Hunter: Volume 1 (The Lillian Rayne Series) by Ella Price

 
    I
crept through the ally trying to keep as quiet as I possibly could. I had seen
the vampire enter the alley with his unsuspecting victim. She of course was not
opposed like any sane woman should have been. I was sure it was due to the fact
that the vampire had her in a trance. It was how they worked. It was how they
got their prey to be cooperative and silent while they fed, and on most
occasions killed. It was my job to make sure he didn’t get to the second part.
I am a vampire hunter, and I am going to make sure this particular vampire doesn’t
make it out of the alley alive. I spotted him when I was patrolling the club. He
wasn’t one I recognized; then again there were always new vampires coming into
town.
    The
vampire and his victim came into view as I crouched behind a dumpster. The
alley stunk, but it was a vampire’s haven. No one ever came down these alleys
at night unless they were up to no good, or they were hunters like me. I slowly
drew my stake. It was one of my favorites. I carved it myself from oak. I even
took the time to carve the hunters vows in it. I would not be leaving this
stake behind that was for sure.
    I
moved quickly as the vampire went to sink his fangs into the clueless woman’s
neck. I would give him a chance to fight instead of just stabbing him in the
back. That wasn’t my style. I didn’t claim to be an honorable person, but there
were some things I didn’t do, and killing someone without giving them a chance
to fight wasn’t my thing. I knocked him sideways into the opposite wall. He
squared with me and looked at me a little startled. He looked me over then
smiled. “Well if you weren’t hunter I would definitely be interested,” he said
amused.
    I
scowled. He was acting like I was trying to ask him out. He was good looking,
then again most of them were. It was unfortunate I was born to kill them. I
lunged at him and he quickly dodged me.
    He
laughed. “You are really trying, aren’t you?” He was still smiling despite my
attempt to stake him. He obviously knew what he was up against, but he was
still teasing me. He knew random humans didn’t carry stakes around, and assault
vampires for fun. He swung at me and I dodged him, then swung around and kicked
him square in the chest. The girl, the vampire had, already regained her senses
and was running toward the alley opening. He landed with a thud against the
wall. I had him now, he was slightly disoriented. I took the opportunity and
lunged at him. He caught my wrist and held me at bay. He was smiling like I was
amusing. “You really are cute.” His turquoise eyes were dancing with amusement,
it was infuriating.
    I
scowled. I was getting annoyed by the way he was treating me like I was playing
with him. I leaned into the stake, but he was strong. Now that I was closer to
him I could tell he wasn’t some ignorant vampire driven by bloodlust. He was
older; much older.
    “Rayne
wait!” The sound of my cousin’s voice caught me off guard. I glanced behind me
and my cousin Tanner was running down the alley toward me. The vampire took my
distraction as an opportunity. He knocked me backwards into the wall then
disappeared.
    I
looked where the vampire had been. It was rare for them to be able to
disappear. That vampire would have been an excellent kill for my record. I
cussed as I got to my feet. “What the hell Tanner! I had him and you fucked it
up!”
    He
raised his hands in surrender. “A truce was called. You are the only hunter out
tonight. I was told to find you and warn you,” he said apologetically.
    I
rolled my eyes. “A truce is always called. It lasts a week, then we go back to
killing them. Why waste the time?” I snapped. I hated when the council decided
to call truces it was irritating. I would rather be out hunting vampires, not
making nice with them.
    “It’s
for real this time. There is a guy named Kai. He is part vampire and part
hunter. They are saying he is going to unite us,” Tanner said