The Dark-Hunters (256 page)

Valerius’s stomach churned as he remembered the weeks where his father and grandfather had tortured the Greek general for information and for fun. Remembered Kyrian’s screams.

The sight of the man lying bloody and defeated haunted him to this day. Kyrian had lain there with his eyes pain-filled and empty. Only once during those weeks had their gazes met and the look in Kyrian’s eyes was still seared into Valerius’s soul.

Worse, Valerius remembered his grandfather laughing at dinner the night Kyrian had been crucified after Kyrian’s father had tried to save him.

“You should have seen his face as his wife came in my arms right in front of him. I had his whore moaning and begging for my cock as he watched me fuck her. Too bad he died before he could see her face when I threw her out.”

Valerius had never understood that cruelty. It was enough to defeat an enemy, but to use his woman in front of him …

And now he was sleeping with the identical twin of Kyrian’s wife.

History did, in fact, repeat itself.

And Acheron had known and not told him. Why would the Atlantean insist on the two of them being together when he had to know what this would do to Kyrian? It didn’t make sense. Any more than Tabitha saving him when she herself knew Kyrian hated him.

Jupiter knew the man had every right to wish him dead. No wonder Selena had hated him so passionately. As Kyrian’s sister-in-law, it was a wonder she hadn’t been even more violent toward him.

The door opened.

Valerius tensed as he saw Tabitha come inside. She didn’t speak to him as she set about packing a small suitcase … of weapons.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

“What Ash said to do. I’m going to move in with you.”

“Why not go and stay with Kyrian and Amanda?”

“Because I trust Ash. If he says I should be with you, then I’m going.”

“Will you be spitting on me as well?” The question was out before he could stop it.

Tabitha paused at his untoward question. “Pardon?”

A tic started in Valerius’s jaw. “It’s what your sister Selena does every time she sees me. I was wondering if I should make sure to keep a good lougie distance from you, too.”

Tabitha would have laughed had he not been deadly serious. “
Lougie.
Interesting word for you. I wouldn’t have thought you knew that one.”

“Yes, well, your sister and my latest Squire have tutored me well on the mighty lougie.” He stood up and moved toward the door. “I shall wait outside until you’re through.”

Tabitha kicked the door closed before he reached it. He turned with a supreme look of arrogance.

“What has crawled up your butt and died?”

“Excuse me?” he asked, his voice every bit as icy as his look.

“Look, there are a few things you need to know about me. One, I don’t take crap from anyone. Two, I don’t hold anything back. Whatever I feel about something or someone, I let it be known.”

“I noticed.”

She ignored his interruption. “And three, I am an empath. You can stand there and act all nonchalant as you want to, but at the end of the day, I feel what you do. So don’t act all secretive and cold when I know better. It just pisses me off.”

His jaw slackened ever so slightly. “You’re an empath?”

“Yes. I know that Ash’s presence in the kitchen hurt you, but I don’t know why, and I felt your fury flare the minute you uncovered Kyrian’s face.” She reached up and placed her hand to his cheek. “My mother always said that still waters run deep. The only time your actions have matched your emotions was last night when we were making love and when you came up here and slammed the bedroom door.”

He tried to move away, but she refused to let him. “Deal with me, Val, don’t walk away.”

“I don’t understand you,” he said, his heart pounding. “I’m not used to anyone liking me, especially not people who have every right to hate me.”

“Why should I hate you?”

“My family ruined your brother-in-law.”

“And my Uncle Sally was a loan shark who died when one of his shakedowns shot him dead in the street. Every family tree has an asshole in it. That’s not your fault. You’re not the one who killed Kyrian, are you?”

“No, I was just a child when he died.”

“Then what’s your problem?”

For an unreasonable person, she had moments of strange lucidity. “Every person I have met in this town who knows Kyrian has hated me from the moment they saw me. I assumed you would be like them.”

“Well, you know what they say about assume … it makes an ass out of u and me. Jeez. I love Kyrian, but the man really needs to learn how to let go of the past.”

He couldn’t believe her. That she would be so accepting of him was …

She pulled him into a tight, oddly invigorating hug. “I know I can’t keep you, Valerius. Believe me, I understand fully the life you have and the calling. But we are friends and we are allies.”

