None had ever seen the angel’s face—at least according to the one who could speak, Giorgio’s partner had always arrived covered in a black cloak, the hood shadowing his features. The guard said they’d all assumed it was another vampire, because there was no indication of wings beneath the cloak. That, of course, should’ve been impossible. The guard had also admitted to taking advantage of a captive and said his partners had, too.
Punching the bag in renewed fury, her hands protected by boxing gloves, she swung out with a hard kick. The bag swung, exposing the lean form of the man who stood against the wall on the other side. Stilling the bag using her hands, her chest heaving, she said, “How did you get in here?” He was neither student nor instructor nor hunter. Right now, it was only the latter two in here, the students being at dinner.
“I am a teacher, cher,” he said, strolling closer.
She raised an eyebrow.
“Truth.” He held up his hands before taking hold of the bag and keeping it steady while she threw a few more punches. “I volunteered my services for your final-year students.”
“You’re playing prey?” Every student had to successfully complete a “hunt” before graduating. “Usually one of us does that.”
“Not that you are not brilliant, my darling, devious Ash, but you aren’t a vampire. We do have certain tricks.”
“You have more than most.” No vamp but Janvier had ever come close to outwitting her on a hunt. “How many have caught you so far?”
“All,” he said. “I am not here to destroy their confidence, only to make them work hard and earn the collar, and each has done that.”
At that instant, he could’ve been any hunter in the room, at once proud of the students and concerned with making sure they went out into the world with the right tools to survive. Tools Giorgio’s victims had never had. “We’ve hit a dead end, haven’t we?” She went through a rapid series of punches and kicks.
Moss green eyes shadowed, Janvier stopped the bag from spinning. “Yes, but every vampire and angel in the city has been alerted to be on the lookout. Neither Giorgio nor Cornelius will be able to show his face without being picked up. Need will draw them out.”
She knew he was right. Even if Giorgio had a store of blood, it wouldn’t last forever. And if they found Giorgio, they’d find the angel. “I hate waiting,” she said, though at this point, there was no other option. The Guild’s financial whiz was running through Giorgio’s finances with her counterpart at the Tower; if the vampire had hidden any properties under shell corporations, the two would find it. All his accounts had also been flagged to send up an alert should he attempt to access them.
Ashwini knew she wouldn’t be any good to Felicity, Lilli, and the other victims if she didn’t have her head in the right space when the information came through. Modulating her breathing with conscious effort of will, she tugged off her gloves. “I have to shower,” she said. “You’re taking me to dinner after we drop my gear off at home.”
“Then will you be my dinner?”
Skin shimmering at the reminder of how potent he was, she said, “Play your cards right and I just might.”
His wicked smile followed her into the shower, scoured some of the frustration off. Not all of it. Nothing could do that until they’d hunted down the evil behind the torture and deaths of so many hopeful young lives, but she could breathe, could think . . . could remember that she, too, had a life.
Full throttle.
Exiting the locker room after her shower, her duffel over her shoulder, she found Janvier chatting to Ransom. The other hunter was on his crutches but dressed in workout clothes that likely meant he’d come to lift weights, his hair pulled back in a tight twisting braid. Flicking it, she said, “Pretty.”
“Nyree did it.” A smug smile.
Never had she thought she’d see Ransom gaga over a woman. It was cute. “So, when’s the wedding?”
“We haven’t decided, but it won’t be long. I figure if I’m going to do this, I’m going to do it.” A glance from her to Janvier. “So . . .”
Her scowl made his grin widen. “Have a nice dinner!” he called out as they left, loud enough to alert the others in the gym. “Call me if you want any tips about doing dirty, dirty things on the back of a motorcycle!”
Their fellow hunters hooted and whistled.
Instead of snapping a quick comeback as she would’ve done before, Ashwini swiveled to haul Janvier down to her with a grip on his leather jacket and claimed his mouth in a deep, wet, possessive kiss that set the entire gym hollering. When she released him, he looked like he’d been hit over the head with a baseball bat. She took his hand, ignored the ruckus, and headed outside.
He didn’t speak until they were at his bike and she’d swung up behind him, the duffel slung across her back. Then he leaned backward into her, his hand on her thigh. “Merci, cher.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck, her position on the bike giving her the extra height. “I should’ve done it a long time ago.” Publicly claimed him for her own.
“You weren’t ready—and this is a moment I will never forget.” Sitting up, he passed over her helmet and put on his own.
The traffic was heavy but they made good time despite that, thanks to Janvier’s driving. It would’ve been reckless in another, less capable man. With him, it was simply exhilarating and they were back in her apartment not long afterward, both of them pumped and laughing.