Genesis, p.1
Genesis, page 1
Genesis Paperback
The Hunter Chronicles Book 1
K.L. Ayla
Copyright © 2023 by K.L. Ayla
All rights reserved.
No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher or author, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.
Case File Notes
Dedication
Author Note
Prologue
1. The Meeting
2. The Haunting
3. The Benefits
4. The Truth
5. The Cleansing
6. The Distraction
7. The Declaration
8. The Bait
9. The Celebration
10. The Interlude
11. The Orphan
12. The Date
13. The Tool
14. The Interlude
15. The Jailbreak
16. The Case
17. The Clue
18. The Bar
19. The Stranger
20. The Secret
21. The Cousin
22. The Workout
23. The Ball
24. The Summoning
25. The Plan
26. The Council
27. The Mystery
28. The Flashback
29. The Game
30. The Reward
31. The Diplomats
32. The City
33. The Surprise Visit
34. The Brother
35. The Blowout
36. The Confession
37. The Shocker
38. The Awakening
39. The Bite
40. The Story
41. The Morning After
42. The Lead
43. The Top Dog
44. The Vanishing
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
Also By
About Author
For those of us that are still kids at heart.
You're never too old for those silly Saturday morning toons.
Hi. So. You're reading this. That already means you're awesome. But I wanted to give you some important info first.
If you've read The Hunter Chronicles Season 1 (or any of the episodes; The Girl with the Sequinned Dress, The Accidental Summoning & The Vanishing Hound) then you've already read this.
Yes, I've added some stuff, given it another round of editing, and then republished it with a pretty new cover along with a brand new pen name to help you distinguish this book and genre from all my other pretty Ageplay books.
That said. I hope you give it another shot, and love it just as much as you did the first time round.
Thanks a bunch.
Have a happy day.
Prologue
“Elena, I’m not talking about this with you anymore. She’s not ready to go on a hunt.”
It shouldn’t, but my dad’s words hit me harder than I’d like to admit. For years, I’ve worked my ass off to prove to him I’m just as good as my brother and sister. I’ve trained harder and put in longer hours than anyone else in the compound. Yet, he still doesn’t see me as good enough. And probably never will.
I’ve had to face the prejudice of other hunters my entire life. When Mom was pregnant with me she was kidnapped by rogue shifters. As a result, she didn’t get the regular infusion of demon blood that all hunters got during their pregnancy. That meant I was never strong enough or fast enough. Not even for my dad.
My eighteenth birthday—the normal age when a hunter gets called into the field—was a year ago now, and I’m yet to get assigned to a team. Seems Elena is also tired of waiting for my Dad to give in.
I hadn’t meant to eavesdrop, I’d only come down to ask them when we were going out for my nineteenth birthday supper and if I could invite the guys when I heard him talking to Elena. My big sister is the only one that truly understands and doesn’t underestimate me like the rest of my family. I’m just about to walk in and let them know I’m here when Elena starts up again.
“Why isn’t she ready to hunt? What exactly do you think she needs to improve to make her good enough?”
I wait for his answer with bated breath and am surprised when he doesn’t respond immediately. What he does eventually say softens the blow somewhat.
“I’m not ready dammit! She’s my baby girl and the thought of having her out there, putting her life on the line is not something I can deal with right now! I don’t need this from you Elena, I get it from your mom enough as it is.”
“For fuck sake, Dad! That alone should tell you, you’re just being a stubborn ass! If Mom is okay with letting her out on a hunt, then you need to loosen the reins.”
Hearing that Mom was on my side gave me the confidence I needed to speak up. I step into the room and give Dad a stern look. I take a deep breath, but it doesn’t do much to calm me the way I’d hoped.
“Punishing me, because you’re not ready to let go… Dad, it isn’t fair! To me, and to all the people I can be helping out there. Fucking hell Dad, I’ve proven myself. Passed all the bloody tests. And can beat almost all of your best hunters in hand-to-hand. What the hell else do you need from me?”
My words, the same words I’ve said more than once, seem to finally hit home. I watch as his shoulders sag and a defeated look crosses his face. He sits down on one of the couches before looking at me.
“Fine, you’re right,” he says. “But I have a few conditions.”
I share a look of triumph with Elena before rushing over and sitting down next to my dad.
“Whatever you say. I’ll jump through all the hoops.”
one
The Meeting
The Puzzler rumbles loudly as it chugs along the dirt road. Our old Class B RV has certainly seen better days, but somehow--be it magic or hope--it still keeps going against all odds. The five of us have spent many a night together in various puppy piles when our hunts have run long, and it will be a dark day when our gas-guzzling van finally gives up. And if we don't find our way off of the forsaken back road soon, it's likely we'll be spending another night cuddled up together.
