Page 54 of Huntress Unleashed

“Or we’ll make you,” Van said, to Jacqueline’s surprise. His voice was hard and brooked no argument.

She couldn’t believe her ex would get behind hunters who were friends of the hunters who had been turned. Maybe he was feeling badly about what had happened to her and he’d felt guilty about not showing some compassion after what had happened. She hadn’t been turned on purpose and what if it had happened to him? She would have been there for him, and she would have immediately gone after the vampire who had turned him. He might be rethinking his actions regarding her. But it was a little too late for that.

Then the guy’s friends came up to join him, all wielding bottles. Not good. The hunters weren’t allowed to wear their swords in the club, because alcohol and deadly fights could erupt. So Jacqueline figured they were planning on using the beer bottles in the fight, which could have dangerous and even deadly consequences.

Then to everyone’s surprise, a couple of big club bouncers, both hunters who were at least six-five and brawny, wearing tank tops to show off their muscles, stalked onto the dance floor and the music finally stopped, all the dancers turning to observe the unfolding drama.

“Okay, you five, set your bottles down on your table and leave, now. If we have any further trouble with you, you’ll be banned from the club for a month—longer, if necessary,” the one bouncer said.

“You can’t take all of us,” the one guy said, shaking his bottle at him.

“Yeah,” one of his friends said.

Not a good idea. The guys definitely had too much to drink. They had probably been drinking before they had even arrived at this club.

That’s when several other hunters, including Van, came to the dance floor to help mediate the situation. Between the bodyguards and their other “volunteer” help, they removed the beer bottles from the five men and then escorted them outside.

The five belligerent men were forced out, throwing punches, cursing the bouncers and everyone who had assisted them. The bouncers gave them a three-month ban from the club.

Dane said to Van, “Thanks, man.”

Van glanced at Jacqueline. “Sorry.”

She shrugged. “It wouldn’t have worked out after I was turned, so no hard feelings.”

“It doesn’t excuse the way I deserted you, that I didn’t go after the rogue vampire who had turned you, or…” Van glanced back at Lettie, still sitting at their table. He didn’t say anything more, the look he’d given Jacqueline’s bestie told Jacqueline all she needed to “hear.”

Jacqueline realized Van hadn’t danced with Lettie once tonight, but Lettie loved to dance, so did he. So what was up with that? Jacqueline had been halfway watching to see if they would approach the dance floor, curious if they would dance together as well as she did with Dane. She had hoped they wouldn’t have a confrontation. That was before Van apologized to her, which she still couldn’t believe.

“No problem,” Jacqueline said to Van, not sure what else to say. She was so unprepared for his comment.

“Okay, thanks for understanding.” Van looked like he wanted to take a step forward, the way he was leaning in that direction, and his gaze shifted to focus on her lips as if he wanted to kiss her even.

But then Dane moved in that direction, possessively, and she didn’t want him to extend his fangs to get Van to back off. Van immediately got the point though, inclined his head to the both of them, then turned and headed back to his table.

The dance music began again, and Dane leaned down and kissed her in his very seductive way. “Do you want to dance further, or do you want to leave?

She smiled up at him and kissed his mouth, amused that he was trying to convince her that she should leave with him and do more of this—privately. But she loved being with him like this too. “More dancing.” She wanted to dance with him until the club closed. They might not have another chance like this with a bunch of hunters who would be there with them if they needed them.

Adonis telepathically said to the group, “When we go, we leave here together just in case we have trouble outside of the club.”

“Absolutely,” Dane said.

Then they continued to dance with each other like they were the only ones there for each other, loving the music that thrummed through them, the way they pressed their bodies hotly together, the feel of his hardness—she was definitely making love to him tonight—the way he kissed her, and their fangs extended, and they shared the touching experience in a hot and sexy way. Being with Dane was just magical. She wanted to hold him like this forever. Everything about him made her heart beat in an excited way. This was her fairy tale. The best feeling ever. Dancing would never be as good with anyone else. When she was with him, they were synced.

Was that why Van had wanted to apologize? That he realized what he had lost in giving her up? And what she’d gained in having Dane in her life? She wondered if Van had thought she would have been just pining away at home without him in her life any longer, and then realized now that he was easily replaced. Too bad.

Then she saw Van and Lettie get up and leave the club with their friends. Wow.

Dane kissed Jacqueline’s ear. “Looks like he still has some feelings for you.”

“Yeah, but it would never have worked out between us. Once I met you, I realized even if we had all still been hunters, he didn’t have what it takes to make me feel like you do. I believe he could see that. So it kind of hurts his ego.”

Dane chuckled. “Good, because he doesn’t deserve you.”

“Neither does your ex deserve you.”

“Yeah, you can’t believe how shocked I am that she’s here with Moose,” Dane said.