Darkness Rises (Immortal Guardians) (20 page)

She looked at Sean, whose eyes widened.

“Just like that?” Sean asked.

Seth nodded. “The older the immortal, the stronger his or her gifts.”

Beside him, David smiled. “The two of us have lived so long and seen so much that very little surprises us.”

“You two surprised us,” Seth admitted. “We are very impressed with your successes and all that you have accomplished.”

“Really?” She had been more impressed herself before she had found out that they hadn’t even made a dent in the vampire population.

“Mortal vampire hunters, particularly those who hunt alone or in small numbers, have traditionally had very short careers. The fact that you have been doing what you do for six years now and still possess all of your limbs is nothing short of extraordinary.”

“Please,” David said, “have a seat.”

Krysta and Sean took the two chairs in the middle. Étienne sat beside Krysta with Cam on his other side. Chris sat beside Sean. Darnell carried another chair from the corner over and placed it beside David, who took the chair behind the desk. Seth sat beside him.

Darnell stood beside David.

“As I said earlier,” Seth began, “I am the leader of the Immortal Guardians. David is my Second in Command. We are the highest authorities in the Immortal Guardian world. We know you are both
gifted ones
. All immortals were
gifted ones
before being infected with the virus, so we hope you will consider us your brethren.”

David nodded. “It is how we think of you. As one of us. As family.”

That was not what she had expected. What were they saying exactly?

Seth smiled. “We would like you to join us.”

Sean looked at Krysta. “Are you saying you want to infect us with the virus?”

“Not necessarily. Because you are
gifted ones
, you can safely transform without suffering brain damage and losing your sanity. But it is not a requirement. Many mortals, both humans and
gifted ones
, work with us and aid us in our desire to eliminate the vampire threat.”

Krysta stared at them. “I’m sorry. I thought you were going to interrogate us or threaten us or castigate us for whatever wrong this one here”—she hooked a thumb in Chris’s direction—“imagines we’ve committed.”

Darnell laughed.

Chris sighed. “Had I met with you earlier today, I would have
interviewed
you.”

Darnell coughed. “Interrogated.”

Chris scowled. “But since Seth and David have cleared you and determined you aren’t a threat, that won’t be necessary and I would welcome you on our side.”

Krysta slid a look in Étienne’s direction.
You’re being awfully quiet.

He arched a brow.
This is
your
decision. I thought you wouldn’t appreciate my weighing in on it.

She returned her attention to the elders. “In what capacity?”

Seth looked to Reordon. “Chris?”

“Sean, since you’re a healer and are already studying medicine—”

“Do I even want to know how you know that?” he asked.

Chris shrugged. “Once I had your name, I traced you to Duke. And Seth told me you were a healer. Anyway, we could use someone with your gifts and knowledge in our medical department. Should you decide to join us, we will pay off all of the student loan debt you’ve accumulated.” Which was considerable. “And pay all future tuition. I’m sure Dr. Lipton, the immortal woman who sat beside me at the table, would be happy to mentor you and appreciate your aid in her pursuit of a cure or treatment for the virus.”

Krysta met her brother’s gaze and knew he was thinking the same thing she was.

It sounded incredibly good. Too good. What’s-the-catch good.

“We also,” Chris continued, “would immediately put you on the payroll, so you could quit your current job as early as tomorrow. I recommend that you do that anyway to ensure the mercenaries can’t trace you there as we did. Krysta, we’d like you to train as a Second. Your fighting skills already exceed the needs of the position, so we would—”

“Wait,” she interrupted. “A Second? Do they hunt vampires?”

“Not actively, no. They guard and assist the immortals who
do
and back them up whenever necessary.”

“I’m not giving up hunting.”

Étienne swore. “You would be accomplishing the same goal without subjecting yourself to so much risk.”

“I don’t care. I’m not giving up hunting,” she insisted stubbornly.

“Not even for a six-figure salary?” Chris asked.

Six figures? Really?

No. Despite the temptation, she couldn’t do it.

Sean shook his head. “Krys, don’t be stupid. This is perfect.”

“Perfect!” she exclaimed. “You still thought these people were our enemies and in league with the vampires an hour ago!”

