Page 17 of Bloodhunter

“Master vampires have ways of hiding when they don’t want tobe seen,” Rhys said, smoothly.

“Obviously something changed inside me after the attack.Made me immune to their tricks. That doesn’t mean I’m made.”

“No, but…”

“What are you trying to say?” I asked, suddenly angry. “Justsay it.”

Angus punched at his phone screen with a hard finger. “He’strying to say that you’re different. That you’re not quite human. Humans can’tgive vampires the true death. Humans don’t see masters who don’t want to beseen. Humans can’t fight vampires and live to tell about it. That’s what Satomeant when he said he made you. He made you what you are now.”

“Vampire killer,” I murmured.

“She’s still human,” Miriam told them. “Just different.”

“Altered,” Rhys agreed.

“We knew she was,” Angus said. “Which is why we took her in.”

“I’m righthere,”I said, irritated.

Angus heaved a heavy sigh, and the bed dipped as he loweredhis massive body to sit beside me. His big hand swallowed my fingers when heenfolded them in his tight grip. “To us, you’re a friend. To the world, you’rea human.”

“To Amias Sato,” Rhys said, “you’re an obsession. A thrall.A possession.”

Miriam went to stand beside her golem. “And to thevampires,” she said, “you’re one of the very few people in the world who cangive them the true death. They can’t even do that to each other.”

“What does that mean?” I asked, as my insides quivered.

They exchanged long, meaningful glances once again, leavingme—the puny human—out of their mysterious supernatural loop.

But when their silence was finally broken, it was the golemwho spoke.

“It means you’re a hunter,” he said. “And they’re going tocome after you. They’re going to come after you hard and fast, and they’regoing to try to kill you before you kill them.”

Chapter Five

I gaped at him, more surprised by his loquacity than hisgrim predictions. For the first time, it was as though Clayton was more thanMiriam’s slave. He was one of them. One of the tiny, strange group ofsupernaturals who lived under the radar in Bay Town.

Iwas the outlier, not Clayton.

His predictions took a moment to sink in.

I started to shove Angus away so I could stand, as havingthem all hovering around me was making me nervous, but the trembling weaknessof my body wouldn’t allow it.

“We’ll protect you,” Angus growled. “Don’t worry.”

I looked at Rhys, who shrugged, then grinned. “Anyone whocan take out the bloodsuckers is worth protecting. I’m in.”

“We rarely see vampires,” I told them. “I can’t see themconverging upon Red Valley to hunt me down.”

“You’rethe hunter,” Miriam said, crossing her arms.“Never forget that. You’re the killer. They will come, but you won’t sit aroundwaiting for them to stalk you like you’re prey. You’ll go after them.”

“Wait a damn minute,” Angus said, finally getting off thebed—much to my relief. “She’s not going to go hunting vampires. It doesn’tmatter that she’s different. She’s still just a human girl.”

“And you’re a just a half-wit,” Miriam said, calmly. “But wedon’t try to keep you at home.”

“We’re her shields,” he said, ignoring her insult. “If shegoes out there, they’ll kill her.”

“We’re her shields,” she agreed. “Andwhenshe goesout there, we won’tletthem kill her.”