Stake and Dust (Stake and Dust series, Book I) by Karen Michelle Nutt Read Free Book Online

with relatives while they hunted. Her parents lived and
breathed hunting and their duty to the society of hunters. She
didn't have much of a normal childhood because of it.
    She had her first weapon at the age of five,
a small dagger that felt like a sword in her hands. Her training
started then. Her father pushed her hard to learn all the
techniques to keep her safe from an Otherworldy attack. Her
brothers were treated the same. It was kill or be killed in a
hunter's family.
    "You okay?" Tremayne asked with concern.
    "Peachy." She nodded. "I'll keep you posted
if I find out anything new."
    "I'll do the same," he said.
    She turned away intent on heading out of the
pub and back to her hotel to do some research.
    "Miss Hayes," Tremayne called to her and she
turned.
    "Hmm?" She met his eyes that twinkled with
mischief.
    "Thanks for the lesson and the kiss." He
winked and gave her a full out smile that revealed his dimple.
    "My pleasure," she said, and it had been.
She'd like to teach him a few more things, but she had a hunch
Tremayne had already mastered most of what she knew and more, but
if he didn't kiss and tell, she wouldn't either.
    She successfully weaved her way through the
crowd and toward the door without incident, but she had the
strangest feeling Tremayne watched her every move. Standing in the
archway, she glanced over her shoulder and felt a tinge of
disappointment curl around her. Tremayne wasn't looking at her at
all. He was pouring a drink for one of the men seated at the bar
and laughing at something he said.
    "Just because you're interested, doesn't mean
he is," she murmured under her breath and stepped outside. A cool
breeze met her, scented with the sea. Not an unpleasant odor, but
one she associated with home. With her condo being within walking
distance to Huntington Beach, she often walked the pier – alone . It would be nice if sometimes she had a
companion.
    Linking arms with Tremayne came to mind.
Good-looking hunk of a man by her side and strolling down the
boardwalk… Yep, not going to happen, but she could dream.

Chapter Seven
    Tremayne appreciated Cassandra's sure walk as
she maneuvered her way through the crowd and out the door of his
pub. He also admired her tenacious attitude, her ability to hold
her own in a fight, and her snarky banter. If she were an Oiche
Sith, he'd consider pursuing her. He halted his thoughts right
there and frowned. What exactly did he think would come of his
daydreaming about something that could never be? He flirted with
danger, literally when he challenged her to a kiss. A kiss he might
add that left him wanting so much more. Just one more thing to add
to Cassandra's many talents.
    Good thing Miss Cassandra Hayes hadn't caught
him staring after her like a love-struck youth. Thanks to his cover
of playing the part of Mr. Green, she already believed he had a
roving eye when it came to the ladies. He closed his eyes and took
a deep breath. Not even one full day and his cover story had become
complicated.
    "You're going to have your hands full with
that hunter," Bram told him, not without humor before he turned
serious. "How far will you let this charade go? And you kissing
her? What possessed you to indulge? What if she'd noticed your
fangs?"
    "She didn't," he said with a grumble. "I was
in control, and for your information, she was the one to kiss
me."
    "I didn't see you fending her off," Bram
countered.
    Tremayne harrumphed. "You are a fine one to
be spouting dos and don'ts when you took a human for your mate
without the blessing of the sept."
    Bram's dark brows shot up. "You're bringing
up something centuries old? Is that all you have?"
    Tremayne pinched the bridge of his nose,
feeling a headache starting to take root. "I can handle one little
hunter," he reassured Bram, even though he was beginning to believe
he was in way over his head.
    "She looked to be handling you," Bram
countered. "What will you do if she requests an audience with you
in broad