Conflux: Saige Sterling: Badass Bounty Hunter, #2

By J.C. Diem

Saige Sterling has been working as a bounty hunter for her weredragon boss for six months now. Drake Gilden is a sexy enigma that she isn't sure she'll ever be able to figure out. They have undeniable chemistry, but she's so far beneath him in the supernatural hierarchy that she knows he's out of her league.

 

When Saige and Ruen, her reluctant vampire partner, came back from the first realm of the underworld, they didn't return alone. Saige now has a new roommate. Aurora is still learning about the new dimension she's been drawn to. Her powers have the habit of leaking out onto Saige. It's something she's going to have to learn how to control, before it drives the bounty hunter crazy.

 

Stealing one of the mysterious scroll fragments from the rulers of the underworld should have been enough to stop the coming apocalypse. Lord Gilden is determined to have them all in his grasp. He sends the unlikely trio to the second realm in search of the next piece of the enchantment. With Saige's mixed genes, she has no idea if she'll be the same type of monster that she was in the first realm, or if she'll turn into something completely different.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Seize The Night Agency
• Release date: Dec 2, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215725955

Book preview

Chapter One

STEALTH WASN’T MY FORTE, especially when I was in unfamiliar territory. It was after midnight and the crescent moon was hidden by the surrounding trees. Stumbling around in the dark in the wilderness wasn’t high on my list of favorite things to do. But I was on a mission, which meant I had to suck it up.

My foot got caught on a root and I swore beneath my breath when I lost my balance. Ruen’s hand shot out to catch me before I could fall. Watch where you’re going! he hissed quietly.

I can’t see very well in the dark! I hissed back. I’m not an unholy creature of the night like you are!

Rolling his eyes, my vampire sidekick noiselessly ghosted ahead of me, leaving me to pick my way through the forest. Okay, forest might be a bit of a stretch, since we were still in Nexus. Our target was hiding out in an overgrown park that hadn’t been tended to in recent years. He could be anywhere in here, lurking in the shadows, ready to spring out and attack us when our backs were turned.

I can smell his scent, Ruen whispered suddenly from right beside me, almost startling me into stabbing him with my knife.

Where is he? I asked as my partner’s nose wrinkled in distaste at the acrid smell I hadn’t picked up on yet. I could sense the shifter somewhere ahead, but I hoped Ruen would have a better idea of where he was hiding.

I can’t pinpoint his exact location, Ruen replied. It appears he’s sprayed his scent all around this area. Shorter than me by a few inches, since I was wearing boots with heels, he was thin, gaunt and wore one of his usual black suits and white shirts. His skin was creepily pale. His eyes were devoid of the ability to show emotion, apart from scorn and derision. Both were usually aimed at me, but I’d grown used to it after working with him for the past six months.

I’ll have to narrow down his location with my senses now that we’re near his lair, I said. All shifters had exceptional hearing, so our quarry had to know we were here. Even though we were speaking quietly, he could probably hear us perfectly.

Good luck, Ms. Sterling, Ruen said, leaning against a tree and crossing his arms. I have a feeling you’re going to need it, he added with a smirk.

I’d hunted all different kinds of shapeshifters during my decade of training and short time as a bounty hunter. This target was different from the others. He was sly, wily and elusive. He also had the ability to incapacitate his foes with his stench. I was hunting one of the smelliest and most reviled types of shifters; a wereskunk.

Ruen had called me an hour ago to notify me that we had a job. I’d ended my gaming session with Aurora, leaving her to kill the zombies alone. My new housemate was still settling into living in our dimension after escaping from the underworld a month ago. She didn’t go out much, except to visit my mom with me a few times a week.

The sex demon was in hiding, scared the creep who’d imprisoned her would find her and recapture her. He was somewhere in the ninth realm, but she refused to say much about him. It was unlikely that he would be able to track her down, since only the emissaries from the overlords travelled from the nine realms to our dimension these days.

Catching a whiff of the skunk’s scent snapped me back to the task at hand. My sense of smell was acute when I was close to the monsters I hunted. If it smelled this bad already, it was going to be overwhelming when I had him trapped.

It’s a good thing I keep several spare changes of clothing in Ruen’s trunk, I muttered. I always changed into old clothes on jobs like this. My usual lace and leather outfits were too gorgeous and expensive to risk being ruined.

A giggle sounded from somewhere in the dense trees and shrubs, making the hairs on the back of my neck rise. The wereskunk had killed a couple who’d been out for a walk two nights ago. He’d robbed their corpses, then had sprayed his scent all over them. A shifter had stumbled across the bodies and had notified Lenny at the Den of Iniquity. Lenny had called Lord Gilden’s minions and the mission had been passed to us.

