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Eww.
I swallowed hard as I processed his words.
Witches were born. Hunters were made. A few hundred years ago the first huntress captured a vampire after her village was destroyed by bloodsuckers. Extracting the vampire’s strength and speed, she took them for herself, and used that unholy power to hunt every one of those cursed creatures that had murdered her family and friends.
After that she founded Hawthorn, named after the legendary tree, whose wood was supposed to be the only thing that could kill a vampire. Don’t let that fool you. Any old wood would do. But she needed a fancy name and Hawthorn it was.
Six generations of my own family devoted their lives to this mission. I was proud to follow in their footsteps. So was my sister, Becca. Unlike me, Becca wasn’t a field agent. She was my opposite in every way. Her specialty was light magic and instead of punching things, she devoted her time in the lab as a research assistant.
Even today we had scientists in our agency who were trying to improve the spells needed to create the perfect hunter. Weed out the last bits of weaknesses. But to experiment on children?
I looked up from the dead girl to the vampire standing on the other side of the slab, not bothering to keep the disgust off my face. Some of that abominable blood ran through my own veins.
Was I really considering an alliance with this monster? Marcus Redmond was a killer. His brutal and bloody reputation preceded him. And yet, here I was, alive even after killing some of his buddies.
“How do I know you’re not the one behind this?”
He scoffed. “Now why would I do that? Witches’ blood is a delicacy to vampires. No vampire in their right mind would risk ruining that rare, unique flavor.”
Again, his aura didn’t darken so he was telling the truth. Crap. Was it really the Hawthorn Agency?
“There you go again, talking about blood.”
He stepped closer. “Does that make you nervous?”
I didn’t flinch. “Not quite the word I was looking for. Disgusted. That’s what it makes me.”
Redmond chuckled.
“So, why are you telling me this? Two hunters went missing going after you. Presumed dead. Wouldn’t it have been easier dispatching me, too?”
“It would have been easier to kill you,” he admitted. “They aren’t missing. Or dead. I showed them the exact same evidence I’m presenting you. But they chose to tuck tail and run instead of confronting Hawthorn. I wonder, are you a coward too? Are you going to let some insane scientists keep experimenting on children? How will you sleep at night, knowing you could have prevented so many deaths, so much suffering?”
“What? Don’t tell me you have a conscience.” I laughed. This was ridiculous. Vampires were cruel and evil.
He shrugged. “Maybe I’m just tired of having people come after me. So, I’m going to put an end to this.”
No lie. Dammit.
“Okay, fine, maybe it’s the Agency. Even on the off chance you’re right, I have to know. But I’m going in alone. No way I’m letting a filthy bloodsucker into our most sacred—”
He laughed. “I’m coming with you. I’m the one who’s had to deal with trained assassins these past few weeks.”
“The whole building is chock-full of hunters. You’ll be dead in ten seconds’ flat.”
“Sounds like that would be a bonus for you?”
I suddenly felt sick to my stomach.
Becca.
My sister was doing a late-night shift – as always – and with a potential traitor in our ranks I wanted her out of there. Not that I’d let Fangface in on any of this.
Never show weakness.
“You know what, your funeral. Let’s go.”
Chapter Four
