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“You have a say in this, too,” Riven added. “This affects all of us.”
“I...” I said, my mind slow to shift gears, suddenly conscious of the weight of her stare.
Helene…
Hale.
We need you. Are you ready to hunt?
I tried to hide it. Tried to fight it. Tried to wrestle with the weight of right and wrong that weighed down my soul. “Don’t know.”
“You don’t know?” Riven snarled. “What part of any of this is unclear for you?”
None of it.
I closed my eyes.
None.
Of.
It.
To act in self-defense was one thing, but to openly go to war and commit murder was a whole other thing. I wrestled with that demon. My fingers were in the beast’s mouth, yanking down on its pointed fangs, opening that gaping hole wide. I could look all the way down its throat to the festering pit of its belly, into the depths of the darkness that waited for me.
It snarled and growled. Those bright red eyes fixed on mine, desperate to swallow me whole.
“Leave him.” Hunter hit the turn signal and braked. “He has to come to terms with this on his own. Just like the rest of us have had to.”
He glanced at me in the rear-view mirror once more. That intense stare from my brother implored me to do exactly what he said…come to terms with it. He pulled into the driveway and killed the engine. But the truth was, I wasn’t sure if I could.
To react in the moment to defend yourself and those you love was one thing…but to hunt, to hurt and kill, was something else entirely.
We need you. Caleb’s words echoed in my head. You, me, and Benjamin Rossi. You can get us into places we can’t go without you. But it’s…it’s dangerous. A shiver raced up my spine at the words. It’s dangerous and bloody. Are you in, Priest? Are you ready to hunt?
Are you ready to hunt?
I climbed out of the Hummer, glanced at Riven’s gray Audi parked on the other side, and followed the others as they headed inside. Their voices carried, but I heard nothing. I was still locked in an embrace with the Devil. Red glowing eyes pierced mine. Are you ready to hunt, Priest? Are you ready to…huunnnntttt.
My footsteps hit the stairs, climbing after the others.
Helene stopped at the head of the stairs. She spoke, glancing my way. I didn’t stop. Just gave her a nod. “Goodnight,” I murmured and headed for my room, closing the door quietly behind me.
The chair still sat in the middle of the room I used, like a reminder of just how far I’d fallen.
Unseen ties tightened around my wrists.
Pray for me, Priest.
My pulse sped at her words. I turned, lifting my gaze to the doorway. Pray, that’s exactly what I needed. I spun around, finding the white clerical collar on the end of the bed, my own bite marks still imbedded in the starched fabric. I grabbed it and my jacket from the desk and headed for the door.
They were gone by the time I stepped out. Their voices carried from Riven’s room further along. But there wasn’t a flicker of jealousy. Only desperation haunted me tonight. I gripped my jacket and hurried down the stairs.
Leave him, Hunter’s voice replayed as I made for the front door, punched in the code, and waited for the locks to disengage before I slipped out. The locks gave a thud behind me. I hurried to Riven’s Audi in the drive.
Movement came from above. The blinds shifted. The shadowed silhouette of my Hunter filled the window. I turned back, knowing he watched me as I climbed into Riven’s car and pressed the button to start the engine. The keys were in the console. The sleek sports car was now used for trips into the city and war. I couldn’t forget that, could I?
I met my own haunted stare in the rear-view mirror as I shoved the car into gear and backed out, turning hard before heading for the gate.
