Sunset to Sunrise (Alexa O'Brien, Huntress #7.5)

And who could blame me if I did? Well, Alexa, perhaps. I couldn’t deny my deep loathing for the vampire she was bound to. Seeing them separated was a fantasy of mine that I’d accepted would never come true. Or could it?

“Yeah, I’ll see what I can dig up. More than likely it’s just a guy with a big mouth and a small dick.” Again I rose, this time my attention on the guy in question. “I’ll take care of it.”

Willow gave a half-assed wave, spilling his shot in the process. I hid a smile and excused myself. Whatever it was that caused a fallen angel to drink himself stupid every night, I didn’t want to know. As wrong as it might have been, I found comfort in knowing that I was not the only one who suffered.

For just a moment, I considered going after the fox with the blue hair. However, curiosity won out. Not for a second did I really think any vampire in this city had a hope in hell of taking Arys out. Still, as one with no love lost for the guy, I needed to know how serious this plot was.

I advanced on the table with the two vamps, fully aware of Willow’s watchful gaze. What harm was there in watching someone else take a shot at the reigning monarch of the city? It’s not as if I was considering it myself.

Intrigue kept me moving when a sliver of guilt tried to redirect my path. Without waiting for an invitation, I slid into the booth across from the vampires and their human friend.

They both looked at me with alarm. My reputation wasn’t so great these days. Most people were quick to avert their gazes and stay out of my way.

I didn’t give them a chance to speak. “So, tell me about your plan to kill Arys Knight. And don’t leave anything out.”

Chapter Two

They stared at me, dumbfounded. Then the one with a scar slashing across his lower jaw sneered. “What the fuck are you talking about?” His glower was good, but it wasn’t convincing.

A metaphysical touch of his energy informed me that he had little real power and was likely less than a century old. I didn’t need to throw my power around to prove that I was not one to be trifled with. If he didn’t tell me what I wanted to hear, he’d be dust before he ever got a chance to try for Arys.

“You know what the fuck I’m talking about. Now start yapping before I kick your ass all over this place.” Just a little pulse of power, a squeeze if you will, and I settled back in my seat with a grin. That was usually all it took. Though I wasn’t one to brag, next to Arys and Alexa, I was the most powerful vampire in this city.

The two vampires exchanged a look before dismissing their victim. The human fled the table with relief plastered across her features.

“How did you hear about that?” Scar asked me, his upper lip lifting in a strange grimace due to his slight facial deformity. When I continued to wait in silence, he huffed and swore. “That’s privileged information. Only those in our group are privy to that info.”

“Your group? Like a band of merry men? Like Robin Hood?” I snickered. “Seriously. Stop wasting my time.”

That remark got Scar huffy, but he was smart enough to restrain his irritation. We shared a long look, and whatever he saw in my eyes was enough to convince him that I was worthy to know of his secret society.

“It’s a small but steadily growing rebellion. We believe Arys Knight is a dictator that must be stopped before his woman turns and amps up his power. That motherfucker has been putting the pressure on us, going all out to make sure we all know who rules this city.” Scar followed up with a bout of curse words. It was a poor attempt at playing the tough guy.

“So? What’s wrong with that?” I asked. “He wouldn’t be the first power player to enforce his status.”

“Yeah, well maybe we don’t want to be governed by some asshole on a power trip. Maybe we just want to do whatever the hell we want whenever the hell we want. Knight’s been doing that demon’s dirty work, killing for him. Killing our kind.”

That gave me pause. No vampire worked closer with Shya than I did. If Arys was moving behind the scenes for him, it wasn’t common knowledge. I’d be willing to bet that Alexa didn’t even know.

“I’m pretty sure there’s more to it than that.” And I was. Arys wasn’t the kind of guy to fall in line no matter who was giving the orders. “How big is this so called rebellion?”

“Big enough. A dozen or so for now, but that’s only because everyone else is scared shitless of him.”

“As you should be.” I couldn’t resist saying it. This was disappointing so far. I’d hoped to hear something good.

“Fuck that. We have a plan. It may not be the best plan, but it should work. We’ve got to try something.” Scar ran a hand through thin hair, caught himself performing the nervous gesture, and crossed his arms tightly against his chest.

“And this plan would be?” I held up a hand, waiting for him to tell me what I wanted to hear. As far as assassination attempts go, most of them failed and pretty much all of them were made by guys totally out of their league. Of course, some of them did succeed.