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

  Natalia had come across lots of books that featured the monsters, but as far as she could tell, none of it was real. It wasn't as if there were any books written by the monsters themselves. At least, none that Natalia had found and she had been looking for years. Even if there had been at some point in history, she wouldn't put it past the monsters to destroy all evidences of their existence.

  Natalia would love to know their secret, she would love to know what powers they possessed, because she would happily use it against them if she could. Natalia wasn't an aggressive person by any means, but she would make an exception for the monsters, especially if it was a choice between her life and theirs.

  If Amberly or Donovan's lives were on the line, then she would fight tooth and nail to keep them safe, even if it meant forfeiting her own life to save theirs. Natalia knew she should feel the same about the rest of the people in the group as well, but she didn't. As much as she tried to treat them all the same, Amberly and Donovan were more like her brother and sister, whereas the others she just couldn't see them the same way, no matter how much she wanted to.

  Bella was just a completely different kettle of fish all together. At least Natalia liked the rest of the people in the group. But Bella? No, she couldn't stand the woman. Something about Bella grated on Natalia and she couldn't pinpoint what it was, but it had been that way ever since she joined the group. There was something just not quite right about her.

  Nobody else in the group knew her feeling about Bella, she never mentioned it to anyone. Even Amberly and Donovan didn't know, because she didn't want her feeling to rub off on them or anyone else. At the end of the day, it might not be anything other than her simply not clicking with Bella.

  As it was, Natalia had a feeling that not many of the others in the group liked Bella, if any of them. But if they found out what Natalia's view of her was, then it could have caused an even bigger rift between them all. It was probably all a moot subject now anyway, since it was unlikely any of them were ever going to see Bella again. So, there was no point in telling any of them now.

  If they found out now, then they might even think that Natalia didn't bother looking for her as hard as she could have. So, it was in her best interest never to let anyone know, even Amberly and Donovan. None of it would matter if she didn't manage to find them anyway.

  Natalia just hoped that she hadn't made a huge mistake in splitting up the group by going off on her own to look for Bella. It was possible that in doing so she had made it a permanent arrangement, but she knew the risk when she made the decision. She knew it could mean that she might never see any of them again.

  Natalia couldn't let herself think that way though, she needed to stay positive for her own sanity, otherwise she might as well turn back now and not bother attempting to travel along the pass on her own. It was only the thought of seeing them again that kept her going as it was, if Natalia didn't have that then she would just give up and turn back.

  It was also the thought of how much they relied on her, and the fact that she knew Amberly and Donovan would refuse to stop looking for her that spurred her on. Even if nobody else in the group would miss her, she knew Amberly and Donovan would.

  Natalia knew without a doubt that they would search for her if she didn't catch up with them soon enough. She couldn't let them risk their lives trying to find her, so she had to push forward, she had to keep going until she found them.

  So, here she was, traipsing through knee high snow as she navigates the treacherous mountain pass on her own. All in the hopes of reaching her friends... her family.

  CHAPTER NINE

  Taredd

  It didn't take long for them to find the closest tavern once they left the pass. It was a bit further away from the pass than he would have liked, but it was better than nothing. After spending the last few days traveling, and one night in a cave, he was more than ready for a soft bed and a hell of a lot to drink.

  They spent the rest of the day in the tavern, drinking and having a laugh. The room Taredd stayed in was much better than the last one, but it was nowhere close to his own bedroom back home. Taredd couldn't remember the last time he stepped foot inside his home. He had to admit, he was missing it and couldn't wait to go back.

  The following morning, Taredd and Arun were up at the crack of dawn to start the bet. They split off to go their separate ways as soon as they left the tavern. Dain was still fast asleep when they left., Since he wasn't part of the bet, he could do whatever the hell he wanted.

  Taredd didn't bother asking them where they were going to be. Arun would probably move around a lot as he hunted down his own Human anyway, and he knew that Dain could be found in any of the taverns... more than likely the same one they’d just left him in. It wasn't a problem though, because he could find them both easily enough when the time came, so he didn't bother to ask them.

  Taredd decided to hang around and search the area closest to the mountains. His reasoning was that the Humans had to have a hideout somewhere close to the pass for when they travelled along it, kind of like a last pit stop before attempting the treacherous journey, or maybe even a safe place they could recoup once they made it to the other side.

  He didn't know why they would come this far north though. It snowed for more than six months at a time, making it near on impossible to grow anything that would be worth eating. It might have made him think of home, if not for the freezing temperatures.

  It was just as difficult to grow food where he was from, but it was because of the opposite temperature. Instead of it being too cold for most of the year, it was too hot instead.

  All living plant life shrivelled and died within a matter of days as the heat soared during the hottest months of the year. There were only a few months where it was cool enough to grow anything. Which was one of the reasons why he didn't mind staying here.

  Taredd made his way along the base of the mountain, looking for any indication that Humans had been in the area recently. Taredd had come across a few signs here and there, mainly footprints in the mud, but there was one spot that appeared to have been used as a campsite. Whether it was a Human campsite or not, was another question.

