Page 95 of Bloodhunter

“Not for long,” he muttered.

The others fanned out behind us, weapons out, silent andwatchful. They had our backs. Ten minutes later, we got our first attack.

We glanced back once as vampires rushed from the thicktrees, but Clayton, Miriam, Angus, and Rhys did exactly what they were supposedto do. They fought and distracted the enemy while my nose led Shane and me evercloser to the vampire we sought.

I crept through the underbrush, Silverlight holstered—Imight be able to get close to Gray myself, but he’d see us coming from a mileaway with the sword lighting up like a beacon.

Already, the number of vampires coming after me was less.Once they became noseblind to my hunter scent, it’d be a hell of a lot easierto hunt. I could track them and kill them much easier if they weren’t aware ofmy every move.

But it had already started to happen. They were losing myscent.

Worse, I smelled like Amias.

I understood that a split second after Gordon Gray rounded acorner, smiling with recognition. He skidded to a halt when he realized I wasnot who he’d thought I was.

“Master?” he asked, as though he couldn’t believe I wasn’tAmias.

“Not this time,” I murmured.

A flurry of emotions chased themselves across his thin,readable face. Relief, then confusion, then shock.

And then, he turned to run.

But we were ready for that.

Iwas ready for that.

And even as he turned, Silverlight was in my grip. She litup, but she didn’t attach, and I drew back my arm and threw her like an axe atthe retreating vampire.

She whirled through the air, leaving streams of silver lightin her wake, and she caught him effortlessly. I hadn’t wanted to kill him—andshe knew. Somehow, she knew.

She bashed him in the back of the head with her hilt, and hewent down.

There was no time for awe, but I knew Shane felt it as muchas I did. Maybe even more, because I’d been somewhat aware, even if I hadn’tknownI was aware, that she could do more.

My first concern was for her, and I raced over the mushyground to snatch her up, afraid that someone else might get to her before Icould.

I caressed her for a second before sliding her into hersheath, then unwound the silver from my hand, wrapped it around Gray’s wrists,and stood back to look at Shane.

We stared at each other, and I was pretty sure my eyes wouldbe just a little wide. “We got him,” I said. “Finally.”

He looked from me to the downed vampire, and shook his head.“That’s some sword, baby hunter. We all need one of those.”

“Shhh,” I said. “You’ll make Betty jealous.”

He gave me a wink, then patted his gun. “I’ve had a dozenbefore her. The silver fucks them all up eventually.” He eyed the sword. “Ineed a Silverlight.”

I was giddy with relief. I’d done it. I’d tracked and caughtGordon Gray. My first job as a hunter, and I’d done it—and I hadn’t even had tokill him.

Okay, so it wasn’t just me. Or even mostly me. But it feltdamn good, just the same.

I was a hunter.

And a few seconds later, Gray woke up.

He began talking immediately. “I didn’t kill Lucy. I caredabout her. I may be young, but I’m not so young that I’d try to turn her.”

“I’m sure you’re innocent.” I grabbed his silvered wrists.“Get up. You’re Captain Crawford’s problem now.”