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

Scar made a sound of annoyance. “Why should I tell you anything? What’s it to you?”


I cast a glance back at the bar to find Willow watching us with veiled interest. The bar was loud, and though I knew he couldn’t hear me, I felt uneasy anyway.

“I promise you, nobody wants Arys Knight dead more than I do.” Hearing myself say it, to strangers of all things, disturbed me.

“Oh?” Scar’s interest was piqued. “And why is that?”

The moment of truth. I never considered telling a lie. “Because I’m in love with his wolf.”

Both vampires laughed as if they thought I was bullshitting them. When I maintained a serious expression, their laughter faltered.

“Seriously?” Scar asked in disbelief. “Man that is the wrong woman to fall for. I’d face the sun with a smile on my face before I’d get anywhere near that crazy bitch.”

The power went out from me, commanded by emotion rather than conscious intent. It slammed both vampires back against the booth seat, crushing them from the inside out.

“I don’t give a good goddamn what you think of Arys, but you will always respect Alexa. She is your queen whether you like it or not. I will not hesitate to kill anyone who fucks with her in any way. Are we clear?” I smiled, a promise of pain in that small act.

“Take it easy, dude. I didn’t mean anything by it. I’ll never even mention that chick again.”

I released my hold on them but only because I wanted to know what they planned. I wasn’t convinced that these clowns could be a threat to anyone other than an unsuspecting human.

“Talk,” I commanded. “You must have a plan. Let’s hear it.”

Scar was reluctant. He looked around the nightclub as if seeking an escape. Finally he gave in and accepted that he was a small fish in a very big pond.

“We’re going to lure him into a trap. We’ll use someone he cares about if we have to. It’s not the most elaborate plan, but I think it’ll work.” There was uncertainty in Scar’s eyes. He shrugged. “Maybe it won’t, and he’ll kill us all. But we have to try.”

“That’s stupid, and it will never work. You need to think bigger. Be more creative. This vampire has lived much longer than you. And he’s not an idiot.” I shook my head, disappointed with their plan. It lacked much in the way of finesse and genius.

“Will you help us then?” Scar’s tough guy demeanor vanished, exposing the run of the mill monster beneath. “Maybe you can lure him.”

Now that was almost tempting. Arys would never trust me though he would likely come after me if I gave him reason to. That wouldn’t be hard. All I’d have to do is take another run at Alexa. Maybe get her alone and backed into a corner. Arys would be livid.

I chuckled to myself at the thought. Oh yes, it was very tempting. It would be too easy. And yet? Something kept me from jumping at this opportunity.

Instead of giving a direct response, I answered with another question. “When do you plan to do this?”

“Sometime after he’s back in town. We figured it would be best to take advantage of him being away to put it all into place.”

Overall I didn’t believe Scar’s rebel crew posed much threat to Arys. Of course, all it took was that one slip up, that one mistake in judgment. I wasn’t fool enough to assume it would work. But if it did? I couldn’t bring myself to entertain that line of thinking. It was too dangerous. I wanted it too badly.

The fact that they knew Arys had just left town meant they were watching very closely. Surely he had to know this.

I imagined what it would do to Alexa if something happened to Arys. They were bonded. She would feel his death. Maybe even die herself, leaving her turned and alone, without him. As much as I loathed him, I wasn’t sure I could ever do that to her.

A dark cloud formed, raining down the harsh truths of reality. Hurting anyone Alexa loved would break her heart. I had meant what I said the night I told her I would find a way to make her so crazy she would stake me. But were there limits on how far I was willing to go?

“So, are you with us?” Scar asked, smiling as if certain he had me. “We would be happy to have you.”

“Yeah, I’m with you. But if you breathe a word of this to anyone, not only will I deny it, I’ll hunt you down and take you apart piece by piece.”

* * * *

“Kill them all.” Shya’s opinion came as no surprise. “Useless, good for nothing whelps. Find out who they are, each and every one of them.”

I sat on the pristine white sofa in Shya’s ridiculously white modern house. After dumping the body from my room into the river, I’d gone straight to the demon. I wanted to know more about the claims that Arys was putting pressure on the local vampire community.