I narrow my eyes, glaring at them as anger bubbles in my veins. What in the gods’ names have they agreed to? Who is this Theon? Each question piles on top of the last until it feels like they’re a leaning tower ready to tumble inside me.
Frustration races through my veins, and my forehead burns.
“Excuse me?” I wave my hands, barely noticing the blue sheen reflecting on them. “Can someone tell me what the fuck is happening?”
Maia looks at my forehead, and she swallows. I should probably be concerned that she’s going to report me to the king, but I’m far more concerned about the current situation.
Gabriel says, “Maia has been kind enough to bring us supplies, and she’s agreed to?—”
“Agreed under duress,” she interjects, glaring at him. “Let’s be clear about that. If anyone else were asking me to do this, I’d never do it. It’s madness. If King Andreas finds out?—”
“He won’t,” Gabriel says calmly. “Yours is the last place he’ll look, which is why it’s ideal.”
Ideal forwhat?
“Yes, you’ve made your position clear.” She scowls, and honestly, it’s nice to see someone else arguing with the Hunter. “But at the first sign of trouble, I’m sending for you.”
“I understand, and I appreciate that you’re doing this,” he replies.
That’senough. Am I invisible? Is that it? Can they not see me?
“Hey!” I make no effort to temper my tone. I cross my arms, my nails digging into my skin. My Mark is hotter. Brighter. Awave of blue against the falling darkness, but I don’t fucking care. “Someone needs to fill me in on what’s going on here. Right now.”
I was an outsider for the first twenty years of my existence. A bystander to my own life, I spent years watching with Amelia as everyone else made friends, fell in love, got tolive.
We were never included. The priestesses made sure of that, with their constant warnings that no one was supposed to get attached to the gods-blessed. No one was even supposed to touch us after we turned twelve, since we were waiting to be Given and for our lives to truly begin.
And for what?
To find out it was all an elaborate lie resulting in death.
I refuse to do that any longer. I will not stand idly by on the sidelines of my own life. No one, not the priestesses or Gabriel or the suns-damned king can tell me how to live. I won’t remain silent as plans that obviously include me are made without so much as asking for my input.
The two exchange a glance, and Gabriel steps forward. His size is intimidating, but I refuse to back down.
“What’s going on, Hunter?” My voice is cool. Icy.
“I sent a message to Maia this morning,” he says.
His calm tone merely serves to infuriate me further.
I grit out, “I gathered as much, since she’s here.”
His lips twitch into a small smile, and gods-damn it all, but something inside me stirs at the sight. Why? Why is he so attractive? It would be easier to be mad at him and remember that he chased me across the country to bring me to my death if he were grotesque to look at. Alas, he’s as good-looking as ever. Maybe even more, if I’m being honest with myself.
“And she’s brought supplies to help us on our journey.” The panther rubs against Gabriel’s leg, and he reaches down, petting his familiar’s head.
Us. We.
The Hunter keeps using these words, grouping me in with him. Automatically assuming that I’ll remain by his side, conveniently forgetting about everything that led us here.
The way he relentlessly chased me and was determined to bring me to my death.
He’s meant to be yours, a voice murmurs inside me, reminding me of the feeling that I had when I first looked into his emerald eyes after the fire exploded from my hands.
I shove that voice away.
No.
