THE NEXT DAY, I have maps, notes, and articles spread across my desk. Chewing my pen, I browse through them, circling parts of articles that discuss attacks and disappearances. My brother has a dramatic and particular way he goes about things, it’s easy to pick out which murders are his.
I have narrowed it down to one spot that Kian seems to have stayed for a few weeks. It’s a bit of travel on our part, so I will need to constantly be monitoring the news updates to make sure he doesn’t move on before we reach him.
Taunting his ‘gift’ over me was his greatest joy. The fact that he was turned. He thought it was something that I wanted and envied. He toyed with it in front of me, offering to turn me, only to promise he never would. After seeing how much worse he became, I didn’t want it.
Then, he turned Theo, out of spite. In his game, he never played out the fact that Theo would inevitably change me anyway, even when I firmly denied the offer. I blame both of them equally for taking that right away from me.
The thumping of a headboard against the wall can be heard, and a moan. Sighing, I stand, searching for my AirPods. Just as I’m opening the case, I hear the front door open. I instantly recognise the sound of Lucy, Theo’s girlfriend, who I thought was the one in the room with him.
Groaning, I realise there is a shit storm about to take place. Moving quickly down the stairs, I get to the living room just as she is yanking Theo’s bedroom door off its hinges. She snarls, glowering down at the human who is on top of Theo.
‘Lucy,’ I warn, my tone low and laced with authority. ‘Don’t.’
Screaming, she lunges toward the girl. Just as her fangs are about to rip into the girl, I reel her back so violently I hear the bones in her neck crack. She cries out in alarm, slamming into the wall, splintering the plaster.
‘Don’t,’ I snarl. ‘Theo is in the wrong, not her.’
She breathes hard, her hair blowing back and forth in front of her face. She shoves against me, and I press harder. My fingers bite into her flesh, drawing blood. She hisses, snapping her teeth at me like she is a rabid wolf.
‘Get off me,’ she demands, a threat lacing every word.
‘Theo,’ I growl. ‘Get the girl out of here. Now.’
Looking like he is enjoying the show far too much, Theo stands and pulls his jeans on. He leaves, holding the girl’s hand, and Lucy spits at him. I don’t release her hold just yet, knowing how fast and brutal she can be.
‘Why do you always go back to him?’ I demand, shaking my head at her. ‘You’re both so possessive and jealous of each other, and yet not loyal. Makes no sense.’
‘I don’t have to explain myself to you,’ she hisses.
‘I’m sick of dealing with the both of you,’ I snap, suddenly letting her go and stepping back. She collapses on the floor, heaving as the oxygen rushes back into her lungs. Making a disgruntled sound, she uses the wall to support her as she clambers to her feet, her hair wild, eyes furious as she glowers at me. ‘This is not my mess to deal with.’
‘Leave, then,’ she says.
‘I am,’ I tell her
‘What?’’
We both look to the door. Theo walks into the room, shirtless, blood smeared in the corner of his mouth. I’m half-convinced he purposely does this, just to see Lucy’s reaction. Then they have passionate hate-sex all night. It’s rather annoying since I have perfect hearing.
‘I’m leaving.’ I sigh.
‘Since the fuck when?’ he growls, striding toward me, a muscle spasming in his cheek as his jaw clenches so hard, I wouldn’t be surprised if he cracks a tooth.
‘Since today.’
‘Where?’
‘That’s what I’m trying to figure out. North, somewhere.’
Theo’s face hardens. ‘This better not have anything to do with your bonded blood bag.’
My fists ball at my sides, anger flaring inside me, as tension coils in my muscles. ‘Don’t.’
Lucy’s eyes widen at the ferocity in my tone. I’m the calm, patient one. I never get angry and lose my cool, but when it comes to Raya, I’m out of control it seems.
‘You aren’t serious,’ he snaps, upper lip curling angrily.
‘She’s leaving, and I need to go with her. She needs me.’
‘Don’t you remember that vampires are literally hunting me?’ He throws his hands in the air. ‘You can’t leave now.’
‘I don’t have a choice!’ I yell in frustration. ‘Wherever she goes, I go. We’re bonded.’
A vein pulses in his temple. ‘Unless someone snaps her fucking neck.’
A tidal wave of anger courses through me and I screw my eyes shut as I try to calm myself, my chest rising rapidly as I breathe hard. My eyes fly back open and Lucy is studying me with an open-mouth, her eyes switching between me and Theo.
‘She dies, I die,’ I say slowly. ‘And don’t forget, she is my one and only source now.’
‘This is fucked.’ Theo shakes his head, looking at me like he doesn’t even recognise me. ‘It’s meant to be me and you. Until the end.’
‘It’s not like this was my choice, Theo.’ I expel a heavy breath, leaning back against the wall, suddenly feeling exhausted. ‘And you can leave. It’s the smart thing to do, given your situation.’
Ignoring my comment, as he always does, his lips flatten into a line barely visible on his face. ‘If you go, consider us done,’ Theo says, his eyes darkening.
I push off the wall. ‘It doesn’t need to be like this. A friend should be understanding that I don’t have a say in this.’
