Hunting Season (Aurora Sky (3 page)

“I call it the lodge,” I said.

“Cozy,” Fane said. “We'll take three mugs of warm blood in front of the fire.”

“Can I have marshmallows in mine?” Noel asked.

The Pontiac squealed to a stop in front of the stone stairway. We stared in the direction of the big bay windows flanking the entrance.

“Where's the valet?” I asked.

“Obviously not expecting company,” Fane remarked.

He exited the car and slammed the door shut. Noel and I were right behind him. We followed Fane up to the front door, where he pounded against the wood.

The butler answered. If he was surprised to see us, he didn't show it. He held the same aloof posture and spoke in an even voice. I wondered briefly if there was such a thing as boot camp for butlers.

“Mr. Donado, may I help you?”

He even remembered Fane's name.

For the price vamps paid to partake in the tasting, I imagined the staff was as knowledgeable about their esteemed guests' names as the wine selection.

Fane smiled. “Our friend went home with a woman last night and asked us to pick up his car.”

“Ah, yes,” the butler said.

I leaned on the tips of my toes listening closely for the butler to say something about Giselle. Instead, he retrieved one of the wicker baskets from the wall and pulled out a cell phone and keys.

“Mr. Dante's Jeep is parked in back.” He handed the phone to Fane. “Wilkins is off tonight, but if you wait out front I will bring the car around.”

The butler held the door open for us. Fane swept a muscular arm out for Noel and I to go first. As he followed, he paused in the doorframe and looked back at the butler.

“Say, Smithers, I hope my friend wasn't too far in his cups. He's a bit… new. I trust he behaved himself upstairs? Didn't get kicked out for misbehavior? Or dragged out for drunkenness? ” Fane lifted one eyebrow.

The butler stiffened.

“I assure you, your friend behaved himself perfectly. He was in a bit of a hurry to leave with the blonde, but in no way disorderly.”

“And did you see what kind of vehicle they left in?” Fane asked.

I held my breath waiting for the answer. How long would it take to search every driveway in Anchorage if we knew the make, model, and color of Giselle's car? Too long, especially if she stowed it inside a garage. But we didn't have a whole heck of a lot else to go on.

“I'm afraid I didn't see. Wilkins would know.” The butler frowned. “Sir, is something the matter?”

“Not at all,” Fane said.

“Very good. I will bring the car around.”

“Smithers?” I asked Fane once the three of us were alone, waiting in the drive. I could have sworn the guy's name was Foster or Forester.

“Veronica's butler in the Archie comic books,” Fane said.

I rolled my eyes. “Your knowledge of pop culture astounds me.”

“I've been in America longer than any living American.”

“Now you're just bragging.”

Fane smirked.

Noel cleared her throat. “He wasn't dragged out against his will. She must have tricked him or threatened him in some way.”

“Or invited him home,” Fane said under his breath.

A bolt of outrage jolted me. My insides boiled at Fane's suggestion. “Dante would never leave me behind in the middle of a mission.”

Fairbanks didn't count. His departure had been part of the plan, which he was up front about from the very beginning.

Noel nodded her agreement. While I glared at Fane, she looked him over with a disapproving frown. “Aurora's right. Dante wouldn't do that.”

Fane made no answer, no apology. He gave a slight shrug that suggested his disinterest in Dante's motives or true character.

Headlights cut across us like laser beams when the butler drove the Jeep into the front drive.

Noel stuck her hand out in front of Fane. “Keys.” When Fane made no move for his keys, Noel said, “I don't know how to drive stick so I'm stuck with the tank.”

Fane handed over his keys.

The butler stepped out of the Jeep, keeping it running.

“We hope to see you and Mr. Dante again soon,” he said to Fane before heading back to the lodge.

“Aurora?” Fane asked softly. “Will you ride with me?”

I twisted my lips to the side, considering. Part of me really wanted to. Another part was totally annoyed by his implication that Dante tried to leave the party to hook up with another woman.

As flirtatious as Dante could be, he'd waited six months for my return from boot camp on the off chance there might be something more than friendship between us. If he thought I was in trouble, he'd drop everything in an instant to come help.

My eyes met Fane's. “I'll ride back with Noel.”

He stared at me a long moment before answering. “Okay,” he said before turning toward the Jeep.

I watched his long, lean, muscular form as it moved away. My heart dropped as he receded into the fading light. Why did it feel like I was the one who had insulted him?

The Pontiac started up with a squeal that jolted me out of my reverie. I hurried in beside Noel who threw the car into drive—jerking us forward.

“So you and Dante,” she started in immediately, as though the words were a breath she'd been holding in. “That's real?”

I shook my head before realizing her eyes were on the approaching stone pillars.

“No. I love him as a friend, but that's all.”

“Good,” Noel said without pause. “You should give Fane another chance. You obviously still care for each other. Plus now you know you're both vampires. I realize I wasn't supportive of the relationship in the beginning, but that was before I knew we were all undead. Personally, I've decided only to date other vampires. Daren and Reece are casual, you know? Suck buddies.”

