Hunted

Chapter 10

Sometimes being the heir apparent to the Kurjan throne became so boring he wanted to cut his own head off. Kalin lounged in Franco’s office, his gaze on the depths of the sea outside the wide expanse of windows. How far underground were they, anyway? A silvery fish swam by every few moments, capturing hidden light to find the way. Quiet and mysterious, the fish kept returning, as if seeking dinner. Silly creature—unaware of the predator watching him.

The Kurjan leader slammed down the phone. “Damn it.” Franco swept a broad hand across his desk, knocking papers to dot the ancient hand-knotted Persian rug. “The witch got away. Again.” Throwing his reddish hair over his shoulder, he gulped air, his eyes a wild purple, his skin whiter than death. “One of the Kayrs men showed up ... my source couldn’t tell which one.” He paced over to lean against the window.

“My guess is Connlan. Considering the witch is his mate.” Kalin stretched out long legs. He was only fifteen, but he understood the call of a woman. A different one called to him every other week or so. Of course, they all died.

“More than likely.” The Kurjan ruler sat in his desk chair, regaining control. “Well. I promised my brother a witch to experiment on, and I want that one. Taking a Kayrs mate would cement our place. Even now allies are fleeing from the Realm.”

Kalin scratched his head. “That witch is a fighter. She’s the Seventh.” He appreciated spirit in a woman. Made it more exciting to break her. “The demons must want her even more than we do.”

“Yes. But she’ll sense them coming. They can’t block their brain waves from witches like we can. We should be able to get to her.”

“No.” Why fixate on that witch? There are many to choose from. Kalin brushed invisible lint off his jeans. “She’s with Kayrs now. That means underground and impossible to reach.”

“Not if she’s an enforcer.” Franco flipped open a file on his desk. “I wanted her for several reasons, but you’re correct, any witch will do—male or female. It’s time for more animal testing on the virus.” Yellow teeth flashed in a parody of a grin. “In addition, your uncle Erik has a line on a weakness in the witches.”

Erik and Franco were actually his second cousins, but the “uncle” designation just made things easier, and Kalin liked things easy. “What kind of weakness?”

“I don’t know yet.” Franco shrugged. “But my brother was very excited about it. You know how he gets with new discoveries. Science is everything to him.”

“I’d rather be a warrior.” Kalin snorted. “It’s odd we haven’t captured one witch to test the virus on.”

Franco hissed. “They’re all on guard. Frankly, we’ve been concentrating on shifters so we could make a werewolf fighting class, and vampire mates ... well ... to fuck with them.”

“Yes. I’m glad you enjoy the game. Any plans to ally with the demons or rogue shifter clans to take down the Kayrs family?” Any alliance would need to be temporary. The Kurjans would eventually rule the entire world.

“No.” Franco clasped his hands behind his back. “The demons can’t be trusted and the shifters are merely front-line soldiers. Just animals. We don’t need any of them.” He stretched his neck, the vertebrae popping. “We may sit back and let the demons weaken the Realm even further before making our move—once we get the werewolf class under some control.”

“I think I’m feeling ready to head out on a raid or two.” Capturing a shifter for the experiments might be a fun Saturday night. Before he moved on to vampires and demons. “Getting my hands on a witch might prove exciting as well.”

The ruler studied him. “All right. Next time we go on a shifter roundup, you’re in. But I’d stay away from witches until you’ve completed more training. They have weapons you can’t foresee.”

The warning heightened Kalin’s curiosity to find a witch and play. He stretched to his feet, checking his pocket before zipping his leather jacket. His wallet felt light. He’d need to hit the safe on the way out. “Night has finally fallen—I’m heading out for a bit.”

“No.” Franco straightened his posture. “The plane is down for maintenance and you can’t play in my backyard. I like ruling from here ... nothing can make the locals suspicious. I believe I’ve been more than clear on this subject.”

“You have.” Kalin only hunted women away from home. Though why Franco liked the cliffs of Baffin Island in Canada bewildered him. The area screamed remote and chilly. “But I need to get out. Don’t worry, I won’t hunt tonight.” Probably.

“Fine.” Franco sighed. “If you hunt, the plane privileges will disappear.”

“Whatever.” Kalin flashed sharp canines. So might the ruler disappear. He hustled from the office, through the underground fortress, taking the elevator to his new F-10 extended cab waiting on the wet road. No one bothered him on the way.