“Well, clearly they aren’t,” he snapped. “And you can’t go on the way you have been. How many times have you nearly died in the past six years? In the past one or two? You’ve been coming up against larger and larger numbers and even admitted yourself that you would have been killed twice in the past month if Étienne hadn’t saved your ass!”

“Those were exceptions,” she protested, anger and panic rising. She couldn’t stop hunting vampires and just sit on the sidelines. Hunting was what she did. It was who she was.

Sean snorted. “Those exceptions nearly killed you.”

“I can’t stop hunting,” she insisted.

“You would still be contributing to the destruction of vampires,” he insisted. “You’d still be making a difference.”

“Not the way I want to.”

He clamped his lips shut, his face tightening in anger. “And when you’re mortally injured and I die healing you?” It had been her biggest fear all along. “It’s an even greater possibility now than ever before because you’re battling vampires
and
being hunted by mercenaries who are
shooting
at you,” he pressed.

She swallowed hard. “If I suffer a fatal injury, you’ll just have to let me go.”

“You know I won’t do that.”

She did. And it killed her to think that he would die for her.

Her eyes began to burn as her throat thickened. She had promised herself she wouldn’t stop hunting until the vampire threat had been eliminated. Not hunting would feel like giving up. She didn’t want to give up. She wasn’t
ready
to give up.

Étienne clear his throat. “She can hunt with me.”

The silence that followed was deafening.

While Étienne inwardly cursed himself in every language he knew, Krysta swung around to gape up at him in disbelief.

“What?” Chris, Cam, and Sean spoke at the same time.

He gritted his teeth. “I said, she can hunt with me.”

It wasn’t what he wanted. He wanted Krysta safe, damn it. But when her brother had slapped her in the face with reality, the barriers of her mind had crumbled. He had heard every panicked thought and hadn’t been able to bear her unhappiness and dismay.

Seth and David glanced at each other, then examined Krysta and Étienne for several long moments, during which he suspected they were communicating telepathically.

If Seth and David nixed the idea . . .

Seth met Étienne’s gaze. “She’ll be a liability.”

Krysta did
not
like hearing that. A dozen denials immediately flooded her mind, overriding the panicked despair.

But Étienne couldn’t contradict it.

David drew Krysta’s gaze. “Though they don’t like it, immortals’ orders are very clear. If they are tranqed, they are to immediately flee the battle in order to avoid being captured and call their Seconds before they lose consciousness. When the two of you were attacked by mercenaries, Étienne put himself in a position where he would likely be captured in order to keep them from killing you.”

She lost some of her fight. “But I kept them from taking him.”

Seth acknowledged her words with a slight nod. “Had he been hunting alone, however, he would not have lingered once he saw that first dart. He would have gotten away without further injury.”

Quiet descended upon them, heavy and uncomfortable.

“Krysta,” Chris said, “you have to understand that, if you and Sean join us, your actions will affect us all. If you had been shot despite Étienne’s efforts to keep you safe, he would have been captured, tortured, and killed before we could even identify whoever the hell our new enemy is. The mercenaries would have then obtained both the virus and the DNA evidence they need to build their research and their army.”

“The fault was not entirely Krysta’s,” Étienne mentioned. “I thought the mercenary threat over. Had I not been so caught off guard by their reappearance, I would have reacted faster and likely could have gotten us both out of there before they could hit me with a second dart.”

Cam shook his head. “I could just as easily argue that you may have noticed the mercenaries’ approach and not
been
so caught off guard if Krysta hadn’t been distracting you.”

“I won’t make the same mistake twice,” Étienne insisted.

Another long moment passed.

Krysta fidgeted.

Sean said nothing.

Étienne didn’t have as much difficulty reading Sean as he did Krysta. The younger man was hoping the elders would forbid Krysta from hunting. Not because he feared he might die healing her, but because he feared she might be so badly injured one night that she would die before he could reach her.

He didn’t want to lose his sister.

Don’t make me regret this,
Seth spoke in Étienne’s head. “I will allow it for now,” he decreed.

Much to Étienne’s surprise, Krysta didn’t smile with relief.

“Until we have eliminated the mercenary threat,” he continued. “I would like the two of you to either stay here at David’s home . . .”

“You are both welcome for as long as you wish,” David said.

“. . . or remain with Étienne at his,” Seth continued. “You have both now become targets of the mercenaries and will fare better with an immortal’s protection.”

