Free Hunter's Blood by Erica Hayes Page A

weren't widely accepted by humans, and the Hunters worked in clandestine accord with top-secret levels of human government, using blood magic to keep the hellflux fresh and the demons in hell where they belonged, in return for free access to blood banks for food.
    The thought of going into action made Gina's heart skip faster, her fingertips sizzling with latent spells. Demon hunting was perilous—vampires healed from injury with inhuman speed, but they weren't indestructible. But Gina was a skilled Hunter, and she loved the adrenaline, the crackle of her magic as she hauled a screaming demon through the hellflux for slaughter. The danger only excited her more.
    Maybe something was wrong with her. She didn't care. A good fight was better than sex. At least, better than any sex she'd had lately.
    Nyssa sighed. "Luka, welcome back. You're sorely needed. I assume your team is assembled?"
    Gina bristled. His team? "Lady, you can't be serious! This… this person left us in the lurch for five years and you want to trust him? He could be in league with the hellmongers."
    But even as she spoke, she hoped it wasn't true. Dragovic might be a lying, manipulative asshole, but he was a damned good demon hunter. The best. Everyone's hero. If even he was tempted by demon lies, no good remained in the world.
    Still, resentment stung. She'd risen quickly through Guild ranks, testament to talent and hard work. She wanted to be the best. And now, he'd returned…
    Dragovic didn't answer. Didn't even look at her. But scarlet threat flashed in those piercing eyes, and Gina knew with a shiver that he meant it for her.
    "I'll pretend I didn't hear that accusation," Nyssa snapped. "Dragovic has my full confidence." But her gaze slipped.
    Gina felt like rolling her eyes. Confidence, my ass. Back for five minutes, and already he's bedding the guildmistress to gain her favor.
    But the double standard stung. Gina liked to play the field, to try all the flavors before buying. She craved the sexual variety, and men liked that she didn't expect commitment or even a phone call. That way, neither party got attached, and she didn't have to remember they all only wanted her for her power. Mingling magic during sex was highly pleasurable, the more so the stronger the spells, and Gina's bloodstone glowed brighter than almost anyone's in the Guild. Fending off lecherous magicians was an occupational hazard.
    Still, she'd taken care not to get a reputation for screwing around to get ahead. So why was it okay for a man?
    She tried again. "But—"
    Nyssa silenced her with a spell-crackled glare. "If you keep questioning my orders, I'll boot you from the team altogether and replace you. Understand?"
    Gina bowed her head, fuming. "Yes, Lady."
    "Good. The team, Luka?"
    Dragovic just dipped his head in a sharp salute. "Locked and loaded."
    "Good. Proceed." Nyssa rose and marched out, digging out her phone to make a call.
    Gina sighed, defeated. And the man she'd vowed never to speak to again swept his hot green gaze onto her face.
    "Hello, Gina. How are you?" His voice was soft, a hint of centuries-old Slavic accent, but it still crept warm shivers all over her body.
    Shivers he had no business putting there. Not the way he'd humiliated her. Not after he'd abandoned them all for five long years. And not now he'd come sniffing after her job like the selfish rat fink weasel he was.
    Determination tempered like steel in her heart. She was older now, more experienced. She'd show him—and Mistress Nyssa—who was the better hunter. And then her place on the Guild's crack hunting team would be unassailable, and she'd never think about his knee-melting kisses again.
    She rounded on him, fangs springing out, her hand flashing to the knife at her belt beneath her leather jacket. "That's 'Santangelo' to you, Hunter. I don't know where you've been for five years and I don't care, so let's get a few things straight. I work for you, fine. That doesn't mean I have to talk to you,