I Hate You
After confirming the location and about fifteen active vampires plus the elder leader, it barely took the other three an hour to figure out a plan of attack.
Sungho turned out to be an incredible asset. He even spared time to teach me the distinct difference between scents—something I hadn’t been taught by anyone yet.
Despite our weirdly ominous introduction, Sungho turned out to be a joy to talk to.
He reminded me ironically of the Japanese term “tsundere.” He came across cold and apathetic, but his actions and gentle regard spoke differently.
Like Mia, I was captivated by the dissonance of his character and wanted to get to the bottom of who Sungho truly was.
Nigel texted that he and the pack would be arriving within the hour, so it was decided we’d attack before nightfall. If we killed off the elder first, we’d have less trouble wiping out the rest of the coven.
Vampires in strong clans like these were inherently linked with their elders.
These type of bloodline vampires were weakened temporarily when their elders were defeated.
Typically, there was a period of vulnerability when the next elder was being chosen by the blood connection within the coven.
It took anywhere from minutes to days for the power from the previous elder to find a worthy vampire in the clan.
Under normal Hunter circumstances, this offered us a great advantage.
But we weren’t any normal Hunter crew. Still, taking every advantage available to us was good vampire hunting and meant it wouldn’t get messy.
Although, truth be told, I needed it a little messy right now.
Between my head and body pining after Sloan and my heart aching for Phillip, it’d be a welcomed distraction.
“Sloan and V will take the elder out, and then the rest of us will wipe out the other fifteen. If we play our cards right, we’ll be home in time for dinner,” Kris announced, smirking. “This number shouldn’t be any trouble for our group.”
With a nod, the group broke apart, but Nigel lingered by my side. I offered him a look before his eyes dodged over to the front door. “Can I talk to you?”
“Room for one more?” Sloan asked when I struggled to agree.
Nigel made a sound in his chest before nodding. “I need to speak with both of you, so let’s go outside for a bit.”
After following the two men out, some distance from the house and away from prying ears, Nigel gave the area a short onceover before sighing. “I smell it on you. Did you run into trouble earlier?”
What a fucking nose this dude has on him.
“I thought you might ask,” Sloan said, crossing his arms and offering me a small look. “We did, but it’s handled.”
“What’s to say this mission isn’t a trap? There’s someone in the Organization ballsy enough to send a damn assassin wherever she goes, and you’re not the least bit worried about this little coven invasion?”
Sloan’s body tensed under the attack of Nigel’s words, but he didn’t seem at all surprised by it. “It may not matter soon, but trust me when I say that I’ve prepared for every possible outcome with this mission, and I don’t take her safety lightly.”
What wouldn’t matter soon?
But I’d had enough of the back and forth where both acted like I wasn’t party to the conversation or capable of speaking for myself.
Mostly Nigel. Though, it wasn’t new he came across overprotective.
It didn’t used to bother me. I used to think that genuine care looked that way, but Phillip and Sloan proved that I was plenty powerful on my own.
Nigel needed to trust me more, and I wasn’t sure if he ever would.
Crossing my arms, I cut in, “I don’t need anyone protecting me, Nigel. Believe it or not, I’m the reason we survived today.”
I didn’t relish gloating about a kill like the one today since it was totally by accident we won, but someone had to put Nigel in his place. Maybe this time he’d listen to reason. Maybe one day we could overcome this obvious flaw in his personality.
Nigel’s lip twitched and his jaw tensed perceivably. “You?”
Smirking, I bumped my arm into Nigel’s and his soft smile made my heart pound.
Feelings I’d long thought buried came clamoring into my throat, and the telling blush in my cheeks nearly gave me away. Nigel would always be my first boyfriend, and no matter how much of an overbearing jerk he’d been, he was still the Nigel I’d drooled and dreamed about for years.
Sloan’s hair caught a gust of wind, and the light hit him a second later when the brilliant sun peeked out of the cloud cover. “She’s telling the truth. As embarrassing as it is to admit it, her skills were what saved us on several occasions.”
By skills he meant this uncontrollable power living inside me, but whatever.
The werewolf’s olive complexion seemed to glow in the unfettered sunlight, and it made me miss him.
Miss the playful banter we shared for all those months we dated.
Miss the way he smiled at me. Miss the ease of our relationship, even if it was more of a friendship in the end than a passionate love affair.
