CHAPTER 14

CHAPTER 14
NATALIA MOROZOVA
I glance around the room, taking in the death that Alexei and I are surrounded by. As much as I'd like to believe this is the end of it, I know it's far from over. He's a hunter. It's his job to kill supernaturals who break The Accords.

And not only that, but we've made ourselves a target by being together.

ALEXEI VOLKOV
"Hey, Yelena," I speak into the phone. "I need a favor. Call me when you have the opportunity." I focus my attention on Natalia and lean in, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her body into mine.

NATALIA MOROZOVA
"No answer?" I query after he hangs up.

ALEXEI VOLKOV
"Nope."

NATALIA MOROZOVA
"Plan B?"

ALEXEI VOLKOV
There is a knock at the door, and I move Natalia behind me. "Who is it?"

"Nikolai Dragunov."

NATALIA MOROZOVA
I stiffen, my blood running cold in my veins.

ALEXEI VOLKOV
"You can get the hell moving, Dragunov. Unless you plan on suffering the same fate as the last assholes who thought they were going to come to pick up Natalia."

NIKOLAI DRAGUNOV (MENTIONED)
The man clears his throat. "I am not here for Natalia," he says. "But if you'd rather not have to explain the bodies in your apartment to the humans, I suggest you let me in."

ALEXEI VOLKOV
I turn back to Natalia. "Are you okay?"

NATALIA MOROZOVA
I nod. "He'll come in anyway, Alexei. If he wants in here, a door won't stop him."

NIKOLAI DRAGUNOV (MENTIONED)
"She's not wrong, Hunter."

ALEXEI VOLKOV
I breathe deeply and step forward, opening the door.

Nikolai Dragunov is a handsome man—distinguished—his salt and pepper hair making him look the suave millionaire that he is. Though like most shifters, danger is worn on his sleeve. His grey eyes meet mine, and he comes into the room.

NIKOLAI DRAGUNOV (MENTIONED)
"Natalia," he greets.

NATALIA MOROZOVA
"Mr. Dragunov."

NIKOLAI DRAGUNOV (MENTIONED)
"I think we're well past Mr. Dragunov." He glances at Alexei. "Hunter, where is my son?"

NATALIA MOROZOVA

ALEXEI VOLKOV
"Bedroom."

NATALIA MOROZOVA
Nikolai peers into the hallway, and Alexei shields me, moving back and putting me behind him and putting a good yard of space between us and the Dragunov Pack Patriarch. Men dressed in solid black move into the room, bearing black body bags.

ALEXEI VOLKOV
"You're here to clean-up?" I ask. "Why?"

NIKOLAI DRAGUNOV (MENTIONED)
"I apologize, my son got into a fight with a hunter, and thus he chose his own fate. I do not wish to bring war among us. If Natalia wishes to lie with one of your kind, that is her business."

NATALIA MOROZOVA
"I do not understand. My not wishing to be with Viktor did not stop you before."

NIKOLAI DRAGUNOV (MENTIONED)
He sighs. "No, it did not. And don't mistake my present actions for kindness, Natalia. Had you not allied yourself with our foe, I would have had you wed my son. We need our bloodline to secure itself, and now it won't. At least, not until my youngest is of an age he can go find himself a mate.
The men leave the apartment, both with a body bag slung over their shoulder—and I'm left stunned at the behavior of one of the most dangerous shifters I've ever encountered.

ALEXEI VOLKOV
As soon as the apartment is empty again, Nikolai turns his attention to me. "Hunter, I hear you lost someone."

I bristle. "How do you know that?"

NIKOLAI DRAGUNOV (MENTIONED)
"I prefer to know who my enemies are, Mr. Volkov." He speaks in a low tone and steps forward, offering me a small card. "If you still require answers to your questions, this is the place to go." He glances at Natalia. "You understand what choosing a hunter will cost you, Natalia. My pack can't spare to lose any others, so we won't be coming for you.". But don't expect the same mercy from anyone else. Hunter or shifter, it's all the same."

ALEXEI VOLKOV
And with that, he turns and leaves the apartment, shutting the door softly behind him.

NATALIA MOROZOVA
"Are you ready for this?" I ask him. "For what everything means?"

ALEXEI VOLKOV
"Us?"

NATALIA MOROZOVA
I nod.

ALEXEI VOLKOV
More than. If it requires kicking a few extra asses than normal, I'll take it as honing my craft." I glance at the simple white card.

NATALIA MOROZOVA
"I could use some lessons in the art of ass-kicking."

ALEXEI VOLKOV
"I'm happy to teach you." I put the card on the counter behind us and focus on her. "I care for you, Natalia. And I never thought I'd feel this way again."

ALEXEI VOLKOV
NATALIA SLEEPING TUCKED INTO MY SIDE, I lie on my back and stare up at the ceiling, wide awake. Not because of the fight that took place earlier or the visit from the Dragunov leader.

