A Hunter's Challenge [The Hunters 3] (Siren Publishing Allure) Read online

  Amy nodded against his chest.

  “Amy, whatever you want is fine by me. If you want to just lie here, I understand. I won’t ask for anything more than to hold you.”

  She pulled back a little to look into his eyes. He could hear her thoughts. She was conflicted by her desires and what she believed. Slowly she leant forward and kissed him.

  * * * *

  Amy looked a little confused at first then smiled at him before giving him a light kiss.

  “Good morning, nîcimos.”

  “Hi.”

  “Kisâkihitin, nîcimos.”

  Amy cocked her head.

  “I love you, sweetheart.”

  Amy smiled sweetly at him and then snuggled into the curve of his arm. She was playing with his hair as it had spilt across the pillows. Martin started to think about exchanges. He really wanted to do at least one, how to convince her?

  “Amy, will you promise me that you’ll seriously think about making one exchange? I promise I won’t ask for more, just one.”

  He felt her still. He was tempted to speak in her mind, but wanted her trust so he resisted.

  “Okay, I promised I’ll think about it. Just understand, I still feel like I’m betraying my Gram, I’m—well I guess I’m torn between what I’ve heard all my life and what my instincts about you tell me.”

  “Oh, nîcimos, I do understand. Just think about it.”

  She carefully wrapped the blanket around herself and sat up.

  “What time is it?”

  Martin checked the clock on a tallboy. “Just gone 8:15.”

  “Oh wow! I must’ve been tired. I’m going to have a shower. Wonder when Erica will wake?”

  “She will wake naturally so probably soon. Can I get Anthan and bring him back here to join you for breakfast? I’m worried he isn’t eating.”

  Amy nodded and said yes. Martin watched as she stood, the blanket wrapped around her but slipping slightly. He could see the curve of her back ending in the swell of her cute bottom. She turned back to him, caught his gaze and blew him a kiss before walking from the room.

  Martin stood and dressed himself in clean clothes, tidying his hair then walked out. He saw Amy walked back from Erica’s room and enter the bathroom, so he disappeared then transformed into a magpie to fly over to Anthan’s house.

  Chapter Twelve

  Anthan heard Martin land on the deck and walked into the house. He must have heard Anthan in the spare room and walked in. The first thing that greeted Martin was the portrait. He stood stunned looking at it.

  “Martin. Didn’t expect you.”

  Martin didn’t bother turning to Anthan, it was as if he was mesmerised by the painting.

  “Did you just do this?”

  “Yeah, finished it a little while ago.”

  Martin turned to speak and stopped in shock when he saw Anthan.

  “Anthan! What the fuck? Are you crazy?”

  “What?”

  “When was the last time you fed or ate?”

  Anthan shrugged his shoulders. He was still dressed in just the drawstring pants. His body was still filled with muscle but his face was gaunt and drawn. His hair was loose once more from the thong and hung in tangled threads. He looked like a man on the edge of death.

  Martin’s eyes filled with tears and he tried to brush them aside.

  “Don’t do this, please don’t.”

  “You don’t understand my friend. It’s too long, too much. I just don’t want to do this anymore.”

  “Not like this please, Anthan, not like this. Not now.”

  The tears were running freely now as Martin pleaded with Anthan.

  “You shouldn’t have come. I’m sorry, Martin.”

  “Don’t be sorry. Come back to Amy’s. Don’t stay here alone,” he begged him. “Come and eat.”

  He took a step toward his friend.

  “Please, Anthan.”

  Anthan looked away. Tears prickled behind his eyes as he saw Martin’s distress and knew he had caused it. He had prepared himself to stay outside in the sun this morning, only a few minutes after ten o’clock would do it. Maybe ten or fifteen. Damn the boy for arriving now!

  He looked at Martin.

  “It’s okay, my friend. I’m at peace. Go back to Amy.”

  “Only if you’ll come with me.”

  Anthan turned away. He was truly at peace with himself for this, now was the time. He was ready. The sun was waiting. But now, Martin was also waiting.

  “Please, Anthanasius Vaduva. We need you. I need you.”

  “My full name.” He smiled. He knew his smile was false but he tried. He patted Martin on the shoulder. “You, my friend, have who you need now. She is all you will ever need.”

  “Not true. I need you in my life, Anthan! And what about your other friends? What about Silvius, Viorel, the rest of the Hunters who love you?”

  Anthan didn’t answer but Martin had touched a chord.

  Silvius had been his second in command before they had been transformed into Hunters. They shared more than just the bond of being the first Hunters. He was his oldest friend and he loved him dearly.

  “I beg you, Anthan, please come with me. Come eat!”

  Martin’s voice broke with emotion. Anthan sighed then nodded his head. Maybe he could wait a few more hours. He would eat then return to complete his mission.

  “Okay, you win.”

  Martin grabbed Anthan and hugged him. They walked out onto the deck together.

  “We feed first.” Martin sounded like he would brook no refusal.

  * * * *

  Anthan just grinned at him before leaping into the air and transforming as he did. He flew toward the house with Martin at his side. There was a grassy area that ran the length of the beach opposite the house. They found a few joggers and Martin practically stood over Anthan making sure he fed from each one.

