The Hunt by C.J. Ellisson Read Free Book Online

heard of my master’s exploits in her old role, even if they didn’t know it was her. Wonder if I can discreetly pump some of them for info or whether that’s not a wise move.
    Emiko’s reaction is unexpected. She tilts her head at Vivian, examining the older vampire with an expression I can’t decipher. Sometimes, I really hate being the young one and the low man on the totem pole. Like there’s so much the generals are keeping from the enlisted men. I hated it in the military and I hate it now.
    One thing I learned from the Army—there’s a time and a place for questions. And if a person wants answers, they need to determine when the best time is to ask those questions.
    Rafe comes forward to remove the silver chains from Emiko. Of everyone in the room, he’s the only one immune to the painful effects of the metal.
    Coraline holds off from any more parting shots at Vivian and announces, “Emiko will have a head start of three hours. The rest of you should rest, feed, meditate—prepare yourself however you choose. The vampires and the werewolves will all start out at the same time.”
    Rafe discreetly hands Emiko a map and a small flashlight with which to read it. It will help her to know where the sensors for the silver poison have been placed. He whispers to her while opening the door, but all of the undead hear him, “Heed the warning about killing the employees or it won’t be the chains you need to fear. It will be Alexandria.”
    No reply comes from Emiko as she slips into the darkness.
    As the hunters file out of the room, Drew and I trail them down the hall.
    “I’m heading to the command center to make sure everything is in place,” I tell him.
    “Good. I’m going to check with Jon and see if the wolves have landed yet.”
    He heads off through the lobby toward the front doors, and I turn right to enter the dining room. The guests of the hunters are hanging out sipping hot drinks. By the scent, it appears the humans have coffee and the Indian vampire has some blood mixed in spiced hot tea with milk. Ugh, even I wouldn’t drink that.
    I use my master key card to swipe the locked door in the kitchen, which allows me access to the owners’ suite. Plastic cases, from Rafe’s most recent movie marathon, litter the coffee table. The basement door lies in the hall beyond their compact kitchen. I head down, trigger the secret door, and pause a moment when I detect another vampire.
    Surprisingly, it’s Joanna who awaits me downstairs in the command center. “Hey, Joanna. What do you need?”
    “You.”
    “Excuse me?”
    Joanna walks behind me and locks the sliding wall-door separating the old cinderblock basement workroom from the hidden complex of basement rooms.
    “I have a need and I want you to scratch it.”
    Does she mean what I think she means? Is this my lucky day?
    Joanna starts to unbutton her blouse. It is my lucky day—hot damn! Before I know it, she’s throwing the shirt across the room to land on a chair and I’m left staring at a gorgeous set of tits in a black bra.
    “Um, okay.” Never one to pass up an opportunity, that’s me. “Here or in one of the side rooms?”
    “Anywhere is fine.” She starts in on her belt and my eyes are drawn away from her chest. “Wasn’t that info on Vivian odd? Can you believe she was an enforcer before?”
    “Hmm.” There, that seems like a safe answer.
    “That angry cheerleader-looking bitch from the Tribunal was really old.”
    “Hmm?” Blood is hightailing to my crotch in a pounding rush, words seem beyond my scope right now.
    “I’ve gotten pretty good at reading the age of older vamps in the past decade. I’d say Coraline’s power signature felt over seven hundred or close to it.”
    “Hmm.” Man, she talks too much. When will she be naked? Maybe I can help. Moving closer, I run my hand down her side and around the back. I’ve got my hand on the bra clasp, about to spring her breasts free when she stoops to lower her pants