Hunter: Volume 1 (The Lillian Rayne Series) (3 page)

I
went back to my room once I tired myself out. I showered; then laid in my bed
and attempted to sleep. It wasn’t working very well for me. I had so many
things running through my head it was hard to keep up. Normally I would have
been out hunting, not twiddling my thumbs because of some stupid treaty. I
growled in annoyance as I got to my feet. I was going to go to the kitchen and
find something to eat.

There
were still quite a few people up celebrating so I went through the back passages
to the kitchen. I was glad the kitchen was empty because I didn’t want to talk
to anyone. I was routing through the refrigerator when someone wrapped their
arms around me from behind.

I
stiffened, but as soon as I heard his voice I relaxed a little. “Lillian Rayne,
I heard you whipped my little brother’s ass tonight,” he whispered in my ear.

It
was Colin, Damon’s older and hotter brother. Colin was normally not in this
area. He normally travelled and stayed as far away from headquarters as possible.
I hadn’t seen him around in over a year.

“He
deserved it I promise,” I said amused. The first crush I ever had was on Colin.
Sometimes I thought that was the only reason I went with Damon. Damon resembled
Colin; except Colin had darker hair and prettier eyes. His features were
sharper and his overall personality was sexier.

He
laughed. “Somehow I believe that.” He ran his lips along my neck. I felt my
skin start to tingle. He was usually flirtatious, but not this flirtatious. The
again he was always too old for me. Now I was eighteen.

I
closed the fridge and turned in his arms. He grinned down at me then pushed me
against the fridge. His face was close to mine. My eyes strayed to his soft
lips. I suddenly felt my pulse quicken when I saw he had fangs like a vampire.
The realization hit me like a jolt. I shoved him backwards away from me and
reached for the knife I always carried at my back.

He
held the knife up and grinned. “You don’t think I know all your little hiding
places Rayne,” he teased.

“What
the hell happened to you Colin?” My voice was barely a whisper as I spoke. It
wasn’t possible. Hunters couldn’t be vampires. Normally if a vampire even
attempted to turn a hunter the hunter would die.

“I
would think it was obvious by your reaction. You are taking it better than
Damon did. They had to sedate him,” he said as he ran his finger along the edge
of the knife. “Would you really use this on me?” He looked directly at me as he
spoke. His eyes were a beautiful golden brown and they were even harder to look
at now.

“If
I had to,” I said softly as I shifted nervously. I didn’t know what to do or
say. He was a vampire now. I would never look at him the same.

“I’ve
seen that look before. I have to say I don’t like being on the other side of
it,” he said softly.

I
didn’t speak. I didn’t know what to say. I was at a complete loss. I idolized
Colin like I did Luca. He was a great hunter. He lived a little on the gray
side of things, unlike Luca who was all black and white.

“You
are aware of the truce correct?” he asked disregarding my silence.

I
nodded and he offered me the knife, hilt first. I slowly reached out and took
it. He was obviously trying to tell me he wasn’t a threat.

“You
look good Rayne. It’s good to see you again.” He didn’t wait for me to speak;
he just walked out. He obviously knew I wouldn’t say anything.

I
steadied my breathing. I was in full fighting mode. I was lucky he meant me no
harm. I didn’t know how I let a vampire get so close without even sensing him.
Normally I could sense them. I couldn’t sense Colin, not even after I realized
what he was.

I
hurried out of the kitchen and up the stairs. I needed to talk to Luca. Somehow
I knew he was aware that Colin was a vampire and he didn’t tell me. I barged
into Luca’s room without knocking. He was just getting out of the shower, and
he was naked. He cussed and grabbed his towel. “You could knock,” he growled.

“Why
didn’t you tell me?” I asked angrily.

His
expression softened like he knew what I was talking about. “I wanted too, but
Colin asked me not to. He wanted to tell you himself.”

“You
should have said something.” I knew I sounded hurt and I hated it. I prided
myself in my ability to avoid showing any emotion other than anger.

“Lily,”
he said sympathetically as he stepped toward me.

“Don’t!
Apparently I don’t need to know what is going on; not with the truce and not
with Colin!” I snapped and stormed out.

“Rayne,
dammit wait!” he growled as he hurried after me.