It came as no surprise that I’d been delegated this lowly job. I was still a newbie and had to take whatever tasks I could get. Ruen hated being my partner and I wasn’t that thrilled about it either. His nose came in handy to track our quarry, so I didn’t complain about our arrangement as much as he did.

The skunk’s scent had lingered even after the bodies had been removed and the sidewalk had been scrubbed clean. We’d driven to the scene and had left Ruen’s car behind. The vamp had followed the trail to the park. Now that he’d done his part, he was content to wait for me to do all the dirty work.

I can seeee youuuu, my target crooned, then giggled again.

That’s not creepy at all, I murmured, hating that my eyesight was so weak and pathetic in the dark. While I could see better than a human, I couldn’t see as well as a shifter. I was in the skunk’s territory and he knew every inch of his domain. I could sense him clearly now and knew he was low on my monster scale. He was number two out of ten, which made him a boil.

Come and play with me, he invited me, then threw a rock from where he was hiding.

Hearing it whistling through the air, I caught it with my left hand, then hurled it back to where it had come from. I was ambidextrous and could throw just as well with my left hand as my right.

A meaty thud sounded, then the shifter spat out a profanity. You’ll pay for that, fatty, he said in a nasty tone. I was going to toy with you for a while, but now I’m just going to kill you quickly.

Bring it on, you crazy weirdo, I taunted him as I stepped into a wide clearing. I hated it when people insulted my weight, but I knew better than to let my anger get the better of me. The skunk’s scent was a lot stronger here. It was bad enough to make my eyes water. His stench was indescribable and so thick that I could taste it.

A black and white blur of motion came at me from the side. I spun to face my target to see he was in his half-shifter form. Black fur partially covered his dark skin, with white strips on his chest, back and tail. Long claws had sprouted from his fingers and his teeth were short, but sharp. He was naked and his privates were decidedly unimpressive.

Expecting him to attempt to skewer me with his claws, I readied my knife for action. It would have been easier to shoot him with my twin black handguns, but we were too close to humans to risk it. They would call the cops if they heard gunshots. I’d left all but my knife in Ruen’s trunk. If I couldn’t take down a lone rogue with one weapon, I didn’t deserve to call myself the most badass bounty hunter in Nexus.

Instead of leaping directly at me, the wereskunk launched himself into the air to summersault over my head. I looked up in amazement just as he lifted his tail. He sprayed his thick, grossly warm scent all over my face and I immediately bent over to vomit. The shifter started laughing hysterically even before he landed a few feet away from me. Now you’re blind, fatty! You can’t see me!

Spitting the last dregs of my dinner onto the grass, I wiped my eyes with the sleeve of my ratty old t-shirt. My purple hair was drenched in his vile scent. I could practically see wavy stink lines emanating from me like I was a cartoon character. You deserve to die just because of how badly you smell, I said in disgust.

Spoken like a racist human, he taunted, throwing another rock at me from behind. It thudded into the back of my head with enough force to stagger me. Instead of collapsing from a shattered skull, I whirled around and threw my knife at the fuzzy black and white monster.

My eyes were too blurry to see him clearly, but I heard him gasp in agony when the blade sank into his chest. "What are you?" he asked, voice now weak and afraid.

I’m not a racist human, I said smugly, glad to correct his erroneous assumptions about my origins, then I advanced on him.

Chapter Two

ALL SHIFTERS HEALED fast, but my knives had silver blades. It took a lot longer for their bodies to repair themselves after they’d been poisoned with silver. My eyes stung from his spray and my sinuses were clogged with it. He was just an indistinct shape as he attempted to flee, hunched over in pain and bleeding heavily.

He’d pulled the knife out and had dropped it. I almost stood on the blade and bent to pick it up. Still dripping with my foe’s blood, I threw it at the shambling shifter’s back. He let out a shriek and went down, blubbering in fear and pain. Please, don’t kill me! he begged when I lumbered over to him. I didn’t mean to kill those humans!

Why did you murder them? I asked, bending to yank my knife out of his back.

He rolled over, but I couldn’t make out his face through the tears that were making my eyes so misty. I don’t know, he said, holding his hands up in surrender. A compulsion came over me and I couldn’t resist it.

Uh, huh, I said, pretending to believe him. I suppose you’ll promise never to hurt anyone ever again if I let you go?

I swear it! he said, but we both heard the lie in his tone

Just finish him, Saige! Ruen called out impatiently. Lord Gilden is expecting us to report back to him soon!

You heard the vampire, I said with a shrug. I can’t put more humans at risk by letting you go.

