Page 5 of The Vampire's Hunter

“And everyone knows I’m nothing more than a fanger whore,” she finished for him.

Quinn’s shoulders stiffened, making him look unexpectedly tense, and to her surprise, ashamed. He chose his next words carefully. “I was going to say everyone knows that you’ve beeninvolvedwith vampires in the syndicate before.”

“Same thing, just prettier words.” She swiped at her tears again.

Quinn sighed, clearly recognizing this was a battle he wouldn’t win. “I know you think I’m here for them, but Dani,” he gripped her hand, “I wouldn’t have come if I didn’t believe you could do this. If I didn’t think that you might want—”

“Revenge?” she finished.

“Yes,” Quinn answered, more confident than she’d given him credit for. “To make sure this doesn’t happen to anyone else again.”

The prick of his words was like a knife to the heart.

“That’s not my responsibility,” she breathed.

Quinn nodded. “You’re right. It isn’t.”

And yet…

Here he was. Asking it of her anyway.

Because for once, in some small way, her brother believed she could be like him.

That she could be brave. That she could fight for someone else, if not for herself.

Dani let out a small shivering sigh of resignation. She’d known whatever Quinn was here to ask her to do, she would agree. It didn’t matter if that was what she really wanted or not, because that was what Dani always did.

She endured, and thus, she survived. Wherever the wind blew her.

And this time, it was leading her straight into the arms of a vampire who’d no doubt break her heart.

“What do I need to do?”

2

The neon red lights were a nice touch, if a bit, expected.

Corbin Blackwell surveyed the club he owned with a distant disinterest, his phone buzzing in his pocket for the umpteenth time that evening. The music which beat through The Blood Rose’s speakers was incessant, the sound punctuated only by the clink of amber lit glasses and the occasional shout of laughter from the sweat-covered crowd below. To his right, the club’s designer droned on about the latest update and renovation, her voice blending in with the din as Corbin’s phone buzzed once more.

He let out a harsh sigh. “If you’ll excuse me...”

Brow pinched, Corbin pulled the infernal device from his pocket, reading the array of messages flashing across the screen.

Cassandra:Whereareyou?

Cassandra: I said I was sorry.

Cassandra: Corbin, pleeeease. *pouty face*

Cassandra: I promise I’ll be nicer next time, if you get me that dress I want. *heart eyes*

Cassandra: Corbin?

Cassandra: Corbin??

Cassandra: CORBIN?!?! *angry face*

Cassandra: Fine. If you’re going to be an asshole, then forget it…

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