“Just
leave me alone,” I snapped as I made it to my door. I attempted to shut the
door and lock him out, but he pushed his way in.

“Just
hear me out,” he pleaded as he watched me. I glared at him, but relented and
let him in the room. He shut the door behind him; then he turned and looked at
me. “I know you are mad, but Colin is the whole reason for this truce. He
wanted to come back, but he knew he couldn’t unless he could get us to agree to
make peace with the vampires.”

“You
still should have warned me. I let him close to me!” I said angrily.

He
looked confused. “It is still Colin, Lily. He is the same man. I have talked to
him.”

“He
is a vampire! He isn’t one of us anymore,” I countered.

He
watched me like he didn’t know what to say. “You hate them so much that you
can’t overlook it? He is your friend Lily, not your enemy.”

I
didn’t speak. I couldn’t be friends with a vampire. Vampires killed my parents.
They were the reason I had no one. I hated every last one of them. “Just
leave,” I said quietly then turned away. I didn’t want to talk about it
anymore.

“Lily,
I…” he started, but I cut him off.

“Go!”
I snapped.

He
didn’t say anything else. He just turned and left. I couldn’t believe how much
had changed in just a matter of days. Everything I knew was changing. They
wanted me to go from killing every vampire I found; to trying to be friends
with them. I just wasn’t sure if I could do it.

I
barely slept. I watched the sun set, and a couple hours afterward I was antsy.
I needed to get out, even if I couldn’t hunt. I didn’t want to remain in my
room and I didn’t want to socialize. I dressed in my usual uniform of jeans, a
tank top, boots, and all my favorite weapons. I didn’t intend to hunt, but I
wasn’t going unprepared either. There were rules to the truce and those rules
included a vampire not being allowed to harm or kill. If I could catch one
breaking the terms I had the right to hunt him or her.

I
walked down the stairs hoping to avoid everyone. Tanner was standing outside my
uncle’s office. He dodged inside like he was waiting for me and reporting my
appearance to whoever was inside the office. As I approached the office Luca
came out.

“Where
are you going?” he asked sounding a little worried.

“Out,”
I said simply and went to walk past him. He caught me by my arm and I glared at
him. “What?” I growled.

“No
hunting. We haven’t exactly got Aubrey on board yet. We are working on getting
him to meet us,” he said softly.

“You
haven’t gotten the master vampire of this district to even agree to a truce
yet? Why do we even have to follow it then?” I asked annoyed.

“Because
there are several vampires who are stragglers from Aubrey’s group that want a
truce and we have to show we are genuine in our interest,” he said firmly.

“This
is ridiculous. No one even knows what Aubrey looks like.” I had never run into
Aubrey, at least as far as I knew. His vampires wouldn’t say what he looked
like so it was impossible to hunt him. He was supposedly pretty powerful.

“Just
leave that part to me and your uncle. No hunting, please,” he said softly.

I
sighed. “No hunting,” I agreed reluctantly.

He
relaxed and smiled. “Thank you, be careful,” he said and walked back into the
office.

I
rolled my eyes and walked out. I was getting more and more annoyed with this
truce.

I
cut through the same dark alley I had been in the night Tanner interrupted my
kill. It always irked me when a vampire got away, especially when it was an
arrogant vampire. I was thinking about him because he was odd compared to the
rest. He didn’t seem afraid or even worried when I attacked him. Most of them
go into attack mode, and they don’t stop until one of us is dead. He didn’t, he
was cool and calm. Maybe he thought I knew about the truce. Maybe he thought I
wouldn’t kill him.

“Miss
me?” a playful male voice chimed from behind me.

I
backed up to the brick wall as I turned toward the voice. It was the same
vampire. I recognized his brilliant turquoise eyes and his blond hair. He had
his hair tied back behind his head. He was dressed like he was upper class. I could
tell his leather pants and button up shirt were tailored specifically for him.
“Not really,” I said trying not to betray my emotions. He was just standing
there. He made no move to attack.

“Isn’t
there a truce?” he asked sounding slightly amused.

“Why
do you think you aren’t dead?” I countered.

His
smile widened. “You are so confident. Why have I not seen you before?”

“Why
would you have? I try not to become known to your kind,” I countered.

