Love is Darkness (A Valerie Dearborn Novel) by Caroline Hanson Page A

repeat himself and so she had to think about what he’d said.   “You had a Hunter? Like what my dad and Jack do or the Hunters who hunt animals?”
     
    Another small smile was bestowed upon her, as though there were no difference. Perhaps there wasn't. Was he actually telling her that one of the Hunters helped him? That would be a huge betrayal.  
     
    “How else would you humans find us?”
     
    She was surprised by his easy arrogance and snapped back, “Because people are intelligent and can follow clues and decipher patterns. Hello, CSI. Or Sherlock Holmes, if that helps you. I know you vamps get a little stuck in the past.”
     
    He actually laughed. It was rich and dark, relaxed and happy, not a laugh appropriate for a vampire. Uh oh . It slid through her, twined around her thighs and slipped inside of her body, making her twist in her seat, an unwelcome, no , a terrifying, glimmer of desire covering her like glitter.
     
    She flashed a look at him. The laugh had stopped abruptly and he was looking at her oddly. Did he know? If so, how?
     
    “A vampire is a master at deception and can travel faster and farther than a human. A vampire is stronger and more experienced than a human can be, centuries of practice honing our abilities to kill and survive. A human’s skill will always be paltry in comparison. It’s never been a fair fight and it never shall be. Every time a Hunter kills a vampire, it takes preparation and help. I provide it. The man I used to give information to is gone.”
     
    She had a horrible suspicion she knew who it was. “Gilbert Arthur.”
     
    “Good.” He didn't sound particularly pleased with her, despite the praise.
     
    “Why would you sell out the vampires?”
     
    “Every creature needs to be policed.”
     
    “Yeah, right.”  
    “What is a vampire’s instinct but to kill and take? The division between gluttony and survival is slight.
     
    Val spluttered in outrage. “Then you are doing a really shitty job, because lots of people —   children and parents get slaughtered by vampires every day and there doesn't seem to be any policing going on.” She flushed and looked away. Taking a deep breath, she wondered if she should apologize. I'm sorry I don't stop and think first. Don't kill me, pretty please?
     
    “Do not let your emotions be your undoing.” His words were deadly quiet.
     
    “Are you threatening me?”
     
    A lengthy pause, sky blue eyes boring into hers. Fucking hell, she needed to look away. She looked down but he leaned towards her, crowding in close to her so she could smell his cologne, see the strands of his hair inches from her fingers that rested on the table. She had to look back up and keep track of him.
     
    “I am not threatening you. I am speaking to you, the very heart of you, asking you to be more careful with your emotions.”
     
    “I have a temper. I know it’s stupid. I’m sorry.”
     
    He waved away her apology, “I presume you don’t have a temper. In fact, you are undoubtedly quite tolerant. Loyal. And have a strong sense of right and wrong.”
     
    The words sounded like a compliment but his tone had been almost sad or cautionary.
     
    Lucas leaned towards her, his hand on the table. His hand was large, long fingers, buffed and short nails but there were faint scars on top of his hand. A lot of them.
     
    “Why do you have scars? Shouldn't you be...blemish free?” She'd wanted to say 'perfect' but thought poor word choice might lead to her doom.
     
    “Injuries received when one is mortal are permanent.” His hand was on the polished wood and Valerie found herself staring at it intently, forgetting where she was or the danger she was in, conscious only of the long, tapered fingers and the back of his pale hand before her.
     
    She acted thoughtlessly, would later wonder what the hell had possessed her as she reached out and traced one of those fine white scars across his hand from his wrist until it disappeared between