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

  "I know," Natalia said. "But I didn't want to turn back until I knew you two were happy to carry on without me."

  "Well, we're not happy," Amberly said. "But since we can't change your mind, we'd rather you head back as soon as possible, so you can catch back up to us quicker."

  "Okay," Natalia said. "I'm going."

  Natalia hugged Amberly and then Donovan.

  "Stay safe," Donovan whispered in her ear.

  "I will,” she whispered back before letting go.

  "Right," she said. "Stick together, and when you reach the other side, find somewhere safe to stay until I catch up with you. If I'm not back in a week, move on without me."

  "No," they said in unison.

  "Yes," she countered. "You know the rules. You can't ignore them because it's me."

  "Yes, we can," Amberly said.

  "No, you can't," Natalia said. "We can't have one rule for one and another for everyone else."

  "She's right, Amberly," Donovan said. "As much as I hate to agree with her, she's right."

  "Fine," Amberly gave in. "But you best be back in time."

  "I will," Natalia told her. "Right, I best get going. Don't forget, one week."

  "We will," Donovan assured her.

  "Good. Now get going. It'll be dark before too long," Natalia told them.

  "See you soon, Natalia," Amberly said.

  "Take care," Donovan said as he hooked his arm with Amberly's and walked away.

  Natalia watched as they headed further along the pass. When they walked around a bend and vanished from view, she took a deep breath and turned back around.

  She wasn't looking forward to searching for Bella, especially not on her own. But she couldn't leave her behind, and she refused to risk anyone else's life, so she had no choice. Natalia had to do this, and she had to do it alone.

  Fingers crossed I find her soon, Natalia thought as she retraced her steps.

  If not, then she would have no choice but to give up and join up again with the rest of the group. That wasn't going to happen until the last possible minute though.

  Natalia guessed she had a couple more hours of daylight to search for her, then she needed to find someplace safe to spend the night. If Natalia hasn't found her by then, she'll restart the search first thing in the morning and spend the whole day looking before following after the others.

  Bella best not have gone too far.

  She didn't want to spend too long away from the rest of the group. Not only that, but the weather over the mountain was getting worse by the minute. Natalia didn't think it was going to be safe to travel through the pass if she left it too much longer.

  With that thought in mind, Natalia picked up the pace. If she could find Bella before nightfall, then they could be back on the pass no later than mid-morning tomorrow.

  The rest of the group would still be on the pass at that point, so if they were quick enough, they could catch up before they reached the other side. That would be the best scenario, but Natalia had a feeling it wasn't going to be so easy. Especially if she had to convince Bella to go with her.

  Natalia didn't yet know what she was going to do if Bella still refused to go with them by the time she found her. If that was going to be the case, then Natalia would have to travel the pass on her own, which wasn't the wisest idea but what else could she do.

  Either way, Natalia needed to find Bella to make sure she was okay.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Taredd

  Taredd was more than ready to leave the cave by the time the storm passed. It was bad enough that Dain and Arun were still dead set on wasting time with this stupid bet, but being stuck in the cave for days on end as well had Taredd inching to get it over and done with.

  He wanted them to get back to what they did best. Hunting the Humans as a group. It was the most efficient way to rid the world of their kind.

  "If you two don't hurry the fuck up, I'm leaving without you," Taredd told them.

  Taredd didn't know how the fuck it could take them so long to get ready to leave when they didn't have anything to take with them. As soon as he woke up, Taredd was ready to leave.

  "Hold ya horses. We're nearly ready," Dain said.

  "I seriously don't understand what takes you both so long to get ready, it's not as if you're packing anything to take with you," Taredd told them.

  "Are we not allowed to have something to eat before we go?" Arun asked.

  "It doesn't take half the day to eat breakfast," Taredd pointed out.

  "For someone who hasn't slept in a bed, it's like he got out the wrong side again," Dain said around a mouth full of food.