“My
kind knows you well, Rayne. I know you by reputation alone; although I am now
intrigued. Such a big reputation for such a beautiful young lady.” His tone was
light like he was amused. It was the same tone he used the other night when I
encountered him.

“Your
compliments will get you nowhere so don’t waste your time,” I growled. He made
me uncomfortable, but I was trying not to show it.

“I
didn’t think they would. I heard you have quite the grudge against my kind. A
lost family member or two has fed your urge to hunt, at least that is the
rumor,” he continued unfazed by my tone.

“That
is none of your damn business. You are lucky I can’t touch you,” I said
angrily. I didn’t want him talking about my family.

“You
can touch me wherever you like. I won’t protest as long as you are gentle,” he
teased.

I
scoffed. “What is wrong with you? You are strange.”

He
laughed. “You are the pot calling the kettle black right now.”

“I
am human I am supposed to be strange. You are a vampire you are all the same,”
I spat.

He
looked even more amused. “You really see us as emotionless monsters don’t you?”

“Aren’t
you?” I countered. I didn’t really know why I was still here talking to him. I
had nothing to say to him.

“I
think that is something you should discover on your own. My words will not sway
you, you are far too stubborn. Would you like to join me for a drink?” he asked
watching me with the same playful expression.

I
looked at him a little shocked. “Why are you asking me out?”

“I’m
not asking you out. I am asking if you want to join me for a drink,” he said
firmly like he was correcting me.

I
crossed my arms in annoyance. “Trying to lure me somewhere isn’t going to
work.”

He
rolled his eyes. It was kind of amusing because it didn’t seem like his thing.
“If I wanted to lure you I would run up and hit you because I am sure you would
chase me down.”

I
smiled slightly. He was right. If he hit me I would try to hunt him down for
it. I didn’t understand how he could read me so well. I always thought I was
careful with my emotions. “Where?” I asked even though I was pretty sure I
wasn’t going to go. I just wanted to play along a little longer to see what he
wanted.

“A
bar,” he said amused.

I
sighed, he was going to be difficult. “What bar?”

“That
bar,” he said nodding toward a door not far from us. It was the entrance to a
vampire club. There were no markings, which was how I knew what it was.

“I’m
not an idiot,” I growled making it a point to sound offended.

“Isn’t
there a truce?” he asked innocently.

“The
vampires haven’t completely agreed so as far as I am concerned there isn’t,” I
countered.

“Then
why are you playing nice?” he asked amused. He wasn’t surprised. He knew the
truce hadn’t been agreed to yet. He wasn’t stupid. I had a feeling he knew a
lot more than he let on.

“A
friend asked me too. Something about trying to show we are serious,” I said
smiling. I thought it was amusing. I felt like I was in a standoff. I was tense
and on guard, but he seemed pretty at ease.

“A
friend as in a lover?” he asked teasingly.

“A
friend as in none of your business.” I wasn’t going to give him any
information. I didn’t trust him at all.

“So
the drink?” he asked again.

“I
will have a drink with you at Carla’s around the corner,” I said finally
relenting. Carla’s was at least a human bar. There weren’t any hunters, but
there certainly wasn’t any vampires.

He
smiled. “Perfect, a human bar. My favorite.” His light mood was infectious and
as much as I hated it he made me smile a little. “Shall we?” he asked
indicating the direction of Carla’s.

I
moved away from the wall and walked next to him toward the mouth of the alley.
Carla’s wasn’t far which was a relief. I didn’t like walking next to him. I
wasn’t as prepared for an attack.

He
smiled as he held the door to Carla’s for me. I didn’t like walking past him.
That meant my back would be to him. I pushed the feeling aside and forced
myself to walk past him. He followed me to a small secluded booth. The waitress
came over as soon as she spotted him.

“What
can I get you cutie?” She asked batting her eyes at him. I couldn’t believe how
quick she was to hit on him. Then again to her he was just a beautiful man.

“Your
oldest scotch on rocks,” he said smiling.

“And
you?” she asked me without taking her eyes off him.

“Same,”
I said keeping my eyes on him as well.

“Be
back in a jiff,” she said then winked at him before hurrying off.

