Page 11 of Of Hearts and Hunters (Fallen Crowns Duet #1)

VERITY

I close the door behind me to shut out the gushing rainwater and crazy wind, hoping none of this wakes Briony. I told her I was going out on patrol tonight, so she’d understand why I’m soaking wet and cold as fuck right now, but I don’t want to chance the fact that if she did find me down here, I’d have to lie to her even more. And that would be even harder to do if she caught Darren’s scent on me. Vamp stink really clings to you. He barely touched me (gross), but I’d still have to practically scrub off a layer of skin in the shower to get the stench off me.

I take a quick glance through the small window in our front door, the dreary rain and creepy fog blanketing the night in horror-movie-level darkness. Thank God for my Korama senses. Now that I’m safe (for now), I’ll be better able to tap into them and not spin out, like I’ve been doing so often lately.

No one is out there. I thought since I was doing something wrong as hell out in the Heavenstream National Park that Koramas everywhere would be beating down my door to lecture me or rip my throat out.

But, nothing.

Megsie was business as usual when I checked in with her after meeting with Darren. Her progress report was the same: all clear. No vamps or sparklies trolling around our borders. She had an early morning, so she opted to text instead of meet–and for obvious reasons, I was thankful for that.

No vamps or sparklies.

They are involved in some weird scheme together! We never would’ve known about this had it not been for the new Vamp Prince. I don’t understand how we could’ve missed it. Sure, Kormas and the wolf community have always suspected secret alliances between the two races. Paxton even wondered if a Vampyr and a Magicena somehow mated and gave birth to this super-vamp species that could walk in the daylight. It’s nuts but not unheard of for taboo shit like that to happen, even if it is rare. We were running with that theory, but it never covered any ground because of the killing on both sides. How could an alliance be possible if they murder each other? We’ve always come up empty-handed. Until now.

If the Vampyrs and Magicena are friends, that means one thing and one thing only.

They’re gonna get us.

Koramas have strength in numbers, but if the Magicena, who are powerful as fuck, team up with the Vampyrs, who have their skills 24/7, we’re all dead meat.

I kick off my boots and stagger into the kitchen, looking for a snack, or at least something hot to drink. I pass by the invitation to the stupid, bullshit ‘peace party’ that we left on the island.

Peace, my ass.

They’re gonna come for us. There’ll be no safe place to hide.

I need to move faster than I originally thought. I doubt Paxton and Megsie will believe me unless I have real proof–like footage of a meeting between Andre and the Vamp Queen. They won’t like me working with the Vamp Prince, but it’s a necessary sacrifice so we can uncover this secret the sparklies and vamps have been keeping for God knows how long.

I turn on the kettle, deciding to make hot chocolate even if the sugar and caffeine will keep me awake. I’m cold, hungry, and thirsty. I wouldn’t be able to sleep even if I tried. Maybe a shower while the kettle warms up would be a good call.

My phone rattles in my pocket. I’m surprised it still works after the stormageddon outside.

Maybe I was wrong about not being followed, overheard, or whatever.

Damn.

Well, I guess Briony will have to find a new roommate. I’ll be dead by morning–and it’s already two o’clock.

Did you get back safely?

Good God. Does he think I’m as hopeless as he is?

I wipe rainwater off my screen, gnashing my teeth together at how fucking sappy he is. Then again, he’s kind of shown me that he’s different from other vamps. I used to think (since when was it used to ?) that it was because he was human so recently. But maybe he’s this way because he’s just always like this–vamp or not.

Fuck.

I never thought I’d be scheming with a Vampyr–and I never thought he’d actually be a nice guy, even after I tried to kill him. God knows he’s had the opportunity to off me. When I was getting mauled by that shithead. When his vamp brothers were going to murder me. He could’ve let all that happen. For some reason, he didn’t. I thought it was because he was biding his time, because he was using me like I was using him.

Now, I’m not so sure.

He’s actually an okay guy, underneath the vamp stench and I-want-to-suck-your-blood shit.

I’m going straight to Hell for thinking this. I still can’t believe I’m actually trusting one of them. I’ve never had any reason to even be near a vamp–and now, I’m teaming up with one of them?

I know I’ve got way bigger problems than being temporarily allied with Darren–like the Magicena and the Vampyrs being in league with each other. We’re going to get to the bottom of it, even if I never thought the word we could ever include me and a disgusting vamp.

Maybe it’s easier for me to trust him because he’s not like the others–so far.

Maybe it’s because he was human so recently and is still relying on those tendencies and feelings.

Maybe it’s because he’s so clueless about how to be a vamp in the first place.