No, my mind is running a million miles a minute, and I can think of nothing other than what he said to me and the card he gave me. There is nothing on it but an address; no name, no number. No hint as to who—or what—will be waiting for us when we get there. 

"If you still want your questions answered, this is where you need to go." 

NATALIA MOROZOVA
Can't sleep?" I ask, my own voice heavy with tiredness.

ALEXEI VOLKOV
"No."

NATALIA MOROZOVA
"Why?"

ALEXEI VOLKOV
"I need to tell you something." I sit up and turn on the lamp next to me. The room is bathed in light, and Natalia's eyes blink rapidly as she shakes the sleep out of them.

NATALIA MOROZOVA
"What is it?" I ask, yawning.

ALEXEI VOLKOV
"The woman I was in love with before, Alina Petrovna. She was killed by a pack of shifters two years ago."

NATALIA MOROZOVA
I sit up with a start and pull the blankets to my chest. "Do you know who?
I breathe deeply, ready to tell her everything. If I've discovered one thing in the past few weeks, it's that secrets can kill. But then, if I had told Alya's sister, Yelena, everything from the start, I might not be sitting here now. With Natalia. "I don't know, but that's why I went last night."

NATALIA MOROZOVA
"To The Blood Moon Gala?"

ALEXEI VOLKOV
"Yes. I was trying to try and get answers. I thought if I could get them, I could provide her sister with some closure. Yelena's the one I was trying to call before." I pinch the bridge of my nose. "When Yelena found out I knew her sister—well, let's just say it didn't go all that well."

NATALIA MOROZOVA
"Why are you telling me all this?"

ALEXEI VOLKOV
I reach out and take one of her hands in mine. "I have to be completely honest with you, Natalia. I don't want to have secrets. I was in love with Alina. When she died, I didn't think I would ever be able to move on—but then I met you last night, and for the first time, I think I might be happy.
"Even though I know it was my type that killed her?"

ALEXEI VOLKOV
"It wasn't you," I say to her, leaning forward to cup her cheek with my other hand. "And that's all that matters to me. You're a good person, Natalia. You have a good heart, and I want to see where this will lead."

NATALIA MOROZOVA
"The card Nikolai gave you. Does that have something to do with this?"

ALEXEI VOLKOV
"I don't know," I answer honestly. "There's an address but not much more."

NATALIA MOROZOVA
"Will you let me help you?"

ALEXEI VOLKOV
"With what?"

NATALIA MOROZOVA
"Finding your answers."

ALEXEI VOLKOV
"You'd do that?"

NATALIA MOROZOVA
"There's nothing I wouldn't do for you," I tell him. "I told you last night at The Blood Moon Gala. I'll never let go, Alexei."

ALEXEI VOLKOV
I smile at her, my strength in this woman—the support—it's more than I ever thought I'd have again.

My phone rings beside me. I answer it and glance at the screen. Yelena's name is on it, and elation surges through me, because now I can say I have a lead. That I might know who killed her sister.

"Yelena, you won't believe what—"

VAMPIRE (UNNAMED)
"Hunter." The deep voice on the other end of the phone is not Yelena's—but one I know and have tried really fucking hard to forget.

ALEXEI VOLKOV
"Vampire," I nearly growl the word.

VAMPIRE (UNNAMED)
"We've got a problem, and I need your help."

ALEXEI VOLKOV
Fear crowds out any other emotion, and I rise. "Where's Yelena?"

VAMPIRE (UNNAMED)
"That would be the problem, Hunter. I don't know."

ALEXEI VOLKOV
"What do you mean you don't know? What the hell happened?"

VAMPIRE (UNNAMED)
"It's a long story, and one I won't tell over the phone."

ALEXEI VOLKOV
"Text me an address." I look over at Natalia, who's studying me with a questioning expression as I hang up.

NATALIA MOROZOVA
"Who was that?"

ALEXEI VOLKOV
"Yelena's missing." The words are a punch to my gut.

NATALIA MOROZOVA
"And a vampire told you this? You trust him?"

ALEXEI VOLKOV
I glance at my phone as a text message with a strange address pops up on the screen. "Where it concerns Yelena, I'd trust this one."

NATALIA MOROZOVA
I push the covers aside. "Then, let's go."

ALEXEI VOLKOV
Losing Alina was the worst thing that has ever happened to me. It went beyond just losing someone I loved, however. I failed her…in the worst possible way. Natalia starts to pull on her gown, but I rummage through my drawer and toss her a pair of grey sweats and a loose-fitting t-shirt.

"In case you don't want to wear that. We can stop and get some clothes for you first thing in the morning."

NATALIA MOROZOVA
"Thanks. I'd rather never have to wear that damn thing again."

ALEXEI VOLKOV
Natalia dresses, and I do the same, making sure to take my weapons.

The Blood Moon Gala led Natalia into my life. It gave me a second chance at happiness—at love. Now it is time to help give Yelena hers.