Courted: A Paranormal Romance (Midnight Huntress Book 2) Read online

  I don’t like the wildcards. I don’t like not knowing the outcome to a situation.

  And I don’t like that Eranear became a distraction, someone I wanted to keep safe.

  Another potion grenade explodes, this time colliding with my back, and I yowl in pain as the blast sends me flying off my feet, into Eranear, taking him down to the pavement with me.

  Wherever the shifter is, I hope he’s faring better than I am.

  I bellow out a war cry as I get back onto my feet, and I draw on every last reserve of energy I have to get into the minds of the nearest enforcers.

  “We are not your enemy. Your enemy is S.E.A. The blood you seek, the vengeance and death you are after, lies with them, not with us. The two men, battered and bleeding on the steps of the motel, are nothing more than humans. Nothing more dangerous than children playing make believe.” The lies roll off me as quickly as I can think them, filling the enforcers with nonsense.

  Hopefully giving us enough time to at least get down the stairs. At least get somewhere somewhat safe.

  My heart is in my throat as I wait to see if my magic will work on the supernaturals sent here to kill Eranear.

  I can’t abandon him here, even though it would be easier to convince these men and women that I don’t even exist.

  For better or worse, I’m not getting out of here without Eranear.

  The panther though? He’s on his own.

  My influence seems to wash over the enforcers like a ripple.

  One by one, they lower their weapons.

  They turn on each other.

  I can’t move, I can barely breathe, until they open fire on one another.

  As soon as I know the ballistic spells aren’t headed my way, I bend and scoop Eranear up, draping him over my shoulders in a position most mortals refer to as the fireman carry.

  The damned demon isn’t light.

  I stay crouched low as I move over the parking lot, not trusting the firepower to not draw more enemies our way.

  Eranear’s weak, I can feel it, even as I lower him into the backseat of my car and snake my way around to the driver’s seat. I start the engine and get the car in gear. I peel out of the parking space and onto the road. I swerve through the various S.E.A. agents on my way out of the parking lot, but one in particular catches my eye.

  A redhead I swear I’ve seen before. Only this time, she’s covered from neck to fingertips, as if she’s intent on hiding her body.

  She’s not someone I’ve fed on before. I’d remember her taste on my tongue, with those fiery eyes. But I know I’ve seen her somewhere.

  Eranear groans, and I break my focus on the redhead.

  She’s no one, a distraction.

  And I’ve had more than enough of those for the day.

  “You going to make it? I’m not giving you head to help bolster your energies.”

  He lets out a weak laugh. “Just get me to Ryanne. Please.”

  I shake my head, wondering what it is about this woman that’s got a shifter and an incubus all tied in knots.

  Pulling out the panther’s cell phone, I open the screen and purse my lips, trying to figure out where these mythical coordinates might be. Luckily, it seems he recently plugged them into the map app, and the GPS starts talking almost immediately when I click on it.

  For a moment, I think maybe we should try to find the cat, get him out of the firefight too, but he’s an enforcer. Maybe one on the outs, one that’s going to end up fired or worse before the night’s done, but an enforcer.

  And that’s more than enough reason for me to leave the man behind.

  Of course, the fact that Eranear’s looking pale and sickly helps make the decision even easier.

  The cabin’s dark by the time we pull up, and a glance at the clock tells me that it’s after two in the morning. Too early, or too late, depending on which way you look at it, for any sort of polite reception.

  Hell, I don’t even know that I’m in the right place. What if this is just an S.E.A. trap? Something set up by the panther and his friends, to ensure that one way or another, Eranear ends up in chains, starving until he’s withered away to nothing?

  The incubus sits up and his lips curve up into a weak smile. “Ryanne.”

  I guess I’m about to go ruin somebody’s night.

  Invitation Only

  RYANNE

  The pounding on the door wakes me from a dead sleep.

  For the first time in a while, I hadn’t suffered any nightmares. It seems that as long as I’m sandwiched between Brandis and Tyler, and well fucked, my brain doesn’t go there.

