The Hunting Party Read online

  The Hunting Party (Dusk & Dawn 2)

  Alexa Piper

  All rights reserved.

  Copyright ©2020 Alexa Piper

  BIN: 009427-03054

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  Publisher:

  Changeling Press LLC

  315 N. Centre St.

  Martinsburg, WV 25404

  www.ChangelingPress.com

  Editor: Jean Cooper

  Cover Artist: Bryan Keller

  Adult Sexual Content

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  Table of Contents

  The Hunting Party (Dawn & Dusk 2)

  Introduction

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Glossary

  Alexa Piper

  The Hunting Party (Dawn & Dusk 2)

  Alexa Piper

  Maxim would love nothing more than to marry the woman he loves, in peace and without distractions, but a series of uncanny murders in the hunter’s city demands his attention.

  Meanwhile, Heath is excited to plan Maxim’s and Robyn’s wedding. While he does that, he will have to learn to make time for his own budding relationship with Brian.

  When Robyn’s bachelorette party ends in more murder, no one is happy. Yet all are willing to combine their efforts to end the bloodshed for good, so the wedding can be had, along with a happily-ever-after.

  Introduction

  Hundreds of years ago, Werewolves, Fae, and Vampires collectively decided to step out of the murky depths of myth and fairy tale and reveal themselves to human society, preferring to live next to, rather than apart from, humans. However supernatural minorities, such as lesser deities and household guardians known as Lares, as well as human seers and shamans, remain unseen by humans in a mostly human world, even today.

  Chapter 1

  Four Months Ago

  Morgan’s Restaurant And Wine Bar

  43 Ruthaven

  Brian had tried for so long, had made so very certain that nothing was ever amiss where Heath was concerned. No bouquet of flowers ever wilted in the vases Brian regularly put in Heath’s apartment, no cleaning chore was left unattended by the staff, no message taken and forgotten. Brian had even seen to it that the people Heath brought home -- if the dhampire did indeed choose to bring a person home -- were treated courteously or turned away at the door when they came back to call on Heath, and they did. Entirely too many for Brian’s taste had returned to try and win Heath’s heart.

  But of course it was understandable. Heath’s eyes were a delight of dark blue, the hues of two sapphires fit for the altar or the temple crown of a shrine maiden. Heath’s eyes made Brian dream of sacrificial fires and their soothing smoke. And in Morgan’s, not at all that far into their second date, Brian found himself considering flames and heat and many a smoldering thing he and Heath could do.

  “So we are really trying this?” Heath’s voice pulled Brian out of the imagined flames and back into their conversation.

  Brian smiled at the dhampire, who looked like he was trying to work out a riddle in his head, not like he was on a date. Brian reached for Heath’s hand across the table. “We are really trying this. And I know you need your space, so don’t worry about that.”

  Oh, Brian did know about Heath’s need for space. After all, Brian had spent years trying to invade that space in increments. But now that he was being offered it, the Lar swore to the heat of prayer that he would cherish every square, every breath, every nook that made up that space that was Heath.

  Brian was also more than a little aware that Robyn, or Y Robyn as Maxim preferred to call her, had been the one to give Heath the push he needed, and Brian was grateful. And on top of being a welcome help with winning Heath, Robyn had moved in and offered offerings.

  “Okay, then,” Heath said. “We’re trying this.” The dhampire reaffirmed his words with a nod. A moment later, his eyes drifted to the distance over Brian’s left shoulder before he began to fidget with the little pot of yellow pansies at the center of their table.

  “Are you thinking about how to fit a relationship into your calendar?” Brian asked.

  That made Heath cringe a tiny bit, and in cringing, he laced his fingers with Brian’s, finally, and looked back into the Lar’s eyes. “No? Well, yes, but it wasn’t the topmost concern. But it’s a consideration, of course. I wouldn’t want to not make time. Making time is important.”

  And that warmed Brian’s face. “You’re important,” he said.

  Before Heath could pull his jaw back up or respond, a noise from the bar to their right broke the moment.

  “Oh, what the fuck?” Heath said, turned his head and narrowed his eyes.

  * * *

  “Vampire hearing?” Brian said. He stretched his own senses, but nothing seemed wrong with 43 Ruthaven. If anything, the building felt extraordinarily cheerful to Brian.

  “Yeah. You have got to be kidding me,” Heath said. He stood, walked over to the bar, pulled his upper body on it so he could look over. Out of curiosity, Brian followed suit.

  “What the fuck are you two clowns doing behind the bar?” Heath said.

  Robyn and Maxim were huddled under the bar, and Brian recognized they were having a moment. The Lar had seen such things before and could recognize when time slowed just a fraction, when the light brightened just an increment, when the air grew lighter and sweeter. He smiled.

  “Marry me,” Maxim said, reinforcing Brian’s assessment of the situation.

