Immortal
Hunter
Kait Ballenger
www.millsandboon.co.uk
For my dad, Rick Schulz, who has always supported me in everything I do, and who has provided me with all the opportunities I needed to succeed in life. I love you, Daddy.
Praise for
KAIT BALLENGER
Ballenger offers an extremely promising high-voltage start to her series about superheroes and their adversaries.
Publishers Weekly, starred review, on Twilight Hunter
Paranormal fans have a new voice to check out with the debut of Ballengers terrific first book in her Execution Underground series.
RT Book Reviews on Twilight Hunter
Debut author Ballenger shows awesome potential and talent.
RT Book Reviews on Shadow Hunter
Kait Ballenger is a treasure you dont want to miss!
New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter
Nonstop action, pulse-pounding suspense, and red-hot romance Kait Ballengers Execution Underground series delivers in spades!
Jaime Rush, New York Times bestselling author
Action and romance in one mesmerizing story. A phenomenal start to the Execution Underground series. Shadow Hunter will leave you breathless and demanding more. Cecy Robson, author of Sealed with a Curse
Taut with action, suspense, and romance that sizzles, Shadow Hunter is an evocative prelude to whats certain to be an exciting new series! Fans of J.R. Ward are going to love the sexy warriors of Kait Ballengers Execution Underground. Kate SeRine, author of Red and The Better to See You
Also available from Kait Ballenger
TWILIGHT HUNTER
AFTER DARK
Shadow Hunter
Look for Kait Ballengers next novel
MIDNIGHT HUNTER
coming soon
Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
Dear Reader
CHAPTER ONE
DAVID ARONOWITZ UNSHEATHED his dagger and steadied the weapon. The serrated silver blade glinted in the dim amber glow of a nearby streetlight as he slipped into the shadows. He ran his thumb over the edge of the knife. New. Spotless and unused. If he had his way, it wouldnt be unused much longer.
That demon piece of shit was going down.
He crept farther into the darkness, ears attuned to the slightest noise. The distant sounds of sirens from Strong Memorial Hospital echoed through the night, mixed with the sounds of occasional car horns and passersby. The damp scent of Marchs latest snowfall-turned-brown-slush filled his nose. He had only a few minutes until his target arrived, and he couldnt afford to mess this up.
He didnt want to leave Allsún. It killed him to leave her bedside. But he had no choice. Jace had agreed to take over his vigil. In his absence, David trusted Jace to keep Allsún safe.
He patted the pocket of his Harley jacket. As he felt his Beretta holstered beneath the leather, a grim smile curved his lips. If there was one thing he loved it was new weapons, and tonight he had two brand-new toys: his dagger and, his personal favorite, the new bullets hed loaded into the Berretta. Months of trying and finally hed crafted a bullet that exploded on impact, releasing holy water inside the demonic target. A small part of him couldnt wait to see the look on the monsters face when he tested those little beauties.
His current assignment was to trail a demon he suspected was an Abyzu. One of those sick bastards had popped onto the Execution Undergrounds radar when an infant girl was murdered two weeks ago. A dull ache pulsed through his heart every time he thought of the horrifying pain her parents had experienced, and would for the rest of their lives.
That baby-killing son-of-a-bitch would payno doubt about that, hed make certain of it. But he had different plans for tonight. An Abyzu wasnt his target. This was personal.
He shifted behind the Dumpster. A sharp pain shot up his leg, reminding himas if he could forgetof his last major job gone horribly wrong, and the price of his failure. He deserved the pain. It was a just punishment, because hed failed her. The one time Allsún had needed him, and hed let her down. Left his ex-fiancée to the mercy of a sick, sexual sadist.
He gazed in the direction of the hospital, picturing her as hed left her. She looked so peaceful, lying in the hospital bed with her eyes closed as if she were sleeping, though he knew better. Shed been imprisoned and tortured, and hed been helpless to protect her. Sure, there were circumstances beyond his control. And, as his fellow hunters liked to point out, he had been the one to save her. But shed suffered. She continued to suffer.
And knowing her pain was driving him insane.
He kicked the Dumpster with his injured leg, welcoming the sting it sent through his leg. Discovering a demon had possessed the doctor caring for his suffering ex-fiancée while she helplessly lay in a coma had been the chocolate icing on the shit cake.
The demon/doctor was no fool. He surrounded himself with humans, keeping to the busiest sections of the hospital. Shit, David had come close to losing his fucking mind, waiting for the right moment to take the sucker down. Hed been watching the bastard for weeks, and his patience was about to pay off. Any time now the monster would be cutting through the alleyway after the end of his shift.
David paused, and listened. Footsteps approached. He forced himself to focus. It was time. In three, two, one. Lchayim, bitch.
His eyes locked on to the open mouth of the alley, illuminated by a nearby streetlight. As his target rounded the corner and moved toward him, David held his breath and raised his knife for the attack. The sound of footfalls filled the alleyways narrow walls, and the whistling wind echoed through the backstreet. With his damaged leg, one wrong move and he would be toast.
The demons steps grew louder as David waited to strike. He had one shot to pin the hell-crawler before the monster attacked, or, more likely, turned tail and ran like the little bitch it was. And if the bastard ran, Davids jacked-up leg would make pursuit near impossible.
David focused on his enemy. Suddenly the demon halted mid-stride, on alert, as if sensing the threat lurking in the shadows. David froze, not a single muscle moving. He couldnt screw this up.
