Page 12 of Edge of Darkness

The vampires were easily identified thanks to their slight metallic scent. And it was a vampire-owned club, after all, so there were a lot of them there.

Salt and brine rode the air currents. Glancing about, he spotted a few merpeople. Their androgynous features marked their species. Like the vampires, they needed blood, but unlike the vampires, it didn’t have to be human.

A couple of magic users were there too. They tended to smell of ozone even when not using their powers. They blended in with the human crowd the easiest.

A lone gargoyle sat at a table, his earthy scent tangy and fresh but also sharp. Seeing him was a surprise. They didn’t often leave their territories.

Then it hit him like a brick to the face—an oddness to a human scent that made his nose wrinkle because it was justwrong.

“Hudson?” Connie murmured. “Do you—”

“Why, yes, I was just thinking about getting another drink,” Hudson replied, cutting Connie off.

If this was one of the genetically altered hunters, then they could hear nearly as well as any paranormal. Last thing he wanted to do was alert whoever was watching them that they were aware of it.

“I’ll take care of it, Conrad. You stay here and hold our table, please.” Hudson knew Connie would catch on pretty quickly. For one thing, Hudson usually used Conrad’s nickname of Connie. Unless, of course, he wanted Connie’s immediate attention.

“Yes. Yes, okay, I could go for another drink. Sure. I’ll stay here.” Connie lounged in his chair, looking completely unperturbed. He even smirked. “It’s your turn, anyway.”

“That it is. I’ll be back.” Hudson left the table and hurried to the bar. From where he was standing, he had a pretty good line of sight to Connie, as long as no one got between them.

The vampire bartender drifted down to Hudson, a slight smile on his face. “Hey. Do you want the same?”

Hudson acted as if he was having problems hearing the bartender. Which, if he’d been human, was a distinct possibility with the way the music was thumping.

Hudson leaned across the bar like he was trying to give the bartender his order. The bartender blinked in confusion, then met Hudson halfway.

“Hunters are on the property,” Hudson breathed, speaking so quietly it was almost subvocal.

Whatever paranormal powers hunters picked up through DNA mutation wasn’t quite as strong as a true paranormal’s. He hoped his warning was quiet enough the hunter couldn’t pick it up.

The vampire’s eyes widened, but that was the only indication of nerves. “Certainly. I’ll get right on that. Oh, wait. We’re out in the coolers up here. Sorry about that. Be right back.”

The vampire disappeared into the back, and a few minutes later, he returned with his and Connie’s beer. As Hudson left the bar, he noticed the bartenders, who were all vampires, leaning closer to paranormals to take the drink orders.

Hudson made his way through the crowd to his table. As he walked, he noticed several paranormals making eye contact. Word was getting around quickly.

Now if only he could figure outwherethe hunter was that he smelled. All the leaders of San DeLain had briefed their people on how to spot hunters. The oddness to their human scent was the main giveaway.

He’d barely sat down when he saw Raven, the Master of the City and owner of this club, moving through the crowds.

“Here you go,” Hudson said, handing Connie his beer. “Sorry it took so long. The bartender had to go into the back since they were out in the coolers up front.”

“I understand.”

Hudson watched as Raven moved through the crowd, stopping to briefly speak to people as if he was nothing more than an owner saying hi to his patrons.

Of course, the only people he was stopping to speak with were other paranormals.

Out of the corner of his eye, Hudson saw a blur of movement… then nothing. It was like nothing had occurred. Even he, as a dragon, barely noticed it. It was one reason why vampires were apex predators. They moved at speeds humans had no hope of following.

“Get ready,” Hudson whispered to Connie.

“Of course.”

The flashing lights also provided cover for the vampire as she suddenly disappeared into a hallway with a very startled human. Hudson would bet one of the fist-sized rubies he owned that was the hunter he’d scented.

Problem was, was that the only one?

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