The Hunter


 
 
 
 
 
 
 BLOOD HUNTER TRILOGY BOOK 1
 THE HUNTER
 
 
 
 
 NICOLE C. W.
 
 
 BLOOD HUNTER TRILOGY BOOK 1
 THE HUNTER
 Copyright © 2023 by Nicole C. W.
 
 All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the copyright owner except for the use of quotations in a book review.
 
 This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
 
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 Book Cover Design by Natasha Snow Designs
 
 ISBN: 9789811864407
 
 
 ALSO BY NICOLE C. W.
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 ASPHODELUS: SCHOOL FOR GHOSTS
 The Book Of Death
 The Mirror Of Truth
 The Scythe Of Exorcism
 
 THE COUNTDOWNER
 Counting Down To Meeting You
 Counting Down To Knowing You
 Counting Down To Leaving You
 
 
 CONTENTS
 
 
 PROLOGUE
 01
 II
 03
 IV
 05
 VI
 07
 VIII
 09
 X
 11
 XII
 13
 XIV
 15
 TO BE CONTINUED IN BOOK 2
 NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR
 ABOUT THE AUTHOR
 
 
 PROLOGUE
 DREAM
 
 
 
 
 He was trapped. Darkness surrounded him while silence hung in the air. And the minutes dragged by like hours as he stood rooted to the spot in hushed suspense. He knew. Instinctively. Without reason. That he should wait patiently. Something was appearing soon. Something important. Something he had buried in the depths of his mind.
 Laughter floated towards him. Soft like tinkling bells.
 He spun around. A sliver of light cracked the blackness. It grew, brighter and stronger, before blinding him with brilliant warmth. Then, a silhouette appeared against this brilliant light. Petite and slim. The shape of a woman. His eyes traced her outline: soft curves intersecting with sharp edges, small hands flexing at the sides, delicate legs that were trained by years of combat. The silhouette of a warrior.
 Her face was hidden in shadow. And he only managed to catch a glimpse of the lower half of her face that was illuminated by the brilliant light from behind her. Rosy lips. Pearly teeth. The corners quirked up in a subtle smile. An expression that was rarely seen on her face. Her voice rang out, soft as silk and yet, with the strength of someone who had been through countless hardships.
 “T.”
 His eyes snapped open. His breaths came out in short pants. He rose from the bed, his hand clutching the blanket.
 “Had a bad dream again?” She wiped away the beads of sweat on his forehead then cupped his cheek in her palm.
 “Yeah. Seems like an important dream. But I can’t remember.”
 
 
 
 01
 ALIVE
 
 
 
 
 We bleed to fight. And we’ll continue fighting until the day that the wound across our palms closes.
 Blood poured out from the cut across her palms. And the thick crimson liquid pooled together into a slender arc that resembled the crescent moon hanging overhead. More scarlet beads gushed forth to gather into a straight thin shaft with a pointed tip. She raised her left hand, the fingers clutching the arch of the bow. In her other hand, the arrow was pulled against the bowstring. Her eyes narrowed as she let out a slow silent breath.
 Two figures stood under the lone tree in the middle of the clearing a few yards away. The man had wrapped his arms around a woman who lay limp in his embrace. Then, he latched onto her neck. Two pointed fangs glinted in the moonlight before sinking into the supple flesh.
 The slurping sound broke when a nearby bush rustled. And the man snapped his head up. His eyes scanned the surroundings while his ears perked up for any sign of unwanted passerby. Then, he ran, discarding the woman like she was a broken toy.
 And she chased after him. The weapons dissolving into red droplets that drifted back into her palms.
 Raven, don’t!
 We can’t let him go. He’s on a rampage.
 Raven’s absolutely right. I’m with her on this.
 Stop goading her, Charles. You’re always on her side.
 He isn’t thinking things through again. Don’t mind him. Anyway, Kevin’s right. We shouldn’t be reckless. Let’s discuss and plan our next move.
 Raven drew her lips into a thin line. She would have agreed with Katherine under normal circumstances. But today was different.
 Okay, take your time to plan. I’ll go after him.
 Raven Pierce. I command you to abort the mission and stop—
 Abrumpo.
 And all words died. No worried whispers. No stubborn protests. No authoritative commands. Only silence filled her mind.
 Raven narrowed her eyes and picked up her pace. She dashed forward, meandering through the tall thin trees and sprinting past the bushes.
 “Raven!”
 She turned at the familiar voice. A young man with golden brown hair ran beside her, easily keeping up with her brisk pace. Kevin.
 “Didn’t you hear what Walter said?”
 Raven focused her gaze back on the target who moved like a streak of shadow in the dark forest. Nothing was going to stop her. Not Walter. Not Kevin. No one. He was her only lead. Of him.
 Images of the day surfaced to her mind. It had begun in the morning when Walter told them today’s mission: a