The Hunters: Phantom by L. J. Smith

Author:L. J. Smith
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Romance, Young-adult Fiction, Dark Fantasy
Publisher: HarperCollins US
Published: 2012-08-31T11:53:42+00:00

Chapter 22

Elena couldn’t breathe. She could vaguely feel her mouth opening and closing, but she found she wasn’t able to say anything. Her hands and feet had gone numb.

Damon gave her an almost shy smile—which was funny, because Damon didn’t do shy—and shrugged. “Well, princess? You wanted me to be here with you, didn’t you?”

As if a rubber band holding her back had snapped, Elena leaped out of bed and hurtled into Damon’s arms.

“Are you real?” she said, half sobbing. “Is this real?” She kissed him fiercely, and he met her kiss with equal fervor. He felt real, cool skin and leather, the surprising softness of his lips familiar under hers.

“Here I am,” he murmured into her hair as he pulled her close to him. “It’s real, I promise you.”

Elena stepped back and smacked him hard across the face. Damon glared at her and reached up to rub his cheek. “Ouch,” he said, and then cracked a narrow, irritating smile. “I can’t say that was completely unexpected—I get slapped by women more often than you’d think possible—but not a nice welcome for the long-lost love, sweetheart.”

“How could you?” Elena said, dry-eyed now and furious. “How could you, Damon? We’ve all been mourning you. Stefan’s falling apart. Bonnie blames herself. I . . . I . . . A piece of my heart died. How long have you been watching us? Didn’t you care? Was this all some kind of joke to you? Did you laugh when we cried?”

Damon winced. “Darling,” he said. “My princess. Aren’t you glad to see me at all?”

“Of course I am!” said Elena indignantly. She took a breath and cooled down a little. “But, Damon, what were you thinking? We all thought you were dead! Permanently dead, not show-up-in-my-bedroom-a-few-days-later-looking-perfectly-healthy dead! What’s going on? Did the Guardians do this? They told me they couldn’t when I begged them to, that death is permanent for a vampire once it happens.”

Damon graced her with a genuine, laughing smile. “Well, you of all people ought to know that death isn’t always permanent.”

Elena shrugged and wrapped her arms around herself. “They told me that when I came back, it was different,” she said in a small voice, her emotions zigzagging all over the place. Because you’re in shock, a tiny voice at the back of her head said wisely. “Mystical stuff, you know. My time wasn’t up. Hey!” She poked him with one finger, perking up. “Are you human now? I was human when I returned.”

Damon gave a long, theatrical shudder. “God forbid. I had enough of that when that meddling kitsune made me a mortal. Thank heaven—or whoever—I don’t have to go looking for an obliging vampire princess to turn me back this time.” He grinned slyly at Elena. “I’m as bloodsucking as ever, darling.” He eyed her neck. “Speaking of which, I’m rather hungry. . . .”

Elena smacked him again, though more gently this time. “Knock it off, Damon.”

“Can I sit down now?” Damon asked and, when she nodded, settled himself on the foot of her bed and drew her down to sit beside him.

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