Page 9 of Reign


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“Hunter, would you follow me?”

His eyes shot to me and he growled, reaching over and lacing his fingers through hers. Tessa’s eyes widened and she grew rigid.

Now is not the time to fight, Marko. Calm. He doesn’t know who I am. He doesn’t know what he’s done.

Pants left my mouth while I tried to control the blood-red rage that kept tinting my vision. Let’s get him the fuck in that room. I can’t see him anymore. I can’t see this.

Tessa began walking, leading him forward as Aetas smiled and followed. Me, I couldn’t do shit but stand there, seething. There was no debating what I could so clearly see. Tessa was a better leader than I was. I’d known it for a while, but her actions in the heat of the moment proved it. I knew the amount of anger she harbored for Hunter and yet, she was able to overlook it and go as far as to let him hold her hand so he would be comforted enough to obey. If it had been up to me, Hunter would have been dead. And I would have followed in his footsteps because Aetas would have killed me, making the woman I love a widow. The reality doused the immediate need of revenge. Tessa deserved better from me. I had probably embarrassed her due to my actions.

No, I had. The whole city had witnessed my outburst—my slip of control.

“You did well,” I said, addressing Boyd. “We’ll speak tomorrow. You deserve compensation for bringing Hunter to us.”

“Thank you, Master.”

He nodded, rushing away. I turned back to the tunnels, witnessing Aetas disappear into the darkness. I slowly walked in their direction, keeping my distance. My mind raced while I recalled Hunter’s appearance. His once tanned skin was gone, replaced by a paleness that marked what we were. The color of his eyes were nearly nonexistent. They had faded in with the white, barely standing out with their light blueish-gray shade. It had looked eerie, even as I ran toward him. I’d never once been afraid of Hunter, but I couldn’t deny there was a tinge of something that irked me the wrong way. It left me cautious, when before I wouldn’t have been.

I slowed as I approached the door, listening to the words that were being spoken inside.

“Thank you, again, Princess. I can’t tell you how surprised I am with your behavior. I’m impressed. You have to know that.”

There was a pause before Tessa began. “Thank you, Your Highness. It means a lot to hear that coming from you. If you’ll excuse me now, I’ll give the two of you privacy. Should I make arrangements for your departure back to headquarters, tomorrow? Or…” Footsteps. “Will you be disappearing back?”

Aetas laughed. “I can take it from here. You’ve done enough. Hunter and I will be leaving soon. Probably before the sun rises.”

“Wait.” Hunter’s voice was deep as it broke the silence.

“Hunter, you have to let go of me. Aetas….”

The stirring of anger and impatience from Tessa had me cracking the door to look in. What I saw nearly broke every ounce of control I held. Hunter stood behind her, his arms wrapped over her breasts as he held her arms locked down. He appeared panicked as his eyes stayed fixed on Aetas.

“Hunter…let go of Princess Tessalyn. I’ve already told you. You have nothing to fear with me. I am your maker. I promise to take care of you.”

His head shook, stiffly.

Aetas sighed. “I can feel your dilemma, Hunter, but you can’t stay. You have lessons to learn. This is not your home.”

“Then she goes.”

Tessa tried shrugging out of his hold, but his grip only tightened. She glared at Aetas before turning to look up at Hunter.

“I cannot go, and you cannot stay. I have a city to run. I rule here, Hunter. You must go with Aetas to prepare to run your own.”

“I’m staying.”

“You know not what you say.” Tessa jerked against his hold. “You’re newborn. You don’t know the significance of the path you’ve been given. You have to go.”

Tessa was spun around while he gripped to her forearms. His eyes studied her while he gazed down into her face.

“We stay together. We have to stay together. My mind is telling me that.”

Dark hair swung loosely as Tessa shook her head. “Absolutely not! Do you know what you’ve—?”

“Don’t,” Aetas warned. “Not yet.”

Tessa turned her head to look back at him. “Then get him off of me. I can only be so patient.”

“Hunter,” Aetas said, angrier. “Princess Tessalyn is mated to Master Delacroix. She does not belong to you. You cannot stay together, nor can you treat her as you are. You have to let her go.”

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