  Other than that, it appeared none had been through this way for quite some time. Still, Taredd wasn't about to give up so easily, because he knew there was bound to be a few dotted around here somewhere.

  When it started to get dark, as night fell, Taredd decided to make a camp. After all the alcohol he consumed last night with Dain and Arun, and with an early start tomorrow, he decided to catch up on some sleep. Unfortunately, he didn't have a soft mattress tonight, but he could improvise.

  Taredd collected fallen leaves and handfuls of moss to make a bed, along with fallen twigs and branches to use for a fire. It wasn't exactly the soft and comfy bed he wanted, but it was better than sleeping on solid rock in the cave.

  Taredd set up a trap not far away from where he was making camp, before building a fire. Once the fire was going and his bedding area pulled together, he sat back to admire the scenery. For such an unforgiving place, it had one of the most beautiful views he had ever seen.

  After a couple of hours, Taredd went back to check on the trap. Luckily, he had left it long enough to catch something. He managed to snare a rabbit in the short time he had been away setting the fire and preparing a sleeping area.

  Taredd untangled the animal before taking the trap back down. Since he didn't need more than the one rabbit, there was absolutely no need to leave the trap up. He didn't want to get another animal caught in it unnecessarily. Grabbing the rabbit by the hind legs, he carried it back to camp.

  It had never bothered Taredd to spend the night sleeping under the stars. As long as it stayed dry, he was happy. The last thing he wanted was to be woken during the night to rain, or worse, snow. Especially since he was a good few miles away from the nearest building where he could take shelter from the elements.

  Yes, he could have gone to one of them instead of sleeping rou
gh, but that would have wasted even more time. Taredd wasn't willing to travel to and fro each day just to have the luxury of sleeping indoors, that would just be a complete waste of his time.

  Not only that, but if a Human was to come from the pass at any time of the day or night, he wanted to be here ready for them. He had set up his camp so that he would be the first to see them as they left the pass, but not so close that they would see him easily.

  Since this was a bet after all, he was willing to take any advantage over Arun that he could. If that meant staying by the mountains, then so be it. After all, the sooner he won the bet, the sooner they could get back to hunting down Humans as a team again.

  Taredd skinned and gutted the rabbit, then propped it over the fire to cook. It may not be the largest, or fanciest, of meals, but it was better than nothing at all. On the up side, Taredd was rather keen on the taste of rabbit, so it was a win win situation.

  There was nothing better than cooking on an open fire while staring up at the twinkling stars up above. It was peaceful here, nothing but the sound of nature surrounded him. No talking, no bickering, nothing but peace and quiet, just what he needed at that moment in time.

  Taredd had watched the sun set as the fire crackled next to him. Breathing in the cool air, he leaned back against a tree, relaxing while his food cooked. Listening to the birds singing in the trees as they settled in for the night, and mammals, as they scurried around on the ground. Some of them making their way into their burrows or dens for the night, while other nocturnal creatures were just waking up.

  Closing his eyes, Taredd listened to all the sounds around him. He tried to identify where each sound was coming from, and what creature was making it. It wasn't something that Taredd would normally do, but since Dain and Arun weren't around to cause a racket, it was peaceful enough for him to do.

  Taredd wondered how Arun was getting along in his search. He doubted Arun would find a Human before him, but on the off chance that he was wrong. Arun might be lucky and stumble across one, or even a group of Humans before him, but it was more likely that when Taredd finally met up with him again that he still wouldn't be anywhere close to finding one.

  Not unless he recruited Dain to aid him in his search, but that was highly unlikely because Arun would see that as cheating. Arun had the same view of cheating as Taredd did, it was dishonourable. After all, there wasn't any point in making a bet if you weren't going to play fair. They may be a Demon and a Fae, but they still had their honour and they weren't about to throw it all away over a stupid bet.

  The smell coming from the rabbit was making Taredd's mouth water. Not wanting to wait any longer, Taredd opened his eyes and sat up. Pulling a knife out of the sheaf strapped to his leg, he started cutting off bits of cooked meat.

  "Mmm." He moaned as the flavour burst in his mouth.

  Taredd savoured each bite before swallowing. It wasn't often he ate rabbit, so it was like a bit of luxury while camping rough.

  Before long, his meal was finished. Taredd cleared away the remains, then rebuilt the fire before laying down on his makeshift bed. Stretching out next to the fire, he yawned and then rolled over onto his side so he could watch the flames dance as he drifted off to sleep.

  CHAPTER TEN

  Natalia

  Natalia couldn’t wait to finally be away from the freezing cold snow and ice of the mountains. Every time the sun had gone down, she’d had no choice but to find shelter in a cave for the night.

  It was way too cold at night to travel, especially with the stupidly thin clothing she had on. But not just that, there was a higher probability that she was likely to take a wrong step in the dark, and knowing her luck it would be her last step.

