A couple on the beach below caught her attention. She focused on them expecting to find a couple making out. The girl had long jet black hair and looked very petite, wearing only a nightgown and a robe. The man facing her was wearing burnt, tattered clothing and had red hair the color of...Hunter Redfern's
The binoculars fell out of Rashel's hand. Surely she hadn't seen that scene right. Hunter was reported dead three days ago. She grabbed the binoculars again and focused them on the couple below. The breath in her chest froze. It was Hunter and the girl backing away from him looked terrified.
Quinn! She shouted with her mind, willing the thought to be carried to the yacht still far from shore. She swung the binoculars out to the ocean hoping they were closer.
A white blob bobbed on the ocean. She saw Quinn's dark head pop up, followed by Thierry's.
A concerned reply came, What is it?
Hunter's on the beach.
A few moments passed and she saw them climb down to Thierry's speed boat in tow behind the yacht.
Rashel, don't engage him, he's too powerful for you by yourself.
Rashel frowned, the human girl was in trouble, how could she just wait? Hunter could kill the girl and be gone by the time Quinn and Thierry got there. Ash and Poppy were nearby, but not close enough. She had to protect the girl.
Rashel, Quinn said firmly, Stay put, I'll be there shortly., Rashel ignored him and slipped down the hill. She pressed her back against the cottage's pilings. Risking a peek at the couple facing off on the beach, she tried to come up with a plan to keep Hunter at bay until help arrived.
"Sarah," Hunter said. "You said you dreamed about me. Surely you dreamed everything."
Beth shook her head, "It was a nightmare, you were so evil. I begged you not to kill him."
"What did you want me to do?" Hunter almost shouted. "Did you want to die there and hope he didn't toss your body out for the buzzards to eat?"
"No." Beth said, her initial knee jerk reaction wearing off. "No, I just wanted you to take me away so I could die in peace."
Hunter was still. The skin that had been scorched by the lightening was falling in patches and floating away on the breeze. New soft skin was under it. Beth watched in fascination. She had forgotten about his amazing ability to heal himself. There were so many things that she remembered in pieces here and there. One particularly x-rated scene flashed in her mind.
Hunter looked like he read her mind. "Sarah."
Beth jumped, "Beth, my name is Elizabeth Sarah this time." She said, hoping she didn't look too embarrassed or guilty. She was feeling like she had gone insane. She was barely clothed standing on a deserted beach talking to a vampire about a past she shouldn't be able to remember anything about. Worse yet he was agreeing with her on the details of her dreams. Maybe she was still dreaming and she would wake up shortly.
"I don't regret killing Edward Quinn."
That did it. She wasn't insane, she'd stepped way beyond insanity. She stood stock still when he finally moved toward her. All the time she had been backing away he had only stood there with a slightly confused, dumbstruck look on his face. The look on his face now was anything but confused. Nor was it the angry, rage enshrouded mask was wearing when he'd attacked her. The look impacted in her mind. He was going to kiss her.
Rashel's stomach turned. Hunter killed Quinn's dad? Her mind raced frantically, how would the girl know that unless. . . . No, no no no she couldn't be an old soul, could she? Rashel moved quietly til she was behind a sand dune and crouched low, listening to the conversation
"I, I can forgive you for killing my husband, but I can't forgive you for making John a vampire. He was my only child and you took him from me." Beth shook her head. She had to get control of herself. Waffling back and forth between Sarah and Beth made her feel insane again as did that half smile on Hunter's face. She was still backing toward the sand dune.
"If I couldn't have you with me forever, I could have part of your heart, and that was Quinn."
Beth wiped the tears that suddenly started spilling down her cheeks with the back of her hand. "He was all I had!"
Rashel's eyes widened. The girl was Quinn's mother? She pinched herself. This had to be a sick nightmare. And now the feeling that there was more to Hunter than the evil man he showed the entire world was sinking in. Rashel started to see him in a different light as she put the pieces together. Hunter killed Quinn's father because he had somehow mortally injured Quinn's mother. He had changed Quinn because he wanted to have something of Quinn's mother after she died.
Nausea swept over Rashel and she fought the urge to puke. The reality of what she was hearing was really sinking in. They were soulmates. Hunter and Quinn's mother.
Oh God, she groaned. Oh God, they're soulmates.
Who? Quinn asked.
Hunter and the girl, she's an old soul.
You talking to Hunter?
No, eaves dropping.
Rashel peeked around the dune, uncertain what to do now.
Hunter reached out and wiped the tears off Beth's cheeks. "I would never intentionally hurt you."
His hand darted out catching her less than resistant body and drew her closer and the desire to run left her. She couldn't help touching his cheek too. She knew this man, Hunter, in every intimate meaning of the word. Everything about him was rugged and raw. Every emotion showed in him. One minute he could look fierce and imperious, like a hawk ready to swoop down on its prey. The next, he was a man who loved his soulmate beyond all comprehension.
Her heart thundered as he leaned in close to her and gently touched his lips to the sensitive skin of her neck. She shivered knowing he wanted to taste her blood and God help her she wanted it too. Her pulse was racing, breathing rapid, shallow breaths, she brushed her hair back off her shoulders when a black blur flipped over the sand dune and landed squarely against Hunter knocking him to the ground. Rashel stood straddling him with her bo drawn, fully prepared to impale him.
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