Page 71 of Court of Evil

Isabella blushes at that but nods as she looks around.

“Okay . . . so that’s all of you?” she asks, trying to take in all the information.

“Oh, there’s Shamus too,” Ronan says, and I whirl around to look at him.

“Shamus?” she asks.

“The hunter commander,” Ronan supplies helpfully.

I cough. “Shamus is not . . . one of the team.”

Ronan snorts and shoots me a look of disbelief. “Sure.”

Isabella blinks, looking around. “So Tate just . . . saved all of us? I’m seeing a theme here.”

“Don’t go thinking I’m some sort of hero because I’m really not,” I murmur as I drain my coffee. “I have my own revenge to get.”

“Revenge?” she murmurs.

Nodding, I look around, seeing them all sober at the reminder. “My team, fellow hunters, betrayed and tortured me then left me for dead. The only reason I’m alive is because Shamus came and had the fae heal me. I plan to hunt them down and make them pay.”

It’s quiet for a moment, then Isabella smiles. “You helped me with my revenge, so it only seems fair I help you with yours.”

Jarek nods, drawing my gaze. “I’m all for hunting corrupt hunters. I hate them all. I’m with you.”

“It is not that easy. They are elite hunters for a reason and very dangerous,” I protest.

“I can handle danger,” Isabella says.

“Me as well. Besides, we are all supernatural creatures here. I think we are the dangerous ones.” Jarek chuckles. “Though, I do believe the most dangerous person in this room is you, Tate.”

“Me? I’m human,” I reply incredulously.

“Yet you have saved all of us. It is not simply the power you hold that makes you dangerous, nor your weapons, but the people supporting you as well.”

“A vampyr hybrid, a ghost, a tempest, a succubus, a warlock, a fae, and a hunter . . . Will that be enough for your revenge?”

I sweep my gaze over them and then nod. “It will have to be. I’m tired of waiting. It’s time.”

CHAPTER 30

Ineed a moment of silence to think and plan.

I’m used to working on a team, but my old one . . . Well, we all had our strengths and could plan together, while my new team looks to me for guidance, like I’m their leader. It’s something I’m not used to and quite overwhelming. If I am going to hunt Black and the others, then I will need my wits about me, which means I need to focus.

I leave them bickering and strip off, climbing into the shower. I press my hands to the wall as the scalding hot water sluices down my body, unlocking my tired, aching muscles.

The creak of the door has me spinning and reaching for my blades on the toilet, but I relax when I see Tem. “What’s wrong?” I ask tiredly, probably more waspish than I mean to. He considers me for a moment but doesn’t speak, but I’m too tired for that so I turn and ignore him. He’ll talk when he’s ready.

Out of all the monsters surrounding me, he is the oddest. It’s like he cannot exist without me. He looks to me for constant approval and happiness, as if his every emotion depends on me. That kind of devotion is terrifying. What if I mess up?

What if he gets hurt or killed?

Nobody looks at anyone else the way Tem looks at me. He would slaughter millions for me, his power for me to control.

One could go crazy with that kind of dominion over another being, and I think that’s what truly terrifies me. No doubt his old master did, considering he said they weren’t good.

I refuse to be like them.

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