Go ahead then, you big purple-haired blimp! the skunk snarled, surging to his feet. Try to kill me! It’ll take more than an obese, ugly cow like you to defeat me!

His body shook, then more black and white fur sprouted from him. He fell to his knees and transformed into his full skunk form. Turning his back to me, he prepared to spray me again. Using the lightning reflexes that never let me down, I threw my knife for a third time. It sliced into the back of his neck, sawing through his spinal cord and killing him instantly. His insults that I wasn’t a petite bag of bones were going to linger, just like his foul odor.

Is he dead? my sidekick called out in a bored tone when he heard the thud of a body falling to the ground.

Yeah! I called back, forgetting for a moment that he had exceptional hearing. You can call the body disposal team now, I added in a normal volume. You’d better warn them to wear hazmat suits.

Ruen chuckled darkly, then made the call as I wiped my blade on the grass. My eyes were still stinging and watering when I blundered through the trees to my partner. Stop right there! he ordered, making me freeze on the spot.

What’s wrong? I asked, looking around wildly to try to see where the danger was coming from.

You reek! he said in profound disgust.

I’m aware of that, I said wryly. He sprayed me while we were fighting and got me in the face.

Ruen was silent for a moment, then he broke into laughter. While it wasn’t as hysterical as the skunk’s had been, it was just as annoying. Trust you to let a wereskunk spray you directly in the face! he crowed.

Laugh it up, I said dourly. I can’t see properly, so you’ll have to guide me back to your car.

My eyes had cleared by the time I followed his snickers to his bland black sedan. A black van arrived and two men got out. Both were wearing full hazmat suits, just as I’d suggested.

The body is straight through there, in a clearing a few hundred yards from the road, the vamp told them, pointing the way. They couldn’t follow their noses while wearing their protective gear. They nodded their thanks, staring at me in stunned amazement the whole time. I hadn’t seen myself yet, but I knew I had to look pretty bad.

Can you open the trunk for me? I asked, wanting nothing more than to go home and shower for a week. I’d left my kill-bag inside the trunk, just in case the unthinkable happened. It had been a good call, because the unthinkable had indeed happened.

Strip out of your clothes first, Ruen said.

Why?

You’ll need to change before you get into my car.

His tone sounded reasonable enough, so I took my sneakers, shirt and jeans off. It was winter, but I didn’t feel heat or cold like humans did. Dressed only in my undies, I reached for one of the spare sets of clothing and pulled them on. I squawked in alarm when Ruen picked me up and stuffed me into the trunk. He tossed my sneakers in after me. What the hell are you doing? I exclaimed when he slammed the lid shut.

I’m not letting you ride in the passenger seat in that disgusting condition! he said over the thumps of my fists demanding to be let out. You’ll either ride in the trunk or you can walk home!

It would take me at least a couple of hours to walk all the way home and I knew he wasn’t bluffing. Not even human taxi drivers would let me into their cars while I smelled like a landfill. You could have asked me to ride in the trunk, I said sullenly, trying to make myself comfortable and failing miserably.

I saved time bypassing your arguments, Ruen said smugly. I heard him open a metal lid, then it clanged down again. He must have dumped my stinky clothes in a trashcan.

Muttering beneath my breath, I did my best to shift my kill-bag and collection of weapons to the back of the trunk. There was barely any room for me to move with my legs drawn up to my chest. I was in a foul mood by the time we reached my apartment building.

Could you possibly have driven any slower, grandma? I complained when Ruen opened the trunk after pulling into my lot.

I drove at the posted speed limit, Ms. Sterling, he said primly, ignoring the hand I held out for him to pull me out of the trunk.

Realizing he had no intention of assisting me, I heaved myself out of the car. The vamp kept his distance as I used disposable wipes and a rag to clean my knife properly. Are you going to take me to see the boss to collect my payment now? I asked, trying to hide my eagerness as I reached for my kill-bag.

Ruen’s face scrunched up in horror at that thought. Perhaps you should take a look at yourself in the mirror, he suggested.

I bent down to look into the side mirror of his car and blanched at the sight of my face. My pale skin was red and blotchy and my purple eyes were red rimmed and bloodshot. My hair was still dripping slightly and was clumped together in some places. I guess I can postpone the visit until tomorrow night, I said sheepishly now that I knew I looked even worse than I’d imagined.

It’ll take a few days and several showers before that stench will fade, he warned me. I’ve already notified Lord Gilden about our mission. He said he’ll pay you for this mission after our next job is complete.

The weredragon had been avoiding me ever since Aurora had linked us together in a sex fantasy. We’d both had the most epic orgasms of our lives and now he wanted nothing to do with me. Drake kept coming up with different excuses to get out of seeing me. If he wasn’t honor bound to pay me in person, I doubted I’d ever get to see him at all.

