Her features looked perfect while she slept. Perfect. She was curled up on the bed like a ball, her long dark hair falling over her face like a curtain, leaving only part of her face to be seen. Her long eyelashes rested on her rosy cheeks and he missed seeing her bright hazel eyes. She stirred a bit, pushing her lips into a pout before relaxing them again.
He was careful not to get too close, from the news Imelda had given him, Hunt seemed to be spending majority of his time with her. It bothered him. Deeply. But he knew it was the only way he could protect her. As much as he hated Hunt Adler, he wouldn't deny the fact that the Alpha Lycan would go to great lengths for his family and his pack.
Hunt Adler would protect her, should the need arise.
She stirred again in her sleep. Her eyelids fluttering frantically as if she was in some kind of dream. He wondered if it had anything to do with what Azure had done. He hoped it didn't give her nightmares.
He moved closer to the glass as he watched her from the balcony, throwing caution to the wind and forgetting that Hunt Adler could appear at any moment. He wished he could get a closer look.
Maybe he could.
He told himself as he held the balcony glass door, trying to gently push it open.
At that very moment his ears picked up a movement in front of her bedroom door, Hunt was coming back to her bedroom.
That was all the warning Aidas needed. Aidas Vladimir disappeared with the midnight breeze, almost as if he had never been there.
Something was off. Hunt noticed as he gently walked back into Candy's room. She was still fast asleep, unaware of whatever had happened. He turned instinctively to the balcony, he could have sworn he felt somebody was there.
He rushed to the balcony letting open the doors as quickly as he could. He took a whiff of the air and he growled deeply.
"Vampire." he growled as he shook his head. A vampire had been in her balcony. He could smell them, he could identify most supernaturals by smell.
"Hunt? What's going on?"
A sleepy Lacey asked as she rubbed her sleep filled eyes. Hunt was only in his underwear, his powerful muscled back and strong legs left on display. She had woken up partially because of the ruckus he was making and the dream she was having.
He ignored her as she walked farther into her balcony, examining it with great scrutiny.
She sat up slowly, fear rising in her throat.
"What's going on?"
She asked nervously and Hunt shook his head.
"It's nothing. I thought I heard something."
He murmured and Lacey leapt out of bed.
"Are you sure?"
She asked and he shook his head and turned back to her. He held her reassuringly.
"Go back to bed Candy. It's nothing. I promise."
Lacey was still unsure. It could be Aidas, he was always finding a way into her apartment. Or that girl, Azure, the one who attacked her. What if she was coming back to finish what she had started?
Lacey thought. Hunt had no idea what was going on. And she didn't want him to get hurt trying to defend her.
He didn't know what she was up against.
"Hunt..."
"It's nothing. It's just my imagination. Come, let's go back to bed okay?"
He reassured her and she nodded.
"Want me to get you a glass of water?"
He asked as he tucked her in bed and she nodded.
"Good. I'll go get you some water. You try and relax."
"Okay."
He left her side and walked towards the Balcony doors making sure he double locked it before walking out of her room.
What was a vampire doing in Candy's balcony?
Was it looking for him? Or Candy?
He couldn't understand it.
He had been on a call with Suna, they were both talking about the murders and also the fact that another full moon was approaching.
He would have to leave soon, but he didn't want to leave Candy without drawing suspicions. Or leave her alone when there was a possible threat of a vampire around.
He had to find a way to protect her.
"And is Hunt alright with me doing this?"
Aidas taunted as he studied the autopsy reports. Suna ignored him, he only wanted to rattle her to get more information, she knew his tricks.
"If you must know, he doesn't know."
She replied and Aidas raised an eyebrow.
"Okay... Well... There must be a reason you chose to exclude him. Wouldn't you care to share?"
"Did you find anything else in the reports?"
She asked blatantly ignoring his question.
"I honestly promise I won't tell."
He added and Suna sighed.
"Can you stop please? From what I know, the murders happen weekly. We've managed to protect everyone we think is on the murderer's list but we don't know just how safe they might be. We need to work fast!"
"And you, you need to start giving me some more answers instead of half truths. You need to start giving me something more tangible."
Aidas snapped.
