Blonde & Blue (Alexa O'Brien, Huntress #4)(17)

“Why are we both here?” I hissed beneath my breath when I heard footsteps inside. “Is it really going to take two of us to kill one human?”

“Why not? It’s fun to share.”

I pinned Kale with a wide-eyed stare. The sound of the deadbolt turning was deafening compared to the silence. I sucked in my breath, waiting like a kid on Christmas as the door cracked open an inch. She peered out at us through that tiny space, her brown eyes narrowing. I had to hold myself back, let the moment play out. The scent of candles and incense wafted out to greet us. I wrinkled my nose in distaste as my wolf recoiled against the assault on my senses.

Before either of us could make a move, she blasted me with enough juice to throw me backwards, skidding on my ass. It hurt and I cursed myself for not being ready for an attack. Kale forced his way into the house, and I scrambled to follow him.

The door vibrated on its hinges. I was drawn to her sudden panic. Nothing smelled quite the way fear did. It teased my control, taunting not only my wolf but also the vampire hunger that I now possessed. When I hunted, I was all about the kill. Hunting a human brought out another side, the vampiric one I didn’t trust. Bloodlust stirred in me like the forbidden, unnatural hunger that it was.

Abigail didn’t act like a victim for a moment. She rushed at Kale with a kitchen knife raised above her head. I reacted without thought; instinct guided me as I grabbed her arm and twisted it behind her back. The knife hit the floor with a clatter. Abigail let out a howl and swung at me with her free hand.

Kale was careful not to touch her, and it took me a moment to realize why. She mumbled a series of words in a language I didn’t understand. She smacked me in the forehead, saying one final word. The pain that spread through my head was instant. I went down on my knees hard with an anguished cry.

Abigail shrieked as Kale threw a blast her way.

She was alarmingly skilled in black magic. She could have made deals with demons for all I knew. I had to give Kale a little credit, Abigail Irving had proven to be anything but a helpless victim.

“I’ll kill you, bloodsuckers!” Abigail’s high-pitched shriek hurt my ears.

Seconds later I felt the atmosphere in the room grow hot as she attempted a metaphysical attack. I felt something burn low inside me, and I tensed, waiting for the pain. Whatever she was trying, it fizzled. She turned to me with eyes wide with horror. She head-butted me right in the face; my own damn fault, I’d hesitated.

I stumbled back a few feet, dazed from the blow. Blood trickled from my nose, and my eyes watered in response. It didn’t matter how fast it would heal, a hit in the nose always hurt like a mother f**ker. A snarl erupted from me, and I lashed out in anger. My backhand took her off her feet, and she hit the floor hard.

“Not a vampire,” she muttered repeatedly as she struggled to get up. “What are you?”

I stood over her, placing a boot on her chest so she remained on the floor. I was shaking with the need to kill her. My eyes strayed to her throat as my wolf encouraged me to tear it out. She was prey. What was I waiting for?

I looked to Kale for some kind of support. I was close to losing control.

Abigail tried again to use her magic. I felt it low inside, trying to take hold of me. I pushed back against her with my own power, forcing hers away from me. She was impressively strong, able to really make me have to work to hold off her attack.

“You were warned, Abigail. What did you think was going to happen?” Kale asked, gazing down at her.

“I did what I had to do. You’re filthy, nasty creatures from the bowels of hell!” Abigail stared up at me, venom in her gaze and a litany of curse words poured from her lips. “And whatever you are, you’re as tainted as he is.”

“Lady, I’m not so different a creature than you are. I think the pot’s calling the kettle black here.” I tried to get a read on her power, but I couldn’t determine if it was more than incredibly strong witch magic. I was sure it had to be.

She was seething. Her fear had faded quickly once the adrenaline kicked in. Thankfully, she didn’t seem to be able to take on both of us.

“You’re nothing like me. Hurry up and kill me, you heathen! God has a special place for whores like you.”

Nothing like being called a whore by a mad woman. The vacancy deep in her eyes screamed ‘crazy.’ It wasn’t worth letting her get under my skin. Regardless, I struggled not to tear her head from her shoulders.

“Alexa? Do you want her?”

I met Kale’s eyes, finding my bloodlust mirrored in his gaze. Conflict tore at me, taunting me. If I hadn’t been turned by Raoul, if I hadn’t become a werewolf, would I have believed my natural abilities to be a tool against the supernatural? Would I have been so different from Abigail Irving?

I shook my head ‘no,’ but it was a lie.

The bloodlust clawed at my insides. The two predatory natures inside me embraced in an unlikely pairing, sending me spiraling into the black abyss where I always went when I killed.

I stepped back, releasing my hold on the screeching woman on the floor. Kale didn’t hesitate. He dragged her to her feet, fighting to bare her throat. She fought hard as I watched, frozen in place. The hum of their power in combat was loud, almost deafening in my ears.

My heart raced in eager anticipation. I waited for that moment when Kale’s fangs would pierce her flesh and spill her blood. I could feel her scrambling to re-focus her power, but it was too late. Kale bit deep into her, and I groaned.