That’s fine, I said, pretending I didn’t feel a stab of pain at the latest delay in payment. I guess I’ll see you when our next mission comes up.

Hopefully, I’ll have eradicated the stench from my vehicle by then, he retorted as he climbed back into his car.

Tempted to flip him the bird, I didn’t bother to wave as he drove away. Ruen was only my partner because our boss had ordered him to assist me. If he had it his way, we’d never cross paths again.

I’m so popular with men, I said with an eyeroll, then trudged into the building. I didn’t put my sneakers back on, since they would leave a gross trail of the skunk’s scent. As it was, I heard loud sounds of dismay coming from some of the apartments as the elevator climbed up to the fourth floor. The inhabitants were mostly shifters who had exceptional senses of smell.

Ew, what the hell is that disgusting odor? one of the werepigs who lived in the first apartment along my hallway complained. She yanked the door open, then recoiled as I walked past her. She slammed the door shut again and retching noises came from behind the barrier. I knew it had to be even worse than I’d thought if the sow couldn’t take it.

Snickering beneath my breath, I wondered what Aurora’s reaction was going to be when she got a whiff of me. Half demon and half succubus, she had enhanced senses that were far more acute than mine.

The answer came when I unlocked the door and stepped into our apartment. Aurora was huddled against the wall next to my bed, standing as far away from me as she could get. A thick scarf was wrapped around her face and she was armed with two cans of deodorant. The shower was already running and she frantically gestured towards the bathroom. Get in there, quickly! she said.

I’d lost the ability to smell or taste, so I couldn’t tell how badly I stank. From the green tinge to her dusky skin, I knew it had to be pretty freaking awful. Taking pity on her, I trudged into the bathroom and closed the door behind me. I could hear her blasting the apartment with deodorant. She was desperate to banish the odor, as if it was the plague that I’d carried inside with me rather than a bad smell.

Chapter Three

STILL HOLDING ONTO my sneakers, I dropped my bag to the floor, then climbed into the shower fully clothed. Pouring bodywash all over myself and my shoes, I did my best to scrub away the wereskunk’s stench. My clothes shouldn’t be too bad, so I stripped them off, wrung out the water and hung them over a towel rail. Then I stepped back beneath the water and concentrated on washing my hair and skin.

Thanks to Ruen’s warning about how long it would take for the smell to fade, I scrubbed myself hard enough for it to almost sting. If I’d been a puny human, my skin would have been rubbed raw by the time I was done.

Can you still smell the skunk on me? I asked, knowing Aurora could hear me clearly.

Yes, she said from directly behind the door. I have a solution, if you can open the door for me.

Wrapping a towel around my body, I unlocked the door and opened it. Face still masked by her scarf, Aurora held both cans of deodorant up. I barely had time to close my eyes before she pushed both buttons. I instantly became coated from head to toe in the sickly-sweet deodorant she loved so much. My nose was too clogged to smell it, so I patiently withstood the blast. Are you done? I asked when the frantic hissing noises paused.

Almost, she said, then sprayed my kill-bag, wet shoes and clothing. I made you coffee and a snack, the sex demon said, still spraying both cans. They’re waiting for you on the coffee table.

You’re an awesome roomie, I said in gratitude as my stomach rumbled.

I know, she said smugly, voice slightly muffled by the scarf. She was wearing one of the cute outfits one of mom’s neighbors had donated to her. Her teenage daughter had outgrown them and we’d saved them from being given to goodwill. Aurora’s leggings were electric blue and her sweater was canary yellow. The outfit somehow went with her short, spiky blue and green hair and enhanced her startling green eyes.

I changed into fresh undies and clothes, then sat down to eat. Aurora’s idea of a snack was to cook steak, mashed potatoes and veggies. She watched a lot of TV when we weren’t gaming and had become hooked on cooking shows. I wasn’t about to complain, even though she wasn’t the best cook in the world. It beat eating microwave meals every night.

How did your mission go? she asked, emerging from the bathroom to take a seat at the far end of the couch. She put the cans of deodorant on the coffee table within easy reach.

Didn’t Ruen already fill you in? I asked snidely. My assistant always called Aurora to inform her when we were about to return from a job. I knew she’d asked him to, so she could ‘take care of me properly’ as she’d put it.

He never tells me what you guys get up to, she said, making no move to take the scarf off. He only notifies me when you’re on your way home.

You know you don’t have to wait on me hand and foot, Aurora, I said chidingly.

I know, she replied with a shrug. But you’re my owner and I want to make you happy.

Heaving an internal sigh, I knew it was pointless to argue with her. She’d been