Page 18 of Huntress and the Splintered Court
He didn’t show the papers to the vampires, but simply explained that Gideon was not at fault and that he wanted his own computer forensics to go over everything, but as of now the wolves were justified.
“And my two missing wolves?” Gideon broached as the meeting came to an end.
My father breathed out heavily. “The Order will open an investigation. Whoever is responsible will be brought to justice. You have my word,” then he lowered his voice, “as long as you keep my daughter out of pack business.” He didn’t wait for a reply before turning to walk towards me. “I’d like a few minutes to speak with you before I depart.”
I glanced up at Gideon who nodded. A month ago, I’d have never sought out his permission, wolf running close to the surface or not, but things were different now.
“Give me just a few?” I asked. I needed to make sure Gideon was calm now that the meeting was over.
Trey appeared by my father’s side. “I’ll show you to a room where you can talk privately.”
The room cleared out leaving behind just Gideon and me. My father peered back narrowing his eyes just before the doors closed leaving me alone with my mate.
He didn’t move as I approached him. Someone had righted his chair before they departed. I pressed my hand against his chest easing him back into it before crawling into his lap draping my legs over his. I threaded my fingers in his hair hoping the feel of them against his scalp would relax him.
“What are you doing?” he gripped my hips with a smirk. His wolf was gone and now it was just us.
“Why didn’t you tell me you needed sex to placate your wolf?”
He sighed heavily letting his head fall back against the chair. “I didn’t. I got through the meeting without claiming you.”
“Barely,” I mumbled. “You know if you had told me I…”
“I know, which is why I didn’t. I don’t want sex to feel like a chore between us. It’s been that way in the past for me and I was miserable. I care about you, Isabel. I don’t want you to feel like you have to sleep with me because I’m being selfish about my needs instead of concerned about yours.”
I let my eyes dance over his face taking in his scar along his left side, simply admiring him. Gripping his silky hair between my fingers, I tugged him to my lips. Now that the meeting was over, my stress had receded. I could relax and after everything he’d done and said, I wanted him. Gideon pulled away with a growl like he read my thoughts. “You can’t keep your father waiting.”
The door swung open. Smiling over the needy growl I drew from Gideon, I turned to see who was disturbing us and what they needed. I stopped worrying about the wolves seeing us together. They knew better than I what Gideon and I were. Just weeks ago, I might have tumbled from Gideon’s lap, now I lingered there contently. My smile fell and I immediately felt the color drain from my face. Trey lingered just outside the room appearing regretful as my father stood before us shocked by what he was seeing.
Surprising myself, my first instinct wasn’t to scurry out of Gideon’s embrace, whose hand sat loosely on my hip. He wasn’t holding me tight enough to prevent me from leaving if I chose. I gripped Gideon tighter pressing myself closer to him.Mine,I thought, and not even my father’s prejudice would keep me from him.
“What is going on?” my father demanded as Trey silently crept unnoticed out the doors closing them behind him.Chicken.
I turned back to Gideon who raised a single brow in a,whatever you want, motion.
“Dad,” I stood deciding sitting on Gideon probably wasn’t the best way to start this conversation. “I can explain.” Could I though? There was the truth, which I didn’t think he’d understand and then there was the lie but that seemed disrespectful to my mate. I wasn’t ashamed of him or of what we had, but how did I explain it to my father.
“Are you sleeping with my daughter?” my father demanded ignoring my comment. His face was turning the color of a plum. I worried he might explode.
“It’s more than that,” I replied trying to draw his attention to me. Nothing good would come of my father letting his temper loose on Gideon.
“More than that?” he spat “Are you kidding me, Isabel? I never thought you were the type to fall for sweet nothings whispered in your ear. He just wanted to get in your pants. A huntress for his bedpost. How could you be so stupid to fall for it?”
Gideon growled warningly. “If you insult my mate again, the fact that you’re her father, whom she loves, will not stop me from beating you within an inch of your life.”
My father’s eyes bugged, and not from the threat. “Mate?” He turned back to me and I tugged the collar of my shirt down revealing the mark. His anger faded making him look suddenly tired. “My daughter is the one prophesized.”
He sat down at the base of the steps putting his back to us.Prophesized,I mouthed to Gideon who shrugged.
“What do you mean?” I asked curiously.
“You’re the end of us, the Hunter Order. I don’t even know how old the prophecy is, but I heard the story from my mother. One day a hunter and a supernatural would join in body, blood, and heart. Their union would mean the end of us.”
“That’s not really a great story, Dad.”
My father smirked halfheartedly.
“Is that the reason for the prejudice of cross specious mating?” Gideon asked.