  Or maybe my brain just knew somehow that the nightmare tonight was going to be real.

  Brandis beats me to the door, completely naked and semi-erect.

  “Go back to Tyler.” He tries to wave me off.

  The curtains gap just enough I can just make out Eranear in the dark.

  “Brandis, open the door. Now.” My heart leaps into my throat as I realize that Eran’s not standing on his own. He looks like he’s barely breathing.

  Brandis opens the door just a sliver. “Who are you, and how did you find me?”

  “My name’s Hayden. The panther sent us.” He holds up Gage’s cell phone. “You don’t have to invite me in. I wouldn’t blame you if you don’t. But if there’s something you can do for Eranear, please, help him.”

  I push Brandis back and pull the door open wide. “What the fuck happened? How did he end up like this?”

  “Ryanne, don’t let him in.” Brandis goes out onto the porch and takes the brunt of Eranear’s weight from Hayden. “How do I know you didn’t influence Gage into giving you that? Where is the panther?”

  I shake my head as Brandis brings Eran over the threshold. “What is your problem? Hayden brought us Eranear.”

  “You don’t know what he is, Ryanne. Please, trust me on this.”

  “What your bear doesn’t want to say is that I’m a vampire. He undoubtedly believes, much like your panther does, that I’m a monster, and that I’ll feast on you until you’re dry if I cross this threshold.” Hayden shakes his head, as if it’s an argument he’s had to make a million times before. “The S.E.A. would have you believe that Eranear and I are demons, intent on nothing more than draining people of what makes them who they are. That incubi, vampires, djinns, any creature that needs to rely on another to survive is somehow soulless, completely devoid of morals. Never mind that every creature relies on others for survival. Your shifter friends are no exception.”

  I frown as Brandis carries Eranear into the house past me. “What happened? Where’s Gage?”

  “We were attacked by S.E.A. enforcers. Someone made it look like Eranear was abusing his powers, drawing the attention of mortals.” Hayden sighs. “I don’t know where the panther ended up. He told us to come here, to get the incubus to Ryanne.”

  I feel utterly unprepared for even more supernatural creatures in the cabin. “How do I help him? What does he need?”

  “Sex.” Hayden smirks. “From the way he and Gage were talking, it sounds like you’re just the person for the job.”

  “Did you just call me a whore?” I cross my arms over my chest, making the flannel shirt rise up, reminding me that I’m not wearing underwear.

  Not the best point in the “not a whore” column.

  “Not at all. They just insinuated that you were already having sex with all the shifters in this house. That energy could be what he needs to rebound.”

  Brandis returns, and I feel his hand slide over my lower back as he steps in close next to me. “You need to go.”

  “Brandis, you can’t kick him out.”

  “No? He abandoned Gage. For all I know, the S.E.A.’s going to kill him for letting these two go. Why the hell should I let him spend another second on my property?”

  Frowning, I pull away from him and step closer to Hayden. I know it’s a risk—if he is as bad as Brandis and Gage seem to believe, I can only imagine the danger I might�
��ve just put myself in. With a deep breath, I keep going, until I’m outside, on the porch with the vampire.

  “Ryanne, get back in here. Please.” Brandis’s eyes are full of concern, and I can tell he wants nothing more than to drag me back into the house.

  But he doesn’t.

  “Look, Brandis, I know you probably think I’m crazy, but look at Eranear. Look at Hayden. If they really were here to try and hurt us, do you think they’d show up this beaten, this damaged?” I look up at the vampire, taking in his strong, chiseled features and his broad chest. He looks like he could’ve been a professional athlete in another life, football or hockey, something that needs some muscle to throw around.

  He’d be able to grab me easily. Bite me. Drain me.

  Just like Brandis seems worried he’ll do.

  But he hasn’t. And I don’t think he will.

  “I’m not letting a vampire into my home, Ryanne. It’s already overcrowded, with three shifters, an incubus, and a demigoddess.”