Daren and Reece weren't my idea of a hot threesome, but now I understood what Noel really wanted them for. I'd gotten a taste, too. We were blood-sucking vampires and it was Melcher's damn fault.

“Only vampires, huh? Any vamp in particular? Say, Gavin?”

“I'll help with his rescue, but he had his chance with me, and he blew it.”

From the sudden flush in her cheeks, I didn't buy it. I'd told myself something similar about Fane. Now I wasn't so sure.

I pressed my back into the seat. “Before I do anything I need to talk to Dante, which is impossible at the moment since he's been captured.” I said it as much for my own benefit as Noel's.

Noel glanced over quickly. “I want to get him and Gavin back as much as you.”

She pointed the Pontiac down the gravel road outside the stone pillars. Anchorage lit up below. The city lights extended to Cook Inlet, where the mountains across the ocean dimmed against the impending twilight.

A second pair of headlights reflected off the Pontiac's review mirror as Fane followed us in the Jeep from a distance.

“This not being able to drive thing is really starting to blow,” I said.

Noel made a puff sound when she exhaled. “No kidding. Why don't you do something about it?”

I grinned. “Driving the convertible might help motivate me.”

“No, way,” Noel said. “My baby isn't a practice car.”

I glanced at the Jeep in mirror. “Maybe I'll start with the Jeep.” Dante wasn't around to object. Besides, he'd once told me to get back in the saddle.

“It's stick,” Noel said.

“Yeah, well, why do things the easy way when you can do them the hard way? Speaking of which, want to tell me about this secret mission tonight?”

Better Noel than me. I'd had enough excitement for one day.

When I looked over, Noel made a face.

“Nothing exciting. Just some vampires dealing drugs at a party on the eastside. I've been keeping an eye on them ever since the doors of the palace closed. Not my favorite assignment.”

“I thought you said Melcher didn't have much work for you these past six months.”

Noel shrugged. “Just the usual informant, spy stuff. I'm playing it cool. What about you? You have to go back up to that place next weekend?”

“One last time,” I said, barely audible.

I stiffened as Melcher's voice echoed through my brain.

“We're going to shut down Diederick's tastings permanently.”

I wanted no part of it. I especially did not want to partner with smug-mouth Levi and the lackluster Mason. No, I wanted to team up with Noel and Fane to rescue Dante and take down Jared and Melcher.

Hopefully I made it through the next mission in one piece to carry out my own.

3

Once we reached home, Noel yanked the keys out of the ignition and thrust them at me.

“Give these to Fane, will you? I've got to dash.”

The moment the keys slipped from her fingers into mine, Noel rushed off to the house. I waited in the driveway, expecting Fane to pull up in the Jeep at any moment.

He didn't.

I planted my feet firmly over the concrete and swung my hips in figure eights to keep busy and stay warm. When a car drove by, I stopped until it passed and started again as though slow dancing with myself.

What was taking Fane so long? Did he decide to upgrade to the Jeep? Sure, insult a man's integrity then keep his ride. Real sportsmanly… and so not Fane.

The door to our house slammed shut as Noel raced toward her convertible. I blinked when I saw her dressed in black fishnets covered in a knee-length, high collared purple Gothic jacket.

“Halloween isn't for another month,” I said.

Noel grimaced before answering, “I'm blending in.” She opened her car door and squinted into the dark street. “Fane's not back yet?”

“No.”

“Why don't you wait for him inside?”

“Because then I'll have to invite him in,” I said. That wasn't why I waited outside in the cold. The real reason I stood fidgeting in the shadows had more to do with guilt over not riding home with him after he asked so nicely.

“Yeah? And?” Noel said and chuckled. “Invite the man in. I won't be home for hours.”

She winked and dove inside her car before I could respond. As the convertible zoomed down the road, I groaned inwardly.

Sure, invite Fane inside. Why not invite him to spend the night again while I was at it? Meanwhile, who knew where Dante was? I was still waiting for a phone call. I'd told Giselle I wanted to talk to him and make sure he was all right. She said that could be arranged. When? My phone had yet to ring with Dante's voice on the other end. Where was Giselle keeping him? And where was Fane?

It wasn't as though he'd get hungry along the way and stop for pie. That was Dante's M.O.

I checked my phone for any missed calls or texts, but nothing new had come in.

Impatience finally got the better of me. I called Fane.

It was a relief when he answered, even when he skipped the pleasantries to say, “Be there shortly.” With that he ended the call.

Fine. No sense standing around in the dark.

Once inside, I paced around the kitchen and listened for the Jeep. Fane obviously knew how to handle a stick shift. Big surprise. If I asked him to teach me, I knew he'd agree. He was the one who'd started my car rehabilitation. He might as well finish it.

The Jeep didn't announce itself the way the tank did, with a start-up or stopping squeal, which was how I missed its arrival. Plus Fane parked it on the street rather than in the driveway.

The sound of his pounding fist kick-started my heart rate. He had been doing that all day. No doorbells for Fane Donado, no, he liked things more hands-on.

The porch light lit up one side of his face and cast a shadow over the other side, making it appear as though he were wearing half a mask like the Phantom of the Opera. Goosebumps rose to the surface of my skin.