  While Anthan fed, Martin quickly spoke privately to Viorel.

  “Viorel. I...it’s Anthan.”

  “What’s happened?”

  “I’m sure he intended to enter the sun this morning. I stopped him but I don’t know for how long.”

  He heard Viorel sigh, when he spoke his voice was choked with emotion.

  “You can’t stop him, Martin. I have a feeling we just have to accept it.”

  “No! I won’t let him!”

  “Martin, even if you stayed with him every minute, he would find a way, if that’s what he wants.”

  Martin knew Viorel was right but the thought was too painful.

  “Martin, I don’t like it any more than you do but...”

  “I know, I know. It’s so hard. We all love him.”

  “I spoke with him earlier this morning. I thought something was wrong but he said he was just tired.”

  “Well he told the truth, he is tired, tired of living.” Martin’s voice held dread.

  “Watch him, but... well I don’t think you can stop him. This is just a pause in his intentions.”

  Martin felt tears in his eyes, he brushed them away.

  “Take care, Martin, and thank you, thank you for being with him. I would hate to think when he leaves us, he does it alone, without any friends around.”

  Martin found he couldn’t answer Viorel so he broke the connect and looked over at Anthan. When Anthan had finished with the fourth, they walked together across the road to Erica’s house.

  Anthan still looked a mess but at least his face wasn’t as pale. He now had an open white shirt on top of the black pants. He still looked like a man on the edge of a huge precipice and the only way out was to jump.

  He looked dangerous, even a little feral.

  No—he looked fey, otherworldly.

  Still Martin hoped, with some food in him, he might be able to talk him into staying around a little longer. In his heart, he knew it was only temporary, as Viorel said. Anthan was so close to walking into the sun now. Soon, there would be nothing anyone could say or do to stop him. Martin felt a
pain pierce his heart when he thought of losing this great man.

  A man who he loved.

  He couldn’t get the painting out of his mind.

  It was so distressing to see. It had caught his breath—it was so raw, so harrowing, such agony. Anthan had hidden nothing. His pain was there for all to see.

  As soon as he saw it, he knew Anthan’s intentions and was glad he went there this morning. The question was how much longer he’d be able to stop Anthan. Maybe tomorrow, or the next day. His heart felt sad when he thought of the world empty without his friend, without this great man.

  As he entered the house, he sent a quick message to Amy.

  “Don’t say anything but Anthan is—well he’s not good.”

  Amy looked at Martin quizzically but smiled warmly at Anthan after kissing Martin hungrily.

  * * * *

  The two men walked into the house through the back door. Amy smiled with such love at Martin and then kissed him. Anthan caught her thought of how she was falling in love with him more each time she saw him. He almost turned around and walked back out the door. It was only the touch of her hand on his arm that stopped him.

  “Thank you for all you did for my sister. She’s sleeping peacefully,” she stammered. “I just can’t thank you enough. I’ve been so horrid to you both and still you saved her.

  “I’d love if you stayed here today to sleep after breakfast.”

  Anthan felt embarrassed but followed her into the kitchen. She kissed Martin on the mouth again. Anthan figured that at last they had worked out their problems. But seeing them both only made his pain worse. He was about to make an excuse and leave, there was time for him to reach his home and enter the sun but then he remembered he had promised Viorel he would speak to her about her grandmother. He still hadn’t written it down for Martin or about giving him the house.

  “Please sit. I’ll just make something for you both to eat. Let me check on Erica first, it’s gone nine so she might be awake.”

  The two men sat at the breakfast bar. Anthan tried to keep upbeat but he was fast sinking down again. He just wanted to get out of there and feel the sun’s kiss on his body. He wanted to let it embrace him as a lover would.

  They both heard soft voices coming from further in the house. Anthan spoke quietly to Martin.

  “Guess she’s awake. How did it go last night?”

  “Okay. Once she got over the shock of waking and finding herself safe at home, she was fine. She actually took things really well. Most of the wounds have healed, a couple were still a bit red last night but they should be fully healed now.”

  “Good. I’d say she’s destined for a Hunter. I spoke to Viorel. we need to talk to Amy and the sister to clarify things but Viorel has a good idea of what happened, I think.”

  Martin was about to reply when Amy came back into the room.

  “She’s coming. Just getting some clothes on. I know she wants to thank you, Anthan.”

  Amy got some eggs and mushrooms from the fridge.

  “Do you both like mushroom omelettes?”

  The men nodded and watched as Amy began assembling things. Anthan was about to ask her what her grandmother’s name was when Erica walked into the room. Both men looked up as Amy spoke.

  “Erica. This is Anthan, Martin’s friend.”

  Anthan stood and—just stood.

  Erica was looking at him in amazement. Anthan caught Martin and Amy’s puzzled look as he turned on his heels and walked out the room. He heard Martin speak.

  “What the fuck?”

  Martin had stood, Amy had looked confused. He made it as far as the back deck before he sank onto a chair, his hands covering his face as he began to sob.

  Soft fingers on his shoulder. He felt someone kneel down in front of him.

  A hand on his hand, gently moving it aside.

  A quiet voice.

