Page 36 of Hunted
I could feel Yukio hovering nearby, and I started when a cool hand landed on my shoulder and squeezed.
“What do you mean?”I asked, placing my hand over Yukio’s, taking comfort from his silent, stoic presence at my back.
“Acacia wants blood,” Robin said.“Fine.We’ll give it to her.”
“You’re not serious,” I said.All my moral reservations about killing people in cold blood aside, she couldn’t honestly be considering letting the vampire queen turn her into a puppet.“Robin—”
“She nearly killed Cicely through him,” she murmured, in that deceptively even, quiet voice.“She harmed someone undermyprotection.Again.It will not happen a third time.We will end this as quickly as possible.”
“She’s given us orders,” Robin continued.“So, we obey.For now.”
“You’re saying we just...agree to play assassin for her?”My voice rose.“We justdo what she says?”It was so unlike Robin to bend on this.And yet...I could see why she might.If it were me, would I kill a few faceless syndicate members to make sure no one I loved ended up bleeding out on the floor again?
The wild fae elder’s demands echoed through my mind, reminding me that I was supposed to be the one to kill the emperor.That Ihadto if I wanted to fulfill my unwitting fae bargain and not suffer the consequences of the elder’s wrath or the backlash of breaking a magically binding promise.Why was I digging in my heels so much over a few more murders?
It was just that...I was so tired of death and bloodshed.And I worried about Robin’s heart and soul every time she sold a bit of herself for the sake of her revenge plans.
“Don’t worry, darling,” Robin said.“We do itour way.Strategically.Quietly.Onourterms.We can handle a few piddling little murders.”
“And we help Acacia get closer to taking over?”Martina asked, daring to challenge Robin’s decision.“If things go sideways, we could just end up replacing the emperor with Acacia.You know she knows we plan on betraying her.What if she manages to beat you at your own game, Robin?Can we really risk making her stronger by eliminating the competition for her?’
Robin didn’t answer.But her silence said enough.The princess had made up her mind.That was all there was to it.
I thought of Josh, still curled up on the floor somewhere under the weight of a magical binding, probably anguishing over what he had just done.I reached for Cicely, brushed his hair back and cupped his cheek, sending my magic out to ensure he was still whole.
“None of us are safe,” I said quietly, all of my protests fading away as I reached out my healing senses to touch the two men who had just been nearly destroyed by Acacia’s madness.“Not from her.Not from ourselves or the consequences of our actions.”
Robin huffed.“So dramatic.”I could practically hear her rolling her eyes at me, even though I knew this decision cost her more than she let on.“Her first littleerrandis a vampire elder named Samuel Leeds.My research says he’s been angling to replace Acacia as ruler of the syndicate vampires ever since she took the position.”She paused.“And don’t worry, Ruya.He’s just as bad as she is.No one will lose any sleep over his death.”
She raised her voice.“Do you hear that, Acacia, you pathetic leech?I’m doing as you asked.So stop your pathetic, childish theatrics and play nice, hmm?”
Martina helped me to my feet as Robin began issuing orders.“Sanka, lock Josh in his suite and remove his binding.Martina, I want an inventory of our best anti-vamp weapons.I know we’ve been saving up a few shiny toys for a special occasion, and Leeds is rumored to have a strong personal guard with him at all times.Yukio, Dusek, find out where this vampire frenemy of Acacia’s spends his leisure time so we can figure out where best to strike when his guard is down.”
A warm fingertip lifted my chin, turning me toward Robin.My breath caught in my chest as I was suddenly reminded of the last time she touched me.She had been carefully avoiding getting close to me until she led me to Cicely a moment ago.
Even with so many other things to worry about lately...everything in me had been wounded by her avoidance.I wanted to lean into her touch now, hoped that maybe she was about to kiss me, or press her soft lips to my forehead in comfort.
Instead, she simply murmured, “You are well?You didn’t over-extend yourself with that healing just now?I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“I’m fine,” I said, my voice barely a whisper.I wasn’t fine.I was exhausted and pining for things I should be over pining for by now.I was such a hypocrite, calling her out for always saying she was fine when she wasn’t, then parroting the same lie right back at her when I was about to collapse.
She paused for a moment, and I was sure she saw right through my lie.But she didn’t press the issue, the way she once might have.“As you say,” she murmured.Then she stepped away, withdrawing her touch.And leaving an ache in my chest.
The sound of her high-heeled boots on the stone floor was loud as she turned her back on me and strode out of the room.
