. They got sent out on less bullshit calls and it was nice to call in and hear a voice they all knew. In addition, she’d done research and updated all their equipment. They were more tricked out than the military. Also, didn’t hurt that she was Talon’s Liaison, which meant she had intimate knowledge of the Ancients. Of course, thinking like that could get a guy killed, too. Talon was nothing if not utterly possessive and showed it every chance he got. Charon wasn’t sure how the guy had time to go out and work since he seemed to spend most of his time getting his woman naked.

  Charon told Joelle where he was, and she didn’t hesitate, which was another positive for her taking over communications. There were no stupid questions or comments; she just got shit done.

  “Okay, I have Talon and Styx heading to you and a team on the way. Are you in immediate danger?”

  He looked over at the dead vampire on the floor. “Not right at this moment, but I don’t know if there’re more.”

  “Got it. Stay on until they get there, which should be in under two minutes.”

  A noise brought his head up, and he pulled the Browning Hi Power from his shoulder holster. Though he rarely used guns, he always carried just in case, and with Irish injured, he wasn’t going to take a chance. He relaxed when Talon and Styx came around the corner of the hallway.

  “Damn, what happened?” Reaper stopped next to the dead body and crouched. “This guy’s jaw and head are almost torn off. You do this?” He looked over at Charon.

  “No,” Charon said, voice filled with sarcasm. “She did it, and I just sat and watched.”

  Reaper stared at him for a long moment. “This isn’t like you. You’re usually more controlled.”

  “What he’s saying is it’s like me,” Talon said. “But my kills usually have more blood. You were tidy.”

  “Fuck both of you,” Reaper said as he stood. “What’s going on? Who’s she? And why is the blood cult hunting here?”

  “I found her being pinned to the wall by him.” Charon said, not sure why he didn’t want to share everything. “He was mauling her wrist like a fucking dog. I pulled him off and stopped her bleeding. I don’t know if there’s another, but I’d bet there is.”

  Talon nodded. “I’m sure there was, but he’s probably long gone. Wonder what they wanted with her?”

  Charon picked Irish up. He didn’t like how shallow she was breathing, and she was pale. Paler than usual. “Let’s hope she can tell us when she comes to.”

  “What are you doing?” Reaper asked. “You can’t take her.”

  “Why not?” Charon asked. “She can’t stay here.”

  “Dude, where do I start?” Reaper shook his head. “She’s human, and she’ll probably be missed. On top of that, if you haven’t noticed, this is an insane asylum. She’s obviously a patient. Yeah, we don’t need more crazy.”

  Growling filled the hallway, and Charon glanced over at Talon. The other man stared at him, but the sound wasn’t coming from Talon. No, Charon realized, he was the one growling. He pulled himself up. What the fuck? The other two Ancients watched him, probably waiting to see what he would do. Charon wasn’t sure, but he knew that no matter what, he was taking Irish out. She couldn’t stay here. She was in danger.

  “Pick-up’s ready,” Talon spoke, breaking the odd silence. “Get her out of here. Reaper and I will stay behind to check out the place.”

  Charon nodded and carried Irish out.

  “What the fuck?” Reaper turned on Talon. “She’s human. Oh, and let’s not forget she’s locked up in a crazy house. Can you say psycho killer?”

  Talon shook his head. “Joelle is human.”

  “She’s different.”

  “Damn right, she’s mine,” Talon growled out. Just thinking of his woman made his fangs ache. He wanted nothing more than to go home and drag her to their room. The need for her was like a fever in his blood and in his brain.

  “Point?” Reaper asked.

  “Why would a vampire hunt here? There’re so many humans that are more readily available. So why come here? And why not put her in thrall? She obviously wasn’t since there’s a weapon down the hall with the vamp’s blood on it. She got him. So why? How?”

  Reaper looked slowly around, taking the scene in again. “You think she’s like Joelle?”

  Talon shrugged. “I don’t know. But what if she is and we leave her here?”

  Reaper ran his fingers through his blood red hair. “They’ll come back, and next time, she probably won’t be as lucky.”

