Seducing the Demon Huntress (5 page)

That it was only a dream didn’t bear thinking about.

It was a long time before the turbulent sensations settled down. She looked up at Arawn, seeing her lover watch her with heavy-lidded eyes but there was no mistaking the satisfaction in his smile.

She reached out to him, wanting to return the favor, but he caught her hand. He pressed a kiss to her palm before shaking his head.

“Enough, Keri,” he informed her.

She blinked in surprise. Enough? She was just getting started. Rolling up, she tried to straddle him but he held her back.

“I want you,” she protested.

He shook his head, taking only a kiss when she was willing to offer him far more.

“This is a dream to you,” he said.

“So?”

“So when I sink into your warmth, Kerilyn, I want it to be real.”

She blinked at him. He sounded absolutely sure the moment he spoke of would occur. It chilled her enough to draw back. “This is all I’m offering,” she clarified.

“It’s not enough.” He drew his fingers down her cheek. “I want much more. Open the gate and I will show you.”

Wordlessly, she shook her head.

He smiled darkly, as if he hadn’t expected a different answer despite the pleasure he’d given her. “Before this night is done we will have only truth between us.”

That’s what scared her. What truth would she discover? Looking at his beautiful face, she wondered if he’d be the man who cut a swath through her hunter allies or the man who’d driven her to unbearable heights of pleasure.

Seeking to numb the disturbing thoughts, she reached out to him. Her fingers trailed over his honed chest before dipping tantalizingly lower. “Are you really going to turn me down, Arawn? My tongue can be just as wicked as yours.”

She saw him swallow hard, desire clear in his eyes. Grabbing her hand, he used it to pull her close. Kerilyn slid up against his chest with a triumphant smile.

He cupped her jaw and tilted her face up to whisper in her ear. “Before this night is over, you will welcome me into your bed and your body,” he vowed. “And when you do, it won’t be because a dream world protects you from me but because you truly believe I’d never harm you.”

Words failed her as she looked into his enigmatic eyes.

“Come outside,” he ordered her. “And ask me what I feel for you.”

She jerked back. Before she opened her mouth to demand his answer the world around them grew dark. The last thing she saw was his beautiful face and the small smile curving his lips.

Chapter Three

She woke to the shrill ring of the telephone. Blearily Kerilyn pushed herself up, noting the drool on her carpet. Wincing, she stumbled toward the phone. Her body still hummed from the intensity of her encounter with Arawn. Remembering all the things he’d done to her caused heat to rush to her cheeks. Even knowing it was ridiculous, she couldn’t stop the silly smile on her face. She wanted to run to the gate and see him in real life.

And ask what he’d meant. How did he feel about her?

Her searching fingers grabbed the phone. She didn’t recognize the number on the I.D. screen but it wasn’t unusual to have hunter contacts calling from unknown places.

“Hello,” she answered, running to the window to look out at the dark, empty street. Where was he?

“Kerilyn Whitney,” a cultured male voice answered. One she didn’t recognize. “Happy Halloween.”

Instantly her body went on the alert. The happy smile faded from her lips as she was brought back to her reality. One where lovers meant liabilities and enemies lurked around every corner.

“Who is this?” she demanded, her voice cold.

“We’ve never met,” the man replied, “but you have a nasty habit of killing my soldiers.”

“Abaddon,” she whispered.

“Smart girl,” the demon king purred.

“Why are you calling me?”

“I have something you want.”

She stiffened. “What?”

Kerilyn heard crackling then a sobbing voice came on the line. “Aunt Kerilyn,” Sarah cried. “Aunt Kerilyn, I’m scared!”

Shock swamped her, nearly sending her to the floor. The bastard had taken her niece.

“She’s such a beautiful child,” Abaddon said, coming back on the line.

“How did you find Sarah?” Kerilyn whispered.

It shouldn’t have happened. They had all left Jessica alone in order to protect Sarah. Kerilyn had sacrificed having a relationship with the last member of her family in order to keep the girl safe. How the hell had the monsters found her anyway?

“It took far too long,” Abaddon replied. “Your mother was good at hiding them.”

“Jessica knows about Halloween,” Kerilyn tried. “She would have lit jack-o’-lanterns.”

