AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Hunter frowned back at him. He wasn’t sure where this conversation was going. “Yes.”
“And you have no problem with the Merricks’ continued existence?”
“I told you—they’re not hurting anyone.”
Silver leaned against the picnic table. “Did Kate tell you about her mother?”
“She told me she was killed by a Water Elemental.”
The man nodded. “Did Kate mention that she went after the same Water Elemental to finish the job?”
They’d talked about vengeance, but they’d never talked about killing anyone.
Then again, he hadn’t known what Kate was. Not then. “No,” he said. “She didn’t.”
“You see, Hunter Garrity, son of John Garrity, your father was a great man. He did what needed to be done, for the good of all. I wasn’t aware he had a son, so you’re a bit of a mystery. I worry that you have missed the mark somewhere.”
Hunter felt fury well up inside, but not at Silver. At himself. He worried about the exact same thing. “I told Kate that I would find the other Elementals.”
“You talk about Elementals as if there are shades of gray. There are not. There are full Elementals, and there are Guides.”
Hunter didn’t say anything.
Silver studied him. “When I finish the job I’ve come here to do, which side will you stand on?”
“What difference does it make?” Hunter snapped.
“It makes a great deal of difference if the five of you can form a full circle. Do you understand what I’m saying to you?”
“Yeah.” Silver was saying he wouldn’t take the chance of Hunter helping the Merricks to fight back.
Hunter wondered if that meant Silver would kill him right now if he gave the wrong answers.
He was so sick of this debate over right and wrong. Silver’s attacking him had been a relief of sorts—he could defend himself from an assault. A fight was clear-cut.
But really, wasn’t this just as clear-cut?
Silver was still watching him. His voice was grave. “I knew your father. I respected him, and I was sorry to hear of his death. I would rather not kill you, but I put duty before emotion. Do you?”
Hunter looked away. Rain snuck inside the collar of his shirt to make him shiver.
“You were negotiating with Calla Dean,” said Silver. “Why?”
“I didn’t want her to hurt anyone else.”
“Why didn’t you kill her when you had the opportunity? From what I’ve read, she’s been hurting people for a while, and many of them.”
“I didn’t know who else she was working with.”
Silver straightened. “I don’t believe that’s a complete answer.”
Hunter scowled. Maybe it was the repeated mentions of his father, but somehow this conversation radiated disappointment, and he felt obligated to prove himself. “I thought she was my friend at first. I thought I understood her. I wanted to find out why she was drawing the Guides here.”
“You don’t think she should have been put to death for the crimes she committed?”
Hunter didn’t have an answer for that, either.
And wasn’t that answer enough?
