Blood Hunt by Shannon K. Butcher Read Free Book Online Page B

that we can talk,” said Andreas.
    “What about?”
    “A truce between our people,” said Andreas.
    Truce? Joseph felt the men behind him shift uncomfortably, and he himself scanned the area, looking for signs of a trap.
    Andreas’s mouth tightened in irritation. “I understand that you’re skeptical, but I swear to you this is no trick. Do you really think I’d bring my sister along if I’d intended to attack?”
    “She’s gagged. Perhaps she’s not your sister at all.”
    Andreas reached over to the woman and carefully worked the corner of the tape up. “Ready?” he asked, with a hint of apology in his tone.
    She grunted, her nostrils flaring.
    The Slayer ripped the tape free, wincing as he did so, as if the act hurt him, too. He pulled a wad of cloth from her mouth and nearly had his fingers bitten for his effort.
    “You bastard!” she shouted. “It was bad enough you had to drag me here, but throwing me over your shoulder and making me look at your naked ass was going over the line. Do you want me to vomit?”
    “You refused to come willingly,” said Andreas in a weary tone, as if it was an old argument.
    “This is a fool’s errand. The Theronai will never agree to a truce. Their thirst for vengeance is too great. You’ve signed our death warrants.”
    Joseph held up his hands to stop her tirade. “Hold on a minute. No one is killing anyone yet. Tell me who you are.”
    “Lyka Phelan.”
    “My sister,” said Andreas.
    “Half sister,” she corrected.
    Nika walked up to the group. She’d gained a bit of weight over the last couple of weeks, filling out the gaunt hollows under her cheeks and giving her pale skin a bit of color. Her white hair hung straight, swaying about her chin to frame her face. Her bright blue eyes were on Madoc, and though she said no words aloud, Joseph was sure she’d asked him what this was all about.
    The mental link the pair had was beyond anything Joseph had ever witnessed. They’d been together for only a couple of weeks, and in that time, they’d become a well-oiled killing machine. Madoc and Nika could now take down an entire nest by themselves, though it left a hell of a mess behind.
    Nika went to the woman, reached up, and placed her hand on her head. Lyka flinched, as if Nika’s hand was cold.
    Nika turned to Joseph. “She has no weapons, but wishes she had one, so she could use it on this man.” She pointed to Andreas.
    Joseph looked at the Slayer. “Just like you said.”
    “May we come inside?” Andreas asked.
    What the hell. It wasn’t like a naked Slayer and his sister showed up on their doorstep every day. “We’ll go to one of the cabins in back. We had a little incident with some explosives last year, so I’m a bit cautious.”
    “Suits me,” said Andreas. “We’re playing by the rules, all nice and civilized. Right, Lyka?”
    Lyka growled at her brother.
    “Someone fetch this man some pants,” ordered Joseph.
    “I’d appreciate something to wear, too,” said Lyka.
    The fact that she was naked under that sheet was not lost on Joseph. He found himself staring, trying to discern her shape. All he got was caterpillar.
    “I’ll find her something of Andra’s that will fit,” offered Nika. “They’re about the same size.”
    Andreas picked up his sister in his arms and said, “Lead the way.”
    Joseph walked around Dabyr to one of the vacant cabins near the lake. Four of his men guarded his back, but he’d dismissed the others, knowing that there was a lot of bad blood between the two races.
    It had been years since the last confrontation, but Theronai lived a long time, and he didn’t know any of his men who hadn’t lost someone due to violence initiated by the Slayers.
    As leader, he had to put aside his own prejudices and focus on the present. He wouldn’t think about the friends he’d lost at the hands of the Slayers. At least not right now.
    If things turned ugly . . .
    Joseph opened the door and flipped on the light. This