AMIRA

Sticky heat seared across Amira’s skin as she snaked through the trees, watching the vampire envoy trek across the jungle.

Finally, this day had come.

She’d been tracking the leader of the envoy for weeks before his sudden disappearance, but now, by a gods’ miracle, he was back.

She’d been hunting creatures like him for half her life, but this one, the one with the amber hair and a musical laugh, was the key to her sister’s survival.

Even from a distance she could tell how much stronger he was than the others.

The vampire, tall and built like one of the black tankers slinking through the damp jungle floor, spoke on a talking device, unaware of her presence.

Good.

She needed him distracted so she could take him down.

“Congratulations?” His deep voice rumbled across the air. “Sure, but your mating is putting me in a tight spot. After this delivery, I’m going to have to take up bank robbery for a living.”

She couldn’t hear the person on the other side, but frankly, she didn’t need to. She only hoped whoever it was kept him talking.

Amira twisted to the portal opening, watching the second of five tankers enter, and frowned.

Why hadn’t her trap detonated yet?

It should’ve done so already. Long before the effects of her masking potion wore off. Absently, she thumbed the empty vial on her side belt.

She should’ve had the alchemist make her an extra one just in case. Her elden mother had taught her better than this. Now she had to wait with antsy feet and hope its effects held so the vampire in front of her remained unaware of her presence.

Not likely, that.

Vampires of his kind—the ones who traveled through the portals connecting the realms—were legend to have better instincts than the vampires of her world. They were also said to be stronger.

He had enough muscles to be. Through his shirt, they rippled as he motioned the tankers forward. That would prove a hindrance if it came to physical combat. He’d easily take her down.

Her best chance was to catch him by surprise.

She crouched amongst the trees, blending within the foliage and studied him like she’d done so many times before.

His wide cheekbones, roguish stubble, and keen eyes widened in joy as he spoke into the talking device. Even amongst hunter standards, he’d be considered beautiful. Especially when his full lips spread into an easy smile. She’d never seen him this at ease.

Generally, he walked as if he was in need of a full body rub down. And when he spoke, the vampires around him fell in line, or scurried as if avoiding his wrath.

Today, the person on the talking device made him softer somehow. Soft was a better look on him.

“Hold on…” he said. The vampire sprinted away from the portal.

No! She needed him near the entrance to make his disappearance seem like part of the accident.

“Can you hear me now?” he asked. Perhaps the person on the phone could, but she couldn’t over the cogs turning the tanker’s wheels.

She had to ensure everything went to plan. Amira rose from her hiding place and moved closer, careful to keep silent.

“That is not necess—” He froze, then his vampire eyes, darkened to coal and flickered in her direction.

She held in a gasp, steadied her hand on her daggers, but kept still. If he discovered her, she’d lose the advantage of surprise. But she’d fight to the death to take him anyway. The fate of her sister depended on it.

His nostrils flared as he took in his surroundings, then raised a fist. The remaining tankers rolled to a stop.

Amira glanced at the portals again. Any minute now…

When she turned back, his eyes were directly on her.

Shit.

Against her will, her heart spiked. She clenched her fists, tightened her chest muscles, and willed her heart to calm down. The masking potions should keep him from hearing her internal bodily functions or smelling her but with its effects waning, she couldn’t be sure it was still one hundred percent effective.

The vampire sniffed the air and she held her breath. He knew she was there. She could see the predator behind his eyes search for her within the lush greens.

“Oi.” The driver of the first tanker stuck his head out a small circular window.

The leader lifted his hand, demanding the driver’s silence. He wasn’t settled in his inspection of the jungle. Amira kept still and held her breath until the vampire’s shoulders dropped, then flex as he picked up the phone.

After a short pause he said, “Nothing. My mind sometimes plays nasty tricks.”

His amber gaze traced the jungle again, lingering in her vicinity. So far, she was all but invisible to him, but not for long.

She was running out of time. The tanks started up again, casting heavy plumes of exhaust as they went into the portal. One by one, they disappeared as they crossed.

The vampire’s stocky frame flanked the last tanker as he spoke on his talking device.

Crap, her trap didn’t work. She couldn’t let him leave.

She had to take him down by hand before he crossed over. Grabbing the hilt of her dagger, she unsheathed it and made her move, but stopped.

The metal plate used to bolster this portal’s stability sank into the earth, locking the tanker into place.

A loud rumble shot from the engine as it revved but didn’t move. Several vampires exited, then checked the cogs and the wheels for malfunction. The tanker was fine, but they wouldn’t realize that until it was too late.

Burning plastics scented the air as the low hiss of flames burned its way through the small tunnel she’d dug under the portal.

