Free Their Dark Hunter (Masters of Darkness) by Alaska Angelini

If he could plant the smallest seed of doubt, then maybe it would prove to her in the long run that she was meant for him. Then she would stay.
    “I’m just going to go get dressed.” Melody headed into the restroom, just as a knock sounded at his door. Who in the hell was that?
    Vex walked over and felt Trace’s presence before he even got close. There was a weird tingling and sense of anticipation that was so different from what he’d felt for the demon before. He wasn’t sure what it meant, and he was almost afraid to find out.
     
    ***
     
    Trace swallowed hard as he paced the small lobby outside the penthouse door. Fuck. He was so in over his head. Everything in him screamed that his mate was inside with Vex, and he wasn’t sure what the hell he was going to do.
    From the moment that Trace had seen her in the video he knew she was meant for him. Now that Vex had found her before he had, he knew he was going to have to stand up and tell him the truth. It was scary as hell, but he couldn’t just stand by and pretend the pull he felt for her didn’t exist. Killer or not.
    Trace lifted his hand to knock and froze as the door open ed and Vex glared in his direction. His best bet was to pretend nothing was wrong so he could at least get inside. He pushed into the room and looked around. The first thing he noticed was his master’s abs and defined chest. Fuck. He really needed to stop with his want for Vex. He tore his gaze away and took in the room. A sigh of relief left him when he didn’t see Melody. Had he just imagined her presence?
    “So, after you didn’t show back up last night, I shut down the club. You know, I was looking around the database of the list of demons and masters who have, and are, serving in the area.”
    Vex waved his hand to cut him off. “Later.” He grabbed Trace’s arm and led him to the door. Panic set in out of nowhere and Trace dug his heels in the ground. He couldn’t leave until he knew she was here for sure.
    “Whoa, whoa. No way, man. You’re going to want to hear this.” Trace eased out of his loosened grip and walked deeper into the room. “The demons—“
    “So, I was thinking …“ Melody walked out of the bathroom door and paused as her eyes locked with Trace.
    Time literally stood still at their connection. He could have sworn his heart was in his throat as he stared into her shocked gaze. Something wasn’t right. She was too calm, too at home, to be a captive of Vex’s.
    “Oh my…god,” Melody gasped. Her head spun in Vex’s direction, and Trace slowly turned around to see his master seething at him. His own anger at his mate possibly having something going on with Vex sent a volcano of fury exploding inside of him. Especially, since he’d secretly wished for Vex’s affection for as long as he could remember.
    “What the hell is going on here,” Trace snapped.
    “You’re asking me? Your master?” Vex growled. “You bonded to her and you didn’t tell me!” Vex advanced and he threw up his hand. “She’s my mate, what did you expect? When I saw her in the video, I knew she was meant to be with me. She’d just shot Malcolm. All I could think was that I needed to find Melody and make her stop.” Trace ran his hand through his hair. “But you were everywhere looking for her, blocking my path. You’re my master. She’s a killer. I thought if I could find her before you, everything would be okay. What the fuck was I supposed to do, Vex?” Trace could feel his anger explode. “It’s a pretty fucked up situation from where I’m standing. Why don’t you try looking at it from my point of view?”
    Vex slammed him into the wall before he saw it coming. Trace gripped his wri st and felt his own evil illuminate his eyes as he stared down his master.
    “She’s my mate too,” Vex said low. “Do you seriously think she’d be alive right now if she wasn’t?”
    “Stop it, right now!” Melody pulled at Vex’s arm. “What the hell are you