Hunter's Need Read Free Page B

apparent ease while the weaker man struggled ineffectively.
    “Get the fuck off of me,” Neal snarled.
    “No, Dominic, I think you’re good right where you’re at.” The female voice was hard and cold, and Ana felt something inside her shrivel with fear as Kelsey Hughes came storming into the room.
    The redhead paused in the door, taking in everything with one quick glance. Her husband Malachi sauntered past her and flicked a look at Neal that had the vampire’s eyes going wide with apprehension. Two other instructors trailed in after him—and Duke.
    Planting her hands on her hips, Kelsey demanded, “What in the hell is going on here?”
    “Nothing, Ms. Hughes.” Wrapping an arm around Brad, Ana pulled him against her.
    Kelsey cocked a brow and glanced from Neal to the siblings. Neal still had his wrist suspended in midair and the vampire—Dominic—stood there still as a statue, like he could hold that position all night and well into morning. “Nothing. I feel several spikes in energy, there’s broken glass, I walk in right as somebody’s coming at you— from behind —and you want me to buy that line?”
    Blowing out a breath, Ana said, “It’s my fault—Brad came in at a bad time and he—”
    “The kid did what nobody else in here had the decency to do.” Dominic cut in. He let go of Neal but before the younger vampire could back away, Dominic got in his face. “You like taking swings at kids and women?”
    “That kid attacked first,” Neal snapped.
    “Yeah, after he came in and found you putting your hands on his sister. Although she’d done made it clear she didn’t want your hands on her.”
    Neal’s response was cut off as a low, eerie growl whispered through the room.
    Automatically, all eyes followed the sound—
    To Duke, standing in the door way and staring at Neal like he’d just found his midnight snack. Kelsey shifted, casually placing her body in between the two men, blocking their view of each other. Her voice calm and cool, she said, “Neal, is that right?”
    Neal opened his mouth. Snapped it close. Opened it again.
    “Get out.”
    “Fine,” he muttered. “Stupid bitch ain’t worth my time anyway.”
    A cold smile curled Kelsey lips and she said, “I’m sorry. I wasn’t clear. I don’t mean leave this room. I mean, get out. As in out of my school.”
    Neal blinked. Looked from Kelsey’s face to Malachi, then at Ana and Brad. “What?”
    Kelsey repeated, “Get out.”
    “Over that bitch?”
    “Nobody, and I mean nobody lays a hand on a woman or a child in my school for any fucking reason. Unless of course she was attacking you . . . tell me, Neal, did she attack you? Is that why you touched her?”
    “You can’t trust her,” Neal snarled. “You can’t trust her kind—she’ll turn on us. She’s done it once before.” He jerked a chin toward Duke.
    Ana’s skin crawled with shame. Automatically, she tightened her arms and Brad reached up, patted her hand.
    But nobody was looking at them. Or at Duke. They were staring at the exchange between Kelsey and Neal with fascination. “No, Neal. We can’t trust your kind. You’re not one of us . . . and you never were.”
    Neal paled. Something flashed through his eyes. “I am one of you. I’m here, aren’t I?”
    “You were brought here to train—but not to be a Hunter. You were brought here to learn control. Non-mortals can pose a danger—our job is to limit that danger. We do that through teaching, through training. That was why you were brought here—never think otherwise.” Kelsey gave him a dismissive look and then turned her back.
    Neal jerked away from Dominic and stalked across the room, placing himself in front of Kelsey. “This is fucked up, lady. I didn’t hurt her—hell, I didn’t hurt that little punk, either. I wouldn’t hurt a kid.” He sent Ana and Brad a furious look, one that scalded her and left her almost ill with all the hatred she felt coming from him.
    Tearing her eyes away