Finally.

She flattened against the damp earth as the detonation sequence started, then kept watch on her mark. As soon as it went off, she needed to grab him.

“I have to go,” he said to the person on the talking device, then paused. The plate under the last tanker exploded, sending hot metal projectiles through the air, slicing into his shoulder.

Then another of her explosives went off. The vampires around it dropped. The earth shook under her belly. The aftermath was grim. The cargo was destroyed, and the vampires in and around it were dazed with injury. She stayed her worry. They would heal soon enough but this was her only shot at getting the vampire she’d been eyeing for weeks.

Amira flossed through the trees, holding tight to her dagger, silently coming up behind her mark. He was much taller up close, standing at least a head above her, but with him unawares, she had a chance. He bent over to pick up his talking device, which gouged the dirt. When he rose, she placed the sharp blade under his chin.

“Don’t move,” she said.

The vampire fought against her. If not for the injury on his shoulder, he might’ve taken her down. Instead, she used her weapon to her advantage, pressing it into his neck until the tip bubbled with blood.

“I said, don’t move.”

He stilled.

“Who are you? What do you want?”

Silence was her best weapon here. She scanned the jungle, looking for the others that were sure to come. Thankfully they were busy dealing with the inferno engulfing the last tanker.

“Is it money?” he asked. “I can give you plenty.”

Vampires were all the same. No matter if they crossed portals or not. They thought they could buy themselves out of any situation. But she needed to keep him distracted.

“Interesting, that. Don’t you owe debts? Isn’t that what you told the person on the talking device?”

“That’s only a wager between siblings. I come from means. Anything you need, I can provide it. I am called Gustav. I don’t hail from here.”

The skin under her dagger sizzled. She’d dipped her blades in several poisons. So, he was susceptible to one of them. That would make him fight less.

“I have given you my name. What are you called?”

So, he thought he could order her around as he’d done with the rest of the vampire envoy? Not this time.

“No, no, vampire. Only I ask the questions here.”

“Fair enough. Ask away.”

She had no questions for him. What she needed was a heavy rock to knock him out. He was still too spry to go with her willingly.

“What are you here for?” she asked, to keep him occupied while she searched for something heavy enough to bring him to his knees.

“I’m only passing through.”

“Interesting, that. These lands are restricted. You do not have permission to cross.”

“I didn’t realize that before I came, but I’m here now and we’re almost through. We can come to a bargain. Whatever your needs are, I can have them met.”

She held in an incredulous chuckle. He didn’t even know what he was offering. Just like a vampire to think with his assumptions instead of his brain. She shifted backward, bringing him with her as she searched the ground with her boot.

“What do you think I need, vampire?”

“The needs of everyone, no matter their kind. Food, water, money, shelter…”

She dug her toes in the earth. Ah. There.

Just under her foot, a rock large enough to crack his skull wedged in the dirt. She kicked it loose and leaned for it, but only succeeded in digging her blade deeper into his neck. She’d have to let him go or else she’d kill him.

“Whatever your needs are, I can provide.”

She lowered her blade enough to kick the rock within reach and grabbed it.

He turned to face her. She used his momentum with her own and swung as hard as she could. The rock met its mark and his large body staggered back.

“I don’t bargain with vampires.” She hit him again.

This time, he swayed until he fell to his knees.

“You’re all the same, you. Too much ego to think we’d need anything from you.”

She pushed him backward. His amber eyes went unfocused, dazed, until they closed. His body was already healing him. She didn’t have much time.

On either front, she realized, glancing over her shoulder.

The flames of the tanker were nearly out. Soon, they’d search for him.

She needed to work fast.

From her belt, she pulled out her long rope and looped it across his ankles, binding his feet together to make it impossible for him to run if he woke before she got him back.

Once his feet were secure, she fastened the slack across her shoulders and pulled.

He spoke, but his words slurred as if she’d filled his mouth with mud. She yanked him away before the others could hear him.

Once they were out of range, his words were better.

“Where are you taking me?” he asked, fear eclipsing his voice. The same fear she’d heard too many times.

He was one of the strong ones, she assured herself. If he stood sturdy enough, her ministrations wouldn’t kill him.

She remained silent, forcing her guilt away. She’d come too far to turn back now.

The vampire under her tried to yell, but only succeeding in garbling the words in his throat. A quick glance back revealed his barely conscious state.

It would be over soon.

“You don’t have to do this,” he said.

Unfortunately for him, she did.

“Yes, I do.”

She tightened her grasp and hauled him away.

Author’s Note: I’m not completely sold on her current name. Amira. That’s never happened before. Maybe I just need to give it time to settle. What do you think?

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