“Maybe she decided the old traditions were no longer necessary. Or maybe I was more clever.”

“What do you want?” Kerilyn gritted her teeth.

“My dear girl, I should think that was obvious.” His voice lost its cheerful tone, turning venomous instead. “All I’ve ever craved was your head on a pike.”

“There are other hunters,” she whispered.

“And they are being dealt with. But you are the last trained Whitney. Wiping your miserable existence off the map will be quite a pleasure.”

“My life for hers?”

“Precisely.”

“How do I know you’re telling the truth?”

“You don’t,” he replied. “But you’ll come. Present yourself at the docks before dawn or your niece will meet the same fate as her father.”

The line went dead in her hand.

What should she do?

Staring at the weapons on her coffee table she knew there was only one answer. She couldn’t leave Dave’s child to die alone.

She strode to the hall closet and pulled out a black duffle bag. Kerilyn threw her weapons into it, taking more than she needed in case things went bad. If this was to be her last night she’d go down fighting. Running into the kitchen she tossed the box of salt into the bag before pausing.

Every demon, ghost, goblin and spirit knew what she looked like. How could she get to the docks without being noticed?

Wear a costume to make them think you’re one of them.

The old rule drifted through her mind. Halloween costumes had been developed for a reason. People used to hide in plain sight to avoid the spirits roaming free. Hide your face behind a mask to pass through their midst unnoticed. It was an age old superstition.

The problem was when it came to Halloween there was no end to the rules and theories that had been made up. She had no idea if costumes truly helped people hide from spirits or if it was merely another groundless belief.

Kerilyn hesitated, knowing she was gambling with her life. If a costume didn’t hide her, she’d never make it to the docks. She shook her head at the irony. All her life she’d never been allowed to go trick-or-treating and now it might save her life.

Leaving her bag in the hall, she raced up the stairs. While her family had never been allowed outside on Halloween, it didn’t mean they hadn’t dressed up occasionally for other events. Still, she didn’t think her Little Bo Peep costume would be very fitting tonight.

Rummaging in the back of her closet she pulled out a black feather mask able to hide the upper half of her face. It was a good start. Her questing fingers touched a long-forgotten witch’s hat and she smiled wryly. It was as good a costume as any, she supposed. Especially considering all the protection spells she’d preformed in her lifetime.

Grabbing a black skirt from her wardrobe she attacked it with her scissors, giving it a tattered look. She pulled the skirt on over her pants and tied on the mask. Setting the hat on top of her head she studied her reflection in the full-length mirror hanging on the wall.

“Something’s missing,” she muttered.

It’d been her sister Lauren who’d dressed up as a witch as a gag one year. Clawing at the back of her closet again, Kerilyn searched for the cloak she was sure Lauren had worn.

Her fingers touched something silky and black. She tugged the wrinkled cape from the back corner of her closet, shook out the dust and twirled it around her shoulders.

Inspecting her reflection once more, she decided she was as witchy as she’d get.

She smoothed a hand over the black costume and drew a deep breath. Fear clawed at her, threatening to break her resolve. There was a very good chance she’d die tonight. If the spirits didn’t discover her, Abaddon would rip her to pieces. She knew very well she couldn’t fight a lord of the Netherworld. That was why she’d resisted Arawn for so long.

Arawn.

She froze, staring at her reflection. He’d never be fooled by a costume and there was no way she’d get out of this house without him noticing. She swallowed hard, realizing she’d have to test their newfound bond quicker than expected.

Looked like she was about to find out if he cared a whit for her or if it’d been all one big trick after all.

She straightened her shoulders in determination. If he wanted to fight her, she wouldn’t make it easy.

Striding from her room, she tried to ignore the cloying doubts that whispered she’d never see it again. Downstairs, she grabbed the duffle bag and swung it over her shoulder.

The night air was cool as she stepped outside. She took a moment to disable the security running the perimeter of the yard and took a deep breath. The wall of jack-o’-lanterns lining the fence shone merrily. They were her last protection and she was about to walk away from them. It was madness to leave the safety of her house on Halloween. She knew her parents would counsel her to let Sarah go, even though it would break their hearts. Why risk a warrior for the life of a helpless child? In the grand scheme of things, it was a poor move.

