Page 102 of Fated to the Hunters
“We would love that very much. I’m sure they have at least one beautiful beginner trail around that area. Maybe if you are brave enough, we can camp out for a night.”
“Only because I know you’ll protect me from whatever scary creatures lurk in the darkness.”
“We’ll always be there to have your back.”
“I know.” Scarlett gave him a sweet smile. “I knew from the moment I realised that you’d come and killed those hunters that I could trust you. You could’ve taken me. You didn’t have to leave me and call my dad, but you did. You kept your promise.”
“Some of us had more trouble than others,” he chuckled, remembering Ezra’s rage. “My only regret is not moving the bodies.”
“Yeah, that gave me trouble for a while.”
“I’m sorry.” He kissed her cheek and then steered the conversation in a different direction. “You’ll need hiking equipment if you want to go into the wild with us. How about we take you out for a little spoiling shopping trip?”
Scarlett’s smile widened. “I suppose that could be necessary,” she teased.
“We also have to stock up on a few things.”
“We should get started then.”
Just like every night, they had dinner together and when Mateo declined Scarlett’s offer to do the dishes, she vanished upstairs. Vince helped him clear the kitchen, then disappeared to make copies of their findings.
“Feeling good about the hunt?” Mateo asked, joining his friend in the office.
Vince nodded without looking over at him. “How is she doing?”
“Honestly, I don’t know. I’m not sure if she is distancing herself because we’ve been hovering, or because she’s hiding her emotions.”
“Both, likely.”
Ezra appeared in the doorway, leaning against it with his hands in his pockets and one foot propped against the wood. “Gossiping, I see.”
Mateo only rolled his eyes at him, sitting on the desk and directing his next question at Vince. “Are you coming shopping with us tomorrow?”
He nodded silently, letting the printer run hot with more copies.
“Such a spoiled princess, three bodyguards with endless amounts of money to shower her with.” Though despite his theatrics, Ezra was clearly looking forward to it.
Mateo let his eyes run over Ezra, feeling into his still wild emotions. “How are you feeling about the hunt?”
“Good.”
Something else lingered there. “But?”
Ezra’s teeth ground, and his features darkened. “It’s not just us this time. She’s a distraction.”
“She is, but do you feel like we should still take the risk?”
“Yes, though she might not like what happens out there.”
“No, she might not. Maybe also a reason why she’s distancing herself.”
As usual, Vince stayed silent, but he clearly had similar emotions stirring him up.
“We should sit down and talk to her about her expectations. She doesn’t have to see anything she doesn’t want to. Earlier, she said she had nightmares from the bodies we left behind, so maybe setting boundaries would help her cope better.”
“Our princess can’t see blood shed.”
“And that’s okay, Ezra.”