Thunder rolled overhead as he drove into the small town and parked by the gas station. He pulled a baseball cap from the seat beside him and put it on his head. Colored contacts weren’t necessary for his odd green eyes, though he should’ve darkened his skin some. He would have to stick to places with little light.

He exited the car and tugged the ball cap low, shadowing his face.

The sidewalks were deserted. Clouds opened up, throwing rain against his leather jacket. He hustled down the street, shoving his way into the movie theater. His only intent had been to view a new comedy, but he liked to keep the old man guessing.

He paid for his ticket with his eyes down, grabbing a soda on the way in. The previews had started in the mostly empty room. A couple necked in the front row, the guy’s hand under the blonde’s shirt ... probably thinking no one could see them in the dark. Kalin turned to find a seat, then gave a muffled “oomph” as an elbow collided with his gut. Popcorn spilled.

Roses. The scent of fresh roses wafted up before pretty blue eyes squinted through the darkness.

A human teenager.

“Sorry. Can’t see.” She reached out, grabbing his arm with her free hand. “Are you all right?” The soft tone of her voice slid over his skin like lotion.

She barely came to his shoulder. How the heck did she think she’d hurt him? “Yes. Um. Are you all right?”

“Yes.” She glanced around, stumbling again. “But I can’t see anything.”

“I can.” His hand moved of its own volition, grasping hers. Small and fragile in his, her skin was softer than butter. He tugged her to the seats, putting her in the second one, taking the aisle seat.

She sat with a relieved sigh. “Thanks, um ...”

“Kalin.” He glanced toward the door. “Are you meeting someone?”

“Nope. I was meeting my friend Joe, but he had to work. I’m Peggy.” She tilted a box of popcorn toward him. “Are you meeting anybody?”

“No.” How impressive. Most teenaged girls wouldn’t venture to a movie by themselves. He shook his head at the popcorn and then realized she couldn’t see. Confusion thickened his voice. “No thanks. I don’t like popcorn.”

She grinned, the flickering lights from the screen dancing across her features. “You’re not eating it right.” Digging into her purse, she yanked out a box of chocolate-covered caramels to dump into the popcorn. “Now try it.”

He did, savoring the taste on his tongue. The salty sweetness spread down his throat, warming him. Finally warming him. “You’re right.”

The screen began to hitch and shake. The video burned away, and the lights flipped on.

He blinked at the sudden glare, then turned to the side. Pretty. Very pretty. Her brown hair, blue eyes, and balanced features were striking. He sensed her spunk and spirit. “Hi.”

Even her smile was cute. “Hi.” Then she frowned. “Do you live here?”

“Yes.” What was it about her? He hoped the movie came back on—so she wouldn’t leave.

“Go to high school?” Her gaze traced his features in an almost physical skimming.

“No. Ah ... I’m homeschooled.” Something heated in his chest. Worry filtered in his brain. He should get out of there. But something kept him firmly in place. He’d never smell another rose without thinking of her stunning smile—or the spark of intelligence in her eyes.

She studied him with her head tilted to the side.

God, he hoped he passed for human.

“How old are you?” She scrunched up her face. Her lips were pink and moist.

“Fifteen.” He wanted to kiss her. Gently. He didn’t think he’d ever kissed a girl gently. “How about you?”

“Seventeen.” She glanced at the blank screen. Almost on cue, a voice came over the loudspeaker, announcing technical problems and that they could all get a refund at the front door.

“Shoot. Oh well.” She stood, leaning a hand down to help him up. No fear or hesitancy showed in her face. The girl was actually unafraid of him, even though he was twice her size. “So. Want to go bowling?”

His head bobbed up and down.

They walked outside, Peggy chattering about her math class.

How odd it felt to be treated as a normal person by such a fragile female. Even his own people steered clear of him, the air often scented with sulfur and the stench of fear.

She shivered in the cold, and he dropped his jacket over her shoulders, like the guys did on television. Her smile made him feel taller than Franco—which someday he would be.

The rain began to pepper harder. She grabbed his hand, tugging him down the street. “Let’s run.”

As he wrapped his hand around hers, something shifted inside him. He loosened his hold, careful not to bruise. No hint flowed from her of the possibility she was an enhanced female, a possible mate. No whisper of psychic ability. Yet, as she tangled her small fingers more securely with his, he angled his body to protect her from the rain. He’d follow her anywhere.