Page 32 of Rome's Mate: Hunted Omegas

“You’re right. I should leave him alone and go. It wasn’t like I planned to hurt him.” Her voice softened, and she erupted in a smile, even though Amelia couldn’t see it. “Thanks for educating me on the rights of others.”

“You were never going to hurt him?”

“Never.” The hunter tried to bob her head, but the prick of the claws on them quickly made her change her mind. “Like you said, he is nothing but a child. I just wanted to have a talk with him, scare him a little. It was more of you better do the right thing kind of talk.”

“Do you always carry a blade to talk with?” There was a smooth black blade attached to her thigh in a holder. Amelia hadn’t been able to see it when she first talked to her, or she wouldn’t have let her drag the child off. Now that she had spilled the hunter’s blood, she could see it. The blade was warded or enchanted and linked to the hunter’s blood.

“What are you talking about?” There was no way the woman holding her could see the blade attached to her thigh. It wasn’t like a hunter could just walk the streets carrying a blade, that’s why they were enchanted.

Amelia tightened her grip on the hunter’s throat and moved the hand on her waist to the blade. “Does this mean anything to you?” She released the weapon and held it up.

“Whatttt? How did that get there?”

“You’re funny. I almost believe you. Not. Why? Just tell me why?”

“How about you tell me what you are. You’re not one of them; I would be able to smell the filth on you, but you’re obviously something that should be dead.”

“Now you want to kill me too?”

“Not want, I will kill you,” the hunter tried to wrench free.

Amelia threw her towards the trash can. The hunter's back smacked into the edge, making her fall to her knees from the pain. Amelia jumped on her. Her wolf nails receded as she held the hunter down.

“What does the black dagger do?”

“Nothing, it’s the scrollwork that is important.” Amelia took a quick look, long enough to know it wasn’t the same as what was on Julie’s knife.

“What does the scroll work do?”

“It makes sure that whoever is killed with this knife will never be reborn. In other words, it’s one less monster in the world.”

“If I slit your throat with this knife, your soul will never be reborn?” The hunter began to fight.

“Scream, and I’ll cut you so fast the first sound won’t make it between your lips. Now, answer my question.”

“You should kill me with whatever sharp thing you had at my neck.” That answered Amelia’s question in a roundabout way.

Amelia released her hold enough to change her grip on the blade. Before the hunter could holler, she slit her neck. She lifted the lid to the trash can. The odor coming out of there was foul. With any luck, the truck would dump the container, and no one would ever discover the body.

Chapter Eighteen

Amelia knocked on thedrab door. She didn’t know why or how, but inside of her was the knowledge that this was where the boy lived. A woman answered the door; she was beautiful, with bronze skin and eyes that looked otherworldly. Amelia could scent the human coming from her, mixed with something she’d never scented before. Once again, she cursed her sheltered upbringing.

“Run, they found you.” The woman’s chin hit her neck. There was a shine of tears in her eyes.

“You saved my son’s life.”

“I’ll never stand by and watch the innocent hurt. She can’t hurt him anymore, but that doesn’t mean others won’t come here looking for him.”

“Mom?” The little boy peeked his head out of the room. His mother held out her hand, and he ran to her.

Amelia wanted to know everything. Their names and what they were. She didn’t ask. The more they talked aboutthemselves, the greater the danger, and she didn’t need to know the details to help them out.

His mother picked him up, holding him against her side.

“Can I give this to the pretty lady that saved me?” He showed his mother the white stuffed wolf in his hands.

“It’s for your baby.”

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