Heart of the Hunted (Infernal Hearts Book 1) Read online

  Heart of the Hunted

  Georgina Stancer

  Copyright © 2019 Georgina Stancer

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic of mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author, except by reviewers, who may quote brief passages in a review.

  ISBN: 978-1-9160067-2-0

  All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

  Editing by Stacey Jaine McIntosh

  Cover design by EmCat & Butterfly Designs

  For Joe.

  You will forever live on in the hearts and minds of the people who had the pleasure of knowing you.

  We miss you always.

  CONTENTS

  Prologue

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

  CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

  CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

  CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

  Epologue

  Prologue

  Natalia

  “What are you doing here?” Natalia jumped at the sound of her mother’s voice coming from behind her.

  “I... I wanted to...to...” she stuttered.

  “You shouldn't be here,” her mother said sternly.

  “I'm sorry, I just wanted... I was worried...”

  Pulling Natalia in for a tight hug, her mother stroked her hair and said “I'm okay, Natalia, but it's not safe for you out here.”

  “I know. I'm sorry, Mummy .”

  “It's okay this time, but don't do it again, okay?”

  “Okay, I promise.”

  “Good girl,” she said smiling down at her. “Now, stay close to me, okay?”

  “Okay.”

  Natalia followed closely behind her mother as they quietly made their way around the abandoned building, looking for her mother’s friend.

  “Don't make a sound,” her mother whispered.

  Nodding, Natalia held her breath, thinking it would help her hear better. It didn't. It just made her heart beat even louder in her ears.

  Without warning her mother grabbed hold of her hand and started running. Natalia tried her hardest to keep up with her, but her little legs just couldn't go as fast as her mother’s longer legs.

  All but dragging her out of the building, they headed straight for the woodlands surrounding the building. Natalia tripped on the uneven ground several times, and she would have fallen on her face if her mother hadn't been holding her hand.

  Natalia knew she was slowing her mother down, but instead of complaining or leaving her behind, her mother stopped just long enough to pick her up so she could carry her.

  “Don't look back,” her mother said as she started running again.

  Natalia held on tightly as her mother ran as fast as she could, tucking her head into her mother’s neck so she couldn't see behind them.

  It didn't take long for her mother to start slowing. Natalia was a big girl now, she was nearly seven years old, so she knew it was her fault her mother couldn't keep up the pace.

  Panting heavily, her mother stopped and lowered Natalia to the ground.

  “Stay here, Natalia,” she told her, pushing her into a hollowed-out tree. “And don't move until I come back for you.”

  “But Mummy...”

  “No buts, Natalia. Stay here and stay silent.”

  “Okay,” Natalia whispered.

  Without another word, her mother ran off, leaving her all alone in the middle of the woods. Natalia knew why her mother did it, but that didn't help the fear from gnawing at her stomach. Fear for herself, but mostly for her mother. She knew her mother was leading the monsters away from her.

  She knew it was her fault they had been spotted, even without her mother saying so. If she hadn't followed her mother out of the bunker, then the monsters wouldn't have seen them.

  Natalia knew she shouldn't leave the bunker, she knew it was too dangerous outside, but she wanted to be useful... she wanted to make sure her mother was safe.

  Natalia thought it was safer for her outside than her mother. The monsters didn't kill children, only the adults of her kind... Human kind... but never children. No, they had a far worse fate for children. Which was why Natalia's mother was desperately trying to lead them away.

  Natalia hunkered down in her hiding spot, determined not to give herself away. Listening intently, all she could hear was the sound of leaves rustling in the wind and the beating of her heart in her ears.

  She didn't know how long she had to wait for her mother to return, but she hoped it wasn't too much longer. It was getting darker and colder as time passed.

  Yawning, Natalia curled up into a ball at the base of the tree, trying to warm herself as the temperature dropped and night fell with still no sign of her mother returning for her.

  Natalia waited hours, but she couldn't keep her eyes open any longer. Sending up a silent prayer that her mother would return for her soon, Natalia closed her eyes and fell asleep, cold and alone.

  CHAPTER ONE

  Taredd

  "What's on your mind?" Dain asked.

  "Just thinking about the Humans," Taredd told him.

  Two hundred years had passed since the Humans eyes were opened to the world around them, and to the creatures hiding in plain sight. When the war broke out between the supernatural races, it was the best thing that could have ever happen to this magical place.

  New life sprung forth as the buildings Humans built crumbled to the ground. Mother Nature was slowly taking back her home once more. Well, except for some of the small towns and villages the supernatural races have commandeered for themselves, those were thriving.

  Taredd had no sympathy for the Humans, they didn't deserve to call this place home, not when they were slowly killing it. He remembered all too well the destruction they left in their wake when they were left to rule this land, so he was glad they were nearly extinct.

