Guarding Valentina [Paladin Protection Agency 3] (Siren Publishing Classic) by Susan Hayes

Author:Susan Hayes
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance
Published: 2013-01-18T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

Aedan was doing his best to lock down the dhampir part of his nature, but it wasn’t going very well. Genetic hardwiring had made it almost painful for him to stay put and keep his vow to protect Val instead of going after Christoph. Adrenaline still coursed through his system, and the only thing keeping him from snapping was the memory of Val’s face as she had vented her guilt and hurt at him. She needed him to be calm. Well, as calm as he could manage, given current circumstances. He wasn’t sure he’d ever manage to be truly calm when he had Val half naked and in his arms. She made it hard for him to think straight.

He reached up to smooth an errant lock of hair back behind her ear, and she gave him the softest hint of a smile and said, “All right then, Mr. Doyle. It’s confession time.”

“Confessing all my sins might take more time than we have, especially if you intend for us to get some sleep tonight. How about I give you the abridged version?”

“Just don’t leave out anything I’ll need to kick your ass for later.”

“You’ll likely hear more than you want to,” he warned her and then settled back on the couch, his fingers still stroking her hair. “My mother died right after I was born. She succumbed to massive blood loss from what was reported as a mugging gone bad. She refused to be treated for her own injuries until they’d delivered me, and there wasn’t enough time to save us both. My da blamed me for her death. By all reports he was a bitter, angry bastard before she died. Afterward, he was worse. He had three hobbies, darts, booze, and beating on his only son. I packed up and left home when I was twelve. I figured no matter how bad the streets were, it had to be better than home.”

“Twelve? You were still a baby!” He tried to ignore the pity he could see in Val’s pretty brown eyes. He didn’t need anyone’s pity.

“I was young, but remember, I’m not human.”

“You already had your abilities?”

“We’re born with them. Itty-bitty vampire hunters from the time we take our first steps. The strength and speed ramp up as we age, but we’re freaks from the moment we’re born.”

“You’re not a freak.” Her hand closed around his fingers and squeezed. “If things like Christoph exist, then you’re a much-needed countermeasure.”

“You sound like one of the Brethren’s trainers.”

“You guys have trainers?”

“Trainers, safe houses, globe-trotting hunters like me, and a global network of observers, support staff, and such. They’ve been doing this for more than two hundred years. Imagine a very old, slightly stuffy version of Paladin, only without the military angle.”

“How old were you when they found you?”

“Sixteen. I’d managed to translate my rather unique skills into a lucrative career as a thief.”

“A thief? That’s the best you could think of?” She snorted with undignified laughter. That was hardly the reaction he’d been expecting.

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