He’d finally named her, but I felt no elation. I’d need a whole lot more than this confession alone to protect me from her. But it might go a ways toward convincing both her brother and the Directorate that there were extenuating circumstances if – god forbid – she and I ever came to blows and I managed to survive the encounter and she did not.

If you and Hunter came to blows, Azriel said, voice grim, she would not survive. And no one – not the Directorate, and certainly not her brother – would ever know of her death. Valdis would consume body and soul. There would be nothing left to find, and nothing left to move on.

Good. Even hell was too nice a place for the bitch. I once again returned my attention to the vampire. “Madeline Hunter? The woman in charge of the Directorate?”

“The same one.” He coughed. Bloody spittle lined his lips.

“Did she say why?”

“No. And I didn’t ask. I’m paid to do a job, end of story.”

It was the end, all right, for Jak and for him. Hunter wouldn’t let him live, and we both knew it. Amaya, I said, and reached out a hand.

She didn’t want to leave without a kill, and she hissed noisily, the sound rebounding through my brain. But she nevertheless withdrew, her hilt hitting my palm with a heavy thump. Letting me know she was unhappy by action as well as voice, I thought, amused.

I sheathed her, then said, “As much as I’d love to avenge Jak’s death with yours, I think the fate that awaits you is far worse, vampire. Enjoy what is left of your life.”

With that, Azriel took me in his arms and swept us out of there. It was only when I was home that I finally allowed myself to grieve for the man I’d once loved.

Hunter’s phone call came as no surprise, but it took all my willpower not to hit the Answer button and call her every name under the sun.

That would not only be a stupid move, but dangerous to those I loved.

“What?” is all I said. My voice was tight, and my hands clenched. It was a wonder I didn’t crack the phone, so tight was my grip.

“Did you get my message?” she all but purred. A cat enjoying playing with her mouse.

And the mouse had no option but to take it. At least for the moment.

“Yes.”

Her eyes gleamed with maliciousness. “And did the message get through?”

“Yes.” It came out as little more than a spit of angry air. I took a deep breath, trying to calm down, and added, “But why Jak? He wasn’t doing anyone any harm —”

“Which made him the perfect specimen for my little demonstration,” she cut in. “I would have chosen Rhoan, even though his death would have annoyed my brother greatly, but that would also take out Riley. I have no wish to come to blows with Quinn just yet.”

Meaning a confrontation with Quinn was in her cards sometime in the future?

More than likely, Azriel commented. Your uncle is not the type to sit back and let Hunter’s plans proceed unheeded. She would need him gone to openly make her move for domination of all.

The bitch wasn’t only certifiable, she was a glimpse of our future if we didn’t stop hell’s gates from being opened.

Because she sure as fuck had to be one of hell’s finest.

“But do not doubt,” she continued, in that same soft but deadly tone, “I will take out Rhoan, Riley, and even Quinn if you do not find me those keys.”

“I’m doing my best.”

Her expression was amused, but the specter of death shimmered in the depths of her eyes. “Your best is not enough, dear Risa. Try harder.”

And with that, she hung up. I swore and raised the phone to throw it at the nearest wall, only to have it plucked from my hands by Azriel.

“Taking your anger out on defenseless electronics is a waste of money and electronics,” he commented. “May I suggest this instead?”

He offered me a melted glob of metal – all that remained of one of the dining room chairs – and I couldn’t help laughing. As he’d no doubt intended. “Thanks, but it won’t shatter and therefore won’t ease the frustration in quite the same way.”

“Ah. Shame.” He placed both the phone and the globule on the glass table.

Tags: Keri Arthur Dark Angels Fantasy
Source: readsnovelonline.net