Page 58 of Blood of a Huntsman

"I'm game." Chloe's quick agreement was unsurprising.

Catherine and Bash nodded.

Bash thought he knew what his mission would be. Talk to Jack. Speak to the huntsmen about opening up to the bloodsuckers.

"Good. Bash, I want you to start a self-defense class. In your spare time, you will train whoever wants to sign up. Level: beginners. Chloe, you will move from the dorm and take up residence where you belong." She opened her mouth to protest against moving in with him, no doubt, but Levi ended his sentence, surprising them all, with, "In Skyhall."

The house at the very top of the hill that Eirikr had built, the house her ancestors had inhabited until they were slaughtered.

“Why? That makes no sense. How would that help at all?”

"The world is changing, ma belle. It changed when you were turned. There hasn't been order on this hill since the days of the Eirikrsons. We have dozens of queens, ten kings. The person who plays at being queen on her island never had a chance. Our world has barely acknowledged her until today. But now, because you and Tom changed, whether we like it or not, Night Hill is once again seen as the seat of power to our kind. We are the true immortal power in this world. And there will be challenges. From the Stormhales, from the queen, from the Drakes, the Helsings, the Beauforts, the Rosedeans, and just about everyone who believes they can take our seat. My family, perhaps. Making our allies believe they stand a chance will take everything we have. They won’t fight for a dream. But they might fight for a place in an empire. Our homes are kingdoms. The seats of power for each of our houses. The world sees them that way, so it's time we do, too. Skyhall is no house. It’s a throne."

"You're saying they will see more of a reason to fight if we reinstate the order. If I march into Skyhall and act like I own it."

"You do own it. If our students are afraid, they'll look to the Hill. Its strongest holdfast cannot remain empty."

Chloe remained silent, and Levi moved on to Catherine. "As for you—"

She braced herself, ready for the worst.

"You will start an afternoon tea club in your house on the hill."

Bash thought about their orders. "You're trying to make us seem less threatening."

"We'll always be a threat to our enemies. I'm trying to show our potential friends who we are underneath the violence and bloodthirst. It's time to open this hill. We're enough, if we're together. This is just the first step to uniting Oldcrest.”

Bash could tell Chloe was trying to work out a way to protest, but Levi turned to them. “You had something to say, Cat."

She nodded. "I think you may not know the recent developments among my family."

Levi inclined his head. "You're probably right."

"My mother is a Stormhale, and she married one of the family slayers thirty years ago. I'm their first child; my little sister is the second. But my brother…" Catherine knotted her hands on her lap.

She hated speaking about her siblings.

"My half-brother isn't like Drusilla. He doesn't share her limits. He might be young, but he's…something else. If Drusilla gets him to fight us, he'd burn you all to a crisp before you can even think to use whatever magic you may possess."

Levi lifted one brow.

"Every mage needs time."

"Yes. But my brother's father was a scion. You may need a minute. Seth will be ready in a fraction of a second."

Levi groaned. "I hate nephilim." He turned to Bash. "Call Jack."

Catherine winced. "This is not common knowledge. If the information gets out, my family will know it came from me."

"Jack can keep a secret," Chloe promised.

"Besides, we need him to know what to expect. If he hears this now, he might get his shit together and prepare accordingly."

Bash wasn't fond of the turn in the conversation. "Jack is always prepared for a fight."

"Yes, yes." Levi was dismissive. "He gets his friends to run around the territory and attends whatever class he's supposed to take. But he does nothing to better himself. And right now, we need Jack Hunter."

He wanted to defend his friend, but come to think of it, had Bash ever seen Jack exert himself? He ran alongside them without breaking a sweat and while wearing suits. When he sparred with his cousin, he didn't even pant.

Bash knew what Jack was—every huntsman did. The kid of their High Guard and a minor god. The blood of a huntsman mixed with that of a true immortal.

What were his limits?

It irked Bash that Levi seemed to know more than he did about his best friend.

He nodded and pulled out his phone, sending a quick text.

We need to talk.

---