Stunner (Alexa O'Brien, Huntress 0.75)(11)

I grumbled obscenities to myself, ignoring the rest of the patrons. They were having fun, partying and drinking with loud music and laughter as their background noise. Some of them started having a little too much fun.

It didn’t take long for the laughter to become shouts as two guys began to brawl. I planned to ignore it since it had nothing to do with me. At least it didn’t until one guy shoved the other right into me.

The impact jostled me, causing my drink to spill into my lap. Fucking fantastic. I spun around on my bar stool to fix the idiots with my best glower. I wasn’t expecting the beer bottle that came flying my way next.

Instinct took over. I threw my hands up to block the bottle. An erratic burst of power accompanied the motion. The bottle exploded against the bar next to me. The guy who had thrown it took the slap of my power and went down hard several feet away. He was drunk and there was a lot of commotion. Nobody present could visually see the energy I’d thrown. He would never know what hit him.

The guy that had fallen next to me struggled to get up. He grasped my stool to haul himself up, effectively dumping me off in the process. My temper surged past the breaking point and I snapped.

Grabbing him by the throat, I dragged him in close so I could fix him with a deadly stare. “I really hope you’re working up a good apology right now.”

His dazed expression didn’t convey understanding. He stank of booze and his eyes were bloodshot and red rimmed. I felt my wolf rise up inside me and I fought to keep it from showing in my eyes. The guy sputtered something incomprehensible. I shoved him away, hard enough to get his arms flailing as he went down on his ass.

The dude that threw the bottle was suddenly there, in my face, shouting a stream of curses. Apparently he was ticked that I had gotten involved in his pseudo macho fight moment. I had no patience or desire to listen to him. I let loose with a mean right hook, catching him in the jaw. I nailed the sweet spot and he dropped, out cold.

I felt like I was just getting started. A glance around revealed that the fight was over. If the bouncers moving in fast were any indication, my time at Lucy’s was up for the night.

“We’re going to have to ask you to leave, Alexa.” One of the bouncers shrugged apologetically and gestured to the door.

“Even though that ass**le threw a beer bottle at me?” I was instantly on the defensive. Could I not just have a normal evening without some shithead ruining it for me?

“This is the third time you’ve clocked a guy in here in the last few months.” The bouncer shook his head and hid a grin. “I’m not saying who started what. I just have to ask you to leave. I’m kicking those guys out too.”

Since my night had come to a premature end, I gave the bouncers a sarcastic salute and headed for the door. Maybe the walk home would do me some good. I could get some air and clear my head.

The moment I stepped outside I felt it. A cool wind swept through me, bringing with it the promise of power. Vampire power.

I tensed but my steps never faltered. He must have followed me here. I’d been too quick to assume that getting tossed out of the bar would be the last of my troubles for the night. The sinister caress of the power I felt nearby had me on guard. Maybe I was going to get a good fight tonight after all.

The parking lot was empty. Traffic in town had died down hours ago. I hesitated on the edge of the lot for just a second before crossing the street. He was following me. I could feel it. But did he know that I could sense him? It was bizarre the way I felt his energy as if it was inside me rather than flowing around me.

A shiver crept up my spine. I could feel those midnight blue eyes upon me. So this was a game of cat and mouse to him. If he thought he could catch me off guard, he was mistaken.

He drew closer though I had yet to see him. Like most vampires he was adept at clinging to the shadows and stepping without a sound. I should have been afraid and maybe on some level I was but mostly I was just curious.

I kept up a steady pace for several blocks. When nothing happened I wasn’t sure if I should be annoyed or downright creeped out. Impatient and unwilling to let him make the first move, I reached out metaphysically, concentrating on his heavy energy. By reaching out to him I was issuing a silent challenge. You want me, come and get me.

I reached the Brown Street apartments and the little park nestled beside them. It was as good a place as any to lure him out. I sure as hell wasn’t going to let him follow me all the way home.

A small copse of trees accompanied a few benches and a swing set. I walked the perimeter of the park. I had no intention of sitting down. I wasn’t going to make this easy for him.

Because I expected him to draw the game out until I was ready to crack, I was completely surprised when he stepped out of the dark in front of me. I jerked to a halt, a few choice curse words on my lips.

I didn’t give him a chance to move or speak. I hit him with a blast of wild energy that exploded against his chest with a spark of my yellow gold power. I wasn’t going to make the mistake of letting him get the drop on me.

Arys stumbled back a step but otherwise took the blow with little problem. He held his hands up in surrender and shook his head.

“What the hell was that for?” He was incredulous though a smile tugged at his lips.

“Are you kidding me?” I snapped. “You’re the one following me. What the hell do you want? I’ve reached my capacity for men’s bullshit tonight, if you don’t mind.”