  Robyn stared. She looked back and forth between Maxim and Heath while Brian felt barely able to contain his elation. They are getting married! A wedding, here, between Maxim and Robyn! Naturally, she had to say the words, and it was clear she was having trouble with that.

  Brian wanted to rush off and fetch her chrysanthemums. He found those were ever calming and good for clearing the mind.

  Before the Lar could move a muscle, Heath spoke, steady and perfect. “You had to go and break him, didn’t you?” the dhampire said. “You break it, you keep it, Robyn. Now, don’t let my dad wait to hear you say it.”

  And that seemed to work on Robyn just as well as the chrysanthemums would have, because Brian watched in wonderment at her eyes catching fire, at the flowers blooming in her cheeks. “Yes. Oh, yes, yes, yes,” she said.

  Maxim and Robyn naturally sank into the depths of a kiss after that. Brian wished them bliss, swore that
he would do whatever he could do to guard that bliss. First and foremost, he would never ever again let Robyn take the subway.

  “Heath,” Brian said, reached for Heath’s wrist, and spun the dhampire toward him. “Kiss me.”

  Heath’s eyes were slightly glistening with joyful tears, and his breath tasted sweet. It sang of joy and spring flowers, of dew and first sunlight. Heath opened his mouth to Brian, and Brian, loving the trust almost more than the activity itself, explored. Gentle, lips on lips, and tongues entangling. Eager, teeth, nipping and teasing, bodies drawing closer. It was so much better than anything Brian could have ever imagined, because it was real.

  Then, Brian broke that kiss apart, looked at those darkened eyes. “You should plan their wedding,” he said.

  Heath’s face lit up at that suggestion. “Oh! Oh. You wouldn’t… I mean, would you mind? I’d have to get it right. Which might take time.” Heath ran a hand through his sandy blond hair.

  Brian shrugged. “I think you have to. There is no one better.” Which was true. And of course Heath could be trusted to get the details right and to let Brian weigh in on the flower arrangements.

  Heath cleared his throat. “Excuse me for just a second.” He dashed back to the bar. “Erm. Robyn? Can I be your wedding planner?”

  Brian leaned over the bar as well. Maxim had Robyn cradled in his arms, his eyes full of adoration.

  Robyn was no different. She didn’t look at Heath when she said, “Sure. If Maxim doesn’t mind?”

  “What you will, my love. Whatever you will,” said Maxim to his bride-to-be.

  That made Brian happy for her, even if Maxim’s wedding proposal under the bar had lacked, well, pretty much everything a wedding proposal should have, flowers just for a start.

  “Great, that’s settled, then,” Heath said. He turned to Brian and grinned.

  Maxim got to his feet, and in a deeply chivalrous flourish, he pulled Robyn up into his arms. “Let us leave the lovebirds to lofty longing and laborious lust, my love,” he said.

  Robyn wreathed her arms around the vampire’s shoulders. “Only if you labor for my lust and lavish me with your longing.”

  “You two are so nerdy together,” Heath said as Maxim carried Robyn out of Morgan’s. “Please remember to put a fucking sock on the door, though. And congratulations!”

  Brian planted another kiss on Heath’s cheek. “I don’t think they can hear you.”

  Heath sighed. “And I don’t think they would listen if they could. I swear they are like teenagers. I’m gonna get her a stripper. The hottest stripper I can find. We’ll have to do some stripper sampling. It could be a date?”

  Brian pulled Heath close to himself for a kiss that bruised the dhampire’s lips with desire and said, “It’s a date.”

  Heath’s face lit up, and Brian had rarely seen anything more beautiful. Not even a primrose in bloom came close.

  They would look at strippers together. Brian was looking forward to finding out what else they might share.

  * * *

  Heath was in heaven, metaphorically speaking. Literally speaking, he was sitting behind his desk, had a new notebook ready and a few interesting shades of magic marker, and he had just written the first heading on the first to-do list for the wedding. A crystal vase on Heath’s desk held the heavy heads of parrot tulips. The bouquets Brian put there had gotten ever more elaborate since their second date at Morgan’s the other day.

  Y Robyn had wisely agreed to marry Maxim, and Heath was allowed to plan it all -- all of it, all the details from flowers to strippers, everything. Oh, and he would get Robyn that stripper. It was already on the list, the one he had secretly started the day, the very same hour, Robyn had agreed to marry Maxim while hiding behind a bar with him so they could observe Brian’s and Heath’s second date. Clowns, the both of them. But at least they’ll be clowns together.

  Heath would also get to teach Y Robyn the arcane mechanics and intricacies of vampire law as it pertained to humans who decided to marry one, and he was looking forward to writing up summaries for her and citing things and making sure she understood all the documents she would have to sign. That all would be so much fun!

  But more than anything, Heath was excited about dating Brian and taking the Lar on a date that required him to leave the house, not a small step.

  Come to think of it, going on a date with Brian should probably be on the top of any list I make from here on out.

