Read Online A Hunters Promise by Gwendolyn Cease - Free Book Online

the call from a police scanner and immediately gone to the scene. He always monitored to ensure the paranormal community didn’t leak over into the human. They were usually good about hiding in plain sight, but this had obviously slipped by them. Or the killer had wanted it to slip by. Either way, the situation could be on the way to clusterfuck level unless they could get a handle on it.
    “What happened?” Kenshin asked.
    “Cops got an anonymous tip. They were here before we could intercept and found the body.” Styx reported.
    “So what’s the status?” Talon asked.
    “I have the cops sitting in the kitchen waiting. I told them it was just a prank call, but it’s hard since they were already on scene. The body is in the living room.”
    “Let’s take care of the police first,” Kenshin said. “Once we get rid of them, we can take a look at the body.”
    Styx led the way to the large gourmet kitchen. Two policemen sat motionless at the large table. He wasn’t the best at wiping human minds, but he could make them sit and stay where he wanted. He’d leave the heavy stuff to Talon who could make people think they’d been to the Moon and back.
    “I’ll take care of them,” Talon said. “Do you know if anyone else is coming?”
    “I don’t think so,” Styx replied. “I got here just as they were calling for backup.”
    Talon nodded and moved toward the men while Styx motioned Kenshin to follow him out. They walked down a narrow hallway and entered through a discreet doorway set into the wall. Styx imagined it was for servants to enter and leave without being seen by guests.
    They entered the room to find a dead guy in the middle of the room, face up, sightless eyes wide and staring. The throat was practically ripped out, but the blood around the body was minimal. Someone had fed well before departing. Both men crouched by the body, and Styx got his first close look at the neck wound.
    “When did this occur?” Kenshin asked.
    “I think right after nightfall. The call came in around nine-eighteen.”
    “Interesting, since Aislinn Flaherty was attacked around eleven. All of this must be connected. It’s too much of a coincidence for the brother to die and the sister to be attacked by vampires all within a two-hour span.”
    “And who’s Aislinn Flaherty? Other than this guy’s sister.”
    “She’s someone that may be like Joelle. That could be why vampires went after her.”
    “She dead?” Styx asked.
    “No, Charon got to her in time. Apparently, he knows her. I don’t know the story yet, but she’s currently one of your roommates.”
    Talon walked in while Kenshin was talking and shook his head. “Is that what you’re calling her? A roommate?”
    “Until we have confirmation—”
    “She might be Charon’s Liaison,” Talon said to Styx.
    Kenshin huffed out a breath, but Talon cut him off. He leaned forward and smelled the body. He did it again with his eyes closed. Styx did the same, trying to figure out what Talon was scenting and just caught it. The hint, just the barest scent…but it couldn’t be. He opened his eyes to find Talon and Kenshin watching him.
    “You scent it, too.” Talon said.
    “Maybe,” Styx replied. “Let’s call Grimm. His nose is way better.”
    Talon touched the device in his ear and requested Grimm head out to their location. Styx studied the body again, especially the neck wound.
    “What?” Kenshin interrupted him.
    “This wasn’t done by a regular vampire,” Styx said finally. “Though the neck is torn, I can still see the initial puncture wounds from the fangs. They are much bigger and longer than any regular vampire. If the scent is really there, and it’s what we think, this was done by an Ancient.”
    Kenshin shook his head. “Ancient? That’s not possible. We know all the Ancients; the PIA keeps a list. The only ones in this area are Hunters.”
    “So you think one of us did this?” Talon asked with a low growl.
    “No,” Kenshin