Page 21 of Hunted
I sighed and stood.They had all been ridiculously unconcerned about the fact that I’d escaped.I had told them I was fairly certain I’d tampered with some of the wards in the hallway.No one shouted or accused me of being a burden.They just rolled their eyes and complained about Acacia obtaining such a powerful sorcerer and what an asshole he must be to work for such a “rotten, heartless cunt.”
Sanka’s words.Not mine.
For my own part, Ihopedthe sorcerer was a voluntary employee, even if that meant his morals were questionable at best.Because the more likely scenario was that Acacia had something on him, some bit of information or some threat she could hold over his head to coerce him into serving her.That was more in-line with her usual tactics.And I couldn’t stomach the thought of one more person being coerced and enslaved like that, forced to do things that ate away at their soul.
“Thank you,” I said to Sanka as we went inside and made our way to the guest wing.
Sanka glanced my way with a lifted brow.“For?”
I shrugged.“Putting up with me?Using your magic to help me?Not being an insufferable jerk about the whole situation?Pick one.”
He clapped me on the shoulder with enough force to make me stumble, then chuckled at my less than graceful recovery.“Nothing to thank me for, friend.You’d do the same for me.I know you would.And besides, that mangey bitch Acacia is just digging her own grave every time she messes with you.She was already going to die.But now, she’s gonna dieslowlyandpainfully.And I’m going to enjoy making that happen.No one messes with one of ours.”
The last bit was said with the same congenial smile as always, but his brown eyes flashed to red for a split second, his demon heritage clearly visible.
I shook my head.Ruya’s court was so caring and loyal.But also...so absolutely bloodthirsty when riled.Acacia could learn a thing or two from them about the benefits of using earned loyalty, rather than fear, to rule a court.
And...he had called me one of theirs...
I stopped in front of my bedroom door, already feeling claustrophobic.But my time on the outside, spent with the court, and under the moonlight, had bolstered my spirits and strengthened my soul.I could do this.I could endure Acacia and her games.Because I had to believe it was only temporary.And because I knew there were people who still believed in me and wanted me with them.Not just Sadavir, who of course would still want me even after everything—that’s just who he was.But these others—people who had been strangers to me not long ago.People who had every excuse not to care about my wellbeing, but who stood by me anyway.
I hoped I could endure.That I could survive this without causing them any harm.Because if I had a choice in the matter, if I was ever free...I’d want them to be my family.My home.
“Ruya will come by in a bit,” Sanka said as I stepped into the room and he started reworking new wards.“She said to let you know she had to heal one of the rats, then she’d comesay goodnight.”He waggled his brows at me meaningfully, and I shook my head.
“Asexual, remember,” I reminded him dryly.
But he just rolled his eyes.“And?You still enjoy a beautiful witch fussing over you, and cuddling up with you, and kissing you senseless, yeah?”
I laughed.My wariness about my sexuality was wasted on Sanka.He was the most accepting and down-to-earth person I’d ever met.“I do, yes.”
If I could trust Acacia not to take over and do something awful to Ruya.My good mood suddenly soured.
“Hey, what is it, man?”Sanka said, halting his spellwork to glance my way.“I was only teasing.I didn’t mean anything by it.Did I offend you?If I did, just tell me and I’ll do better.”
I shook my head at my fellow beta.“Nothing like that.It’s just...Acacia took over a couple days ago.She...when I was with Sadavir....”For some reason I was having trouble admitting exactly what had happened.
But Sanka was more perceptive than his meathead persona implied.“Ah, what abitch.I swear to fuck, I’m going to punch a hole in her face the next time I see her.”He put a hand on my shoulder.“Would you feel safer if people visited you in pairs?Maybe make sure we’ve got a gamma or an alpha with you whenever you’re with Ruya or one of us betas?Or Sadavir, too, I suppose.He’d probably protect the others, but if he was alone with you and you turned on him I suppose he’d hesitate to protect himself if he thought it would hurt you, wouldn’t he?”
He said “us betas,” but we both knew he wasn’t worried about his own ability to defend himself against a vampire.Sanka might be a beta, but he was also an extremely powerful sorcerer.He was allowing me to protect Cicely, without coming right out and saying the other man couldn’t defend himself.He immediately understood Sadavir.And he was effortlessly offering a compromise, a way for me to avoid complete isolation, but still keep the people I cared about safe, all without me ever having to ask for special accommodations myself.
“You are beta-ing a beta right now,” I informed him with a smirk, a bit of fondness curling the corners of my lips, despite all the stress of my situation.
He just winked and got back to his magic.“It’s what we do.Like I said, you’d do the same for me.Don’t even pretend you wouldn’t.”
These people.This whole court.I might be in love with them all.
Later, when I lay awake in my bed, trying to escape into sleep to pass the boring hours until dawn, the lingering warmth of the day filling my being...Acacia’s voice slipped in, taking advantage of my lowered defenses as I lingered between sleeping and waking.
Oh, how sweet,her poisonous thoughts whispered at the edges of my mind.I can’t wait until the stuck-up princess belongs to me...and all her little pets as well.It will be so much fun to crush their soggy little hearts and feed on their despair.