I push my black-framed glasses back up my nose as I look down at the directions the old man at the gas station had given us. According to him, we should have passed by a big old oak tree at least two kilometres ago. But all I've seen is small bushes and at the most, a scary-looking rock formation that could just as easily have been the grim reaper. Fletcher has been patient driving down this god-forsaken dirt road without a single complaint. Bloody saint like Nephilim.
I think that old man shafted us," North says. "Maybe he's really a serial killer, and he sent us out here to roam around aimlessly on these back roads until we run out of gas. Then, when we're lulled into boredom and completely unsuspecting he will swoop down on us and try to cut us all up so he can serve us to his customers." His theories, although usually entertaining, are grating on my nerves right now. Normally, I can tell when someone is lying to me, and at the time, I was certain the old man was legit.
I turn my annoyed gaze on him and take in his scruffy appearance. It's been a few weeks since his face has seen the business end of a razor, and his hair is just a smidge too long. I have to make the mental effort to suppress the urge to dig my fingers into the unruly light brown curls. We haven't made use of our 'friends-with-benefits' relationship in some time. I don't like going there too often, to avoid all those sticky feelings Dad always likes to warn me about. It's hard to stay friends with benefits if you dip into the benefits too often.
North smirks at me, as if he knows exactly where my thoughts are at. When I stick my tongue out at him, he lets out an adorable chuckle that doesn't help with my urges in the least. He winks, blows me a kiss and my only response is to roll my eyes and turn my attention back to the directions and road.
"Ignore him, Val," Fletcher tries to soothe me. "I trust your judgement. It's never let us down on a hunt before." The tall, blond-haired Nephilim has his eyes trained on the road, but he's still got a smile on his chiselled face. I allow my eyes to travel down his well-honed body. He's got his shirt sleeves rolled up, allowing me to admire his strong arms, and there are few things as delicious as a bit of sneaky forearm pron. I know that if he were to look at me, his piercing blue eyes would be filled with the same trust his words proclaim. He's steadfast, loyal and so incredibly reliable.
"Thanks, Fletcher. I just wish I knew where we got lost. Surely, I couldn't have gotten the directions that wrong?" The back of my head hits the rest as I lean back in dejection.
"I don't think we are lost. Look." North leans across the back of Fletcher's seat to point out the silhouette of a large oak tree.
Thank goodness.
"I'll call Dev and Scott to tell them we're almost there. I wonder if they've managed to find out anything else about the ghost." I grab my phone and select the speed dial for Devin's phone. After just two rings, they answer.
"Well, hello there hot stuff. Scott and I were just about to send out a search party."
I love listening to Dev's voice. They have this way of soothing me and making me feel sexy all at the same time. We've been best friends ever since my dad took him in on the compound and I refused to kick his ass on the training field. I was also the first person they told about their pronouns.
10 Years Ago
Stretching out on the couch feels like heaven after the stupid training session Dad put us through today. Dev climbs onto the couch next to me and lets out a groan as he rests his head on my lap. I softly start running my fingers through his hair--as always silently wishing I could have his long copper-coloured curls.
He was my best friend. The one person I could always rely on. Our small group has grown, and I was starting to care for the other guys as much as Dev, but he will always be first.
"Hey Val, can I tell you a secret?" His voice is soft, and a little timid. It's so unlike him and that I pause the rerun of one of our favourite paranormal TV shows to give him my full attention.
"Of course, Dev. You know you can tell me anything." I try to convey the sincerity of my statement through my tone.
He turns on his back and his large green eyes stare back at me.
"I... I don't want to be a boy," he whispers, the words barely audible. I don't say anything, keeping my face even. This isn't about me.
He takes a deep breath and continues with his declaration.
"But the thing is, I've really thought about it, and I'm not really sure I want to be a girl either. I just want to be me. Just Dev."
His words grow more confident as he nears the end of his sentence and I take a moment to respond. This is a very important moment, and I don't wanna mess it up for Dev. If Mom taught me anything, it is that love and true friendship come with acceptance and understanding. I smile at him. No. Them. And then I reach for their hand. After giving it a reassuring squeeze I finally answer.
"No matter who, or what you choose to be Dev, I'll always think you're amazing and one of the strongest people I know."
"Sorry, Dev. It took us a while to find the tree," I say into the phone, dragging myself from memory lane. "We're here now, though. Tell me you have something for us."
My parents, the heads of the Hunter's Guild, sent us here to get rid of a ghost plaguing the small community. Seems she likes to possess travellers and then take them for a wild ride, before leaving them stranded by an old oak tree. The very tree we took too long to find.
In summer months, it's not that much of a problem, but now that the snow has set in again, people are having trouble getting back to town in one piece. One of the ghost's victims had found themselves trapped in the middle of a snowstorm and nearly died from exposure.
I was eager to get this one wrapped up. Me and the gang were due some rest and relaxation. We'd been on the road for a bit and Dad had promised a break after this one.