The rest of the meeting comprised logistics. The siblings opted to stay with Étienne, who couldn’t be more pleased with the decision. Sean would have to refrain from attending classes until this was resolved, but would spend time at network headquarters working with Dr. Lipton and gaining a greater understanding of the virus in the meantime. Krysta would hunt with Étienne at night and train with him during the day.

Étienne was happier than he would’ve thought about that. Was he already so drawn to her that he would use
any
excuse to spend time with her? Even if it put her in danger?

Which it wouldn’t. He would keep her safe and ensure no harm befell her.

The ride home was quiet.

When Cam and Sean headed into the house, Étienne held Krysta back.

Guards still walked the perimeter, he noted, but those near the house had been dismissed.

She crossed her arms under her breasts and avoided his gaze.

Once the door closed behind the others, Étienne tilted her chin up. “What troubles you?”

For a moment, he thought she wouldn’t respond.

“Am I really a liability?” she asked, voice low.

He didn’t know how to answer that, whether he should be honest or sugarcoat it. Since he would’ve preferred to hear the truth if
he
were in her position, he opted for that. “Yes.”

“Then why did you agree to hunt with me?”

“Because I know how much hunting means to you. And, though the thought of you continuing to hunt terrifies me, I want you to be happy.”

At last, she met his gaze. “Why?”

“Because I care about you.”

“You barely know me.”

“I’ve been following you and learning everything I can about you since the night we met. I’ve listened to your conversations with your brother. I’ve caught occasional glimpses of your thoughts. I’ve fought beside you, both when you were awake and while you dreamed.”

“That was you in my dream?”

He nodded and tucked her hair behind one ear to expose her troubled features to the moonlight. “I know you,” he said simply.

She chewed her lower lip. “I don’t want to endanger you, Étienne.”

“You won’t.”

“I already have. I don’t want you to sacrifice yourself for me again.”

“At the risk of angering you, in this instance I don’t care what you want. If hunting endangers your life, I will do whatever it takes to protect you.” He rested a hand on her lower back and urged her toward the door.

He loved touching her. Even casually. And he loved that she let him.

“Now,” he said while she pondered his words, “you’ve already donned hunting clothes.
And
filched some of the weapons my sister left in her room. Before we embark on the night’s hunt, you may have your pick of the weapons in my armory.”

“We’re hunting tonight?”

“If you’re up to it.”

At last he won a faint smile from her. “I don’t know. What if you don’t have all of the weapons I need?”

He grinned. “I’m sure we can find something.”

A minute later his smile broadened as Krysta surveyed, with wide eyes and gaping mouth, the vast array of weaponry in his armory.

“Ho-ly crap!” she breathed.

Étienne laughed. “Think you can make do?”

“Uh . . . yeah. But it may take me several hours to choose.”

It
was
quite a selection. He usually kept on hand enough swords of varying lengths and styles, daggers, throwing stars, and more to outfit himself, his brother, his sister,
and
their three Seconds on any given night. With some left over for immortal visitors.

She strolled around the room, studying the blades displayed on the walls. “Could I just say holy crap again?”

Again he laughed. “This is only the portion of my collection that I keep in
this
home.”

She looked at him curiously. “You have others?”

He nodded. “In various countries. Many immortals own multiple homes. When we’ve been stationed in one place for long periods of time, it’s sometimes hard to move on and abandon what we’ve built there.”

She stopped before a pair of red-handled shoto swords. “May I?”

He smiled. “Be my guest.”

She drew one down and slid it from its gleaming sheath. “It’s beautiful.”

“My sister’s weapon of choice. Though, since the vampire population in this area has swelled, she has also begun to carry a couple of Glocks.” He closed the distance between them. “Here.” He reached for the sword. “Let me serve as your Second tonight.”

While she stood patiently before him, her eyes never leaving his face, he armed her with all of the weapons he knew she preferred to carry. Shoto swords in sheaths she could conceal beneath a coat. Daggers, in case she was disarmed.

His heartbeat picked up as he knelt and fastened sheaths to her slender thighs. Rising, he moved even closer to her (just because) and unfastened the belt that rode low on her hips and fell beneath her belly button.

Her pulse picked up, mirroring his own.

Slowly, he drew the belt from the first couple of loops on her cargo pants. Once the end was free, he slipped a gun holster onto it, then began threading the belt back through the loops. As he refastened it, he drew in a deep breath and savored her scent.