  "That's probably why he's in such a foul mood. He's too used to the comforts of a soft mattress," Arun said.

  "That's not it," Taredd told them.

  "What is it then?" Arun asked.

  "I just want to get going,” Taredd said. “We've already spent more than enough time here."

  "Are you getting withdrawals?" Dain asked him.

  "Withdrawals from what?" he asked, confused.

  "Hunting? Humans? I don't know, you tell us what it might be," Dain said, shrugging his shoulders.

  "Oh, for fuck sake,” Taredd said. “I'm not going through withdrawal for anything."

  "Are you sure?" Dain asked.

  "Yes, of course I'm sure," he said adamantly.

  "How would you know if you were going through withdrawal or not?" Dain asked him.

  "Because I would just know, okay?" he said.

  Dain turned to Arun and said "I think he's delusional as well."

  "If the look on his face is anything to go on, he's close to beating the shit out of you," Arun told him.

  Dain turned back to Taredd. He could imagine that steam was billowing out of his ears from Dain's reaction.

  "I think you've pissed him off this time," Arun said.

  "He knows I'm only fucking with him," Dain said. "You know I'm only playing with you, don't ya Taredd?"

  "Can you not give up being an ass for just one day?" Taredd asked him.

  "Yeah, I can," Dain said.

  "Then please, make it today," Taredd said.

  "Okay, fine. I'll be on my best behaviour for today," Dain agreed. "But for twenty-four hours only."

  "I'll take it," Taredd told him.

  "Well, I suppose we best get going then, if you're both ready?" Arun asked.

  Taredd scowled at them. He’d been trying to get them to leave for hours. If he’d known all it would take for them to get their asses into gear was for him to show how pissed off he was getting, then he would have done that hours ago.

  "Yeah, I'm ready to go now," Dain said.

  "About fucking time." Taredd threw his hands up in the air. "That's it, this is the last time I'm waiting for you two. From now on, if you're not ready when I am, then I'm leaving without you."

  "To be honest, I'm surprised you haven't left us behind before now," Arun said as he followed Taredd out of the cave, Dain hot on his heels.

  "The thought has crossed my mind many times in the past," Taredd told him.

  "Then why haven't you?" Arun asked.

  "Because we're a team. You don't leave members of your team behind, no matter how annoying they are,” he said, pointedly staring in Dain's direction.

  "Hey, I'm not the only one that annoys you," he said. "Arun is just as bad as me."

  Taredd couldn't stop the laugh that burst out of him.

  "I'm not as bad as you," Arun said, insulted.

  "Yes, you are," Dain said.

  "I have to agree with Arun," Taredd said. "He isn't as bad as you."

  "See? I told you," Arun said smugly. "I don't know anyone that is more annoying than you are, and I know a lot of annoying people."

  "If that's how you both feel, then I should just leave,” Dain said. “You obviously don't like having me around, so why the fuck am I still here?"

  "That's not true. Just because you’re the most annoying creature to roam the plan
et,” Arun said. “Doesn't mean we don't like having you around."

  "We just want you to have a day off from being a dick head every once in a while," Taredd said.

  "How often is 'once in a while'?" Dain asked.

  "At least once a week," Arun said.

  "More if you can," Taredd added.

  "I see. It's like that, is it?" Dain said.

  "Yeah, it's like that," Taredd said, nodding his head.

  "Fine,” Dain said. “I promise to have at least one day a week off from being a dick."

  "Great," Taredd said.

  "Fantastic," Arun added.

  "Now, shall we pick up the pace?" Taredd asked.

  "Lead the way," Arun replied.

  Dain didn't say a word. Instead, he grunted his agreement. Taredd wasn't stupid, he knew Dain was hurt by what they just told him, but he didn't seem to get the hint any other way.

  Taredd wasn't bothered about them having a laugh, but every single day was taking the piss a little. Even he like to have a laugh, but all the time? No. Sometimes it was nice to have a peaceful day without anyone fucking about, or being a complete dick like Dain was, more often than not.