The demon took another cautious step forward. A ray of light from one of the nearby streetlights cast on to the doctors face. Shit. This situation was a mess. David had no idea how long the physician had been possessed or, more importantly, whether or not he was still living somewhere inside that skull. He bit back his frustration and reminded himself of the plan. He didnt want to kill the thing, just pin it down, get the information he needed and exorcise the demon from the doctors body. As much as he wanted to carve the monsters face up for even looking at Allsún, he couldnt bring himself to go for the kill. Not with the possibility of the bodys original owner being alive.
The demons eyes darted around the alley, scanning his surroundings. After several long moments it continued on its way. David smiled. Perfect. He allowed the monster to walk several feet past him, farther into the shadows. Shifting his weight, he prepped for a lunge. The side of his hip brushed the brick wall he stood against, making the slightest sound.
Fuck.
The bastard paused again and turned around.
David didnt have time to think. He threw himself on to the demon. His torso collided with the lanky physicians, and he knocked the monster to the ground. He shoved the blade of his knife against the hell-crawlers throat. The demon struggled beneath him. It wriggled an arm free and clocked David square in the cheekbone.
Davids head snapped back from the force of the blow. His vision blurred. Though the demons chosen body was human, the monsters strength was still of supernatural proportions. The demon possessing the doctor packed one hell of a punch. Damn, that would hurt in the morning.
The hell-spawn seized the free moment, bucking David off and scrambling to its feet. Vision still blurred, David followed suit, quickly regaining his footing. He slashed his knife through the air, backing the demon into a corner between the Dumpster and the wall of the alley.
The demon laughed. You think a blade will hurt me, hunter? It put both arms out in a welcoming gesture. By all means, carve up this nice doctor Im wearing. You wont cause me any permanent harm.
David frowned. Now he was pissed. He hated demons, especially smart-ass ones. He slashed across the demons face. A sharp hiss echoed through the alley as the blade seared through its skin. The creature clutched its cheek as steam billowed off the burning wound. David slammed the demon against the wall, pushing his knife flush against its throat.
He smirked. A blessed blade, you sulfur-sucking fucker. David pushed the knife harder against the demons skin. And thats exorcist to you.
The demon swore. David choked back a laugh. What kind of dumbass was this thing? He wasnt one to brag, but with a reputation like his, the demon shouldve known stepping foot inside Rochester put him smack-dab in the middle of Davids hunting territory. If there was one thing demons hated more than anything, it was dealing with exorcists like him. He sent them back to hell every timeand every demon hed ever encountered had been desperate to escape Satans hellhole for good. It was no easy feat to get here, so they sure didnt want to be sent back.
David leaned the slightest bit harder into his blade, drawing blood. Another hiss sounded as the cut on the demons neck burned and smoked. It writhed against Davids weight.
First for the personal business. What were you doing at Allsúns bedside, you freak? David growled.
A small smile curved the demons lips. Who? it taunted.
With his free fist David punched the demon in the face. From the crunch beneath his knuckles, he could tell the physicians nose had broken. The poor guy would have to deal with the pain of the injuries David inflicted, assuming he was still alive, but it sure beat the alternative. David threw another punch, and blood gushed from the demons nostrils.
He needed answers, and he needed them now. Dont get cute with me, princess. You know exactly who Im talking about.
The demons eyes shifted from a human brown to a burning bloodred. Its anger showed in the hint of its true form. You mean the delicious girl I plan to gut from the inside out?
If you touch a single hair on her head, I will skin you alive and pour holy water across your open wounds until youve sizzled to nothing more than a piece of smoking, rotting flesh, David hissed. His blood was boiling. The thought of Allsún hurting any more than she already was sent pure rage coursing through his veins. Hed already failed to protect her once. He wouldnt let it happen again.
The demon grinned through the blood pouring down its face. And kill this sweet doctor Im wearing, a man who has saved countless lives? I dont think so.
David growled. You underestimate my hatred for you hell-whores. He shoved the knife harder against the demons throat. More smoke burned from the wound. Tell me why youve been riding her doctor or Ill exorcise your sorry ass back to hell right this second.
The demon didnt respond.
One last chance.
The demon grinned. Blood from the doctors nose gushed into its mouth and stained its smile a putrid shade of crimson. No answer.
David clenched his teeth. Fine. If the demon wanted pain, hed give it pain. He cleared his throat and began to recite the exorcism ritual. The Hebrew words fell from his lips with familiar ease.
The veins underneath the demons skin darkened until the varicose lines covered the doctors whole body. The demons eyes blazed an even more fiery red, and he shook in uncontrollable jerks. David didnt stop chanting, not even to catch his breath.
The demon let out a strained cry. All right already, it interrupted him. Dont exorcise me and Ill tell you what you want.
David waited. The little shit had called uncle sooner than hed expected.
The demon coughed blood as the blue-and-purple veins covering the body it possessed slowly faded. Shes the last Fae creature outside the Isle of Apples. I came to kill her, and I would have, if you hadnt been permanently glued to her bedside.
Fuck. David fought back a long string of profanities. As if Allsún didnt have it rough enough alreadylying there unconscious while her injuries healed. Now this demon knew what she had been hiding for years, her half-Fae bloodline. Her pixie bloodline, to be more specific. As earthly angels, the Fae were the demons only true natural enemy. As one of the last of her kind remaining on earth, Allsún was a danger to them, and shed gone into hiding several years ago during the last mass exodus of Fae from Earth.