Any characters you recognize belong to Sherrilyn Kenyon or Laurell K. Hamilton. I’m just doing this for fun. This is rated PG.

 

Thanks once again to the ladies that are helping me
keep this from going stale.

 

Nate’s Intro 13: OUCH!

 

Everyone else was looking at the new player in our little drama. He was still looking at me like he'd just found a new toy. Now what was wrong with this picture? So I couldn't help it. I stepped around the Goth Princess and offered my hand. What? You expected me to offer my throat?

 

Everyone tensed as I spoke. “You must be the Mayor. I'm Nathan. Local rock DJ and Dark Hunter from another universe.”

 

I heard the Princess laugh. He just stood there looking at me with those eyes.

 

Asher explained, “Jean Claude is the Master of the City.”

 

I shrugged. “He's not my Master but then again, I'm not from this city.”

             

Sliding the dagger back into my belt, I sat down on the edge of Asher's desk. Luna holstered her thirty-eight.

 

Richard turned to the Princess. “I can't believe you allowed him in here armed, Luna.”

 

I interrupted, “First off, she didn't know I was armed. I wasn't actually when I got here.”

 

The dog king looked at me, shocked. “Myra gave them to you?” I just stared at him. “I want you to stay away from my pack.”

 

Refusing to be intimidated, I told him, “Myra didn't give me anything but a lot to think about, like why she allows you to use her for one.” He didn't seem to have an answer for that one. I looked over at Asher. “Oh and I want my brothers knife back. Please.”

 

He nodded, “I will make sure you have it when you leave.”

 

Jean Claude told Asher, “We cannot allow him to leave.” I turned my attention back to the alleged Master who was staring at me again. “At least not yet.”

 

“And why is that?” I asked meeting his gaze.

 

“I am still unsure of whether you are a threat.”

 

Richard chimed in, “I agree.”

 

I whipped my head round toward him.  “Want me to be your mobile spay and neuter clinic?”

 

Luna came to stand beside the desk. I wasn't sure if she was there to keep me in check or the wolf king.

 

Jean Claude chuckled. ”Not too many can get the best of our Richard.”

 

The dog king growled. “He doesn't have the best of me Jean Claude.”

 

The dark haired vamp tilted his head to one side as if to say, ’Oh no?’

 

“I don't believe he's that big of a threat.” Luna offered.

 

I turned to her. “Oh that hurt.”

 

The corner of her mouth twitched before she responded, “It's going to.”

 

I sighed, “So I take it I'm not gonna be sleeping in my own bed in the morning?”

 

Asher nodded. “I believe your presence is required for at least a while longer.”

 

Richard told the golden haired vampire, “I think Anita should be brought in on this. It was one of her cats that got him here.”

 

The Princess shot back, “One of your pack brought him to Guilty Pleasures.”

 

“Do they always argue like this?” I asked the vampires.

 

A curt “Oui,” was the immediate response I got from both of them.

 

Richard was still arguing with Luna. “She has been reprimanded.”

 

That got my attention. Before I knew it, my hand was at his throat. If my eyes hadn't changed before, they had for sure now. “Tell me you didn't hurt her.”

 

Luna yelled at me. “Nathan! Let go! Don't make me shoot you.”

 

I threw Richard into the far wall as Jean Claude exclaimed, “Mon Dieu!”

 

I turned to the female shifter. “Go ahead but you better aim for my heart.”

 

Asher walked over to me as the other vampire asked, “Did Obsidian Butterfly send him?”

 

The golden haired vamp shook his head. “Non. He is...not a predator. He is a hunter.” He put a hand on my shoulder. “Calm down.”

 

I backed away from his touch. “I've told you everything. It's like my grandma always said, ‘You can't get blood out of a turnip.’ That's all there is.”

 

I was suddenly very tired. I just wanted to curl up in a ball and sleep. This world was playing havoc with my abilities. I was healing slower. My eyes were changing back and forth. Sometimes I found myself awake in the middle of the day. 

 

Why the hell had they put me here? There had to be a purpose.  Ash had said that a lot of power was building. I wanted to be back in New Orleans. I wanted to be on the street with the others doing what I do best, killing Daimons.

 

The dark haired vamp’s voice brought me out of my musings. “I want Dr. Lillian to examine him.  And Asher?”

 

“Yes Mon Ami?”

 

“I want him restrained.”

 

The male shifter nodded, “That's the first smart thing anyone has said.”

 

That was it. I'd had enough of the dog king. I spun bringing out both daggers. I buried one in each of his shoulders driving him back over the sofa and onto the floor. Strong hands pulled me off of Richard and up.

 

I turned and swung sending Asher toppling over his desk and then she shot me. Goth Princess put a thirty-eight slug in my gut. It was not a killing blow but was enough to keep me down for a while.

 

I looked up at her through the haze of pain. “You shot me.”

 

She shrugged her free shoulder, “I told you I would.”

 

“Should have aimed higher.” I grinned as a trickle of blood ran down my chin.