  Talon nodded. “We can’t take that chance.”

  “Fuck,” Reaper said, “you’re right. But what do we do with her? I mean, she’s here so that obviously says something.”

  “Charon knows her, so we let him handle things.” Talon didn’t add that he doubted if Charon would allow anyone else near her. Charon’s actions were all too familiar. Talon recognized them; hell, he’d lived them until connecting with Joelle again. Could the girl be Charon’s Liaison? Talon shook his head, deciding not to worry about it. If she was, then it would be Charon’s situation to deal with, and if not, then his decision to bring the girl into their world was still his to deal with.

  He and Reaper moved off as the PIA team came in to begin clean-up.

  Chapter Three

  Charon carried an unconscious Irish into his rooms. He didn’t know what had happened in the hospital hallway, and he really didn’t want to think too much about it. The growling and the overwhelming anger was something he didn’t normally face. Of all the Ancients, he considered himself the most stable. He was younger than all the other Hunters, so if someone was going to crack, he didn’t think it would be him. Or, at least, he hoped it wouldn’t be him, but now, he wasn’t so sure.

  He laid her on the bed and stepped back. He wasn’t sure what to do for her. The only human he’d been around was Joelle and never in a situation like this. Hell, if he had been, Talon would have killed him or anyone else by now. The man was calmer than he had been, but when it came to Joelle, he was like a rabid animal. A rabid animal trained to kill in too many ways to count.

  A knock came, and he spun to face it, putting himself between the woman on the bed and the threat. The door opened, and Joelle stuck her face in. He felt himself instantly calm when her scent washed over him. She was no threat. He knew it, but whatever was inside him that wanted to kill knew it, too. Fuck, what was going on?

  “Hey,” Joelle said, “I thought you might need some help.”

  She was a small woman, only coming up to about mid-chest to Talon, the Ancient who had claimed her. Her hair was a heavy curtain of mahogany that brushed her shoulders and her eyes a wide green. She looked delicate, but Charon knew that was a lie. She’d pulled Talon back from the brink and apparently loved the crazy bastard. Charon didn’t understand the relationship, but had to appreciate it. Whatever made Talon easier to live with was good by Charon.

  Joelle looked at him and turned to study the woman on the bed. “Damn, she looks like she’s been through some shit. Do you have something else she can wear? I’m sure she doesn’t want to wake up in blood-stained clothing.”

  Charon moved to his closet and opened the door. A row of black shirts met his gaze. He reached in and pulled out a t-shirt and handed it to her. “That’s all I have. Black doesn’t show blood.”

  Joelle nodded slowly. “Okay, well, this will do for now.” Holding the shirt, she watched him for a long moment. “Are you going to help me get her cleaned up?”

  Charon moved into the bathroom and came out with a damp washcloth and towel. He handed them both to Joelle, uncertain what else he should be doing.

  After a long moment, she made a humming noise and moved to Irish. Joelle removed the girl’s light-weight canvas shoes and socks, tossing them to the floor. Charon’s first impulse was to pick them up. He hated a mess and was almost fanatical, if you listened to Grimm, about keeping his rooms totally clean and cl
utter free. Instead, he stood and watched Joelle as she wiped the blood off Irish’s face and neck. As she worked, she hummed softly, and Charon relaxed even more.

  “Could you rewet the wash cloth?” Joelle asked, thrusting it at him.

  Charon hurried into the bathroom and did what she asked. A ripping sound made him pause and quickly moved back to the bedroom. The bloody shirt Irish had been wearing was tossed on the floor, and she now lay naked from the waist up on his bed. Charon stared, unable to look away. She was utterly perfect with pale skin dusted with freckles and petite breasts. His mouth watered, and he longed to lap and suckle at her perfect nipples.

  “Hey,” Joelle said, poking him in the arm, “knock it off with the growling.” She took the wet cloth from his hand. “In fact, turn around. You shouldn’t even be looking at her.”

  Charon wanted to follow her request. Hell, he knew he should, but he couldn’t make himself turn around. The woman laid out before him, the draw of her, wouldn’t let him. The need in him to cover her and lick her skin and taste her blood again was overwhelming. Even when Joelle put his shirt on the other woman, he wanted to rub himself all over her, mark her with his scent.