  Vile, despicable creatures the lot of them. Which was why after the war ended, he eagerly hunted down the last remaining Humans, killing the adults and capturing the children to sell on to slavers.

  The Humans thought they could hide away from the world when the war broke out. They thought if they hid then they could escape the punishment they deserved. Little did they know, it didn't matter how well they hid themselves, they were going to be caught.

  Once, there were billions of them. Now, Taredd guessed there were fewer than a hundred left. He planned on making sure that none survived.


  "Why the fuck would you want to think about them? Just enjoy your night off for once. They will still be there for you to hunt tomorrow," Dain said.

  "Hopefully not for too much longer," Taredd told him.

  "I'll drink to that," Arun said as he raised his glass.

  Dain and Arun had been by his side since long before the war started. They had each other’s backs no matter the situation. It was always them against the world, and yet, they were the most unlikely of allies.

  A Demon, a Shapeshifter, and a Fae. It sounds more like the beginning of a really bad joke, but they were closer than brothers. Nothing could tear them apart, not even others of their own kind.

  When the war broke out and their own kinds wanted them to fight against each other, they stuck together, refusing to fight any species except for the Humans. After all, it was the Humans that needed terminating, not any of the other races.

  Now the three of them worked together, using their individual skills to hunt down and kill any remaining Human adults and rounding up the children.

  "So why think about them now?" Dain asked. "After the week we've had, we deserve the night off."

  It had been a productive week. Between the three of them they had managed to track down and capture sixteen Humans. Six of which were just children, one of them being a baby. Because none of them could bring themselves to kill a child, even a Human one, they collected them up and sold them to slavers.

  Some of the children managed to stay hidden from them. Taredd wasn't concerned for those ones because most didn't survive on their own. The lucky few that did make it to adulthood, were then hunted down just like the rest. Either way, it was one less Human to worry about.

  "Yeah, that's true," Taredd agreed.

  "I think we deserve longer than a night off," Arun said.

  "A week sounds good," Dain said. "Since we're our own boss, why don't we take a week off?"

  "You two can if you want to, but I would rather have the time off when we're done," Taredd told them.

  "It's been years since we had more than a night off, don't you think it's about time we did?" Arun asked.

  "As I said, you two can if you want, but I'm going to carry on for a bit longer. I don't think there's many of them left."

  "All the more reason to have a break," Dain said.

  "All the more reason to carry on," he countered. "You know how fast they reproduce."

  "Yeah, I do, and it's not that bloody fast. It's not as if they breed like rodents," Dain said.

  "Thankfully," Taredd added.

  "If that was the case, then we would be fighting a losing battle," Arun said. "But we're not. They are nearly all gone as you well know. So, I'm with Dain, we need a break. Even if it's just for a couple of days."

  They were right and Taredd knew it. They had worked tirelessly since the end of the war, so they did deserve to have some time off, but Taredd could see the light at the end of the tunnel. It wouldn’t be long until the Humans were completely wiped from the face of the planet. Well, except for the children.

  The children were a different matter entirely. Depending on who they were sold to, depended on their fate. Most were slaves, sold to serve their master. Some were used as food, either for their blood or to eat their meat.

  Taredd didn’t see the appeal in either. He wasn’t one for keeping slaves anyway, he would rather have employees than slaves because they were loyal if they were treated well, and the thought of eating a child turned his stomach.

  "Fine. A couple of days, but that's it,” he gave in.

  "That's all we're asking for," Arun said.

  "You, maybe. I was after longer," Dain sulked.

  "Think yourself lucky you're having that much time," Taredd told him.

  "Think yourself lucky I'm still helping after all these years," Dain countered.

  "You bitch and moan, but you wouldn't be anywhere else," Arun said.

  "Yeah, true. Only because I'd be bored. You guys are so fucking entertaining when you're hunting." Dain laughed. "It's like watching young Shapeshifters hunt in animal form for the first time."

  "You must be talking about yourself, as usual," Arun told him. "I am by far the more superior hunter out of the three of us."

  This time Taredd laughed as well. Out of the three of them, Arun was the least equipped for hunting... anything. Yes, being Fae meant he had magic, but that didn't necessarily mean he was better at hunting.

  Taredd hated to admit it, but out of the three of them, Dain was the better hunter. It helped that he could call upon the enhanced senses of the animals he turned into. If it wasn't for that ability, then Taredd would be the best.

  After all, Demons were capable of many things, and.… not boasting or anything... he was far superior than most of his own kind as well.

  "You seriously think you're better?" Arun asked him.

  "Then you? Hell, yes," Taredd said bluntly.

  "How much do you want to bet?"

