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“No. As you know, I’m a falcon-shifter. We are solitary by nature. I like having my own place. It’s a smuggler’s cottage not too far from here.”
Hunter nodded. “What brought you here?”
Mercy’s eyes flicked to him; her lips set in a tight line. “That’s none of your business.”
Hunter shrugged, his gaze still probing. “I find it interesting that someone who works alone as both an airborne sentry anda librarian happens to be here when a fae-shifter shows up. It’s more than coincidence.”
Mercy’s jaw tightened, her gaze dropping to the floor for a moment before lifting to meet his again. “Coincidence or not, I’m here to help.” Her tone was defensive, guarded, but there was something else beneath the surface. “If you’re so curious, why don’t you start by telling me about the altercation? The more I know, the better chance we have of figuring out what’s going on with her.”
Hunter’s eyes narrowed. Mercy wasn’t exactly forthcoming, but he understood the need for caution. He was the same way, after all. Still, the situation demanded cooperation. "The witch and vampire I was hunting had her tied down, siphoning her life force. It wasn’t just about draining her power—they were taking something more, something fundamental. When I intervened, I had to choose between getting her out of there or finishing them off. I was able to get her away before they could finish the job. By the time I got to her and got her out, she was like this. I saw a light on in the library so I figured it was the best choice to find help.”
Mercy studied the unconscious woman, her expression darkening. “It doesn’t make sense,” she muttered, almost to herself. “Why would a fae even be up here, in the human realm? They avoid it like the plague.”
Hunter nodded in agreement. "That’s the real question. It’s rare for anyone to have contact with the fae, and when they do, it’s not like this. They have their own realm, their own rules. The fae have never been interested in human affairs. Usually, I only encounter those who have been banished from the realm, have become bounty hunters, or are set on some kind of vengeance.”
Mercy sighed, running a hand through her hair. "So, why is she here? Why would a fae-shifter risk leaving the safety of her own realm?"
Hunter crossed his arms, his mind working through the puzzle. “There’s no real reason I can think of. Or at least none I want to consider. Fae aren’t banished for no reason, and a vengeful or bounty-hunting fae can be incredibly dangerous. I just get the feeling she wasn’t here by choice. She was brought here.”
Mercy’s eyes snapped to him, her expression sharpening. "Kidnapped? By the vampire and the witch? How would they do that?"
Hunter nodded. “Unknown. But it would explain the ritual. Fae magic is powerful. If they were able to tap into her life force, they could use it for their own purposes.”
Mercy’s brows furrowed, and she glanced back at the woman in the bed. "That kind of power could be dangerous in the wrong hands."
"Exactly," Hunter replied, his voice tight with the gravity of the situation. "It’s not just about killing rogue vampires anymore. We’re dealing with something much bigger."
Mercy turned to him, her eyes hard. "I’m not working with you, Hunter. You might think we’re on the same side because we both want to solve this mystery, but I’m not about to team up with a vampire."
Hunter’s expression remained calm, but there was a glimmer of something deeper in his eyes—amusement, perhaps, or maybe intrigue. "I didn’t say we had to be best friends. But you can’t deny that we’re after the same thing right now. You need my help just as much as I need yours."
Mercy scoffed, rolling her eyes. "I don’t need anything from you. I’ll figure this out on my own. Everything seems to be under control here, so why don’t you crawl back into whatever hole you came out of?"
Hunter’s gaze darkened at her sharp dismissal, but rather than backing down, he stepped closer, closing the distancebetween them with deliberate slowness. There was something predatory in his movements, a quiet power that he wielded without effort. Mercy tensed as he approached, her instincts flaring. She took a step back, but before she could react, Hunter’s body was pressed against hers, pinning her back against the cold stone wall.
Her breath hitched in her throat as she found herself trapped, Hunter’s body towering over her. His eyes, cool and unyielding, bore into hers, but beneath the surface, there was a heat—an intensity that ignited something in her that she seemed to be trying desperately to ignore.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Mercy spat, her voice low and dangerous.
Hunter leaned in, his whisper cool against her ear, “Admit it, Mercy. You feel it, too.”
Mercy
Her heart pounded in her chest, her body reacting to his proximity in ways that infuriated her. He was too close, his presence overwhelming, and yet she couldn’t deny the pull between them. It was there, undeniable, like a live wire humming beneath the surface of her skin. There were some similarities to how someone would feel when encountering one’s fated mate, but like the vampire himself, it was justoff.
"You’re delusional," she hissed, her voice trembling with barely contained fury.
Hunter’s lips curved into a slow, knowing smile. "Am I?" He shifted slightly, pressing his body more firmly against hers, trapping her in place. "You can pretend all you want, but we bothknow there’s something between us. You feel it just as much as I do."
Mercy clenched her fists at her sides, her nails digging into her palms as she fought to keep her composure. "You don’t know anything about me."
"I know enough," Hunter murmured, his voice a dark, dangerous whisper. "I know you’re scared. Scared of what this means. Scared of what you’re feeling."
Mercy’s eyes flashed with anger, and she shoved against him, but he didn’t budge. His strength was overwhelming, his body a solid wall of muscle and power. Her heart raced, adrenaline surging through her veins, but no matter how hard she tried to fight it, the truth was there, staring her in the face.
She was scared. Scared of him, of this connection that she didn’t fully understand and refused to accept. Scared of what it meant for her, for them.
"Let me go," she demanded, her voice trembling with frustration.