He held her close as those words resonated deep inside him.

She let go and stepped back. “And we have things to do tonight. Right?”

“Right.”

“Very good then, let’s rocket.”

He frowned. “Rocket?”

She gave him a silly grin. “My nephew Ian is addicted to the Power Rangers. I think I’ve been watching the videos way too long with him.”

“Ah,” he said, reaching for her suitcase. “Let’s get you settled at my place and then we can head out tonight and see what Daimons we find.”

*   *   *

Fearful of running into Tia and risking more questions, Tabitha called a cab to take them over to Valerius’s house. Otto was already gone by the time they reached his mansion.

As expected, Gilbert met them at the door. He seemed stodgy as ever as he greeted them formally.

“Nice seeing you again, Gil,” Tabitha said as Valerius handed him her suitcase. “Nice rigid stance.”

Gilbert frowned before he looked down, then gave her a quizzical stare.

Valerius almost smiled. “Ms. Devereaux will be staying with us for awhile, Gilbert. Would you please have Margaret ready a room for the lady?”

“Yes, my lord.”

Valerius started for the stairs, then paused. “After Margaret is finished, I would like for the entire staff to take a few weeks off.”

Gilbert looked shocked. “My lord?”

“Don’t worry. It’s with full pay. Consider it an early Christmas present. Just leave a number on my desk where I can contact everyone to have them return.”

“As you wish, my lord.”

Tabitha felt Valerius’s sadness. In spite of what Acheron said, Valerius did like Gilbert and seemed to hate the thought of the man leaving.

“Where are you off to?” Tabitha asked as Valerius took another step up the regal mahogany staircase.

“I was going to get new weapons. Would you care to join me?”

“Ooo,” she said suggestively. “I’ve always been a sucker for a man with lots of weapons. Show me what you got, baby.”

She wasn’t quite sure if he was amused or not as he waited for her to join him. Tabitha followed him up the stairs, then turned down the long hallway on the right. He led her halfway down before he paused in front of a door and opened it.

Tabitha whistled low as she caught sight of his training room. It was huge, and held a variety of punching bags, mats, and dummies. One in particular looked like it had been seriously abused.

It also wore a bright Hawaiian shirt.

“Is this supposed to be someone we know?” she asked as she noted the stab wounds to the dummy’s head.

“I plead the Fifth.”

“I take it Otto doesn’t participate in your training sessions.”

He glanced at the dummy. “I guess you could say that in a way he does.”

She shook her head as Valerius headed over to the closet. Inside was an arsenal she was sure the ATF would have some issues with.

“Grenade launcher?”

“EBay,” Valerius said. “You can find anything on there.”

“Apparently so. Who needs Kell when you have all this?”

He gave her a wicked grin as he strapped a long, lethal blade to his forearm. “What’s my lady’s choice?”

Tabitha pulled a small crossbow off a hanger on the door. “I’ve watched one too many
Buffy
reruns. I’m a crossbow girl all the way.”

Valerius stood back while Tabitha picked her weapons. He had to admit that he enjoyed seeing a woman who knew how to take care of herself. She weighed and examined each one carefully with the precision of a pro.

He would never have believed such a thing could be a turn-on and yet his body was already hard for her. It was all he could do not to take her right now in the closet.

Tabitha looked over her shoulder as she caught the sizzling wave from Valerius. His black eyes blazed at her.

He was close to breaking, she could sense it. The fire of his desire reached out to her, igniting her own until she struggled to breathe.

“Here,” she said, handing him one of the polished steel stakes.

He stepped back and slid it into his pocket.

Before he could comment, the door from the hallway opened to admit Gilbert.

“Ms. Devereaux?”

She turned to find the butler nearing her. “Yes?”

“Your room is prepared.”

Valerius cleared his throat. “Please make sure it’s to your liking before the servants leave.”

“Okay,” she said, knowing he needed some breathing room. In truth, she did, too. If she didn’t get out of this room for a few minutes, they were both going to be naked and sprawling.

