Huntress

I stretched in the bed feeling Sean stir next to me. I turned to look at his sleeping face, feeling my cheeks burns in embarrassment. I hadn’t wanted to waste a moment with him and I was cold and tired when we returned so I sucked it up and ask him to sleep with me, not sleep sleep with me but cuddle with me. He was happy to obliged. It was nice, we got comfortable and he allowed me to set the pace and the bed placement. I shifted so he spooned me, enjoying his arms around me and I had never slept better, feeling safe and sleeping dreamless for once.

I tipped toes into his bathroom for a quick shower, dressing in jeans, a sweater I snagged from his closet and smelled of laundry soap, Sean and vampire pheromones. I entered the room seeing Sean stretching looking half asleep. I grinned at him and kissed his cheek, sitting by him to put my shoes on.

“I like this,” he said, “I always dreamed of something like this with you.”

I looked at him in disbelief, “really?”

He pulled me close, “yes really. I know we are going fast because we might not live but when this is over I will take you out on a proper date and we move at a good normal pace, so you wont feel rushed or forced, ok?”

I kissed him softly, “sounds wonderful, now go get dress while I check on the others.”

I exited the room heading down the hall towards the stairs.

“Ms. Rodian”

I turned and saw Sean’s father coming down the hall from apparently his study, dressed for the cold weather even though I knew he didn’t feel it. He stopped before me, his eyes skimming the bite marks just visual over the high neck sweater, his nose flaring as he took in my scent mingled with Sean, claiming me as his.

“Sir?”

“Sean told me your trip was mildly successful in that you learned the Hellhounds weaknesses but not much else.”

I nodded to him not wanting to lie that we had learned a lot more then that but didn’t want anyone else to know that I agreed to learn forbidden magick.

“Your son as agreed to fight with me,” I said wondering what he thought.

“I know. I would forbid it but I know he would merely disobey me. He is my only heir Ms. Rodian and I can have no more children. You had better win because if he dies and you might as well let the hounds tear you to shred because I will not be as merciful.”

I swallowed at the threat because I knew he could torture me to the point I would beg for death and then to make me suffer more he would keep me alive.
“I will protect him with my life and magick.”

“Make sure you do.”

He walked past me then and I sagged against the wall feeling the undead vampire’s power fade from the air. I touched my Star of David that rested in the hollow of my throat hidden under my sweater; it had been my mother’s. She was Jewish but I was not, my uncle and aunt went to a Baptist church but I considered myself nondenominational. I knew it would not protect me against a vampire’s power but it gave me a small comfort anyways.

I met up with the others in the very modern magazine style kitchen where Sam and Rhydian were cooking breakfast apparently Ceron couldn’t be trusted in the kitchen and noting the burnt pancakes in front of him which he frowned at I could see why.

“They are not that burnt,” he muttered tossing them in the trash.

I grinned at him, “no not at all.”

He narrowed his eyes, “your sarcasm is noted.”

“Wasn’t hiding it, Ron.”

“Do not ever call me that again Hunter,” he glared which made me laugh.

“What?! I like it! Ceron is such a mouthful. I do not want to be yelling CE-RON during battle to warn you or something. Ron is shorted and faster.”

He opened his mouth to argue but realized I had a point, “only in battle and if I don’t react to that don’t blame me if you were calling for help.”

I smirked, “deal.”

He shook his head muttering under his breath as he went to see if Sam needed help.

Rhydian came up to me leaving the two love birds alone, “I am guessing you will be shortening me name for battle as well?”

“Yup, Rhy, that should work and since it’s the beginning of your name you have no excused for not responding.”

“Are you always like this?” He asked turning his body toward me to studying me with his dark eyes.

Again I was reminded by just how handsome he was, “always,” I said shaking myself mentally.

“So what is for breakfast? Not pancakes I hope.”

Rhydian cracked a smile for once, “not burnt anyways. There is bacon for you and Sean because Sam said you love bacon. Eggs for Sean because you don’t eat eggs. Pancakes for everyone and fruit.”

“Why don’t you eat eggs if you eat chicken?”

“How do you know I eat chicken?”

He opened his mouth then shut it before opening it again, “we’ll you’re a human most humans eat meat.”

I laughed sitting at the dining room table where Rhydian sat across from me, “First I am a Hunter which is not the same species as Humans but yes I do eat chicken but I don’t eat eggs because they make me sick. I can maybe eat one boil egg if I was craving an egg and it has to be a small one anything else I wont finish.”

“That’s odd,” he commented.

“Well in case you haven’t noticed I am not exactly normal either.”

“True.”

“Truth is better then lies even when they hurt someone,” I quoting some authoring from English lit, the phrase had always stuck with me.

I turned and saw Sean in the doorway, sensing him as he approached me his dark eyes darker then normal, he kissed me on the forehead, glanced at Rhydian giving him a nod then went to see what was up in the kitchen.

“He cares a lot for you, however don’t you think you two are moving fast?”

I jerked my head away from Sean’s retreating back, which had tense since his vampire hearing allowed him to hear us and looked at Rhydian.

“How in Realms if that any of your business?” I snapped.

He shrugged, “non-Fae behavior interests me. So why are you suddenly with the vampire?”

I blinked realizing I really didn’t know why I was with him. The change between us had gone from his tender moments throughout the last year to overnight we were basically a couple.

I thought for a moment before answering, “Sometimes something happens in your life and makes you realize to live in every moment and not push something away you might regret. Sean has been interested in me for years but I had always pushed him away. After that attack in Faerie I realized I couldn’t keep people away anymore. Its always been just Sam in my life its time I open myself up to other people. Sean saved me life, as been nothing but caring towards me. I like feeling wanted. I want to see where this might go for us. Right now we are afraid we might not live so we are pushing things a bit but we agreed after all this mess if we survive to slow things down. Why am I even explaining any of this to you?”

He blinked, “because you needed the answer for yourself. You just realize that you don’t necessarily love him; you love the idea of him and having a relationship with someone who cares for you. You love the idea of a boyfriend, but you don’t love him.”

I looked away knowing he was right and looked right at Sean and his hurt expression. He had heard everything. I didn’t look away it wouldn’t have been right, I realized that he had thought I liked him too, that because of the species difference and that fact that is was frown by my Pride I had continual pushed him away but then I finally decided to accept his feelings and my feelings for him. Only now he knew the truth that I didn’t know what my feelings were towards him, that I was just going with the flow to find out and that I might realize I feel nothing and walk away. I should have told him from the beginning that I was not sure but wanted to see how things went not make him believe that liked him and possibility or could possibility love him.

I opened my mouth but he looked away, I turned to glare at Rhydian who merely said, “Truth is better then lies even when they hurt someone.”

Notes