Freak Show (Alexa O'Brien, Huntress #7)(28)

Arys had tried to shut down Harley’s blood ring soon after his death. He’d failed. I found it hard to believe Jenner was able to dissolve something so many vampires were determined to hold onto.

“So Harley’s death worked out quite nicely for you. How convenient,” Arys said with an eye roll. “Must be good for business to have the FPA on your payroll.”

“You’re having problems with your local sector, I presume. A little bargaining can go a long way. Try it.”

“If only it were that easy,” I interjected, reconsidering the whiskey.

“Oh, but it is.” Jenner was just so sure of himself. Arrogant as all get out, he spoke with condescension. “Everyone needs something they can only get from someone else. It’s business.”

“What about demons?” I countered, knowing he wouldn’t have a smarmy answer for that. “Is there much demon activity here? Seems pointless. Everyone is already sinning.”

His gaze dropped pointedly to the black dragon wrapped around my forearm. “I don’t associate with them. Nobody with any sense would get caught up with demons.”

The slimy son of a bitch didn’t know a damn thing about my deal with Shya. My temper flared, and I was contemplating slashing Jenner’s throat with my claws when Arys cut in. “How did you dissolve Harley’s blood ring?” he asked. “Claire and Maxwell were desperate to keep that going. I can’t imagine they were the only ones.”

A shadow flickered across Jenner’s face. “I took care of it.”

He was being purposely vague with good reason, I was sure. The blood ring Harley had been running was vile, a twisted supply and demand of victims for fetish kills. Children, virgins, redheads, whatever a vampire wanted in a victim, they could find. It was truly sickening. Discovering that Jenner had hated it would have made me muster an iota of respect for him if he hadn’t just endangered my wolf.

“And what does Hurst say about all of this?” The name dropped from Arys like a bomb, causing Jenner to stiffen. It was familiar to me, though like most of Arys’s memories, everything about Hurst remained buried.

“He doesn’t say much of anything these days.” There was, for the first time, a crack in Jenner’s tough exterior. He held Arys’s gaze, but it seemed hard, as if he wanted to turn away.

“Who’s Hurst?” I looked back and forth between them. I hated feeling out of the loop.

“He sired Harley,” said Arys. “He’s old, much older than me or Jenner. It’s been several decades since I’ve seen him.”

“It’s been decades since any of us have seen him,” Jenner added. “Hurst is the oldest, wisest vampire I know. He’s also a recluse, unwilling to deal with the irritation of humanity any longer.”

I waited for further explanation but received none. “So,” I prodded. “Where is he?”

“Yes,” Arys nodded. “I’d like to know that as well. It would be nice to speak to him.”

“Nobody sees Hurst unless he initiates it. He’s close enough to stay aware of the goings on of the city without being part of it.” Jenner held his hands out and shrugged, dismissing the subject.

I ran a finger around the rim of the whiskey glass, pondering what it must be like to have lived so long as a vampire that one tires of existence. It was as fascinating as it was tragic. Many questions danced on the tip of my tongue, none of which Jenner would answer. I didn’t bother to ask.

“Does he know I’m here?” Arys asked. There was visible tension in his shoulders. His restraint was going to break at some point. It wouldn’t be pretty.

“He probably knew it before I did. Nothing slips past him.” An uncaring shrug from Jenner conveyed that he wasn’t close with Harley’s maker.

Another loud cheer went up from the crowd. The fight announcer’s voice boomed through the arena. He pronounced the winner; the fight was over. A dead wolf was dragged from the ring, the victor barely on his feet. Shaz was next.

Dread filled me, and my stomach flipped. Desperation seized me. “Jenner, please, let’s work something out, strike a deal of some kind. Shaz doesn’t belong in that ring.”

He leaned forward, pressing his fingertips together while giving me a thoughtful once over. “I beg to differ. You don’t sound too confident in him. Funny considering you were confident in his ability to help you murder my sire. Tell me, Alexa, would you like to take his place?” Raising a dark brow, he flashed a cocky smile at me, but his gaze strayed to Arys for a reaction.

Arys appeared unruffled, but I could feel the hate-filled rage he held tightly reined. With an eerie sense of calm, he said, “He’s going to kill anything you put in there with him. Don’t think for a minute that we’re even after this. I’m going to make you wish I’d never come back here.”

“I wish many things. That is already one of them.” Jenner was flippant, but his fingers dug into the tabletop. “Don’t forget, Arys, we’re only halfway done here. I’ll have your lady on stage before the night is over.”

Before either Arys or I could snark back, the announcer drew our attention back to the ring. His voice thundered through the place, and my strength crumbled.

“Are you ready for the next fight?” He asked, receiving raucous jeers and applause in response. “You know the drill. Take a good look at each opponent and place your bets.”