Page 36 of Fated to the Hunters
“So easy to please,” Ezra chuckled, but at the same time, he felt pity for his little princess. He would lay the world to her feet—even her dead father if needed to show her how much they’d robbed her.
“Your thoughts are turning dark again.” And though it was a statement, Mateo’s words had a question behind them.
“I should rip her father’s heart out and serve it to her on a golden tray.”
“And why is that?”
“He’s fucking her up.”
“I hope the first thing she’ll do is wash your mouth out with soap.”
“Only if it’s the orange scented one she uses for her hair.”
“That’s why you were so distracted,” Mateo laughed. “Do you think she knows it’s your favourite?”
“She’ll switch it if she finds out,” Vince offered.
“Fuck you too, Vince.”
The man only snorted.
“You are the one who keeps messing with her,” Mateo countered. “Only fair that she returns that favour.”
Ezra spent his evening in his room, with a map of Brighton spread on his desk and his pendant circling over it, always returning to the same spot. After her kidnapping, he was sure they wouldn’t let her leave anytime soon but knowing where she was at any given time brought Ezra a sense of peace. He never asked for a mate bond, but not being able to have her was the worst feeling he’d ever experienced.
He let the pendant circle again, ignoring the knock on his door as it locked onto the same spot.
“Hey man,” Mateo said, stepping into the room. “We need to talk.”
“About what?”
“George’s death.”
“He deserved that and more.” He lifted the pendant.
“Well, youdidgo a little overboard.”
“He touched her. More than that, he injected her with silver and took her away from us.”
“Yeah, I know.” Mateo sighed, letting himself fall on his bed. “We got lucky that no one questioned their deaths. The wolves cleaned up the mess and every hunter believes it was their fault.”
“So what is there to talk about?”
“You can’t just slit the throat of everyone that looks at her the wrong way. And don’t argue with me, I know that’s what you’ll do.”
“She’sours,” Ezra growled.
“She won’t be if you continue to act like a maniac around her. Remember, she’s been sheltered her whole life. I’m sure her dreams are still haunted by what you and your temper left behind in that warehouse.”
Ezra paused, his gaze fixed on the pendant. The fact that his actions might scare her had crossed his mind, but the potential of trauma never occurred to him. Was she unable to sleep because of him? She had to have known it was their work by now.
“Look, I’m not saying you can’t be yourself around her, but maybe tone down the whole ‘touch her and die’ energy.” He turned to face Mateo, who toyed with one of the leather cuffs strapped to his headboard. “Got rid of the silver ones, huh?”
Crossing his arms over his chest, Ezra leaned against his desk. “What do you want me to do—become a fucking lovesick puppy like you?”
Mateo rolled his eyes. “No. But maybe no killing streaks while she’s around.”
“She knows who andwhatwe are.”