  Joelle backed up into him, and that’s when he realized he’d moved. He loomed over the two women and could think of nothing but getting to Irish. Joelle turned and stared up at him. She tapped his arm until he finally looked down at her. Her lips moved, but he didn’t know what she was saying. He couldn’t hear her. Growling. There was growling. Was it him? He forced himself to take a deep breath, and the growling stopped. Shit, it was him. Again.

  “Hi,” Joelle said gently. “Yeah, see the whole growling thing isn’t working for me. No offense, but it’s just kind of pissing me off. So, you need to take about ten steps back and turn around. I don’t know what your relationship is to the woman, but until she wakes up, you aren’t going to do anything to her or with her or whatever. Understand?”

  “I would listen to her unless you want to die today.”

  Charon spun to find Talon in the doorway. The older Ancient quivered with suppressed rage, and where normally Charon backed down, this time he didn’t. The need in him to protect the woman on the bed forced him to bare his fangs, and he growled. Talon answered the challenge by showing his enormous fangs and growling back.

  “What the fuck?” Joelle said, obviously pissed. “Stop. Now.” She shoved past Charon and got between the two men. “You gotta be kidding me. The woman over there on the bed has lost a lot of blood and is still out, and you two idiots are going to do some kind of dick waving shit? Really?” She marched to the door and flung it open. “Get out, both of you.” When they both still stood eyeing one another, she screeched at them. “Get out! Get out now!”

  When they still didn’t move, she walked up to Talon and pinched his chest. “Talon, I swear if you don’t get out and take your idiot pal with you, I’ll find someplace else to sleep. Permanently.”

  He leaned down and captured her lips with his own in a fast, hard kiss. “No, you won’t.” He turned and left the room. “Come on, Charon. Leave the ladies alone.”

  Reluctantly, Charon forced his feet forward until the door closed behind him.

  Joelle turned back to the bed to find the woman awake and watching her. There was so much she wanted to say to her. If, as Joelle suspected, she was Charon’s Liaison, the woman had a hard time ahead of her. Joelle loved Talon, and she knew, in her heart and mind and soul, he loved her. But her life was still changing and evolving. Being a Liaison—a true Liaison that shared blood with her Ancient—was something Joelle was still getting used to. The exchange of blood was only part of the bond between them. She could sense his emotions, his thoughts, and he could do the same to her. In fact, upon occasion, it was as if they could read each other’s minds.

  “Hey,” Joelle said softly as she approached the bed, “how are you?”

  “Thirsty,” she rasped out.

  Joelle stepped into the bathroom and filled a cup with water. Bringing it out, she sat on the bed and helped the woman take small sips. She was thin, but muscular, and Joelle was a bit jealous since no amount of working out had ever made her body look that way.

  At that moment, Talon invaded her thoughts, letting her know that she was the sexiest woman he’d ever seen. He wanted her. Now. Joelle shivered, damn the man. He could make her want him without even touching her. She idly wondered if one day he could make her come without touching her. Before the thought was finished, the sensation of fingers brushing her nipples and clit washed over her. She shivered involuntarily as growling washed through her mind. Stop it, she thought, not now, you big jerk. Low laughter rushed through her and left her shaky and a little breathless.

  “Are you okay?” the other woman asked.

  Joelle gave a small laugh. “I think I should be asking you that question. How’re you feeling?”

  “Fuzzy. Weird. Where am I?”

  “Charon brought you back with him,” Joelle said, purposefully not answering her question. She didn’t know how much the other woman knew and wasn’t about to spill the beans. “Do you remember what happened to you?”

  She nodded slowly. “Yes, but you won’t believe me. No one ever does.”

  Joelle could almost feel the despair the other woman exuded and wondered what had happened to her. Obviously, her life had been as difficult as Joelle’s own.

  “Vampires,” Joelle said.

  The other woman blinked and turned to stare at her. “What did you say?”

  “Vampires,” she repeated. “You had some kind of a run in with a vampire.”

