Addictive (Hellish Mates #1)

Chapter 3

Rina and the others passed through Kiki's gate and found themselves in an alley. They were surrounded by tall buildings, and the air smelled of smog and humans. There was no doubt they had arrived in a city. However, because it was the early morning hours, human activity was low.

"We've estimated there're around three or four vampires," Kiki disclosed. "They mostly frequent clubs for meals, but there have been sightings on the streets as well. Keep an eye out."

All the Hellions nodded and left in pairs, leaving the witch, Zachariah, and Rina. She looked to her mentor and saw him with his eyes shut and nose pointed into the air. Rather than bother him, Rina stared and waited. Though she was impatient to make a move, she also knew as the amateur, it wasn't her place to call the shots.

A few seconds passed as Zachariah inhaled and exhaled. Then, his eyes shot open and without a word to Rina, he walked out of the alley. She followed after him, glancing back at Kiki who wiggled her fingers in farewell.

"Where are we going?" Rina asked.

Zachariah didn't answer. His long strides were quiet and brisk as they passed by a few humans roaming the streets from a late night of leisure and pleasure. Many of the women couldn't keep their eyes off of the vampire. Not only did his tall height catch attention, but his attractive features caused heads to turn and eyes to roam. Rina saw a pair of women check out Zachariah's ass and giggle. She found herself ogling it as well, but quickly shook her head and looked away.

They were on a mission. She couldn't let herself get distracted by Zachariah's behind.

Rina tugged on his shirt by his elbow, finally getting his attention. She repeated, "Where are we going?"

"To our target."

She recalled what he was doing before they left the alley. "You can sniff out the vampires we're after? Through all these smells?"

"Every mythic has a distinct scent. The vampires the others hunt tonight smell of tainted blood. But I am not after the vampires."

Rina's brows furrowed. "You're not? Then who are we after?"

"A human," he answered, further surprising her.

"That makes no sense," Rina said. "Humans are no threat to us."

"This one is." Zachariah shot her a sharp look. "She will not hesitate to kill anyone who gets in her way, including you, little halfling."

His words only succeeded in confusing Rina more. Though it was on such short notice, she would've liked to have known all the details of what was going on before the actual mission. While the other Hellions were hunting vampires, Zachariah specifically was assigned to hunt a human—a human apparently dangerous to mythics, who were supposed to be superior to mortals in terms of strength and longevity.

"But she's human. How can she kill—?"

Zachariah cut Rina off by pulling her into an alley and hiding in the shadows. His attention was absorbed on something up above and she followed his gaze to a building across the street. On the roof stood a girl even younger than Rina. She was observing the street below with the eyes of a hawk. Other than her intensity, she appeared like a normal human.

"Is that her?" Rina whispered. The vampire nodded. "What is she looking for?"

"The other targets."

"She's hunting the same vampires the other Hellions are hunting? Why?"

"Information."

"About what?"

"Another vampire."

"For?"