“I’m not really a gun kind of girl,” she whispered, leaning forward to nuzzle his throat.

His body hardened.

“Tonight you will be,” he murmured gruffly, fingers fumbling with the narrow buckle. “I want you to carry a tranquilizer pistol.”

She leaned back. “You want me to
tranq
the vampires?”

“Those I deem salvageable. I don’t suppose I could talk you into carrying a Glock as well, could I? In case we come up against more mercenaries?”

She frowned. “I’m afraid the extra holsters and weight of the ammo will restrict my movements.”

“I’ll carry it for you and toss it to you should the need arise,” he offered.

“Okay.”

He gave the belt one last tug, then hesitantly withdrew his hands. “You do know how to use it, don’t you?”

She snorted. “Of course.”

Even her confidence turned him on. “I do so love strong women.”

“Your eyes are glowing,” she commented softly.

“I want you.”

“You do?”

He nodded. Dipping his head, Étienne captured her lips with his own, pouring all of the passion he felt for her into the contact. As it had before, the brush of her lips struck him like lightning, firing his desire like no other ever had. He wrapped his arms around her and drew her up against him.

Breath catching, she rose onto her toes and slid her arms around his neck, pressing her breasts to his chest, her hips to his arousal.

He swore silently when she tore her lips from his.

“I want you, too,” she admitted.

He groaned and kissed her again, teasing her lips apart and sliding his tongue within to stroke and dance with hers.

“Whoa!” Cam blurted.

Étienne had been so distracted, he hadn’t even heard his Second approach.

“Ah, hell,” Sean said. “I knew it! I
knew
she was falling for him!”

Krysta dropped onto her heels, her lips abruptly leaving his.

He tightened his hold momentarily before letting her go with a sigh.

Cam stared at him as Krysta took a couple of steps back and sheepishly met her brother’s unsettled gaze.

“What?” Étienne demanded irritably.

“Nothing,” Cam responded. “Just . . . I didn’t think you had it in you.”

Krysta frowned. “We were just kissing. It’s not like you walked in on us having sex.”

Étienne fought back another groan.
Don’t put that image in my head. I’ll be hard all night.

She tossed him a startled look, then grinned.
Nice.

He shook his head.
Not when we’re fighting vampires, it isn’t.

She laughed.

“Hey, don’t knock it,” Cam told Krysta, pointing at Étienne. “Kissing is big for this guy. He hasn’t been on a single date since I started serving as his Second.”

“Really? How long have you been his Second?”

“About as long as you’ve been hunting vampires.”

She winked at Étienne. “Cool.”

Damned if that didn’t make him want her even more.

Shaking his head, he motioned for the door. “Let’s get out of here before I do something that will embarrass you in front of your brother.”

Sean held up a hand, alarm crossing his features. “Wait. You’re just going hunting, right?”

Krysta rolled her eyes. “No, we’re going to park in Lovers’ Lane and spend the next several hours making out. Of
course
, we’re going hunting.” She headed past the duo and out into the hallway.

Cam raised his eyebrows as Étienne approached. “You have everything you need?”

“Yes.”

“We’ll be here if you need us.”

Étienne followed Krysta down the hallway and out the front door. “Relax,” he heard Cam say inside. “Étienne is a good guy. You can trust him.”

Cam was a good guy, too. Steady. Somber. Reliable. (Unlike Sheldon, who was still learning and could be a handful.)

Étienne’s last Second had been killed in a car accident. Étienne hadn’t been able to believe it at the time. The man had survived twenty-five years of backing up an immortal who hunted vampires for a living, then had died because some dumbass had been too busy texting to stop for a red light.

“So,” Krysta said, skipping down the front steps, “how are we going to do this? Do
you
pick the campus we investigate or do I and how will we get there?”

“I thought I would pick the place—I’m thinking Duke again—and drive us there.”

“Duke sounds great and, for some reason, you driving a car seems weird.”

He laughed and led the way to the Tesla Model S Cam had backed out of the garage for him while he and Krysta were in the armory. “Why? Because I can run as fast as one?”

“Yes. And that is totally cool.”

It really was.

“Speaking of cool,” she said, admiring the shiny black sedan, “this is
nice
. Very sleek.”