  Dain was a great friend, and Taredd never wanted to lose that friendship. He just wanted Dain to take life more seriously at times. Was that too much to ask? Taredd didn't think it was.

  They managed to cover a far bit of distance as they all walked in silence, all of them lost in their own thoughts. Occasionally they stopped for something to eat, but other than that they continued traipsing through the snow.

  Taredd was amused when neither of them wanted to stop for the night, especially after all the shit they gave him about not being used to sleeping on anything other than a soft mattress, so they carried on walking through the night. Luckily enough they could all go several days without needing to rest.

  They managed to make it nearly two days before Dain finally asked that dreaded question.

  "Are we there yet?" he asked.

  Here we go, Taredd thought.

  He knew it wouldn't be too much longer before Dain had started with the 'are we there yet' question. To be honest, Taredd was surprised it took him this long. He'd been expecting it since they left the cave.

  "Nearly," Taredd and Arun said in unison.

  "I'm in need of a stiff drink," Dain said.

  "I second that," Arun said.

  "I third that," Taredd added.

  "Are you sure we're not there yet?" Dain asked.

  "Is there still snow surrounding us?" Taredd asked instead.

  "Well, yeah," Dain said.

  "Then we're not fucking there yet," Taredd told him. "So, stop asking before I push you off the next cliff we come across."

  "I don't think we're going to come across any more cliffs," Arun pointed out.

  "I'm sure I can find one," he said.

  They just couldn't help themselves, they just loved to annoy him, he was sure of it.

  "I only asked twice," Dain pointed out.

  "Well, I thought I'd tell you before we had to hear it like a broken record," Taredd told him.

  "I don't do that," Dain said.

  "Yeah, you do," Taredd said.

  "I take it you think the same?" Dain asked Arun, who nodded in agreement. "Fine, I won't ask again."

  "Good," Taredd said.

  After a couple of minutes walking in silence, Dain asked: "Do you think we'll be there by nightfall?"

  Taredd groaned. It was basically the same bloody question, just worded differently.

  "Seriously?" Arun asked.

  "What?" Dain asked.

  "Taredd already told you it's not much further, so shut the fuck up about it." Arun shook his head. "You going on about it, makes it feel even further away."

  "Fine, I just won't say another fucking word then, okay?" Dain snapped.

  "Yes," Taredd replied.

  "Thank the Goddess," Arun said, looking up at the sky. "He's finally going to shut up."

  "I seriously don't know why I hang out with you two," Dain told them. "You can be right miserable bastards at times."

  "You hang out with us because you would be bored otherwise," Arun told him.

  "I'm sure I could find something else to pass the time," Dain said. "After all, there's plenty of females..."

  "That you haven't had sex with?" Arun interrupted. "Because I don't think there is."

  Punching Arun in the arm, Dain said: "I haven't slept with that many females."

  Arun laughed. "Yeah right, and I haven't had that many hot meals."

  "Maybe you could find something to pass the time," Taredd said. "But then you couldn't annoy us all the time, which we both know you secretly take great pleasure from."

  "No, I don't," Dain said it as if he was hurt by the comment.

  "Yeah, you do," Taredd said.

  "Yes, you do," Arun agreed.

  "Yeah, you're right. I do," Dain said, smiling.

  Taredd shook his head.

  "You're a dick head, you know that?" Arun asked.

  "Just on Tuesdays," Dain laughed.

  Dain was never going to change, he was never going to stop being an annoying twat, and they both knew it. But that was Dain for you, and it wouldn't be the same if he was any other way. Admittedly, it would be a lot more peaceful, but it wouldn't be half as much fun.

  "Do you even know what day of the week it is?" Arun asked him.

  "Nope." Dain said, shaking his head. "And I really couldn't give a shit either."

  "Do you?" Taredd asked Arun.

  "Hell no," Arun said. "But do I need to know? No, I don't. After all, that's a Human thing."

