Page 40 of Hunted
I rolled my eyes.If she was hitting on me, she must be feeling better.Even though we both knew I’d never subject someone to the horror of making love to a monster like me.
But that darkness still lingered there, at the edges of her being, and I promised myself I’d keep a closer eye on our alpha.
Chapter 14
Sadavir
The night air tastedcold and clean, sharp with dampness and the scent of rich earth.I drank it in, closing my eyes briefly to center myself, grounding with the energies of the earth that were so strong to my naga senses.
The courtyard had long since emptied.We’d eaten dinner out here, someone’s idea of trying to boost spirits with an outside BBQ where we could be closer to nature—the gesture had Cicely written all over it, and I smiled briefly to myself at the thought of Ruya’s handsome faun and how he was such a perfect beta, declaring himself to my mate but looking after us all, using his empathic fae talents wherever he could.
However, my smile and the warmth inside me quickly faded.Ruya had healed Cicely.He was well—even if the bruised, scarred area around his bite was taking a bit longer to heal than it normally would.But even though the faun had survived Acacia’s petulant display, looking at him made my heart ache.It was unconscionable, a sweet, kind beta like him being harmed under the watch of not one, buttwopowerful alphas.
Robin was infuriating at times, but at least the dragon had some excuse for her failure.I, however, wasn’t dealing with half the challenges she faced, and I had still failed to protect the people around me.I had failed Cicely.I had failed Ruya.
And on an even deeper level, I had failed Josh.He would never forgive himself for what he had done to Cicely, even though he hadn’t been in control of his body at the time.Not only that, he would blame himself for the fact that Robin and her court were now capitulating to Acacia’s demands.
I knew the others around me had mixed feelings about how to handle the whole situation with Acacia.I could see how, logically, it made sense to play along with her for now, while our goal was the same—killing the emperor.But this was different.Being forced to serve as her own personal assassins, sent to kill a bunch of other people so she could further her political gains, was repellant on every level.Even if we didn’t plan to let her take over for the emperor, still...I had spent far too long under her thumb already.I didn’t relish doing her dirty work for her while she gloated about her power over me.Over all of us.
I was an alpha, and a prince.I was never meant to fall in line and follow orders.I did it now only for Josh, to ensure his continued safety.But Acacia had violated his will.She didn’t seem to understand how precarious that made her position—didn’t understand that emotional harm was as serious an offense as physical harm.I was tempted to go to her, like she’d asked me to, simply to kill her myself and end these games.
But as much as it grated against my very nature to admit it...I wouldn’t succeed.Not when she was ensconced in her court, surrounded by other vampires eager to stay in her good graces by killing anyone who was a threat.
It was getting dark.I should go inside.But I couldn't.Not yet.Not until I worked this restlessness out of my body and soul.
Someone had dragged a training dummy out here into the corner of the courtyard—probably Martina or one of the gammas—which was unsurprising, since weallneeded to let off steam these days.Squaring up with the dummy, I lashed out, hitting it again and again with as much speed and force as I could, letting the rage and frustration pour out of me and into the vaguely deformed face of my victim.My fists ached, skin raw and knuckles throbbing.The magic-enhanced dummy barely moved with each strike—it absorbed force too well, refused to crumble under my assault and give me the catharsis I craved.
I wanted someone to hurt.I wanted someone to hit back.
I was trying my best to be diplomatic, but the beast inside of me wanted action, retribution, some physical evidence that we were doing something more than just sitting around while the people under our protection were assaulted and used.
I snarled, letting my innate magic wash over me, enhancing me, making me more than human.The next hit landed with the full force of my impotent rage—and split the dummy at the seam.Sand and shredded rubber exploded across the ground as my strength overcame Sanka’s durability spell.I stood there, breathing hard, fists clenched, sweat chilling on my skin.
The memory of Josh’s animalistic growls echoed in my head.
The memory of Cicely’s hot blood on my hands and the way my heart had nearly stopped when I thought he was going to die.