  “You know about them?”

  “Oh yeah, ever since I was fourteen. Oh, I’m Joelle by the way. Joelle Quinn.”

  “Aislinn Flaherty.” The redhead tried to push herself to sit higher up in the bed and Joelle leaned in to help her. “How did you find out about vampires?”

  Joelle gave a smile. “I was nosy and decided to investigate an abandoned house. It wasn’t. I found Talon chained in the basement. These vampires were holding him and drinking from him. I let him go. I’m sure they didn’t see that coming.”

  “What happened?”

  “He killed them and got me out of there.”

  “Who’s Talon?”

  “Oh, he’s the man I’m in love with. He’s a Hunter just like Charon.”

  Aislinn shook her head. “I don’t understand. What’s a Hunter? How did he kill vampires?”

  Joelle tucked her hair behind her ears as she contemplated how much information the woman had. Aislinn knew of vampires, but didn’t know about the Hunters. “Let me ask you what you know of vampires?”

  “They’re evil,” Aislinn said. “One killed my roommate when I was at boarding school. We were twelve. It snuck in, and it was horrible. He told me not to remember, but I do. Everything. But no one believed me. They convicted some janitor for the crime. I told them he didn’t do it. I even described the thing that did, and still, no one believed me.”

  “So, how did you meet Charon?” Joelle asked, gently since she didn’t want Aislinn getting any more upset.

  “He appeared about six months ago and started training me. There are…things at the hospital. They prey on the patients. I wanted to stop them. He showed me how.” As she spoke, she looked down at her arm. Cautiously, she ran a hand over the fresh scars on her left wrist. “I don’t understand. The vampire bit my wrist, it was bleeding, and now, it’s healing.” She looked up at Joelle. “Tell me what happened. I know I’m not crazy. I know I was hurt badly. I’m not anymore. I’m not crazy.”

  Joelle decided that she had to tell Aislinn everything. It wasn’t fair to leave her in the dark. And, if she did turn out to be Charon’s Liaison, she’d have to know anyway. Better that Joelle tell her than leave it to the ham-handed men. They’d just fuck it up and scare the woman.

  “You’re not crazy,” Joelle said, laying a hand on Aislinn’s arm. “I’m going to tell you everything, but I want you to listen withou
t judgment. I’ll answer any questions you have, but you have to listen. Promise?”

  Aislinn nodded slowly. “Okay.”

  “Okay, so I told you I grew up knowing about vampires. After releasing Talon and going our separate ways, I started seeing them a lot of different places. You know like bookstores and grocery stores and stuff. I knew what they were, but they were just living their lives. You know? Like regular people. And they are. I’ve met quite a few vampires, and they’re just like you and me.”

  Aislinn started to shake her head and protest, but Joelle stopped her. “No, you promised to listen. So there are different kinds of vampires. The regular citizens can’t drink human blood so they drink this synthetic stuff that was developed especially for them. They eat regular food too, but have to drink the blood. They have fangs, but they’re not really impressive. They’re stronger than humans and live longer, but other than that, they’re pretty much like us. The other kinds of vampire are called Ancients. When they’re born, they have some kind of genetic anomaly or something. Anyway, they are just like the first vampires. They are bigger and stronger and faster. They can’t stand any sunlight, and they drink human blood.”

  “So one of those killed my roommate?” Aislinn interrupted.

  “No, see, there are some regular vamps that think if they drink human blood they’ll become Ancients. Since they can’t process the blood, it not only slowly kills them, but drives them crazy.”

  “You think it was a regular vampire who killed my roommate,” Aislinn said.

  “Yes, and came after you tonight. We just found out about a blood cult in this area not too long ago. Whoever is leading it has convinced people to drink human blood. These vamps are scary strong, but totally wacko. Oh, and they stink.”

  “The man tonight, he smelled like bad meat.”

  “That’s it,” Joelle said with a nod. “Like I said, they can’t process the blood so it poisons them. But it’s like they don’t even know it or maybe they don’t care. Talon says that to a regular vamp, human blood is a highly addictive drug.”