"Yeah, Scott struck gold," Dev answered. "Two years ago, a young girl had one too many drinks. Some boys in her class thought it would be funny to give her a lift home. Allegedly, they took her to that tree and had some fun with her before abandoning her there. She died while trying to make her way home. Something about a bump to her head and bleeding in her brain. I don't know Val. It's all too technical for me to keep up. Long story short, the assholes did the nasty, and then left her there to die. The only good thing to come out of this is that before the girl got in the car with them, she sent a text to her mom to let her know. As a result, the two asshats responsible are rotting away in prison. And they will be for the next twenty-five to life. This is a small community, people loved the girl, and the two guys were both eighteen, so they were tried as adults. Unfortunately for us, though, her soul isn't at rest."
I nod along with Dev's explanation. "Okay, we can work with that. Did you find out where she's buried?" I asked the next obvious question. Nothing like a quick salting of the bones and a pretty bonfire to get rid of a vengeful ghost.
Dev doesn't answer my question, and the way they pause makes me think things will not be as easy as we'd like them to be.
"So..." they say, their tone hesitant. "Her parents had her cremated."
"Dammit! Dev, what are we supposed to do now? Couldn't you have led with that?" My exclamation has both Fletcher and North looking at me. Somewhere during my conversation with Dev, we pulled over next to the tree.
"Scott and I are still looking into it," Dev soothes me. "If need be, we'll go see her parents. Maybe they can tell us more about her. Or give us a treasured possession?"
I can hear Scott mumble something in the background.
"Ah yes, our Hellhound friend has an excellent point," Dev pipes up. "You three can still scout out the area. Maybe she left something important behind at the tree? Perhaps in it? It could be why she keeps going back there with her victims."
"Yeah, fair point," I acquiesce. "Regardless, it's getting late. You two get a motel room, and we'll bunk here in the Puzzler for the night. It's dark and the road is too dangerous to head back on it now."
After saying goodbye, I hang up the phone. Both my companions look at me, waiting for me to share.
As I tell them everything Dev had told me, we all get up and start preparing the RV for a sleepover. It would be a relatively comfortable night with just the three of us sharing the space. I eye the two of them and wonder how much convincing I'd need to do, to change this sleepover into something a little more fun.
Over the years, our friendship had evolved. After a particularly nasty breakup with a fellow hunter, I'd suggested a friends-with-benefits set-up. It started with one, and then eventually involved the whole team. It's a good way to blow off steam, and we're on the road together so often and for such long stretches of time, it just makes sense.
And regardless of my protests about feelings, I do have something special with each of them.
Fletcher is so amazingly dominant. He has this way of looking at me that, at times, makes me want to submit and at others, all I want to do is defy him and see how far I can push him.
Scott. Well, he's my softie. Which is strange considering his heritage, but I love it. It's probably wrong, but I know I have him wrapped around my pinkie finger. He's always the quickest to give me what I want, even though I don't always deserve it. But it isn't just his indulgent nature. He's caring. Sweet. He looks after me in a special way that's just us.
I adore how much of a joker North is, but he manages to always leave it behind when I need him to. He not only makes me laugh when I dearly need it, but he's also my sounding board. The person I go to when I need to vent. And somehow he still gets me to remember that I don't always have to be so serious, which is so important because my dad expects the best of me and it can get a little much at times.
Dev. Oh my gosh, Dev. Playing with them is one of the most exhilarating things I've ever experienced. Staying true to their nature, they enjoy switching, which gives me the chance to dominate them too, when I really need it. They're also still my best friend. The one I will go to whenever I have a secret or the need to gossip. They're a study in contradictions. Their sex-demon side making them deliciously sexy, yet at times still so shy and sweet.
Together we're all perfect together, and if I can just get out of my way enough, I could have something amazing with them. But past hurts and Dad's cautioning words always stop me from opening up that particular discussion. That and the fear that they will reject me. Like Kurt did.
North goes to make the spare bed in the dining area, and I walk over to him, step up behind him, and push my pelvis into him. My arms go around his waist, and I stand on my tiptoes to reach his ears. "I don't think you need to make that bed, North. There's plenty of space for all three of us on the mez bed."
He lays his hands over mine, intertwining our fingers.
"That sounds like an excellent idea, Val," my goofy Mage responds. "I'll scramble up something for us to eat. You and Fletcher can go check out the tree. By the time you're done, we can eat and head to bed early." He turns in my embrace and wraps me in his strong arms. With a soft kiss on my head and a squeeze on the bum, he sends me on my way.
As I move to the door Fletcher steps back inside--presumably from laying the salt circle. After sharing our plans with him, including the fun parts, we head out to do as North suggested.
Our search is fruitless. We find nothing in the immediate vicinity of the tree other than a few carvings on the tree. Feeling slightly dejected we head into the Puzzler to see what North has cooked up for us.
"Oh my gosh, North," Fletcher exhales as he pushes himself away from the small dining table. "That was absolutely amazing. I don't know how you do it each time. Yet somehow, without fail, you turn our meagre pantry into a delicious and filling meal.
