AllFreeNovel
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I can see the hunters struggling against the spell. It’s only a matter of time until they break free.
Aly told Eve what her parents said, the way to make hunters believe this. It’s time to use it.
An older looking hunter in a black robe breaks free enough to talk. “Lies! This is all lies, and we will not fall into your trap. As soon as we are free, you will be dead!”
“An elder,” Aly whispers.
That’s not a good sign. The elder sounds crazed as she rants on about the unity and sanctity of the hunter race. It’s not a good look.
The hunters around the room can move their eyes and many of them are staring at her in confusion. Have they never seen this side of their elder?
Before I can stop her, Aly steps forward and puts herself out there for everyone.
“It’s true. I am proof. I’m a hunter, my parents are both hunters and I have found my fated mates among the other races.” Her voice is strong and confident but I can feel how nervous she is down the bond.
Like that was our cue, the five of us move forward and surround her the best we can. The hunters are now staring at Aly and most of them are not friendly.
“You!” The same elder shouts. “You are a disgrace that has been sentenced for death. They will not believe you. You’ve come back to be killed.”
“I am only trying to help everyone know the truth. Who wouldn’t want to find their soul mate or mates? This is a chance for peace and happiness among the races. Give it a chance!” Aly shouts.
“Never! The hunter race is too good for worthless mates who make us weak! We. Are. Never. Going. Back.” She shouts.
Jackpot.
“Back? You, You did this? You erased this information from the world?!” Aly shouts.
Another elder gets free enough to shout, “shut up Athina! She has clearly lost her mind and will need to be helped by her people. Do not listen to her now in her old age.”
Even I can tell she’s grasping at straws but the damage has been done. Hunters are looking around trying to gauge what others are thinking.
“If they did this, they would need the help of magic users,” Aly whispers to us.
“But how? Why would a mage help them with this?” Nic whispers back.
“They’re being forced. My mom said they have mages on staff, I don’t think it’s by choice.” Aly sounds horrified.
A hunter breaks free and steals our focus as she asks, “wouldn’t some of us have felt the mating tug like this one did if this is true? We would know!”
She doesn’t sound sure, more like she’s asking for an explanation while still holding onto her beliefs. Time to drop the information we got from Aly’s parents.
“Hunters don’t feel the pull until their gene is triggered and once you are mated you won’t feel the pull of a fated bond. That’s why it’s not felt with hunters fighting supernaturals. You don’t trigger your gene and start fighting until after you mate with a chosen bond. What you don’t realize is the hunter mating ceremony closes your bond so you won’t feel any more tugs. It’s been orchestrated to stop this without you even knowing,” Aly explains, voice strong and loud.
Every hunter in this room is thinking about their own mating ceremonies, I guarantee it. It’s the same reaction Aly’s parents had when we discussed it. They’ve been played and now they know it.
Aly leans over to Eve and whispers something. Eve nods before talking to someone next to her.
“What was that?” I whisper.
Aly responds, “a hunch.”
I don’t have a chance to follow up because the crowd starts breaking free and getting restless. They’re not sure who the enemy is, but they’re ready to fight one.
“Attack! What are you doing standing around?!” A different elder screams to the crowd.
We all tense, ready for battle but it never comes.
Someone stands on a table and gains everyone’s attention. “No! It all makes sense. The strict rules for our children, the mating ceremonies, why we can’t trigger our gene until after we are mated! You’ve been hiding our fated mates from us, and we won’t stand for it.”