He
turned his attention to me, and I wasn’t sure if I liked it. His turquoise eyes
made it difficult for me to make eye contact with him. He could hypnotize
humans with those eyes, but not me. “So are you against the truce?” he asked
breaking the silence.

I
shrugged. “They never last more than a week. One side or the other always ends
up breaking the agreement.”

He
smiled like I was amusing. That smile was both annoying and for some reason
sexy as hell. “In a perfect world where neither side broke the agreement would
you follow it? Or would you work in the gray area?”

“I
don’t know. Unfortunately the world isn’t perfect.” I wasn’t sure what kind of
answers he was looking for. I didn’t even know his name. He seemed very
familiar with the happenings of the vampires and the hunters; like he paid
attention. Many vampires didn’t.

“From
what I understand you already work in the gray area Rayne.” He didn’t sound
angry as he spoke which surprised me a little.

“I
do when necessary,” I countered.

“You
mean when it suits your agenda. When your higher ups can find their ass with
both their hands,” he said amused.

I
smiled. “Basically.” The waitress came back and set our drinks in front of us.
She made a point of getting as close as possible to him. His eyes drifted to
her neck like it was a natural instinct. I raised my eyebrows at him wondering
if he was daring enough to do something to her in front of me.

He
grinned like a young boy who had been caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
“Don’t worry, you won’t have to kill me tonight. Tell me why did you let that
oaf Luca win the challenge?”

I
stiffened a little. He shouldn’t have known anything about the challenge unless
he had someone on the inside. “I didn’t let him win,” I said softly deciding to
answer him.

He
scoffed. “Of course you didn’t. You just wiped the floor with his superior
opponent, and you couldn’t get past him, a more inferior opponent. That sounds
reasonable.”

I
smiled. “I had a little extra anger saved up for Damon.”

He
looked a little surprised. “You had a personal relationship, well that doesn’t
seem like you. How did he get past your warm, fuzzy personality?” He was being
sarcastic and he thought it was funny.

I
rolled my eyes. “I am not talking about boys with you. What is your name
anyway?” I asked deciding I should at least know who I am talking to.

“I
have many names,” he said amused.

I
was getting impatient with his playful banter. I wasn’t use to this. It was too
odd for a vampire. “What is the name everyone here knows you by?”

His
smile widened and I got a perfect view of his fangs. “You can call me Aubrey.”

I
watched him for a second. There was no way he was the master vampire Aubrey.
The one all the other vampires feared and served. He just didn’t seem like the
type. “The master vampire Aubrey?” I asked bluntly.

“Maybe.
Does that gray area look more appealing now?” he teased like he wasn’t worried
about me at all.

“You
are awful brave revealing yourself to me. I am one of the few that are dumb
enough to attempt to hunt you down when this stupid truce is lifted,” I said
softly as I watched him. I was on guard even more now. Master vampires were
dangerous.

He
grinned. “I know that is what makes this so much fun. Why didn’t you kill me
the other night when you had the chance?”

I
shrugged. “My cousin interrupted with his grand news.”

“You
had a chance to kill me before that; when my back was to you. You snuck up on
me, but you caught my attention before you moved to strike. It would have been
more effective for you to just stab me in the back.” He was watching me like he
was curious. I didn’t really want to discuss my reasons with him.

“I
do not stab anyone in the back. I always give them a chance to fight,” I said
quietly.

He
raised his eyebrows in confusion. “That could get you killed.”

I
shrugged. “Maybe, but I am not a coward and it is about honor. I do not think
it is honorable to kill anyone without giving them a chance to defend
themselves.”

“That
is strange,” he said softly as he slowly spun his glass.

“What
is strange is you acting like I am not a hunter that can easily kill you,” I
countered.

“Kill
me maybe; easily, I doubt it,” he said amused.

I
rolled my eyes and tossed money on the table. “I am currently ruining my
reputation. I should go,” I said as I stood.

He
smiled. “It was a pleasure. Perhaps we will meet again.”

I
smiled. “I know we will,” I said then walked out leaving him at the table.

My
entire encounter with him was confusing. He seemed more human than the other
vampires. He was a strong vampire, maybe it was all a trick. I would have to be
cautious, he knew more about me then I liked. I had a feeling he had friends in
our compound.