“I’m not sure if I can help you any further, Miss…”
“Executioner Olivia Fanning,” I corrected him.
“Miss Fanning. But if you come back tonight, you can ask some of the regulars. Maybe they have seen these…groupies. But, if you will excuse me, it is time for me to sleep. It is well past sunrise.”
I turned away, striding out of the dark room and bounding up the steps with Raven on my heels. I didn’t stop until I came out into the light. After my encounter with Vincent, vampires just made my skin crawl. The way he insisted on calling me Miss Fanning instead of using my title, grr. He totally reminded me of Vincent.
Raven just stopped and looked at me when we got back to the cars. “Well, that went well,” he said, mocking me.
“It went fine,” I said.
“I know this guy. You have to play it cool.” He was right. I was used to going in and slicing heads off. I wasn’t really trained for talking.
“He said we could come back tonight.”
“Next time, let me do the talking.”
“You talk too much.”
He glared at me and I suppressed a smile. “I don’t know why I talk to you at all, Fanning,” he said, climbing into his car.
“Because you’re stuck with me, Hunter. Congratulations.”
This time he didn’t say anything, he just gave me a hurt glare and closed his door. I suddenly felt bad for saying it. God, why was I such a bitch to him? Iona’s words about hurting Raven played in my head.
I stepped back, unable to say I was sorry. Shit. I turned away as he drove out of the parking lot and stood there like an idiot. Why was I doing this? Why couldn’t I make a decision once and for all? Could I love him? Could I stay?
It didn’t make any sense to me to stay. I would end up hurting him eventually, like I had before, and like I was now. I turned back to watch his car pull out of the parking lot. His black eyes shone in the morning sunlight, his face expressionless.
A few minutes after he drove out of sight, as I was getting in my car, my cell phone pinged with a witch network text from Raven.
Tonight.
I sighed and rubbed my temple. Right. Tonight. We had a job to do. All this emotional crap had to wait. I was getting far too out of shape for what lay ahead. Today was as good a time as any to get a workout in.
I sent a quick text to Aster to ask if I could do my workout at her farm. In forty-five minutes I was out at her place, opening the trunk of my car. The gear the Council had dropped off for me was organized inside.
I grabbed the spelled gun with its wooden and silver bullets, and shoved it into the holster under my arm.
Aster said I could use the parcel I’d cleared for anything I needed, being far enough away from the house for me to shoot and slash without the fear of hurting anyone.
Trudging out to the field along the river, I checked my phone again, hoping there would be another message from Raven. What was wrong with me? Why couldn’t I just put this thing down? I wanted to believe that neither of us would have these feelings if we didn’t have the bond.
It was far too distracting to work with Raven, but there was no way around it. He was the one person who could help me with this. And the truth was, I needed his help. I’d failed facing Vincent before, and Raven knew the local vampires.
I couldn’t just drop into a known location and take him out. We had to actually find him. He was on the run, off the grid, and that was my fault. The Council had trusted me to locate him and bring him down. I wouldn’t fail this time.
Out in the field, I went through my training exercises. My practiced movements were solid and quick, my form impeccable. The Council’s added spell work did wonders for my stamina and strength as well as my agility. The power they gave me took me from an ordinary warrior witch to a killing machine.
I smiled and wondered what Raven would think if he could see me now. Would he be impressed with my moves? The moment of distraction made me miss the shot of the tree I’d been aiming at with my silver bullets. Damn.
This is why Executioners worked alone and didn’t have relationships. Killing wasn’t a game. It took razor sharp focus and perfect timing. Friends, lovers, and family just got in the way of that. I couldn’t have it. Not if I wanted to be an Executioner. There wasn’t room in my life for anything else.
Steeling my mind, I renewed my focus and moved through my exercises, jumping, kicking, and slashing my sword through the air. I shot my gun with perfect precision at my imaginary targets.
After an hour of intensive practice, I was breathing heavy and sweating. That was enough for today. I had to save some energy for tonight.
I shoved my sword into its scabbard and put my gun in the holster. Back at my car, Aster was there with a glass of lemonade in hand.
“Come inside, Olivia, and cool off.” I wiped my brow with the back of my hand and headed inside Aster’s farmhouse. She handed me the lemonade as I sat at her kitchen table.
Puma was bouncing up and down inside his playpen. I stared at him as I drank the sweet, tart lemonade. Narrowing my eyes, I thought about how much having a kid would destroy my life. Another reason to stay far away from Raven. He deserved someone who wanted to have kids. I didn’t. At least, I was pretty sure I didn’t.
Aster toddled about the kitchen, cooking chili. Her counter was covered in freshly canned fruits and veggies from the abundant harvest. Jars of dried fruit lined the shelves along the wall. She’d been busy.
She set a bowl in front of me and handed me a spoon. Sitting across from me with her own lunch, she smiled and scooped a bite.
“I guess I’m staying for lunch,” I muttered.
“There’s plenty. Eat up.”
Aster’s cooking was almost as good as my mom’s, so it wasn’t like she had to twist my arm. I’d worked up an appetite after my workout.
“So, Iona told me you stopped by the shop this morning.”