  "Yeah, I know," Taredd said.

  Why the Humans needed to name the days, he would never understand. Taredd didn't even care if it was night or day, summer or winter. It was all the same to him.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Natalia

  Natalia searched for far longer than she planned to, but since the weather had made it too dangerous to travel along the pass, she had time to kill and she didn't want to kill it by sitting around doing fuck all. She might as well spend it trying to find Bella. Not that she was having any luck, but it was still better than doing nothing.

  It was as if Bella had vanished into thin air. The only sign Natalia had seen of Bella after turning back for her, was at the entrance of the pass. After that Natalia hadn't come across any sign of her. Which was weird because Bella wasn't prone to covering her tracks.

  In fact, out of everyone Natalia has ever known in her life, Bella was by far the easiest to find. This time though, there was nothing. Not even a random foot print in the mud or anything.

  Natalia knew something wasn't right. Bella couldn't have just vanished, someone must have taken her, but after days of searching there was still no sign of her or anyone else having been in the area.

  With nothing else to do, and completely out of ideas of where else to look, Natalia had to call it a day on the search. The others needed her more and they didn't need her to get herself caught by the monsters while searching for someone who obviously didn't want to be found. If she did get caught, Amberly and Donovan would never give up looking for her, even though it would be in vain. So, she needed to get back to them before they sent out a search party for her.

  Even though she told them not to, if she didn't return, they would worry about her and then they would end up breaking the rules to find her. That was the last thing she wanted. She couldn't have one rule for everyone else and a separate one for herself, even if she was the leader of the group.

  As it was, by the time the storm had cleared enough for her to attempt the pass, several days had gone by. She hoped the others made it through before the weather turned. If not, then she prayed that they were able to find shelter along the way.

  Natalia finished packing her satchel and then headed for the pass. The weather still wasn't great, but at least it wasn't a complete whiteout over the mountains any more. When Natalia first attempted to j
oin the others, she could barely see the mountains through a cloud of white. It wasn't clear blue skies this time around, but she could at least see the tops of the mountains, which was a vast improvement from last time. It meant that she would be able to see where she's going.

  The last thing Natalia wanted... or needed... was to step in the wrong place as she tried to navigate the treacherous mountain pass. One wrong step could easily end her life. Natalia wasn't willing to die just yet, and especially not like that. She hadn't evaded the monsters all these years, just to die accidentally.

  That would be rather ironic really, wouldn't it? Survive all these years, only to die by taking a wrong step. It sounded like something that would happen to her, but she wasn't going to let it happen if she could help it.

  As she made her way further along the pass, Natalia regretted not finding something warmer to wear. The thin coat she was wearing barely kept her dry, and it did very little to keep her warm. The even thinner jumper she had on underneath wasn't much better.

  "I need some more clothes," she mumbled to herself.

  As soon as she met up with the others, she was going to put that at the top of her list of things to collect, along with food.

  Her stomach grumbled for the thousandth time since she woke up. The meager amount of food she had on her when she left the others ran out days ago. Natalia had looked for some food while she was searching for Bella, but just like with Bella, there was no sign of any.

  Natalia hoped that the others had managed to restock their supplies when they reached the other side. She hoped what little they did have with them had lasted them longer than it did her.

  If they had found some, then it would mean she could have something to eat as soon as she caught up with them. With that thought in mind, Natalia picked up the pace. Even at a faster pace, it was going to be a couple of days before she even reached the other side. Then came the hard part of finding them.

  Natalia didn't have a clue where they were staying. It could be a mile away from the mountains, or it could be twenty. It wasn't easy finding others of her kind anymore, which made her wonder how the monsters seemed to find them so easily.

  Even after all these years nobody knew exactly what abilities or magic the monsters possessed. Those who got close enough to them to find out, never lived long enough to learn their secrets. And since the monsters weren't in a sharing kind of mood, there was no way to find out for sure.