Heart of a Hunter Read Online Free PDF Page A

upstairs rooms were also in use, occupied by those who didn’t want to be caught by the prying eyes of any number of cell phones. Everyone knew that photographic evidence and social media went hand in hand.
    Elle’s mood had lightened as she arrived at the party with Brandon, who had graciously also given a ride to K.D. Everyone was dressed nearly identically in colorful festive sweaters and jeans. She laughed as if she had no concerns about her eventual future. “Brandon, get in here, too.” She waved him over from a conversation he was having with a guy friend. She turned to K.D. “Let’s keep quiet about Andy coming on to me with that whole limp dick thing. I cannot believe that he tried that.” She giggled. “Do I have sucker written on my forehead?”
    K.D. nodded while applying a pink lipstick. “Your babe would totally freak if he knew.” She gave Elle a sly wink, smiling. “Here, let me rub that ‘sucker’ off your forehead.”
    Brandon approached and sat next to Elle, wrapping an arm around her. “Someone said selfie? Let’s do this.” They arranged themselves, and K.D. snapped the picture with their big happy grins with her cell phone.
    K.D. went very still. “I need another beer, but…what…” she said distractedly. Something outside had obviously caught her attention, and she stared for a long moment. “Wonder where that bright light across the street is coming from. Hope no one called the cops.”
    A familiar hum of vibration began in Elle’s body, a once strange occurrence that she had become used to over the months during her training. She recognized it quickly. A portal had been opened not far from the house. She had watched as Tagas had opened plenty in their warehouse, giving her glimpses of other dimensions and, a few times, parts of Hell itself. What’s Tagas doing over there? Something’s not right…
    She pasted on a bright smile to mask her confusion. “Guys, I’m going to the restroom. Be right back.” She kissed Brandon’s cheek and left them on the sofa, striding in the direction of one of the downstairs bathrooms. She looked back to see Brandon and K.D. talking with a small group of teens. She swiftly moved through the front door of the house and across the massive lawn without being spotted, her hand instinctively wrapping around the sheathed dagger in the top of her jeans.
    ****
    Cascadia slowly sauntered from the kitchen with a beer bottle in one hand, slowly sipping. She watched the teen party guests lounging on the black leather sofas and carpeted floor, all deeply involved in several different conversations going on at once. After this night, her guise of K.D., the loving bestie, would be no more, which suited her just fine. She hated the boyish, short blonde hair, she hated kids of all ages, and most of all she hated Heaven’s newest hunter, Elle Connor. Her lips twisted in a private, cruel smile as her eyes settled on Brandon. It’s time to grow up, sweetie …
    She hummed a lilting tune and waved one hand back and forth gracefully. One by one, the teens throughout the house and on the back patio began to drop as heavily as ten pound bags of potatoes. Feeling free of her confining guise, she began to sing the same lilting tune with dark, hellish words until she was satisfied that every last one of them was unconscious and would remain that way for several hours. She had asked for their deaths, but Pyro had made it clear that it was to be death for only one, fearing severe repercussions from the heavens. She knew how to pick her battles carefully. Brandon was the only one still awake, but barely, just as she planned.
    She stood over him, reaching down to tap his cheek as his head lolled and he struggled to keep his eyes open. She gave him a cheerful smile. “Brandon, all the hard liquor has hit everyone pretty hard. See? All passed out. We need to get outside on the patio to get some fresh air. We’ll wait for Elle out there, and then we’ll take off. I’ll