Seducing the Demon Huntress by Victoria Davies Page A

Kerilyn said as she glanced at the shadowed warehouses around them.
    “My power will weaken as we get closer to the dawn, as will Abaddon’s. I will be of most use to you if we go now.”
    “By the same token, he’ll get weaker as you do while I’ll still be a kickass hunter,” she said glibly.
    “Do you honestly want to leave your niece with him for hours? Besides, my brother will come after you long before his power wanes enough to give you an advantage.”
    She sighed in acquiescence. Attacking a demon king at the height of his power. Her chances of survival were growing dimmer by the second.
    “The bond between my brother and I runs far deeper than blood. Our magic entwines in a dangerous way,” Arawn told her.
    Kerilyn arched a brow. “What does that mean?”
    “It means I can turn his powers against him. Force him back to the Netherworld before the sun is up.” His gaze flicked to hers. “It also means he can do the same to me.”
    Which would seal her fate as well. “So we wound him,” she said. “Weaken him so he won’t be a threat to you and then send him back.”
    Arawn looked away from her, out at the rundown factories around them.
    Watching his averted face, Kerilyn swallowed hard. What would it be like plotting to purposefully hurt one of her siblings? For any reason? Her gut twisted at the thought. It was unimaginable and here she was, asking it of her lover.
    Nerves plucked at her confidence as she watched Arawn. If she walked into this trap with him, would he try to help her or would he be the man her ancestors wrote about? A man with no loyalties except to his brother. A man who could manipulate for pleasure and kill without hesitation.
    She was placing her life in his hands without any evidence that he would treasure it. He wanted her body, she could at least be honest about that, but lust didn’t make men fight against family. Besides, what was one sex dream to a king? He was constantly surrounded by fawning subjects desperate to fulfill his every desire.
    Why would he fight his brother for her?
    The sad truth was she truly didn’t know if he would turn on her. This was a man who had intoxicated her for years. She had the damning suspicion that she’d never feel this way about any mortal man. Arawn was simply...addicting.
    But to him, she might be just another human toy. While her world was filled with him, he might find this night no more than a vicious game to be enjoyed before returning to his realm.
    How could she feel such desperate longing for a man she couldn’t trust? It sickened her that she was taking such chances with her life. There had to be something terribly wrong with her. No sane woman would fall for such a powerful enemy.
    “Keri,” he murmured, his eyes studying her face. “For a hunter, you do not guard your emotions well.”
    “And what do you see?”
    “Dark thoughts and disheartening fears,” he replied with a sardonic twist of his lips.
    She turned to face him fully, searching his black eyes for answers.
    “Tell me,” he commanded, like a lord unused to being denied.
    “What would you do if you were me?” she asked. “How would you tell what is real?”
    Some unnameable emotion flickered in his eyes. He stepped closer, wrapping one hand around her waist. Kerilyn inhaled sharply when he pulled her up against his chest.
    “If I swore your life mattered to me, would you believe it?” he asked her in reply.
    She opened her mouth but no words emerged. All her instincts, her years of training, urged her to say no. Her family would be horrified she was even considering lowering her guard around a spirit.
    “Keri?” he prompted.
    She had no answer. And staring up into his unreadable eyes she realized it didn’t matter. Whether or not she could trust him, it was too late to go back. Sarah was waiting. Abaddon no doubt knew she’d come. She couldn’t leave now even if she wanted to. No matter what Arawn was planning, she had to get her niece back.
    But if