  Natalia hoped the others made it through okay. She would never forgive herself if anything happened to them. It was the thought of seeing them again soon that kept her going each day. As much as she had wanted to give up at times, she pushed through for Amberly and Donovan, if nothing else.

  Each night, Natalia had pulled out every item of fabric she had in her satchel to try and keep herself warm enough to survive until morning. It was so cold at night that she half expected to not wake up every morning. Each time she laid down and closed her eyes she sent up a little prayer that she would make it another day, and each morning she was thankful that she woke up.

  But the end was near, Natalia could see the end of the pass not far off in the distance, and it gave her the boost she needed to reach the end. She called on every last ounce of energy that she had left, and picked up the pace as much as she could.

  Natalia didn't have a clue what she was going to do when she finally got there. She didn't know where the closest bunker to the mountain was located, and even if she did manage to find it, there was no guarantee Amberly, Donovan, and the rest of the group were going to be there.

  As much as she wanted to find Amberly and Donovan straight away, she wasn't stupid or naive enough to think it was going to be a simple task. She wasn't lucky enough to find them as soon as she left the pass and she knew it.

  Thinking rationally, the best course of action, was to find a bunker so she could recoup before heading out to find the others. Natalia had to admit, the thought of a nice long nap sounded perfect just about now. Preferably somewhere warm, where she could curl up under layers of blankets. Or at least somewhere she could build a fire to lay next to.

  That was one of the things she should have been better prepared for before going along the pass. In hindsight, she should have collected some firewood for at night, but she’d been too preoccupied with needing to reach the others.

  Next time though, firewood was going to be right at the top of her list, along with warmer clothes and thicker blankets. Waterproof boots would definitely have come in handy as well, that’s if she was able to scavenge some.

  Natalia couldn't remember the last time she could feel her feet properly, which wasn't a good sign at all. But she was nearly at the other side now, so she could deal with her feet soon enough.

  A cooked meal would go down a treat as well. Luckily enough, Natalia had found a small bag in one of the caves she had stayed in. She didn't know if it was left by Amberly and Donovan, but she was glad all the same.

  Tucked away inside the bag had been a very small supply of bread and meat, there was even a couple of pieces of fruit as well. It was just enough to last her a day, maybe a little longer if she rationed it more than usual. Natalia didn't mind that there was only about a days’ worth of food, because it was a days’ worth more than what she had before she found it.

  Natalia hoped the others hadn't set up camp too far away from the mountains. The closer they were to the mountains, the easier it would be to find them. Natalia hadn't come across any of their tracks along the pass, which was a good thing.

  They all knew to hide any evidence of themselves before moving on, so even if she had stayed in some of the same caves as them, she wouldn’t have known.. Plus, any footprints would have been covered over in the snow storm.

  The closer she came to the end of the pass, the more her feet began to drag along the floor. It felt as if she had weights tied to the bottom of her feet and they were getting heavier and heavier with each step she took. Natalia didn't care how difficult it got though, because one way or another she was going to make it. She was even prepared to crawl the rest of the way, if it came to it.

  Not daring to stop just in case she couldn't get started again, she ploughed on as best she could. There was no way she was spending another night in this frozen wasteland., Finally, her hard work was paying off and she was rewarded when the snow turned to sludge before disappearing completely.

  She had made it to the other side of the mountains, at last. Breathing a sigh of relief, she traipsed on a little further before she stopped for a rest. Making sure the earth was dry enough first, so she wouldn't get a wet ass, Natalia slid down next to a large tree to sit on the ground.

  Leaning her head back against the tree, she closed
her eyes for just a moment. At least, she thought it was for just a moment, but when she opened her eyes again the sun starting to set. Darkness was not her friend at the best of times, but even more so when she was alone and out in the open.

  Natalia wasn't familiar with this area, so didn't have a clue where the closest bunker was located. Spending the night out in the open under the stars was not the wisest of ideas, but if she couldn't find anywhere soon, then she would have no other choice.

  Pushing herself up from the floor, she stretched out her aching muscles before picking up her satchel and heading off in search of a safe place to stay for the night. Even more so now than earlier it felt as if she had weights attracted to her feet, but it still wasn't enough to prevent her from looking for a bunker.

  No matter how hard it became, she wouldn't stop even if her feet gave out on her. More than anything, Natalia needed to find a safe place to stay for the night. It didn't even need to be a bunker, but it had to be a hell of a lot safer than where she had been earlier.

  Being out in the open like she had been was an extremely bad idea, especially when she didn't know the area. There was no telling how many monsters lived in the area, or where they were located. The last thing she want to do was to get caught because she was too close to where they lived.

  Luckily enough though, Natalia didn't have to go very far before she found exactly what she was looking for, which was a really good thing because she didn't know how much longer she could physically stay on her feet.

  The bad thing was, just as Natalia spotted the entrance to the bunker, she caught sight of movement out of the corner of her eye. As she spun around to see what it was, her eyes clashed with the black eyes of one of the monsters she was trying desperately to avoid.