  “Then why don’t I go? Hayden and I can ride off together, wherever the road takes us, and your cabin will have a little more room.” I cross my arms over my chest, knowing that it’s a gamble, a hell of a bluff.

  But it feels like Hayden’s supposed to be here. Like he’s part of this.

  And if fate’s going to keep being a bitch, keep throwing new curves at me to handle or dodge, then I want as many strong, capable men on my side as I can get.

  Brandis scowls. “Fine. But one uninvited bite, and I’ll stake you myself.”

  “Don’t put yourself out too much, bear.” Hayden rolls his eyes. “I’ll stay out here until Eranear’s awake, and I’ll decide my fate after that. I’ve never been one to force myself into places where I’m not welcome.”

  “What about…” I feel like such an idiot for even asking. “Does the sun not affect you?”

  Hayden chuckles. “You have a lot to learn, little goddess, about the ways of the world, and the people who live in it. Go, fuck your shifters, tend to Eranear. I’ll be fine for a while yet.”

  His laugh, his smile, changes the vampire’s whole face, and it gives him a youthfulness that hadn’t been there before. As if the one laugh took the weight of centuries off his shoulders.

  When I step back into the house, Brandis closes the door and locks it quickly before he pulls me into his arms.

  “Don’t ever fucking do that again, Ryanne.” He scowls at me, even as he strokes my hair. “You don’t know what vampires are like.”

  “I’m beginning to wonder if you do.” I pull away and head back toward the operating room, the only place in the house I could see Brandis putting Eranear. “Is it true that sex is the only thing that’s going to help him?”

  Brandis looks at Eranear and shrugs. “I don’t know what he was attacked with. The burns indicate potions, but some of these abrasions look more like concrete scrapes. Things he should have no trouble healing from.”

  I watch as the bear cups the incubus’s face, and for a second, I almost feel a pang of jealousy. Which is crazy. And yet, I’m having a hard time denying that it looks like there’s attraction in Brandis’s eyes.

  Like maybe I’m not the one Eranear needs here at all.

  “Go back to Tyler. If the wolf’s up for it, make good use of my bed. Sexual energies can only help Eranear right now.” Brandis steps back and kisses my forehead softly. “I’ll watch over him, see if I can’t figure out what he was hit with.”

  I frown as I look Eranear over. “What do you think happened with Gage? Is he okay?”

  Brandis shrugs. “The S.E.A. doesn’t take betrayal lightly. Letting an incubus go, one as wanted as Eranear, especially if they were accusing him of crimes, would definitely be seen as betrayal. A big one.” He cups my cheek and pulls my attention back to his face. “For you, I’ll do something I vowed never to do again.”

  I tilt my head, but don’t ask the question lingering on the tip of my tongue.

  Brandis answers it anyway. “I’ll call my father.”

  The way he says it makes it sound more like a death sentence than anything else, and I hate the idea instantly.

  “Go. Do what you can to help Eranear, and I’ll do what I can here.”

  I nod, leaving the operating room quickly.

  But instead of heading for the master bedroom, I go to the porch instead.

  Just in time to see a bloody, beaten, and exhausted panther climb the stairs.

  Hungry for more of Ryanne’s romance? Book 3, Coveted, is available for pre-order here!

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  Also by Piper Fox

  Midnight Huntress Series: Paranormal Reverse Harem

  Alien Warriors of New Dilaria Series: Sci-Fi Reverse Harem

  The Ironhaven Pack Series: Wolf Shifter Romances

  The Dragon Space Order Bride Series: Sci-Fi Romance

  Bears of Crooked Creek: A Bear Shifter Romance Series

  Seven Brides For Seven Demons: A Demon Romance Series

  Last Warriors of Dilaria: A Sci-Fi Romance Series

  The Immortal Blood Series: Vampire Romance

  About the Author

  Piper Fox writes steamy paranormal romances for sassy, strong-willed women and the sexy, alpha men who love them.

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