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“Nope. We’re not having this talk. Do you know how many soldiers came to me over the years and tried to do this same thing? Do you know how many I listened to? Not one. No, this isn’t happening.”
“Hunter,” I growled. “You have to listen. We’re talking about the existence of our kind. Of the last of us if something happens to me.”
My shirt was fisted and Hunter jerked me inches from his face as his fangs bared. “Nothing is happening to you. Nothing. I won’t let it. Get that through your fucking head right now. You will win and you will rule. That is the outcome.”
I jerked free, shoving at him hard as I headed toward the elevator. I didn’t bother to turn around to look at him as I continued. “Get Tessa and have her take our kind far away. You all are to stay put until you are able to rule. Tessa has the strength, but not enough to beat Aetas if it comes down to it. You will. You—”
Hunter slammed into my back like a freight train, and I never heard him coming. We hit the ground hard, sliding over the dirt path from our force. Our hands went for each other at the same time and Hunter swung, hitting me right in the jaw.
“Take it back.”
We rolled and I threw my energy into him enough to knock him off.
“You heard me. I won’t take it back.”
“Take it back!” He clawed his way back to his feet and lunged back at me. He was all emotional aggression and I knew he was doing it because he was afraid of something truly happening to me. The realization was enough to deplete my anger. My hands shot up and I quickly sidestepped his attack.
“Fine. Fine.”
“Say you take it back.”
I twisted my mouth at the pants leaving his mouth. “I take it back.”
His anger faded and I couldn’t help the smile that tugged on my lips. “Can we take back your hit, too? Fuck that hurt.” I rubbed my jaw and he laughed, reaching out and pushing against my shoulder as if we hadn’t just been fighting like adolescents.
Was this what it was to have a close friend? I wasn’t sure, but I had something with Hunter and I liked it. Even if he did get under my skin at times.
“I can’t believe you attacked me. Look at us. We’re filthy.” I dusted at the clothes but opted to use my powers instead to clean us up.
“It’s your fault. I told you not to go there.”
“It had to be said, whether you wanted to hear it or not.”
An eyebrow lifted in warning, but I kept quiet, forging on as we neared the elevator. When the doors opened and shut behind us, I swallowed hard, knowing this was probably a mistake on my part. I was risking a lot by breaching Axis’ walls, but I had to see Tessa for myself. I had to make sure she was okay. That I had restrained this long was torture.
“Don’t say anything,” I rushed out. “Let me do the speaking if anyone addresses us. And … just don’t do something stupid. We go in, we check on Tessa, and we get out as fast as we can. Clear?”
“Crystal.” Hunter paused. “Actually, maybe I should do the talking.”
“Hunter.”
“Okay, okay. Just joking. Bad timing I guess. Sorry, I get like this when I’m nervous. That talk you gave. I hate that shit. It’s like bad karma. You tempt fate when you invite in death. I can’t shake the feeling I got when you continued after I told you to stop.” He frowned, shoving his hands in his pockets. “Marko, you can’t lose. You just can’t. Tessa needs you. She’d be lost without you.”
“What about you? Wouldn’t you be happy to have her to yourself?”
He gave me a hard look before he moved his attention to the floor. “No. It wouldn’t be the same. I used to think she and I were perfect for each other, but she loves you, too. And I, well, I like you. A lot. Don’t take that the wrong way, I just.” He shifted, glancing up at me. “You’re dear to me. Let’s leave it at that. You’re a good guy.”
“So are you.”
The door opened and I gave him one last look before leading us out of the elevator. Silence met us and I felt even sicker than before as I led us down the long hall. So clear I could feel Aetas and Tessa’s energy. It only made me rein mine in even more. Fuck, they were close. So damn close.
I slowed, letting Hunter come up, even with me. “They’re on the main level. There’s a lounging area for enforcers to the far right. I think if we head in that direction, we may pass them. Stay at my side. Not behind me. We are equal here. Brothers.”
“Always.” He kept his stare ahead, hard and devoid of emotions. Mine were almost impossible to control at his word. Brothers. Yes. In a weird way, perhaps we were.
The hall opened up into the main room and the news filled the space as it always did. I ignored the chaos and destruction sounding in the background and tapped more into the powers around me. When I glanced toward the thrones in the back, I almost stumbled. Aetas was seated in his, and Tessa sat erect at his side. Members were split and stood to the side of both. All were glaring in our direction. All but one. Tessa. Her eyes were swollen and red as if she had been crying and was still trying to manage to keep it in.
“I was wondering how long it would take for you to grace us with your presence. How are your lodgings? Did you long for death so much that you would inhabit a city of dead vampires?”
