Page 8 of Forced Bonds

Like a shot had been fired, all nine vampires tensed, their heads turning in the direction the rogues always came from.

“They’re approaching,” Salizar snarled.

“Many of them,” Anker agreed.

“They smell…” Yuni began.

“Fresh,” one of the women stated with a sneer.

I had my weapon out and my gaze locked in place just as the first set of red eyes could be spotted in the darkness. Their bodies were soon visible enough since darkness hadn’t truly fallen yet. It was a miracle I wouldn’t be facing them alone. I could already tell I wouldn’t have survived it if the vampires had been late. So much for the alpha worrying about his supposed mate. Maybe he’d hoped I’d be killed. What a depressing thought. It made me hate the dog that much more. Fucking werewolf alpha and his mate bullshit. If I truly was his mate I wouldn’t have been used as bait and left to fend for myself!

“Hold your fire,” Anker ordered me, his tone firm. I reluctantly stopped shooting, hoping they knew what they were doing, my gun still pointed and ready to go, though.

Blurs of movement flashed in front of my eyes, the rogue vampires were sliced in half, their ashes drifting around the lot like a sandstorm. Rogues turned to dust instantly, where regular vamps took a few minutes. I swore I blinked and then it was over. Twenty rogue vampires had been killed within seconds.

Salizar appeared next to me in a flash, smirking knowingly. “First time seeing vampires in action?”

I replied with a grumble, “The ones with brains, yes.”

He chuckled warmly. “I’ll let you see me in action anytime you wish.” He finished the sentence with a filthy wink.

He got a glare in return but that only seemed to please the infuriating vampire, his grin widening as he took in my unamused expression.

“Salizar,” Anker said, appearing next to me. “I think we need to split up into teams to find the source.”

“I’ll take the hunter into Willowhill tomorrow. Maybe we can spot any leads in the closest town,” Salizar said, looking all serious now.

Anker nodded. “We’ll take the towns on the other sides. I don’t think we need to worry about Rein, considering that town is in the opposite direction and so far away from here. But if we don’t find anything that will be our next target. Yuni and Ronin?”

They appeared in seconds next to Anker.

“You two, stay here tomorrow night and guard the library. I’ll try to figure out what the building holds and hopefully get the town alpha to cooperate.” I almost snorted at that, but Anker didn’t need to know how stubborn the town alpha was.

Salizar gave me a small black card and at first, I was puzzled until I saw it was his business card. Why did it have to be black with gold embossed lettering on it? Did he need the business cards he carried to smell of money too? I would sniff it later, just to test my theory.

I took the offered card and handed him one of my plain white ones with simple inked lettering on it. Boring black and white. Simple and cheap. Like they fucking should be. I got hired because of my killing skills, not because of my artistic prowess.

When he took my card, his fingers grazed mine in a move that was clearly intentional. If only the vampire knew I was a lost cause. There was no way in hell I would ever return his flirting, but I would keep that information to myself. I didn’t want to end up murdered by a petty vampire who wasn’t used to rejection.

I left the vampires by the library, actually hoping they would break in and find whatever it was Christopher was hiding. Rogue vampires were truly zombies that only wanted blood and would kill to get it. That was the reason other vampires hunted them as well. The supernaturals didn’t want humans to know they existed and because of that, they would kill them without question. Vampire hunters were always human, simply because the rogues were lured by the scent of blood. The vampire coven that dealt with rogues, only did it when it got out of hand, but seeing the evidence of how smoothly they worked, I couldn’t help but resent them more. Why did we have to risk our lives killing rogues when they could off them so easily? Add in the fact that they lived forever and they could have easily wasted a day once in a while killing rogues so us hunters weren’t needed. If I could’ve slept soundly knowing the world was safe from rogue vampires because regular vampires were protecting the humans, then life would’ve been much easier. Hell, I might’ve even let myself fall in love and create a family of my own. The one thing I would never let myself have. I’d lost one before and I wouldn’t survive it again.

I entered my hotel room with a bag from the local diner. It was the only place that was open in the middle of the night. I guess I should’ve just been happy to get warm food at this hour. After years of working nights, I had learned to just be happy with whatever I could get my hands on.

My phone vibrated in my pocket once, telling me it was a simple text and could go ignored. However, with everything happening, I found curiosity won out. I placed the food on the table inside my quaint room and pulled my phone out.

Unknown number: Hey sexy, get ready to leave at seven tonight. I’ve already booked us a hotel room in Willowhill. See you soon – Salizar

I hated that I had to reply, but I did, with it being work related and all. I’d noted he’d written a hotel room, but I would wait until tonight to freak out over that obvious error.

Me: See you at seven.

I then sat and ate my lukewarm dinner, fantasizing about a hot shower and some mediocre sleep.

Chapter Five

Benjamin

I woke up feeling determined. I was about to find the source with Salizar, the possibility that this could be over soon had me eagerly dressing and packing my shit. I would keep the hotel room until I was done with this town, even if I slept a few nights in Willowhill. I really hoped it wouldn’t be more than one day and then we’d have the case solved.