  "Oooh, interesting," Dain said, rubbing his hands together. "Can I get in on the action?"

  "Why not," Arun said. "So, what's it going to be?"

  "How about, the first to capture a Human...." he trailed off, making it appear he was thinking hard about what to bet.

  "What?" Dain asked impatiently.

  "The first to capture a Human gets fifty gold pieces," Taredd said.

  "I don't know about that," Arun said.

  "That's because you know I'm the better hunter."

  "Either that, or he's a chicken," Dain said.

  "I am not poultry," Arun said indignantly.

  "So, I'm the better hunter then?" Taredd asked.

  "Fine," Arun gave in. "Fifty gold pieces it is then."

  "Exciting. I can't wait to see who wins. Now, the question is, which one of you do I bet on?" Dain asked, tapping his finger against his chin.

  "That would be me," Arun told him.

  "Only if you want to lose your money as well," Taredd said confidently.

  "I think I'll go with... urm..."

  "Seriously?" Arun said. "Just fucking pick one of us!"

  "No need to be so testy," Dain said. "I'll go with Taredd to win."

  "Oh, I see how it is," Arun told them. "You'll both be out of pocket when I win."

  "That's if you win," Dain said.

  "Oh, I will, and it will be more money for me when I do," he said smugly.

  "Anyway, when do you want to start the bet?" Taredd asked, knowing what the answer would be before Arun even opened his mouth.

  "There's no time like the present, don't you think," Arun said, confirming Taredd’s suspicion.

  "You want to start it now?" When Arun nodded, Taredd added. "I thought you wanted a couple of days off?"

  "I'll have a better time off when I've got one hundred gold pieces burning a hole in my pocket."

  "Fine. It begins now, then." Taredd agreed.

  At the end of the day he wasn’t going to complain, they were still going to be hunting. He would rather they worked as a group, but anything was better than nothing.

  "Right, I'll see you both later. I've got a Human to hunt and a bet to win," Arun said before downing the last of his drink. Placing his empty glass on the counter, he stood and said, "See you two later." Then walked off.

  "Do you think he's going to win?" Dain asked.

  "No chance," Taredd said, shaking his head. "You've seen him hunting, do you really think he stands a chance against me?"

  "Yeah, true. It's just, he seems more confident than I thought he would be."

  Taredd knew exactly what Dain meant. If Taredd didn't know better, he would have thought Arun already knew where a Human was hiding. It was the only thing he could think off that would make Arun seem so confident. But no, it wasn't like Arun to cheat, and it would be cheating if he already knew where to find one.

  "Nah, I think it's all an act. Arun knows I'm the better hunter, whether he wants to admit it or not."

  "It's a good job he's not betting against me.
At least with you he might stand a very slim chance of winning." Dain said, laughing.

  Taredd didn't bother replying to that. Instead, he downed the last of his drink and stood to leave as well.

  "I'm off to bed,” Taredd told him. “I want to get an early start in the morning."

  "I can't believe you're cutting out early as well," Dain sulked.

  "Would you rather I let Arun win?" Taredd asked with one brow raised.

  "Oh, hell no. I would rather stick red hot pokers in my eyes than let him win," Dain said. "Can you imagine how annoying he would be if he did?"

  "Exactly. So, it's best if I get an early-ish... night."

  "Yeah, point made. Go to bed because I really don't want to give my gold to Arun."

  Shaking his head, Taredd walked away. He wouldn't be surprised if Dain spent the rest of the night in the tavern. Even if Taredd didn't have the bet going with Arun, he didn't want to spend the rest of the night here. If anything, the bet gave him a good excuse to leave early.

  He didn't have to go far to reach the motel where he was staying the night. It was a rundown place, but it had a bed and a place for him to wash, so it would do for the time being.

  Climbing the stairs in the ratty old building, Taredd debated on whether to start the hunt tonight or wait until the morning. Stopping briefly outside Arun's room, he waited to see if he was still here. Taredd didn't hear anything, but that didn't mean Arun had already left. He could just be sleeping.

  Deciding to stay the night and start fresh in the morning, Taredd carried on to his room further along the corridor. Even if Arun had begun hunting tonight, Taredd was happy to let him have a head start. After all, he was going to need all the advantage he could get if he was going to beat Taredd.

  Closing the door behind him, Taredd made a beeline for the bed... or what passed for a bed around here. It wasn't the cleanest place in the world, far from it. Taredd could imagine it was probably a nice place to stay at one point, but that was many years ago.

  Kicking his boots off, he sat on the end of the bed and looked around the room. Shitty as it was, it would do for the night. Tomorrow would be here soon enough and it was looking like it was going to be a long assed day, so tonight he was going to get as much rest as he could.