  They were going to look at strippers together, though, and the stripper was on the top of the list, so Heath figured that was just as well for a start, and in future, he’d have Brian’s name there first.

  * * *

  Three months ago

  Penthouse apartment

  43 Ruthaven

  Maxim was torn. Y Robyn flush against him, her naked skin scenting his sheets with her distinct flavor of crushed cardamom pods was wonderful. Her warm breath on his arm was wonderful. The way she had fallen asleep like this was wonderful. But then, waking her up so he could make love to her again would also be wonderful.

  Heath would accuse me of things involving colorful verbiage. He would not be fully wrong.

  After all, humans needed regular sleep, and Y Robyn was fully human. With the amount of stamina Maxim liked to bring to the bedroom, her getting her sleep was important. And he had exhausted her earlier, had first lavished her with touch that had brought her close several times before he had proceeded to taste her, bringing her close again and again, and by that time, he had found it difficult to control himself. But he had controlled himself in order to draw out their pleasure and to hear Robyn’s quivering voice beg for him to fill her, to finally take her and allow her release. He had kneeled and pulled her up so she was facing him, and then he had filled her and moments later had felt her coming, had watched her face. Then, finally, he had let go of himself, and it had been wonderful.

  That had been almost three hours ago, and Maxim’s mind shifted back to how he might kiss her awake, taste her breath, watch as her eyes opened to the small hours of the morning. Or night, depending on one’s philosophical stance.

  From waking to wanton whimpering for wild warmth wandering to your willing, willful, and white-knuckled pleasure.

  Oh, and Maxim could already taste that pleasure, but he knew it was, of course, good to have Y Robyn fully rested so he could exhaust her again.

  Maybe I should sneeze, not that I sneeze. Or groan at the onset of a rhetorical headache, and having you so near without being able to crush you to me, Y Robyn, is certainly giving me one.

  And then, Maxim’s phone beeped, pulling him fully from his dilemma.

  Sweet bodily refuse.

  Y Robyn stirred at the sound, but didn’t wake, and Maxim did his best to extricate his arm from under her head without pulling her from dream’s embrace, grabbed his phone off the nightstand, and turned very carefully so the screen’s bright light wouldn’t disturb his sleeping bride-to-be.

  When he read the text, he really felt like hissing out odorous curses into their dark bedroom, but that was not the way to wake his fiancée. Instead, he got himself out of bed without further disturbing her, made sure she was snug under the sheet, then draped the duvet over her just in case she got cold.

  Maxim went to the walk-in closet silently and got dressed in his hunter’s blacks. The urge to brush a kiss across Y Robyn’s cheek before he left her was strong, but any desire he’d had to rouse her had vanished, and he wouldn’t risk disturbing her now, not when he had to go on an errand.

  So instead, he left their penthouse, silent as a castle ruin’s shadow.

  * * *

  Heath had dozed off, but he woke quickly when the elevator dinged. He stretched, yawned, ran his fingers through his hair, then checked the time on his computer screen.

  “Four fifteen in the fucking morning. This better be good, old bat.”

  Maxim, minding his timing, pushed the door to Heath’s office inward just then.

  “Darling,
” Maxim said, grinning. “You are still up. Do I need to make a habit of tucking you in again? It is ever so important for parents to enforce proper sleep habits in their children, and it does look like I failed you.” Maxim walked into the room, glancing at Heath’s charts and collages. Then he walked around Heath’s desk and looked over his son’s shoulder. “Have you been up all night looking at bridal gowns on Pinterest?”

  “Of course I have. My best friend is getting married, and it looks like she only gets to do it once, so if I have any say in the matter, it will be the dream wedding, the wedding of weddings, and I swear to you, if you ruin this for Y… I mean, if you ruin this for Robyn, I will never forgive you, so back the fuck off.”

  Maxim lifted his hands in front of him defensively. “I would never ruin my bride’s wedding, nor my son’s wedding planning. What kind of crude specimen do you take me for, my darling boy? Is this your second set of magic markers already, Heath, dear?”

  “Shut up, Maxim.”

  “You cannot make me do anything, because you need me to behave for the wedding, no?” Maxim smiled the innocent smile of a cutthroat debutante.

  “You’re a fucking ass, Maxim. And you fucking woke me at four in the fucking morning, and you didn’t even bring me coffee. What in the motherfucking fuck?”

  Maxim walked back to Heath’s seating chart. “For the first thing, there are no Deckers on this chart other than yourself. You didn’t lose their address again, did you?”

  Heath blinked the sleepiness away. “You want me to invite the Deckers? That holier-than-thou bunch of British beast busters?”

  Maxim walked back over to Heath and ruffled the dhampire’s hair, which was matted where he’d dropped his head on his arms when he’d dozed off.

  “They are family and your mother loved them, so yes, of course you are inviting them,” Maxim said. “And you will make pleasant conversation with your first cousins, however much removed they may be. I’m sure if you really try, you’ll even be able to manage a smile or two.”