Tabitha left the closet to follow Gilbert back down the hall to the other wing. He led her to a room at the end of the hallway, then opened the door.

Tabitha gaped at the palatial room. It was, after all, the very best. She wouldn’t expect anything less from Valerius and still the room was awe-inspiring.

It was decorated in dark navy blue and gold. The lush navy duvet was already turned down for her.

Gilbert headed for an intercom, then stopped himself. “I don’t suppose there will be anyone here to answer if you call,” he said under his breath.

“You don’t want to leave?”

He looked a bit startled by that. “I’ve been with Lord Valerius a long time.”

By the note in his voice, she could tell “long” had a meaning all itself.

“Are you another Squire?”

He shook his head. “They don’t even know I exist. It’s why Lord Valerius changes Squires out so often. He took me in when I was fifteen and he was stationed in London. No one else would have me.”

She frowned at his words. “Why didn’t they make you a Squire?”

“The Squire’s Council refused to grant Lord Valerius that request.”

“Why?” she asked, not understanding it. The Council had let Nick Gautier in when Kyrian had asked and heaven knew that boy had an extremely shady past.

“They don’t think much of the general or his requests, I’m afraid.”

Tabitha growled low in her throat. She’d never been the kind of person who could stand those who sat in judgment of others. As her Aunt Zelda so often said, but for the grace of God, there go I.

“Don’t worry, Gilbert. I’ll make damn sure no one messes with Valerius while you’re gone. Deal?”

He smiled at her. “Deal.” He bowed to her, then took his leave.

Tabitha crossed the room only to discover that her clothes had already been unpacked and everything placed neatly in drawers, the armoire and in the bathroom.

Wow. A woman could get used to this kind of treatment.

She sorted through her weapons, which had been placed in a drawer by themselves. Her favorites were the retractable knives that fastened to her wrists with Velcro. A high-pressure release shot them from her arm into her hands, but you had to be careful or they would cut a nasty wound into the palm.

She lifted her pants leg and slid another stiletto into her boot and tucked a butterfly knife in her back pocket. Most of her weapons were illegal, but she had enough friends in the police department that they didn’t harass her for them.

She was pulling on a long-sleeved sweater to cover up her arms when someone knocked on her bedroom door.

Opening the door, she found Valerius on the other side. He had to be the most handsome man she’d ever seen. His hair was still damp, pulled back into his almost requisite ponytail, though to be honest, she preferred it loose and wild.

His chiseled features betrayed nothing, but she could sense delight in him.

“I’m on my way out to patrol.”

“I’m ready.”

The amusement she sensed doubled. The lines in his face also softened and it was all she could do not to pull him back into her arms.

Really, no one should be so tempting.

He widened the opening for the door. “Come, my Lady Dangerous, your Daimons await.”

Tabitha led the way down the stairs where Otto was waiting for them.

He must have come back while they’d been upstairs.

“There’s an alert going out to New Orleans,” he said to them. “All the Squires except the Blood Rites are being evacuated. Ash is also bringing in a couple more Hunters from upstate and Mississippi. Did you know about this?”

“No,” Valerius said. “I didn’t realize an alert had been issued.”

“Are the Addamses leaving?” Tabitha asked.

Otto nodded. “Even Tad. They’re transferring the control of the Dark-Hunter site up to Milwaukee until the alert breaks.”

Amanda’s words of warning went through Tabitha’s head. She pulled her phone out of her back pocket and called to check in on them as Valerius and Otto spoke to each other.

She was relieved the minute she heard Amanda’s voice. “Hey, sis,” she said, trying to sound normal. “What are you guys up to?”

“Not much. And yes I know about the alert. Ash has already moved in here along with some Dark-Hunter named Kassim.”

“Why aren’t you being evacuated?”

“It’ll just follow us, Ash said. He thought it better that we fight on our own ground than to be someplace unfamiliar. Don’t worry, Tab. I really do feel better with Kassim and Ash here.”

“Yeah. I know Ash would never let anything happen to any of you. You guys take care and I’ll talk to you later. Love you.”

“You, too. ’Bye.”

Tabitha sighed as Amanda hung up and her stomach contracted even more with unfounded fear.