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My brow creased as I looked up at him. “Me? Why not you? Don’t you feel the need to take Aetas’ spot?”
Hunter laughed under his breath, pausing to look around the intersecting tunnel. “Hell no. I just want …”
“Tessa.” I clenched my jaw and he stayed silent leading us further away from the city. “Of course she’s all you’re thinking about. Your bond is strong. Pure. You were connected before your transitions. Yours will be stronger than mine and hers ever was. That doesn’t mean she’ll love you more than me. Just, differently.”
“I know my place.” Hunter glanced down at me, keeping his pace fast regardless of my weight and size. “The two of you love each other. You’re her mate. Her husband,” he breathed out. “I’m just happy to have any part of her after what I’ve done.”
I didn’t respond. I wasn’t sure what to say.
Light shone from ahead and Hunter slowed, jerking to a stop almost immediately. “There’s humans,” he whispered. “I feel them. I think they’re guarding the exits. We should have went through the house part. I bet they would have given us a car.”
My head shook. “No. Humans will be there, too. They had to have discovered the door. We’ll just have to take these out and try to get into Austin before we’re discovered. It’s not hard anymore to notice our kind. They have to be able to feel the difference. My energy will definitely stand out. I don’t think I can conceal myself yet. Tessa’s blood is strong and she did wonders, but the amount I need is greater than ever. It’s a double-edged sword.”
“Alright.” Hunter stayed light on his feet, lowering me to the ground as he stared at the grate above. “Give me little bit. I’ll be back to get you. Don’t run off anywhere.”
“Bastard.”
The small laugh that left him had a smile coming to my face. I hated that I couldn’t hide it. Fuck, I was softening more toward him.
Cautious steps led Hunter up the ladder and I pushed myself to stand as he neared the top. The sudden anxiety for his safety became my primary focus. If anything happened to him, Tessa would suffer as well. And I didn’t want Hunter to get hurt. Not because he was my only savior in the godforsaken mess, but because I was generally concerned for his well-being.
One more step up. Two. His face was inches from the top when he pushed from the front of his feet and shot up through the grate. Shots were almost immediate and they drove me forward on shaky, weak legs. My hands held to the bars like a lifeline while shouts grew from above. When I heard a scream, I force my unwilling body to react faster. To climb those fucking stairs and see if he was alright.
Waves of fearful energy rushed over me and I struggled, lifting my leg the next foot between the gaps. Sweat was beginning to coat my skin and a grunt echoed around me as I used the strength from my arms to keep myself from falling completely.
Tessa’s powers for me were already fading. At this rate, I wasn’t sure how much I’d have to drink to be sated. Whether it would always be like this, I wasn’t sure. Maybe I just needed to sate the vampire within and let him get used to the frequent feedings again.
“There. Right there!”
A human voice rang out from above, followed by more screams. Then, more. By the time I neared the top, I wasn’t sure how many more people Hunter had killed. The yells kept coming and he obviously had to be the one evoking them … which meant he was alive.
“Where did he go? Fuck! Jack?”
My head lifted, only for my eyes to widen as far as they could go. Men in an array of different uniforms were scattered around the field. Two Army tanks were present, along with multiple police cars. I could see where they’d been parked further down, guarding the other entrance as well. Jesus. We were fucked. Had the war broken out so badly in the last two months I had been trapped away? Yes … my city was dead, and Austin was under lockdown.
A blur of color raced from the darkness, right into the spotlighted area. One second a crouched man was positioned by the cruiser, the next he was being shredded down the face and chest by Hunter’s claws. More siren’s sounded and I couldn’t stop myself from easing from the tunnel, onto my stomach. Backup would be here any minute. We had to make a run for it. Time was of the essence if we were going to escape.
With the last of my strength, I projected my status. Hunter was so fluid in his movements that he was doubling back for me as if it were part of his attack. More shots rang out and I held my hand toward the sound, groaning as my muscles and bones literally ached in agony.
“Let’s get the fuck out of here.” Hunter barely stopped as he swept me into his arms and took off running at full speed. He headed around the cop cars, right for the city. I didn’t question his actions or where he was taking us. For the first time, I put my trust in his decisions. I let him lead.
Chapter 27
Aetas
Even upon waking, Tessa’s breaths were the first thing I was aware of. They were slow. Deep. She was asleep. The picture in my head of her face had my love swelling and growing to heights I never imagined could exist. The warmth engulfing my chest had me blindly reaching to pull her closer.
As my hand connected, and her scent grew stronger at my pull, I couldn’t resist staying closed off from her for another second. My eyes fluttered open and long, dark waves were suddenly visible. They were scattered above her on the pillow, weaving a tangled web of mass black over the light fabric. The sight was no different than what she was doing to me—standing out in a void of darkness. Although here it was opposite. She was the dark, in a world of light.
“I missed you.” I wrapped myself around her and she instantly turned, burying her face in my chest, content to let me hold on.
“You were only sleeping. Surely, you didn’t miss me so much.”
“But I did. I miss you more than you know when we’re not together. And we weren’t tonight. I don’t think I dreamed at all. I must have been more tired than I thought.”
She yawned, snuggling into me more. “You’ve been tired a lot lately. Maybe the good rest is what you needed.”
I frowned, knowing all too well it wasn’t that. Marko needed to feed again. He was making me weak. Could he go a few more days? Perhaps he could. But did I want him to? That was the question. I didn’t like to feel weak and I had never felt so off since I’d placed the bond on him.
