Page 9 of Huntress and the Splintered Court
I opened my mouth to speak when I felt someone walk up behind me. “Move aside,” Trey demanded. I bristled thinking he was speaking to me, but then the wolves guarding the door parted for me to pass.
“Thank you,” I choked on the words as I delivered them to Trey.
“Don’t mention it. Seriously.” He said the last word as he departed down the hall.
I don’t know what I expected when I entered the throne room, but it was deathly quiet. Moonlight casted a faint glow to the dark room. The throne itself sat untouched. Moving toward Gideon’s office that was housed off to the side, I paused having the strongest urge to walk toward a window in the throne room. I wasn’t sure what compelled me to do so, but when I followed my intuition, I was stunned to find Gideon standing before the large window staring out into the night. The moonlight framed him in his charcoal business suit. His jacket and tie were missing and his sleeves were rolled up just below his elbows. Without turning he spoke.
“You reek of blood,” he grumbled.
“It’s not mine.”
The tension faded away. Lifting the glass, I hadn’t noticed, he took a sip of the amber liquid. He didn’t turn nor did he speak as he stared out the window. Unsure what to do, I approached slowly. When I stood beside him, I shifted putting my back to the window so I could see the man before me better. His eyes flicked toward me, then narrowed as he took in my appearance. He didn’t resist as I reached for his glass and threw back the contents unaware of how strong it was until the burn lit up my throat, but I’d be damned if I was going to wince or cough.
When I finished, I offered the glass back to Gideon, who took it without question.
“I’m going to go take a shower,” I whispered turning away from him.
He didn’t acknowledge that I’d even spoken.
I took the elevator up, not wanting to remain in the bloodstained clothing a moment longer than I had to. The car doors opened and I snuck inside the dark room. Even though I was alone, it felt too quiet to disturb. I’d become familiar with the general layout that I didn’t need the lights to find the bathroom. I started the shower before I stripped, giving the water a chance to warm. Staring back at me from the mirror was a familiar sight. I recognized the bloodstained woman. She’d been my faithful companion for many years. There were many nights I found her staring back at me, but it had been awhile since she’d last graced me with her presence.
Sighing, I glanced away to step into the shower. Bowing my head, I let the water wash over me doing the job of removing the blood without much effort. Strong hands glided over my hips and I couldn’t help but exhale drawing comfort from him. I hadn’t been aware how much I craved his assurance.
“What happened?” His voice whispered deeply, concern lacing his words. I could smell the scotch on his breath as it danced across my skin.
“Ambush.” I leaned back against him becoming distracted with his hands that were now tracing up my back.
“There’s something you’re not saying.”
Lifting my head up out of the spray, I turned in his arms. I bit my lip nervously. Everything I wanted to say was just a suspicion and putting it out there to the Alpha king felt wrong without proof. I chided myself. Gideon wasn’t just the Alpha. He was something more to me. I wanted to speak freely to him but knew without parameters on our relationship it was still risky. “I think we were set up and what’s worrisome is I can’t say by who. The vampires don’t have the kind of resources required to pull off a trap of this magnitude and according to Adam, neither do you without greasing the right palm.”
“You’re thinking the hunters.”
I shrugged. “I’m thinking Reed.” If it was Reed, only God knew what he’d done with the wolves. He’d made some stupid decisions lately and if he stayed on that same wavelength, he might have had them killed. If he was smart, he’d have them stowed somewhere and allow them to reappear when it suited him most to discredit the wolves.
“But he’s taken with you. It makes no sense to put you in harm’s way.” Gideon’s grip on me tightened like he worried I’d slip through his fingers at the mention of someone else wanting me.
“Reed couldn’t have known you’d send me. I’m a prisoner, remember?”
“You’re not a prisoner,” he grumbled pulling me closer until my breasts were pressed against his chest.
“Then what am I?” I countered. I wanted it to sound firm but with how close Gideon was my words came out breathy. It wasn’t the time, but the question had plagued me. What was I to him?
“You’re my—”
“If you say mate,” I warned. “What am I in non wolfy terms?”
His brow furrowed. “Someone important to me.”
I huffed glancing away. It was like pulling teeth.
“That’s not enough?” he questioned.
“It’s just not clarifying enough. What am I to you? How do you feel about me?”
“Isabel if you’re asking if I love you…”
“No!” I cut off a little too quickly. We hadn’t known each other long in the scheme of things. There was a connection between us that was undeniable. While I was curious where we stood, I wasn’t ready to broach the topic of love. I tried again for more relaxed. “No, what I mean is, in human terms, what are we?”
