Page 28 of Huntress and the Splintered Court
“You didn’t think I’d let you leave without saying goodbye, did you?” He smiled halfheartedly.
Tears prickled my eyes as I approached him. He took me into his arms and just held me as I gained control on my emotions. I knew the moment I stepped into the awaiting car, I would slip on the mask I wore as the huntress and Princess of the Order but right now, with the man that owned a piece of my soul, I didn’t need to pretend anything. I made a mental note of everything about the moment. How warm he was, his scent, how strong his arms felt wrapped around me, and yet how gentle he held me. The way my heart both raced and calmed at his nearness. No matter how long we stood there it would never be enough. I think Gideon knew this too.
His arms relaxed just enough to tip my chin up with his index finger before claiming my lips. God knows how long it would be before I could enjoy him in such a way again, so I gave myself over to this kiss. My tongue pressed against the seam of his lips beckoning entrance, which he granted. I tasted him, but it wasn’t enough. Gripping him harder, our tongues danced together exploring one another. All too soon, he broke away. Perhaps he knew that I couldn’t be the one to pull away. It broke my heart for him to do it, but it would have shattered me if I had to. I always did my best to be strong, but in that moment, I needed Gideon’s strength.
He led me to the car and helped me inside almost as if he were worried I’d make a run for it. It wouldn’t have been hard to find me if I decided to bolt. If I ran, it’d be to him. Once the door closed securely behind me, I turned in my seat to admire him through the open window.
“One more?” I begged.
Smiling sadly, he leaned in through the window and chastely kissed me. Drawing back, he whispered, “I love you,” then he withdrew completely leaving me staring at him mouth agape. He tapped the roof of the car and it lurched forward before I could register what he said. He loved me. Tears filled my eyes for a whole new reason.
I stuck my head out the window, but we were already yards away. It didn’t matter, I could still see Gideon standing there watching me as I drove back to my old life. I’d only been gone a short while, but so much had changed. I had changed.
We both stayed frozen watching the other. I stared after him until he was nothing more than a blip on the horizon. Once I was positive he was out of sight, I retreated back into the cab and began mentally preparing for what was to come.
The privacy glass rolled down as the driver spoke. “Miss, the Alpha wanted me to inform you that the box there is for you.” Once he was done, the glass secured itself back in place.
Curiously I opened the box then smiled to myself. There nestled between black foam were exact replicas of the weapons I’d worn the first time he’d seen me. How he had pulled this off was beyond me, but I was so incredibly grateful.
A note sat off to the side.
No one should facea fight unarmed
Love,
G
My heart swelled.With each weapon I put in place, I slipped more and more into my persona as the huntress, Princess of the Order, but I was also something else now and I didn’t want to forget. Touching the bite mark that was hidden under the leather collar of my jacket, I reminded myself, I was mate to the Alpha and not just any Alpha, but the Alpha of Alphas. I was the huntress and soon to be Luna and what a lethal combination that was for those who’d just pissed me off.
By the time the car pulled up to the Order, my tears had dried. Gideon had managed to replace every weapon including the hidden ones. I didn’t think about how he succeeded. It made my head hurt.
The car halted at the gate. This wasn’t the guard’s first rodeo. He skipped the driver and approached my window as I rolled it down. Shock registered on his face. I was probably the last one he thought he’d see.
“Isabel?”
“Let me in, Greg.”
“I need to call you in?”
Gripping the gun at my hip was probably stupid as he was just as armed too, but I hoped my reputation and attitude would get me through the gate before the coup had a moment to register what was happening.
“Do you now?”
Nervously he glanced around but my guess was everyone was busy performing their tasks to overthrow my father. “Your driver…?”
“Is human, now are you going to open the gates or are we going to have a problem?”
Swallowing hard, he pushed the button to let me in.
“I’d hate for you to ruin my surprise. I do hold grudges.” I smiled as we pulled forward.
When the car stopped for the second time, I thanked the driver and stepped out of the vehicle. I tugged my jacket tighter as the storm moved in cooling the air. With all the confidence I owned, I strutted through the front door with an extra sway in my hips. The house was eerily quiet until I approached the assembly room then the voices bombarded me. It seemed that not everyone was complying with Reed’s attempted coup.
“You have no right!”
“I have every right. The bylaws clearly state that any leader can be removed if the majority of the council finds them unfit. As you can see—” Reed turned in a slow circle with his arm raised up. “I have the majority.”
“It also says,” I called out. Gasps echoed at the sound of my voice. “That leadership will be passed to the next in line and by my count that’s still me. Or did I miss something during my captivity?”
