Page 60 of A Hunt Bound in Blood
“I’m Thorn,” the woman said. “You’ve entered my territory, and it would be under my authority that my fury destroys you.” She pursed her lips. “But I find myself inclined to believe you don’t come with ill intent. Any half-vampire from the capital must have good reason to be out here—and be incredibly skilled at keeping secrets. As long as you hold your guide to the same standard, you may join us, though I reserve the right to revoke your invitation should you prove to be unworthy of it. Your name?”
I shot Glory a warning look. Her fear continued to waft around her, touched with uncertainty and a warmer flavour underneath I’d never tasted before. Gratefulness?
“I’m Gloria, and this is Cammon, but we don’t need to join you, we’re simply—”
“We can discuss what you’re simply later.” Her gaze flicked upwards. “The storm is circling back, and you seem to have lost your belongings. Unless you want to drown at the base of the mountain, I suggest you come along.”
Her tone was friendly, but there was no mistaking the ultimatum: either we went or they’d make us go. Not that I intended to go. If we followed, we’d be easy prey.
Movement in my periphery let me know the nine vampires already visible still weren’t the extent of them. Most furies I’d heard of were made of ten to fifteen vampires at most, living and working together to keep themselves safe. I didn’t know how many Thorn had brought with her, but if it was a full group, then besting them would be more than I could handle.
Unless I flew us out of here. It would be tough, my wings exhausted and the wound from that fucking hawk still burning, but I could do it.
I looked to Glory, hoping to warn her before I grabbed her, but she was staring at me with her big eyes, pleading with me not to resist. Terrified of what would happen if we tried and failed.
She had cause for concern. I knew it. But if we went with them, I couldn’t protect her. We would be at the mercy of this strange woman with her smirks and veiled threats.
But at least we’d be together. Glory and I had proved we could solve any problem when we combined her knowledge with my experience. We could find our way out of this.
So I gave her the subtlest nod, and although the zap of her nervousness tingled over my palate, her shoulders sagged in relief.
When she walked towards Thorn, I made to fall in behind her, but the vampires closed in, separating us.
Fuck.
Before I followed, I couldn’t help but look up the hill we’d so unceremoniously rolled down. All around us, mutt corpses lay smoking, and I regretted that none had survived long enough to give me answers about why they were after us. There had been so many, and their focus had been so targeted.
On me, which I found curious. If they were after the amulet and had finally been ordered to come after the notebooks—which would have disappointed them given we’d lost them—why had they come after me?
Had they believed me to be the greater threat? If so, they’d been mistaken.
Unless their purpose had nothing to do with the amulet, in which case where did that leave us? Because the only people I could think of who might want me dead were my siblings.
The thought stayed with me as I fell into step with the vampires, aware of every movement of this new danger. The shifters, the mutts, the vampires. We were racking up enemies on this journey, and if my siblings were involved, then trouble surrounded Glory on all sides.
I kept a wary eye on the vampires, feeling more trapped by the moment as we approached a low-rising mountain.
“Throwing us to the dragons as a midnight snack?” I asked Thorn.
“Hardly,” she said over her shoulder. “It’s not even close to midnight.”
I scowled, but my suspicions that they were leading us to our deaths weren’t assuaged when I caught the curl of another vampire’s lip. Wherever they were leading us, none of them appeared concerned by any danger, which either meant there was none or they knew how to control it.
“I’m Kalla,” a smiling, red-haired vampire addressed Glory. “Can I ask what you’re doing way out here? We don’t see many people this far from nothing. We especially don’t see many of our own. From the city, no less.”
“You have a lot of questions for someone who won’t tell us where we’re going,” I cut in before Glory could answer.
Glory shot me a look, and I narrowed my eyes in response. She wanted me to placate them, to play along and play it safe. But these were vampires looking to defend their fury. They would be ruthless in protecting their secret, and the only way we’d be safe was if we got away from them.
Kalla grinned at me, flashing a hint of fang. “You’re her sexy bodyguard, are you?” She nudged Glory with her elbow. “Lucky you. Sorry we had to interrupt. Looked like you two were about to get down and dirty in the muck back there. No judgement. When the mood hits you, you go for it, right? Why suffer all the pains of being a vampire if we don’t enjoy the perks?”
Glory turned her face away so I couldn’t see her reaction, but a fresh wave of arousal floated off her, and my body returned its call. Despite not knowing our current situation, the urge to pin her to the nearest tree and pick up where we’d left off had me hard and aching. My need for her swam through my veins like liquid silver, and I didn’t care if it was the temporary bond or not. The longing was sinfully delicious, joined by a sense of inevitability. At some point along this journey, we’d hit a tipping point, and I didn’t know if we could return from it. I didn’t know if I wanted to. This mysterious mage, this riveting researcher, all buttoned-up to hide so many secrets. Despite her tremendous efforts, she’d bared all of them to me, and now there was only one last area left for me to explore: her beautiful body. I wanted to know how she tasted. I needed to know what sounds she made when pleasure pushed her over the edge. Did she let herself fall, or did she hold back? If she held back, what would it take to lower those guards until her throes of passion consumed her?
My mouth went dry as I imagined how it might be, and only when I caught the eye of the grinning male vampire walking beside me did I realize I’d been staring at Glory so intensely it was a miracle her clothes hadn’t burned away.
“I’m Cliff,” the vampire introduced himself. “I’ll be your guard for the duration of your stay.”
His friendly tone, just shy of teasing, made me wonder how serious he was, but I opted to take him at his word.