Page 80 of The Hunt of Night

“I’m fine.”

“Nothing is ever fine with you. The use of it twice in such a short span of time is concerning, to say the least.”

I rub my lips together. As much pain as I’m in, I’m not as tormented as the man before me. I see it now more than ever, but it’s not something I’m even remotely ready to dive into.

“Where’s mother?” I ask, earning a sigh.

“Where do you think?”

“With Vallie’s uncle, most likely,” I say, and he nods. That’s another topic not for today, too, it seems. Clearing my throat, I circle back to the surprise I felt earlier. “Are we really controlling them?”

“Of course,” he replies, his voice seeped in disappointment and despair.

“All this time?”

His gaze meets mine. “From the very beginning.”

Fuck. “Why?”

“You know why,” he mutters with a pointed look.

“How are frenzied vampires going to earn us the castle, the kingdom?” My eyebrows pinch in confusion.

“The same way it gets the vampires everything else…fear.”

33

ADRIANNA

Staring at the empty spot where Raiden had stood moments ago, I brace myself against the stone wall behind me as I try to wrap my head around what the fuck just happened.

We went from fighting the frenzied to fucking to…leaving?

“Are you sure he’s going to be okay?” I murmur, concern swarming my gut as I wipe a hand down my bloodied face.

A part of my brain reminds me that I’m not supposed to care, but there’s no denying it anymore. Not after that. Not that I can even explain whatthatwas.

I’m so screwed.

“He’s a big boy. He can handle himself,” Brody answers, crouching down beside me. A soft smile touches the corner of his mouth as fatigue swirls in his eyes.

“I know that. He just…”

“He just fucked you so good, you don’t want the high to end yet?” he says with a smirk.

“Fuck off,” I grumble, unable to hide the smile from my face as I shove at his shoulder. The second I do, I wince, my nose scrunching with the sudden pain that shoots down my arm.

“Are you hurt?” He leans forward, forgetting the humor as seriousness washes over him.

“I’m fine,” I mumble just before he presses against the top of my arm and my face makes the same expression again.

“That look says otherwise,” he points out with a knowing stare, and I sigh.

“Is our fae princess acting all stubborn and…princessy?” Kryll asks, and my gaze narrows on him as he stands with his hands tucked in his pocket. Blood stains his cloak, but for the most part, he’s clean. Not as clean as Brody, who doesn’t have a single drop on him.

“That’s rude,” I say with a pout, and Brody snickers.

“That’s cute,” he retorts, booping my nose with a grin before offering me his hand. “Let’s get you home so we can take a look at your arm.”

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