“Did you run out of gas or something?” I asked.

“No, I stopped by Frigid North Company to pick up a security system for you.”

Fane turned his head. That's when I noticed the big box on the porch. In bold lettering it said:
EXTREME SERIES. Complete 2 Camera Pro Security Camera System.

For me?
I thought, my eyes lifting quickly up to Fane's. My brain fuzzed over briefly and my heart flipped. Nothing said “I care about you” like an extreme series security system.

“Do you have a ladder?” Fane asked. He pulled out a pocket knife, crouched beside the box, and slid the blade through the wide tape.

I stared at him, unable to answer as my throat constricted.

“Or a stool?” he asked.

“I'll check the garage,” I said, quickly turning before he could see my face. My eyes had an annoying tendency to tear up when my emotions flared. Kindness was hard to come by and his filled me with affection. Car rehabilitation could wait.

Searching the garage gave me time to collect myself. When I failed to locate a chair or stool in the garage, I returned with a dining table chair. In the meantime, Fane had unpacked the box and laid out the cameras along with the extra pieces and parts on the porch.

“I couldn't find a ladder,” I said. “Hope the chair works.”

Fane grinned. “Good thing I'm tall.”

Tall, dark, and so damn hot. I'd had a thing for Fane ever since I first saw him stroll by at Denali High School in his black garb and blond mop of hair on top of his head. He was the only Goth boy I'd ever seen who didn't dye it all black. No, not Fane. He went for Barbie blond. And like a little girl, I had a sudden urge to play with it—more specifically, run my hands through the thick patch up top.

At times, I felt like our time together had only been a dream. A fantasy. A figment of my imagination. Two weeks together. Not nearly enough time.

Fane moved the chair by the far corner of the door and stepped on it—effectively transporting his hair out of reach from my twitching fingers.

“Will you hand me one of those cameras?” he asked.

I crouched down, grabbed a camera, and handed it to Fane. I stood below watching his every move as he hooked up the security cam. Once finished, he inspected his work, flashed me a pleased grin, and jumped off the chair landing in front of me with a
thump
.

“Smile, you're on camera.”

I stuck my tongue out at the camera, instead.

Fane chuckled. “Grab the chair. I've got one more to install by the sliding glass door in back.”

After Fane finished installing the second camera, he lingered inside the living room. He didn't sit, nor did he show signs of leaving.

“So Noel's out on mission?” Fane asked.

“Yeah.”

He took a step closer, both eyebrows raised in question. “Want me to stay over?”

Did I want Fane to stay over? Did bears shit in the woods?

If I wasn't so worried about Dante, I'd say we most definitely deserved a do-over. But the timing was never right. I'd once spent the night at Fane's. He'd taken the couch and given me his room. His bed. The week before, he'd slept on my couch, not that I'd known he spent the night until the next morning. One of these days we needed a sleepover that involved actually sleeping together—same room, same bed.

I cleared my throat. “That's nice of you to offer, but I have a lot of sleep and homework to catch up on.”

Fane smiled slightly as though seeing right through my excuse.

“I won't bite this time.”

My cheeks burned. I screwed up my face and scowled. Smug bastard.

“How's your thigh?” he asked, eyes dropping to the tender spot near my groin.

“How's your tongue?” I shot back. He'd bit it hard enough to draw blood.

“As good as new. See?” The fiend ran the tip over his upper lip.

Rather than recoil with indignity, my body quivered in hunger. Blood cravings were one thing. Fane cravings were a hundred times more demanding. He had a knack for getting under my skin anytime he desired.

Before I could respond, my phone rang.

Relieved by interruption, I moved away from the heat surrounding Fane to fish my phone out of my pocket.

“Hello?”

There was a moment's pause. Fane raised one eyebrow.

“You wanted to speak with Dante,” Giselle said through the speaker.

“Yes,” I replied, my heart rate speeding in a new direction.

“You have one minute.”

I held my breath. Was Giselle really going to let me talk to Dante?

A door groaned open, followed by a low
thump
. The sound of creaky footsteps increased in volume until they stopped.

“Aurora?”

Dante's voice flooded me with relief.

“Dante! Are you okay? Has Giselle harmed you in any way?”

Fane folded his arms and leaned back, watching me. I turned my back to him.

“I'm okay,” Dante said solemnly.

He didn't sound okay. His voice was withdrawn and moody. Well, what did I expect? I'd feel the same way if I'd been imprisoned against my will. I thought he'd perk up a little if he heard my voice.

“We're going to get you out of there. We'll have Jared this Friday. Once we capture him I'll demand an exchange.”

“Tommy,” Dante said as though he hadn't listened to a word I'd just said.

My chest tightened.

“Tell me you didn't forget him.”

Far from it. The golden retriever had been running around in my mind from the moment Melcher told Levi to scoop him up.

“Of course not.”

Dante breathed a sigh of relief. “I suppose I can hang tight a little longer, though the accommodations leave something to be desired.”

“Where is she keeping you?” I asked, eager to move away from the subject of Dante's dog.