  “Anthan.”

  Fingers lifting his chin.

  Beautiful hazel eyes looking into his tear-filled brown.

  The voice again, soft and melodious.

  “Anthan.”

  That one word filled his heart. He felt the ice that had encased it for almost four and a half thousand years begin to melt. His tears were heavier now. He couldn’t believe how much he needed to cry.

  A forehead rested on his. Her tears mingled with his. He felt one drop onto the back on his hand and looked at it in wonder.

  He shook his head.

  No!

  He couldn’t be what this wonderful woman deserved. He was too damaged, too far gone in the pain of his loneliness. He got to his feet abruptly and staggered into the sun to vanish.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Erica stood staring at the spot where Anthan had dematerialised. Suddenly she raced inside, grabbing her bag and keys.

  “The address! Give me his address.”

  Martin and Amy looked at her as if she was insane.

  “I don’t have time,” she screamed. “Give me his address, Martin!”

  Martin quickly told her where Anthan lived and how to get there. It should only take her about twelve or fifteen minutes. She intended to break a few road laws to get there even quicker. She caught a glimpse of their startled faces as she raced out to the garage and into her car.

  As she drove she thought about what had just happened.

  Never in a million years could she have been prepared for the visceral punch to the heart she got when she saw Anthan and sent thoughts of comfort. He had looked at her stunned and she heard him say her name in her mind.

  The rest, as they say, was history.

  Now she understood Amy.

  Understood the instant urgent attraction, the intense feelings of love that threatened to overwhelm.

  When she had reached out to his mind when he fled to the backyard, she had been almost swamped by the loneliness, the pain, the loss that this man had endured. She saw he was so close to breaking. He had intended to walk into the sun this morning. Saw if Martin had not come when he did then Anthan would be lost. Saw that this could tip him over the edge, as he now believed he could never give love, that he couldn’t be the man she deserved.

  Last night Martin had told them a little about the man. How Hunters throughout the world were worried by his struggles. When she had connected, she saw how deep those struggles were. Far, far deeper than anyone would ever know.

  Finally, she made it to the house in record time. She tore up the dirt track, her wheels sending dust soaring into the air. Jumping out of the car, she raced up to the door, pounding on it.

  “Anthan! Anthan open this door!”

  She knew he was inside, knew he could hear her.

  “Anthan! I beg you please. Please open the door!”

  Silence for a few minutes then she felt him come to the door and open it. He walked back down the hall. Erica followed him. He went outside and stood on the deck, standing in the full sunlight, his back to her.

  To her he was a black silhouette against the bright sun. Erica had a sudden feeling of déjà-vu as she walked toward him. She shook her head as she reached him.

  She could see the sun was beginning to burn his hands. She wrapped her arms around him and rested her head on his broad back, her hands touching the bare skin of his chest. She felt him stiffen but she also felt his hands cover hers.

  Sighing, she whispered to him, “Don’t leave me. Not now, not when you’ve finally found me.”

  She felt his tears dripping onto her hands. Felt him shake his head.

  “I’m not what you deserve.” His voice was ragged with emotion. “I’m lost.”

  “Then let me find you.”

  His moan was full of anguish and pain as he pushed her hands away but he turned to face Erica. She reached up to run one tremulous hand across his cheek and was rewarded when he leant into it.

  “Erica.”

  The pain, the loneliness, the raw heartache was in that one word. She smiled up at him.

  “Together, we can do this t
ogether.”

  “Can we?”

  There was a tiny spark of hope in his question.

  “We can.” Erica sent him all the love she was beginning to feel for him and pressed her hands against his chest. “Together we can do anything.”

  At last, she felt his body loosen slightly. She leant forward to lean against him.

  “I don’t deserve you,” he repeated.

  “Let me be the judge of that.”

  He bent his head and rested it on top of hers. She snuggled tighter into him and felt his arms finally go around her.

  He whispered, “My Iubită.” Then he began to cry.

  She could feel his sobs wracking his body and her own tears ran down her face. They stood for minutes, both crying. Finally, Anthan pushed her away from his body and looked down into her upturned face. Erica held her breath. She knew this would be the only chance she had.

  Would he take the hope she offered or would he choose to stay here in the sun?

  He bent his head and brushed his lips lightly against hers. She looped her hands around his neck and pulled him down tighter to her so she could kiss him back. She heard his groan as she deepened the kiss.

  Tiny flames began.

  She forced her tongue between his teeth.

  The flames got higher.

  His tongue danced with hers as she fanned the flames.

  It became a conflagration as both of them melted into each other. Erica felt his arms lift her.

  Now, now it was a raging inferno!

  Anthan carried her over to a couch inside, never taking his lips from hers.

  Her heart beat faster in exaltation!

  All the things her grandmother had told her about Hunters flew out the door. There was no way they could be true, not after Martin shared his mind. Not when she felt this way instantly. All she wanted was to have this man love her for the rest of her life. He needed her desperately and she would give him all her love.

  * * * *

  Anthan still had trouble believing what was happening. He settled Erica’s body into the safety of his arms, his lips never leaving hers. He felt such a conflict of emotions—love, passion, arousal, confusion, but above all hope.