He says nothing. Sighing, I walk around him and begin packing up my things. I can’t stay anymore. With him. With them. The last thing I want to be doing is a wild goose chase after my asshole, psychotic brother. But I can’t stay here, either.
It doesn’t take long to pack my things. My chest feels heavy as I hover near the door, unsure what to do or say to make any of this better.
‘If you walk out that door, you’re basically signing my death wish.’ Theo’s voice is low and deep.
A whirlwind of emotions circle inside me. I’m angry at Theo – and confused as to why he refuses to leave. There must be another reason. Something he is hiding from me. Once, Theo and I were closer than I ever thought two people could be. Since we turned, there’s been a chasm that is inching wider and wider with each passing day.
Whatever he’s hiding from me, I can’t stick around to find out what it is. Theo is too smart to stay here, in a place where people are out to get him. At this moment, I realise, neither of us have been truthful to the other.
My hand is on the door, my back to him. I close my eyes for a moment, feeling the weight and pain of his words. I know he needs me for protection. A second pair of eyes, ears, and the lend of strength he will need if they come. But I can’t stay.
With my heart in my throat, I open the door, a low and threatening growl at my back, but I know Theo well enough to know there’s also an undertone of hurt. Walking out into the night, I don’t look back.
It is mid-morning by the time I arrive at Alex and Raya’s house. I had a sleepless night in my truck. I can’t get the argument with Theo off my mind. It’s not the way I like to leave things. I feel terrible, but I wish he tried to understand that this is something beyond what I want. It’s out of my control.
Raya emerges from the house. Her dark hair falls to her hips in natural waves. My eyes track her easy movements as she walks toward me. Pretty pale skin, soft, full lips, round green eyes that shine brightly under the cloudy sky. She is truly gorgeous.
‘I’m just saying, I wish we didn’t spend a bunch of our savings on this apartment, only to move on from it five minutes later,’ Alex grumbles, sliding dark shades up his nose.
‘Life isn’t fair,’ Raya replies.
‘Don’t I know it,’ he mutters.
‘I think the problems we are facing are a little bigger than this.’
Alex doesn’t respond to that. Instead, he offers me a tight smile and a wave. ‘Hello, grumpy vampire bodyguard.’
‘Hello, annoying friend who is totally unnecessary.’
‘Fuck you, asshole.’
Raya sighs in exasperation. ‘This is going to be a long trip.’
As Alex heads around to the other side of the car, Raya and I subconsciously draw nearer to each other. Reaching out, I stroke a finger slowly down her arm, appeasing the gnawing sensation clawing through my chest. I hear the tiny puff of relief that leaves her lips, telling me she is feeling the same.
‘Hello,’ I say softly.
‘Hi.’
‘Are you okay?’ I ask. ‘This is a big thing. Going after her.’
‘I’m fine. I need to do this.’
It pains me. Seeing the determination and hope etched onto her face. She has no idea what she is getting herself into. Who she is dealing with.
When my brother was in town last, he had a woman with him. After meeting Raya, I know who she is now. It’s Cora. The sight of her with black eyes, blood smeared across her face and hands, flashes in my mind. She is not the girl Raya remembers her to be. But how can I break this news to her? Besides, if she is involved with Kian, I am sure there is more to the story. I imagine he has a hold over her, like he does with everyone. I’m not going to make judgments until I know the full story, and meet her myself.
‘What about everything that happened the other day, with us?’ I carefully ask, leaning against the doorframe.
‘Fine,’ she repeats, and I frown. Clearly, everything is not fine.
‘Raya.’ I sigh. ‘You can tell me what you’re feeling. If I repulse you, if the thought of me feeding terrifies you. I want to know.’
Tilting her head back, she offers me a small smile. ‘You don’t repulse me, Hunter. Not at all. That’s what is so confusing, honestly.’
‘I don’t want to make you uncomfortable in any way.’
‘You don’t,’ she insists, and the breeze blows her hair across her face. ‘It’s like . . . the way I think about vampires and my opinion of you are totally separate, even though you are a vampire, too. I don’t know if that makes any sense.’
‘I get it,’ I say. ‘The whole situation is confusing. For me, too.’
With those round eyes blinking up at me, the craving to be closer to her, to learn more, surges. I want to know everything there is to know about her. Shaking off the feeling, shoving it far, far back into my mind, I nod, pushing off from the car.
‘Are you ready to go?’ I ask, assessing her once more.
Nodding, she tucks the loose piece of hair behind her ear. ‘I’m ready.’
Opening the door for her, she sends me a small smile as she climbs into my truck. I glance up at the darkening sky, the promise of rain lingering in the air. The engine rumbles to life and I throw my arm around the passenger seat as I look out the back window, reversing.
I’m relieved that things between Raya and I feel less tense and awkward. As much as we shouldn’t strengthen this bond, I want her to warm up to me, and feel like she is safe. I can’t imagine how terrified she was the night I found her practically dead in the woods and how traumatised it made her
‘I need to pee,’ Alex says only a few minutes later.
Exhaling, I glance at Raya who is shaking her head.
She was right, this is going to be a long trip.