Page 76 of Court of Evil

I can’t resist teasing her a little. I look up at her through my lashes as she stares back at me.

“Ask and see,” I challenge.

“What are you, Shamus, orwhoare you?” she asks, her eyebrows drawn together in annoyance and confusion.

“Would you like to know?” I murmur softly.

“I’ve wanted to know for years,” she grumbles.

“But you never asked.” Her mouth drops open as she thinks through the past, and I smirk when she comes to the realisation she never did. “All you ever need to do is ask, Tate. I hide nothing from you with malice. We are in this together, even if you do not realise it.” I hold my hand out.

She looks from it to me before carefully laying her palm in mine. I slowly peel off the glove I gave her, desire spiralling through me, but I ignore it. Leaning down, I kiss her palm gently, unable to stop myself, and her eyes widen a fraction. Before she can hit me, I lift her bare hand and press it to my cheek. I could simply let her touch my hand, but I seem to crave her touch, and this is a way for me to get it without asking or her realising the truth.

“See for yourself,” I murmur.

I don’t look away from her. Her eyes seem to go far away, distant, like she is trapped in her own head. In this moment, she looks vulnerable, and I don’t like it. Nothing will touch her while I am around, but the thought of someone attacking her while she uses this in the field makes me decide to mention it to Ronan so he can protect her better.

I don’t know what she sees, but I do not bother to fight it. I let her into my mind, sharing memories spanning thousands of years. I let her see the truth of what and who I am. I will never hide it from her. She deserves to know. She didn’t play a part in my years before this life, but she has a role in this one and is quickly becoming the most important component of it.

For millennia, I have walked alone, doing my duty, but not this time.

She stumbles back, holding her hand to her chest like it’s burnt. Hooking my legs around hers, I draw my chair closer to the desk so I’m positioned between her spread legs. My hands are propped on either side of the desk, framing her thighs, as I lean in.

“Did you see what you needed to?” I whisper, sliding my pinkie across the outer corner of her trousers, needing contact.

She swallows, her eyes blown wide as she watches me. “What are you?”

“Hmm . . .” I think as I stare at her. “To answer that, I must ask you something first. Do you believe in reincarnation? I didn’t, not until the moment I lost my best friends, my brothers in battle. I was already a hunter by then, one of the elite on my way to the top when everything was ruined. Death came so quickly, and it touched me, bringing back the truth and my memories. Everything clicked in my soul, allowing me to save their souls and keep them in this world. Selfish, yes, but I did it. Death and I are old friends, but life and I are as well. Each lifetime is different. I know some from an early age, and others, I learn later. The truth comes when I’m ready, but even before, I can sense the difference in me—places feel familiar, I see flashes of memories I do not understand, and recall battles I don’t remember fighting. Lifetimes of skills, sometimes magical, give me powers and knowledge others could never possess.”

“What are you?” she demands once more.

“I am no more human than you are, Tate. This body may be human in design, but my soul is not. I have been reborn many times since the start of this world. Each time, I have a duty. Some have names for me, like fate or karma, while others call me justice, but it matters not. It is my duty to better this world and keep the balance. I am a wanderer, a warrior, and a lost soul. I am older than every monster born into this world, older eventhan most gods, yet I take no sides. I am this world’s reaper, and with your help in this lifetime, I will continue to do that.”

“I don’t understand.” She works through my words. “How can you be karma or fate or whatever when you trust evil and monsters?”

“Some evil is necessary—that is a lesson I have learned through my lifetimes. It’s all about balance. Most monsters have been hurt and betrayed. They are not born evil; they aremadeevil. It is my job to stop that from happening, and I failed, so instead I embrace the darkness, or rather I ask you to. You are the bridge, Tate. You are the saviour, not me. I am simply the compass pointing you in the right direction. I always thought my purpose in this reincarnation was to stop the mass killings of monsters, but I was wrong. This lifetime, I was brought back to help you do that. I was brought back to be yours.”

“No, this isn’t real.” She tries to move away, but I don’t allow it. I won’t let her run from this.

“You cannot run from the truth, angel, nor what is inside you,” I caution softly.

“I’m human?—”

“Are you?” I challenge. “No humans have the gifts you possess. You are touched by magic. It could have originated centuries ago and been watered down through your lineage, but you are born from wild magic, Tate Havelock. That is why monsters trust you. That is why the fae recognised you. You are not human, Tate. You are the best of both worlds—or the worst depending on what this world needs. My soul found yours out of billions of people because I need you. This world needs you. You are important, do you not see that?”

“Why?” she croaks.

“Because I need you, Tate, like I have never needed anyone. I cannot do this alone. Will you help me bring the hunting guild back to its former glory and cleanse it of evil with me? This worldrequires balance, and death is part of that. Hunters are needed as much as monsters are. We are two sides of the same coin. Will you be my sword?” I wait for her answer as she considers my words.

“Why choose me out of everyone?” She seems concerned.

“Because you’re a fighter. I have walked this world alongside some of the best warriors it has to offer, but you? You were born to be one. You have the strength to do this, and moreover, you have the ability to make people trust you. We need that. We cannot do this alone. They weren’t meant to follow me, Tate. It was you. I built all this for you, waiting for the day you would arrive. Now it is time. Take your revenge and cleanse this earth of Black and the betrayers and then come back to me.” Getting to my feet, I grip her chin as I lean closer. “Come back to me and stand at my side while we make the hunters great again.”

“If I say no?” she whispers. “If I don’t want to be the righter of wrongs?”

“Then you can go. I will not force you, but you cannot lie to me. I see it in you. You want this. You want to make this place great, for yourself, the father you lost, and the monsters that could have been saved. It is your choice, Tate. Which path do you want to walk?” I ask her. “I will support you either way, but I will not lie—I want you with me on this.”

“Why?” she asks again, dissecting everything so she can assess it, which is exactly why I chose her. Although Tate relies on emotion, she’s also logical, and despite her words and actions, she is good down to her soul.

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