 

The dog king looked at Luna, “A minute ago you were offering him protection.”

 

“I couldn't let him kill you. It would hurt the others.  I was being practical. I wouldn’t mind if it was just you being dead Richard but it would mean losing Anita as well as Jean Claude and I won’t take that risk.” I barely heard her explain before it all went black.

 

I woke up on the softest sheets I had ever felt in my life. They would rival anything in Artemis' chamber. The lights were low and I couldn't focus very well. Drugs? I was thirsty.  Trying to sit up caused me to wince. Two soft cool hands pushed me back down.

 

Asher told me, “Lie still.”

 

“Are you sure you should be alone with such a dangerous man?” I asked the vampire.

 

He sounded surprised. “Do you wish me harm?”

 

“No. I guess I had had enough.”

 

He chuckled. “I believe a few of us have wanted to do the same thing at some time but it would have been a permanent solution.”

 

It was my turn to be surprised. “You don't like him.”

 

“He sometimes becomes, how do you say, a...”

 

“Pain in the ass?” I grinned.

 

He nodded. “Oui.  Do you need anything?”

 

“I'm thirsty.”

 

“I will have something brought in.” He stood to go.

 

I asked, “Where am I?”

 

“In my chambers.” He told me as he left the room.

 

“Well at least it's not a coffin.” I told the closed door. 

 

A while later the door opened and a woman walked in. She was wiry with salt and pepper gray hair. She wore a white lab coat over a blue dress and carried a tray with a pitcher and glass. The pitcher had some sort of clear liquid in it.

 

She set the tray on the nightstand by the bed and poured some of the liquid into a glass and offered it to me. I inched myself up slowly to a half sitting position and took the glass. I sniffed the contents. Not too many drugs were odorless but there were some.

 

I drank it down and held out the glass for more.

 

She smiled. ”You were thirsty.” She poured another glass for me.

 

“Thanks.” It was then I noticed the man that had come in after her. He was big, carried a rather large gun in a shoulder holster. “Bodyguard?”

 

She nodded. “Everywhere I go. I need to change your bandages.” The man at the door brought over a bag. I could tell even through my fuzzy mind that he was not happy to be here. The woman’s voice drew my attention back. “I need you to lie back down.”

 

I did what I was told, thankful to be prone again. She pulled the sheet down just below my hips. I hope she couldn't see me blush. She pulled off the bandages and poked around the wound.

 

She sounded surprised at what she saw. “You are almost healed and you aren't a lycanthrope.”

 

“Nope. Just your friendly neighborhood Dark Hunter.” I grinned. ‘Only this isn't my neighborhood,’ I thought to myself.

 

The woman shook her head, ”Trying to kill Richard wasn't very friendly.”

 

“Oh, I wasn't trying to kill him. Just hurt him.” She eyed me suspiciously but I continued. “Honest. So what did your tests say that I am?”

 

“Inconclusive.” She admitted. I started laughing. She bristled. “What is so funny?”

 

“That piece of news must have the Mayor's panties in a bunch.” I said when I could catch my breath.

 

“You are a very strange man.” With that she and the bodyguard left.

 

The only thing with drinking so much water is, well let's just say I had to get up. My body let me know that wasn't a good decision. It was a slow walk across the room and an even slower walk back.

 

I lay down and closed my eyes. Dreams and pieces of dreams came like a movie with previews. They were all so jumbled that I couldn't really recall any but one. It was the only one that ever really stayed with me, my twin's death. At least he wasn't in hell.

 

In three days I was pretty much back to fighting strength. It was weird that Acheron hadn't been in touch. Things must be really heavy in New Orleans. 

 

I was pretty much confined to two rooms, Asher's office and the room I was sleeping in.  I was really starting to go bananas. I had yet to meet the infamous Anita but I figured I would sooner or later. I was sitting in one of the chairs in Asher's office when Myra came in. I didn't know whether to be relieved or pissed.

 

“I'm getting you out of here.” She told me, her look determined.

 

“You'll get in trouble.” She shrugged off my reply. “I don't want you hurt Myra.”

 

The look she gave me lacked any warmth. “It almost sounds like you care.”

 

I sighed. “Okay I guess I deserved that. Just show me the way out. You can tell them I forced you.”

 

“Right.” She grabbed my hand. “Come on.” She led me down the hallway, through a steel door and up some steps to another door. “Your car's right outside. The keys are in the ignition. It's daylight so don't stop.”

 

I looked from the door to her. “Why are you doing this?”

 

“Isn't it obvious?” She pulled my head down and kissed me. “Go.” She turned and hurried down the steps.

 

I opened the door cautiously. It was daylight but overcast. I could do this. I located the Viper, put my head down and took off in a run. She was right. The door was unlocked. I got in, started her up and sped off hell bent for leather.

 

Arriving home, I was a little scorched but safer than I had been. At least they didn't know where I lived. That's what I hoped anyway.  I took a long hot shower and went to bed. The Dream Hunters would have a field day.