Sunset to Sunrise (Alexa O'Brien, Huntress #7.5)

It didn’t matter much because Shya enjoyed the sound of his own voice. He continued on as though my stunned silence was my contribution to the conversation.

“You do realize that once Alexa dies her mortal death she will be vampire. And no longer a creature of the light. Her bond with Arys will be tainted, possibly even destroyed. I find it fascinating that this doesn’t thrill you. It’s what you should want, isn’t it?” He stopped and turned to face me. Laying a hand on my arm, he nodded in feigned sympathy. “She bears my mark for you. If there were ever a time when you might have her as your own, it would be upon her mortal death.”

I knew what he was doing. Clever. Manipulative. Totally typical.

Pulling away, I leaned against a light post and crossed my arms. “I don’t want to talk about this. Is this why you came?”

Shya studied me. Anger sparked behind his eyes but just for a moment. “No, not really. I have a job for you. One that must be done quite soon. The sooner the better.”

“And? What is it?”

“I’d like you to follow a lead on something I’ve been looking for. I have reason to believe that it may be hidden in a place of worship. Unfortunately, I’m not able to enter all of them or I would do it myself.”

I nodded, only somewhat understanding. I didn’t know all of the ins and outs of the spiritual realm. In the past I had witnessed Shya stroll into some churches like he owned the place while at other times he couldn’t step foot on the property. I could enter all of them though.

“Fine. Send me the information. I’ll take care of it.”

Shya’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. “I’ll be sending Brook with you. For security purposes, of course.”

“Right,” I said, suppressing a smirk. “Of course.”

Humoring Shya was often for the best. I didn’t for a minute think it fooled him. Sending a demon who couldn’t even cross the threshold was ultimately pointless, but if it made Shya feel better, who was I to argue?

Honestly, I was curious about this ancient scroll that Shya wanted so badly. It was hidden here in the city somewhere, protected by a supernatural seal. Breaking the seal involved a ritual of some sort, a ritual that required a sacrifice. Alexa would be that sacrifice. Shya and I both knew that I wouldn’t stand back and watch that happen. We would all cross that bridge our own way when we reached it.

“I’ll send you the address and instructions before dusk tomorrow. I’ll let you get back to your vampire hunt.” Shya paused, as if considering his next words. “It would be wise of you to make it well known among your kind that you are acting as Alexa’s second. Her enforcer, if you will.”

That struck a nerve. I bristled, unwilling to accept that without question. “And why would I do that?”

“Because you are.” He was flippant, pinning me with a fierce stare that dared me to challenge him. “She claimed you as her own, and you’re the most powerful vampire in this city next to her and Arys. I need her to help me secure this city. She’ll need people she can trust. Take your place in her empire.”

What the fuck? I wasn’t sure I’d heard him correctly. He didn’t bother to repeat himself. He left me standing there alone listening to the sound of passing traffic.

“Fucking empire,” I muttered, scowling down the street at a lone figure hurrying along in the distance.

For the most part my working relationship with Shya had been nothing but professional. We both got something out of it, and it never got personal. Until recently. The demon mark Alexa bore was bad enough. But this empire shit? No way. I had to draw the line somewhere.

It was no secret that Alexa was on her way to becoming the vampire queen of the whole damn country. There was no place for me in that. I couldn’t even be in the same room without wanting to do terrible things to her. Plus, she had more than enough admirers already. She didn’t need me.

I was still muttering obscenities to myself when I started tracking Phillip. It was either that or spend the night between the legs of some hot-blooded female. There would be time enough for womanizing after I wiped out the piece of crap.

If I could let him have Arys without consequence, I would. In a split second. It just wasn’t possible. So off I went to proclaim to the city that I had Alexa’s back whether she was here to see it or not.

One of my specialties, I tracked better than anyone I knew. Possibly a throwback to my wolf days, I could track energy like a dog tracking a scent. Requiring a lot of mental effort and concentration, tracking energy was most certainly not a trait all vampires possessed. I suspected that it was just another reason that Shya kept me around even as I focused on Phillip’s energy and followed it.