"If you want my help."
He added and he walked away from Suna, leaving her breathless.
After a while, she caved to his demands.
"Okay! Only other thing we know or we think we know is that this thing... Whatever it is, it's targeting founding families."
Oh. Aidas said in realisation as he started to connect the dots.
That was the reason she was making hasty decisions and alliances with him.
To protect her Alpha...
Because Hunt was an Adler. And everyone knew Adlers were part of the founding families.
And judging by her frustrations, Hunt was most likely not abiding with all the safety instructions that he was given.
That is, since he still managed to be in Lacey's apartment when he dropped by.
When Imelda had told him that they were together he had dismissed the information. He failed to admit it deeply bothered him. After all, it was what he wanted.
He could have told Lacey that Hunt was a Lycan she would have stayed away from him.
But no, he had made the silly mistake of leaving out that part so would push her into his arms.
"Is that why you're in such a hurry to wrap this up? To save your Alpha?"
Adidas scoffed as he tapped her office table impatiently.
"What makes your think that I'll help now that I know Hunt is involved."
Suna shrugged.
"If there's one thing I know... You play fair. Or at least you pretend to. And we don't really know if these killings will ever stop. We just have to catch the demon quickly."
"Well... We need to to talk to the Coucil then."
"Why?"
Suna asked and Aidas chuckled as he paced around the room.
"Isn't it obvious? Whoever is doing this as a personal vendetta against the founding families... Question is... What is it?"
"Are you sure that's what it is though?"
Suna stroked her chin. She couldn't believe that someone would want to wipe out the whole of the founding families just because of a decision or a law they made.
"Oh, just before the City's Council was established, the founding families made all the rules and laws that guided the city. And let's just say they weren't always fair in their judgement."
"So... Are you telling me that we have to trace decades and decades of laws just to find out what pissed this person off?'
She asked incredulously and Adidas shook his head, still lost in thoughts.
"Not necessarily. You'd be surprised at just how many laws the City Council allows the founding families pass. The city council isn't entirely in control."
"What does that mean?"
"Well...it means we have a lot of work to do. And since we now know it's a demon, we can look for where it's been summoned."
"How will we do that?"
Suna asked and Aidas pointed to a Map.
"Summoning a demon is a very powerful thing. Most of the time, it requires an ancient site with significant meaning, like a place of battle with bloodshed and terrible history. Or, the former slips and cracks in the veil where our world was connected to the Underworld."
"The council..."
Suna started and Aidas turned to look at her sharply.
"What do you know?"
"They keep records. All kinds of records. Hunt once told me they documented and guarded all the sites that were once connected to the Underworld."
"We need those records."
Adidas replied and Suna nodded.
"It's pretty confidential. And trust me, no one in the council will want to give us. Even if we beg for it. Those sites... So many witches died closing the cracks... It's a touchy subject for many."
"Hmmmm.... Who can at least help us get access to them?"
Suna shook her head wearily. There was only one person she knew that was brave enough to defy the council's orders without them even knowing about it.
Only one person that the council unwittingly trusted with too much information.
"Hunt. He's the only one who can get us access to it."
There was a short pause before Aidas tapped on the table impatiently with a hand on his waist.
"What are you waiting for? Call him!"
Suna hesitated.
"I don't know... I haven't told him that much about the case. If he knows we're working together..."
"Ugh! Suna, this is more important than his fragile ego. Put a call through him and make something up."
She nodded after a while. Hastily picking up her phone to put the call through.
Hunt picked after the first ring.
"Hunt..."
"Can you believe them! Can you fucking believe them!"
Hunt screamed into the phone and Suna became confused.
"What? Who? What's going on Hunt?"
She mumbled impatiently and he kept on ranting incorrigibly for the next few seconds.
"Hunt! Just calm down and tell me what happened! What the fuck happened!"
She shouted and he finally seemed to hear her as he sighed deeply.
With the amused smile on Aidas face, Suna was positive he was listening in on their conversation, something which she couldn't help because he had super hearing abilities.
"It's the fucking stupid council. They've chosen a third candidate for Mayor."
Hello! I hope you're all enjoying the book. Please please leave a nice comment. Thank you!!