I dropped my spoon in my bowl and threw my head back with a moan. Looking her in the eye, I said, “I asked her not to tell anyone.”
“Well. We’re all concerned about Raven, Olivia. What are your intentions with him?”
“Why does everyone keep asking me that?”
“Because Raven is family and we care about him. We don’t want to see him go through what he did the last time you left.”
“I’m sorry. Okay? I’m sorry.”
“You and Raven are still bonded. What do you intend to do about that?”
“I don’t know.”
“What do you want to do?”
“I don’t know that either.”
“Are you staying, Olivia?”
“No. Probably not.”
“Then you need to let him go. We can call the coven to help break the bond. Then you can both be free.”
“I can’t talk about this anymore.” I stood, angry.
“Stop running away from this, Olivia. If you aren’t going to stay and be with him, then you need to let him go. What’s the issue?”
“I can’t explain it, Aster. I don’t understand why.”
“Do you still love him?”
“I don’t know. I don’t know what comes from my feelings and what comes from the spell. What I do know is I can’t do this right now. I’ve got to get ready for tonight.”
I went to the door, but she caught me, her huge pregnant tummy pointing at me. “You do still love him,” she whispered.
“I told you. It’s the spell.”
“Bonding spells don’t work like that.”
“How do you know?”
“Because Bear and I have one.”
“But you love Bear. You don’t want to leave him.”
“Yes. But it doesn’t make me love him.”
I pulled my arm away from her grasp. I did still love Raven. That didn’t mean I could stay here with him. I couldn’t be the woman he needed. It wasn’t me.
“Maybe I do love him. Okay. Maybe I do. But I can’t stay here. I can’t give him what
he needs. It isn’t fair for anyone.”
“I see. That’s why the bond won’t let you break it. You still love him.”
“You said it doesn’t work that way.”
“The bonding spell won’t let you break the bond if you still love each other. Jesus, Olivia, did you cast a spell before you even knew how it worked?”
“I was twenty-two.”
“Okay. But you’re twenty-seven years old now. You have to start dealing with the people in your life eventually.”
“Nice. Coming from my little sister, just perfect.”
“Don’t run away from this, Olivia. Maybe what you think you are isn’t what you really are.”
“Why would you say that?”
“Because you still love Raven. That says something.”
Chapter 26
Raven sent me a text to let me know he was ready to meet up at the club after sundown. It was a Friday night and the club would be hopping with vamps and groupies alike.
I pulled up in front of the club. The parking lot was packed. I found a spot and texted Raven to ask where he was.
Already inside.
Meandering through the crowd in front of the club, I got in line to go inside. The other women around me were dressed in skimpy, revealing clothes, with dyed pink and purple hair, facial piercings, tattoos, and their breasts pushed sky high.
I looked down at my outfit. Black leather pants, black tank top, black leather jacket. Any paranormal creature would be able to see my sword and gun. At least I’d brushed my hair and washed my face after my workout.
Turning around into a shadow, I pulled my boobs up and pulled down the neck of my tank. There. That would look sexy.
I approached the bouncer, not wanting to stand in the ridiculous line. I worked for the Council. I shouldn’t have to wait.
“Executioner Olivia Fanning. I have business here,” I said to the same guy I’d seen earlier that day. He growled down at me, crossing his massive arms over his thick chest.
“Your friend is already inside,” he said, unhooking the rope barrier. He pulled it aside and I walked through into the dark entrance of the club.
Dance music poured through the hallway, thumping in my brain and vibrating through my body. When I turned into the main room of the club, my eyes widened. It was packed. There was a DJ up on the stage spinning beats for the writhing crowd on the dance floor. Purple, blue, and pink lights flashed over the room.
The crowded bar bustled with activity. Bottles of alcohol lined the mirrored wall behind the bar. All the gothy clubbers bounced around, eye makeup in full effect.
Approaching the bar, I saw Raven leaning over it with a beer absently pinched between his long fingers. The line of his sensuous back, his slim waist, and hips curved over the bar. The sight of it made my panties melt. I wanted to touch him. My fingers ached to caress the sensitive flesh under his thin T-shirt, peeking from under his leather bomber jacket.
I sidled up next to him, pushing in between him and the purple dreadlocked groupie getting drunk on peppermint schnapps. She gave me a snotty look, but I ignored her.
“Come here often?” I yelled in Raven’s ear, over the music. He pursed his lips at me and swigged his beer.
“You’re late, Fanning.”
“I’m not late, you’re early. You’re trying to get some vamp groupie action aren’t you?” I teased. He didn’t take the bait. He just stared at me like I had two heads. Fine, whatever. Don’t have a sense of humor.
“There is a VIP room in the back where they do most of their bloodletting.”
“Let’s start there.”
He pushed away from the bar and started weaving through the crowd, leaving me to push through behind him. Music thumped through the floor and the dancers moved in a writhing, sensual rhythm that awakened my own feelings as I followed Raven through the flashing lights and mass of semi-naked bodies.
We came to a back section of the warehouse that was walled off from the rest, where a bouncer stood outside the door. He frowned at us.
