Page 99 of Bloodhunter

“And we won’t get paid.” I looked at him, trying for asmile. “I really don’t want to work at Angus’s store for the rest of my life.”

I needed to hunt. Needed it. It was in my blood.

“Then you’ll find another way,” Shane said, as he walkedaway.

“How long do we have before the exorcist gets here?” Icalled.

“Half an hour,” he said.

“Dammit.” I couldn’t do everything. Not in half an hour.

I strode toward the little group. “Angus, will you deliverGray to Captain Crawford?”

They all gaped at me. “Hell no, I won’t,” Angus said. “Howelse are we going to find the demon?”

“I’m working on it.” I gripped his arm and stared up at him.I was tall, but Angus wasreallytall. “Take him to the police stationfor me.” I hesitated. “Please. Trust me.”

From the corner of my eye, I saw Shane smile.

Yeah, I got it.

Angus shook his head, but his stare was gentle. “Be careful,Trinity.” He turned to Shane. “Truss him up, and do it right. None of thatgirly shit Trin has going on.”

Shane reached up under the back of his jacket and his handemerged with a pair of silver handcuffs. He knelt beside Gray and got to work.When he was finished with the vampire a couple of minutes later, Gray wascuffed and wrapped from head to toe, and he wasn’t going anywhere.

“You gave your word,” Gray yelled, as Angus hauled him away.

“No,” I said. “I agreed to give you freedom if you led me tothe incubus.”

“I need to tell you about Lucy.” But the silver was takingits toll and his voice was weak, fading, and tired.

“I’ll come see you when this is over.” But he was alreadygone, and he wouldn’t have heard my murmured words anyway.

I caressed Silverlight’s sheath, then turned and walkedaway.

“Hold up,” Rhys said. “Where are you off to?”

I turned back to face them. “I need to talk to Amias, and Ineed to do it alone.”

No one spoke—not even Miriam—so I left them there and wentto find the only other person who could take us to the demon.

If he would.

I didn’t wander far from the group. I knew Amias would findme.

He did, not five minutes later.

I looked at him, and I waited for the rage. I could feel it,sort of, waving its arms and drumming its heels like a little kid throwing atantrum, but it was easily dismissed.

I was sad to see it go, really, but no matter. The hatredwas still there, and it wasn’t going to fade. Not ever.

He might think he ruled me, but he did not.

“Why are you smiling?” he asked quietly. He stood a fewyards away, his hands at his sides. He wore no jacket, just a black button-upshirt and black pants. He shoes were freshly shined and expensive, and helooked like a mysterious gentleman taking a leisurely stroll inside the gatesof his estate.

But I knew him, probably as well as anyone could know amaster vampire, and it didn’t matter what he wore or how smooth he was.

He was a vicious animal.