But Kerilyn was not her parents. Resolutely, she marched down the porch steps before approaching the gate. Her fingers didn’t have a chance to even touch the latch before the lanterns flickered around her.

“Trick or treat,” Arawn said darkly.

Kerilyn looked up, staring at the lord who stood between her and the night.

“I thought it would take you longer to come to me,” he told her.

“I don’t have time for this,” she tried. “Go away, Arawn.”

“Why are you dressed in costume?” The demand was sharp, surprise clear in his tone.

“None of your business.”

He looked over her, dropping his gaze to the bag over her shoulder and the hand on the gate latch.

“Are you coming out?” he asked incredulously. “On a Halloween night?”

Kerilyn grit her teeth. “Leave it be,” she snapped. “Go haunt someone else.”

“It is suicide to come out here.”

“Right—it’s so much safer to let you in instead.”

“It is,” he agreed, narrowing his eyes. “As you know very well, if you’d only admit it.”

She snorted.

“What is going on, Keri?”

Kerilyn closed her eyes, feeling the weight of a hundred worlds rest on her shoulders. How could she reach Sarah if Arawn stopped her first? She had to make him leave.

Memories of holding him raced through her mind. She knew what his skin tasted like, what touches drove him mad and what it felt like to press her naked body against his. If she asked him for help, surely he’d give it. Wouldn’t he? Her thoughts took a dark turn as she realized it was his brother she was going up against. What would Arawn’s personal feelings for her matter when weighed against brotherly loyalty to Abaddon? She knew the power of family better than anyone. Hell, she was about to risk her life because of it.

Opening her eyes, she knew he’d never take her side. Not on something this important or this personal. It was unfair to even ask him to fight his brother for her. The best he could do was stand aside and let the pieces fall where they would.

“Arawn,” she said, her voice serious. “Listen to me. Step aside and let me leave. I promise you this is the best choice you can make tonight. I’ll...” She hesitated before continuing. “...I’ll trust you not to tear my head off when I come out, but in return, trust me when I say this is not a problem you want to be involved in.”

He gripped the gate, making the jacks flicker wildly. “Don’t insult me.” Anger snapped in his words. “If you think I can leave knowing you’re going to get yourself killed, then you truly know nothing about me. Tell me what is going on or you really will have a fight on your hands when you come out here.”

Kerilyn laughed shortly, shaking her head. Time was running out and her choices were dwindling. She’d never convince him to leave until she provided answers. “Your brother kidnapped my niece and is holding her down by the docks. If I don’t trade my life for hers, he’ll kill her. Do us both a favor and walk away. Your brother wants to kill me himself. Surely you won’t take the pleasure away from him.” She stared at him with hard eyes, waiting for him to leave.

But Arawn didn’t move. Instead, he looked truly surprised by her words. “Abaddon took Sarah?”

Kerilyn jerked back. “How do you know her name?”

“When it comes to you there is not much I don’t know.”

She wasn’t sure how to respond. He seemed genuine and yet she knew what he was capable of. How was she supposed to navigate these perilous waters when she had so many other things to worry about?

“Arawn, go away,” she implored. “Let me at least save someone who shares my blood before I die.”

“And if I step aside you will walk through a city swarming with your enemies and hope your little costume disguises you long enough to reach Abaddon. Then you will attempt to use your pitiful weapons to kill the King of Demons—on the one night a year when he is at his most powerful—and rescue your niece.”

“Yeah.” She lifted her chin. When he said it aloud, her plan sounded much more ludicrous than it did in her head.

“And you’d do all that,” he murmured, “before ever considering asking for my help?”

For a moment silence stretched between them. Kerilyn was too stunned by his words to speak. When she finally regained her voice, she gasped, “He’s your brother.”

“You’re my lover.”

She shook her head. “Not really.”

“Which we will rectify when we have the time. For now, Keri, come out and find your answers.”

Her fingers brushed the latch. Arawn waited patiently for her decision, making no move to reassure her. Her heart thundered in her ears, adrenaline throwing everything into sharp focus. The men of both her dreams and her nightmares waited for her.