It’d been a comfortable place to go when Grams and Hunter life weighed heavily on my shoulders.
His arms were welcoming, his smiles always a comfort, and I’d missed it honestly, enough to make my eyes drop to the thickly-corded arms crossed over the Shifter’s chest.
“You don’t have to worry about me,” I finally stated softly, cheeky grin on my face.
Before I could continue, the hair on my body stood on end and an electric jolt took my spine captive.
Strangely, the sensation of someone nearby caused me equal parts alarm and excitement.
With my eyes shooting from Nigel to where I felt the bizarre presence, I immediately discerned a familiar figure.
Outfitted in a vest with an obnoxious looking sword strapped to his back, the newcomer was leaned up against a 1967 Ford Mustang.
When did that get there?
“That’s my lass. Telling off some overconfident dog in the middle of the road,” came his sultry Austrian accent, and I’d never wished to hear a voice more in all my life.
For a second, I hesitated. The Siren took the shape of Grams, and it wouldn’t be far off for it to figure Phillip was a good sell for the next one.
Clutching my dagger, the two men around me stiffened at the sound of his distinctive voice.
Every movement the gorgeous bastard made was entirely Phillip, but I didn’t let my guard down for a single second.
Still, Sloan didn’t move to attack or remove a weapon.
Only Nigel seemed ready to go for the man’s throat.
“Took you long enough, mate,” Sloan finally said, his happy grin making my grip loosen on the dagger I held. “Nearly started the party without you.”
“We can’t have that. I’ve been itching to use Blood Slayer on some deserving vampires.”
Lamest sword name, ever.
As if he hadn’t escaped death, then gone and gotten himself blacklisted by the Organization, Phillip strolled over with his lips tilted. “And no, you can’t use it. I know how eager you’ve been to get your petal-soft hands on Blood Slayer, V.”
The sexual innuendo wasn’t lost on me, but all I felt in that moment was intense relief. Phillip was back. He was home. I’d never tell him how much I’d missed the bastard, but the feelings of it rushed my throat and made it impossible to speak.
Nigel growled and blocked Phil’s path to me. “You have some fucking nerve.”
“I’d get out of my way, dog, before I forget why I let you stay in the first place,” Phillip warned hotly before his enchanting ocean eyes slid over to me. “I traveled a long way to be here, and you’re no obstacle at all. Don’t test me.”
I hadn’t really seen Phillip bare his teeth, ready to tear out Nigel’s throat, quite like this before. It wasn’t how I expected our reunion to go. I’d had enough pettiness to last a lifetime, and these two never let up.
Before anything else could be said, I landed a blow on Phillip so hard that he was sent vaulting back. Nigel’s eyes widened in astonishment, and even Sloan seemed to be surprised by the turn of events, but neither of them intervened. Nor would they dare.
Phillip deserved nothing less.
In a swift second, I hovered over the jerk who’d toyed with my heart for months.
Kneeling, I eyed the Austrian with what was likely a vicious gleam in my eyes.
I fought back the urge to fuse our lips together in a violent kiss, one that I’d dreamed about for weeks, and opted for a sneer instead.
“You have some fucking nerve,” I repeated Nigel’s words, voice bottoming out.
Phillip’s gentle smile nearly stole my rage, but I held it together. I wouldn’t forgive him so easily, and I’d make him pay for the nights I mourned him—when I didn’t know whether he was alive or dead. All the days I spent drowning in the guilt for leaving him behind.
“I know you hate me. I deserve it. But, pet, I’ve missed you.”
Throat tight, I swallowed again and again to keep from crying, body frozen in the crouch I’d taken.
“You’re right.” I stood to my full height, leering down at the bastard, and Phillip made no move to get up.
“I do hate you.” Turning around, I left him on the asphalt where he’d landed and headed towards the house without ever looking back at him.
I hate you mostly because I love you so much.
“Isn’t it risky for this asshole to join back up with us and attend one of our missions?” I asked Sloan, after the three men I’d abandoned returned to the house. Phillip didn’t get so much as a glance from me, and I could practically hear his amusement every time I ignored him.
Within seconds of our abrupt return, the rest of the group fought for space in the living room to play nosy neighbor to our less-than-welcoming reception of Phillip. Sloan had gently ushered me to a seat and served me a much-needed cup of coffee. His calming energy helped drag out some of mine.