“VIPs only,” the bouncer said.
“We were just here earlier. Stefan invited us to ask around about the missing girls.” Raven flashed his badge and the bouncer frowned.
“What about her?”
I was about to speak but Raven cut me off. “She’s with me.”
I closed my gaping mouth and followed him through the door into the VIP room. It was lit in bright pink light with a central stage. Strippers danced topless in G-strings and ballet-style heels while they held clear plastic poles full of glowing LED lights.
Red couches were scattered across the room, curving around low tables. Groups of men and women in various stages of undress were pressed together. There were fangs extended, blood dripping down necks. Biting. Sucking.
A man had a needle in his arm attached to a tube that flowed red with his blood, collecting in a stainless steel bowl below him.
I looked around at the vampire bloodletting sex room and cringed. These people wouldn’t even remember this tomorrow. Freaking vampires.
“Follow me,” Raven said. “Be cool.”
He walked over to a group of vampires with their human blood bags. The vamps had just finished feeding and the humans were draped all over them, kissing and licking at their vampire masters.
Raven stood at the edge of the couch, not stepping into the vampires’ direct line of sight. He pulled the photographs from his pocket.
“Have any of you seen these girls?” he asked, handing the photos to the nearest vampire.
The vamp had bleach-blonde hair and blue eyes. He looked like he’d been turned in his early twenties. He had that boy band look about him. The girl licking down his exposed chest looked like she was barely eighteen.
He took the photos and frowned. “Who’s asking?” he said, turning to look at Raven. He stepped into better view of the couch now that he’d had their attention.
“Detective Raven Hunter, Portland PD. This is Executioner Olivia Fanning.” He accentuated the words Executioner.
The vampire looked back at the photo with renewed interest. “No. Never seen these ones,” he said, passing the photos around the couch. Everyone there shook their heads and the photos almost made their way all the way back to Raven. One of the human girls on her knees on the floor who had a vamp sucking from her wrist grabbed the photos.
“I know her,” she said, meekly pointing at one of the pictures.
“Quiet,” her master said.
“Let her talk,” Raven growled. “How do you know her? From the club?”
“We usually go to Felix. He’s old. He takes three or four girls at a time.” The vampire sucking her wrist spit it away and pushed her off his lap. The girl stumbled up to her feet and walked to Raven with the photographs. “She went with a new vampire the last time a saw her. A very old vampire. Very powerful.” The lust in her eyes was unmistakable.
“Why didn’t you go with him?” I asked.
“He didn’t want me. Said I’m not his type.”
The girl in front of us was short and blonde. All the missing girls were tall and brunette. I grabbed the photographs again, inspecting them for the first time.
A cold shiver went down my spine. The girls had a lot in common—the most being that they all bore a striking resemblance to me. Oh fuck.
I felt like I was going to be sick. Vincent was taking girls who looked like me. But why? What kind of sick twisted plan did he have? What was he getting out of it? I gulped. Best not to try to understand the mind of a psychopathic vampire.
“When was this?” Raven asked.
“Last week.”
“Where did he take her?”
“I don’t know. I never saw her again.”
Another vampire came and took the petite blonde girl and led her away, pulling her down onto a couch. This one went straight for her neck as he gripped her breast.
I pulled Raven into the corner. “Did you notice all those girls look like me?”
&nb
sp; “Are you flattered?” he asked, raising his eyebrow.
“No. Of course not. It’s sick.” I was actually offended now. He tilted his head back and sighed, then straightened up and looked at me.
“That girl said this one was taken last week,” he said, pointing at the photograph.
“Do you think it was Vincent?” I asked him.
“What do you think, Olivia? You knew the guy.”
“I only knew him for like two weeks.”
“And then you tried to kill him. That kind of thing tends to stay with you.”
“I feel like he’s messing with me now. Like this is all some kind of trap. He’s trying to get back at me for banishing him.”
“Did you banish him straight to Portland?”
“No. I just banished him. It was nonspecific and a tactic only meant to work long enough to save my freaking life.”
“Okay. So, we both think it was him. What now? We aren’t any closer to locating the bastard.”
“I’m sure he has cloaking spells. I can’t sense him at all with my tracking ability.”
“Come on. Let’s ask a few more of these vamps about the girls.”
We continued asking around. The information we gathered basically reiterated what we’d already learned. A few vamps and groupies had seen all four of the missing girls. They’d gone off with a new, mystery vampire that no one had ever seen. The girls had been handpicked, with the message coming from a third party to meet him in the back of the club.
“No one knew this messenger,” I said to Raven as we came out of the loud club into the quiet darkness of the parking lot.
“Could be anyone. Might just be some human he picked up to be his minion. I’ll run a search on the facial description we got from the witnesses. Maybe it will bring something up.”
He stopped by his truck and opened the door. I didn’t back away. I just stood there like an idiot, waiting for him to lick my face or something.
I clenched my teeth, not knowing what I was doing. He just looked at me and put his hands on his hips, cocking his head. I was standing so close he couldn’t shut the door or climb inside.
“Olivia,” he muttered, rubbing his temples with his fingertips.
“What?”