Whatever the reason, I trust him. For now.

I can’t forget the real reason why I despise them. I feel it every day–the hate, the rage, the thirst for vengeance.

Killing my parents.

Killing Briony’s parents, leaving her with only her grandfather.

Murdering Paxton’s dad, the Korma.

Vamps also murdered my grandpa. I was five. I was just a kid. I hadn’t even hit puberty or activated my gene yet. I remember seeing him lying in the dark on that bleak, weirdly cold Summer night, bleeding out with his eyes half-open. He hadn’t turned that full moon, so he wasn’t able to defend himself against the vamp ambush.

I flinch, almost dropping my mug onto the floor when I remember throwing myself on top of my grandpa, crying uncontrollably. I begged the fucking vamp coming at us not to kill him. I remember that way too clearly.

The vamp lunged on top of me, sank his teeth into my back (a weird thing for a vamp to do, and I never knew why he’d done it) and threw me to the side as he ended my grandfather’s life right in front of me. I still remember seeing his brown eyes staring at me in horror when he knew he would die in front of me. My brain never stops showing me the exact second the life left his eyes.

I look down at my empty mug and put it back into the cupboard. Screw hot chocolate and food. I’m standing here, cold and dripping all over the floor like an idiot. I should try and sleep.

Like that’ll ever happen.

I forgot I was holding my phone this entire time. The screen went black a long time ago–like my thoughts, my heart. My whole fucking self is dark as shit.

I wish I could go over to Vamp HQ and start tearing heads off. Make the Vampyrs suffer like they’ve done to all of us for years. Make them pay for everything they’ve done to us.

But I know I can’t do that. Not now. Not as a Kormo with orders to follow. Not when I’m already on thin ice with Paxton. Not when every Korama within spitting distance thinks I’m a joke.

I unlock my screen to find my Spotify playlist that sometimes helps me sleep. When I see Darren’s message again, I grit my teeth, wishing I’d never met him.

That wasn’t my fault. I was ordered by Paxton and Megsie to kill him. As far as they know, I’m supposed to be going through with it. They want me to finish the job on the next full moon.

I’m fine, but you won’t be in the next few weeks.

I guess being partnered up with him means telling him the target on his back is still a thing.

Meaning what, exactly?

I have to hunt you down the next full moon.

Darren reads the message and doesn’t start typing for a long time. I’m already upstairs and getting ready to shower when he does.

So I can’t trust you, then?

I’m not gonna kill you.

I know I can’t kill him while we have a truce like this. It might feel weird as fuck to write this, but I know I can’t betray him. As long as he doesn’t cross me, he won’t have any trouble from me. It’s hard not to write ‘moron’ or ‘dumbass’ at the end of my text, but I know we agreed to be nicer to each other, so I’m giving it a go.

We have a truce. Just don’t piss me off.

I have no intention of doing that, though it seems I do it without even trying.

I roll my eyes. He’s not wrong.

It’s cause you’re a vamp. Busy now.

Goodnight, Verity.

For some weird reason, I feel like I have to respond again. I did say I’d be nicer after that teamwork and trusting bullshit he spewed about earlier.

Bye.

I don’t think that necessarily worked, but whatever. After we figure out this conspiracy thing between the vamps and sparklies, this’ll all be over. Thank God.

It takes all my energy to climb into bed. My limbs ache. My temples are pounding. I feel like my brain is on fire.

Almost getting raped by that asshole.

Being chased down by angry and murderous vamps.

The black bear trying to kill us.

My memories of why I should never, ever, trust Vampyrs.

All of it threatens to drag me under, have me drown in this fucking blackness that is my life.

Can’t I just ignore Darren and figure out this Magicena-Vampyr thing on my own? Why do I need to work with one of them? I can do it all from here on out.

But deep down, I know that’s not true. Sure, I can try to do some spying the night of the peace party, but there’s no way I could ever get close enough to the Queen to get any pertinent intel. Darren would be able to do that, easy, especially since he’s a Prince. A newbie Prince, but still. Maybe the Queen will let her guard down for the Baby Prince Vamp, and then we–meaning, the Koramas–can turn the tables on them.

It hits me as I start to fall asleep.

What’s gonna happen when I tell the Korma and Kormi about this? Are we gonna take away their bracelets and shit, hunt them down? What will happen to Darren and the friends he asked me to spare? There’s no way I can tell Paxton and Megsie about any of that–and I know there’s no way in hell I can save them from getting killed once we all attack.

Okay. Maybe this thing is a bit more problematic than I thought.

It’s a shitshow!