by Kelly Hall
“Kayne is very powerful, Jarreth. Do you feel your own power coursing through your body and think you’re the only one who’s strong? Don’t let it fool you. What we need to do is figure out a way to trap him. There has to be a way.”
The hunters were still letting it all sink in. “So, what happened?” asked Jarreth.
“Nothing. It doesn’t matter. It was all a power play designed to show me that the conventional ways are not going to work against him. We have to learn more about his power. If there is a way that he can be captured, we need to find out, but from everything I’ve seen and know about him, that’s not going to be easy.”
Jarreth shook his head. “So, it’s practically impossible.”
Father Timms cleared his throat. “I believe what the Huntress is saying is that winning is going to be a matter of perspective.”
“So, we go in and catch him when he’s off-guard,” said Delilah.
“He’s never off-guard,” said Rebekah. To think that, the young hunters truly didn’t know what they were up against.
“You were,” Delilah said with accusation in her tone.
Rebekah wondered why Delilah had come back at all. With all of the truth coming out, she decided to share something else that might be of use. “You know, there’s a legend about my dagger, Stella. It claims that no one can touch it, but that’s not entirely true.” The others exchanged glances, and no one said anything as she continued. “The truth is, Stella is a part of my heart, so for whatever reason, the magic that created me and our bond, it also made Stella highly alert to my enemies. Somehow, the blade can tell the difference between a friend and foe. Anyone with ill intent toward me or hate in their hearts against me, it—well, let’s just say it’s not pretty.”
She took Stella from its scabbard and looked over at Jarreth. “Go on. Take it.”
Jarreth looked at the blade, unsure of what might happen to him if he dared to touch it, but knowing if what she said was true, he had nothing to worry about. “I trust you,” he said with a shrug and reached out to take the blade from Rebekah’s hand. The cool steel of the hilt felt good against his fingertips, and he never thought in a million years that he would ever touch Stella, much less hold it.
Rebekah waited a minute to show the others that nothing horrible would happen to them. “Pass it around the table.” She stared at Delilah, and the young woman met her eyes and lifted her chin with confidence as she reached out and took the blade.
“I remember the first time I saw this in your room,” Delilah said. “I knew what I saw, but Canter and Jarreth didn’t believe me. None of us thought you could be the Immortal Huntress because you were so much like us. You were my friend.”
The past tense didn’t go unnoticed. Neither did the sadness in her tone. “I’m still your friend, Delilah, and even though you’re pissed off at me, apparently, you’re still mine too.”
Delilah looked down at the blade and then passed it on to Liam, whose eyes widened.
He felt the weight of it. “It’s much heavier than I expected,” he said as he passed it across the table to Father Timms, who took it and bowed his head to it as a sign of respect.
Frankie’s eyes widened as she took the blade, and Rebekah could tell by the awkwardness of her hands that she hadn’t held many daggers. “I think I’m better with a gun,” she said as she passed it to Katie.
Katie took the blade, and the others’ heads turned as Ignis walked into the room. “Oh, it seems I’m missing show and tell.” He walked over and took his chair between her and Canter, who had just taken the blade from Katie.
He knew that touching Rebekah’s weapon was an honor and looked up at her and smiled. But then it was time to pass the dagger to Ignis. This would truly show Rebekah if he had any ill intent by withholding the secrets.
Ignis put out his hand. “My turn.” He met Canter’s eyes and deliberately held the gaze as long as he could before it became obvious, and then he turned his attention to the dagger. “It seems like yesterday I stuck this in your heart.” He wiped a fake tear and held his hand over his heart as he passed the blade to Rebekah.
Liam’s brows drew together with confusion. “You stabbed her in the heart?”
“I’ll tell you all about it later,” said Father Timms. “When we’re not eating.”
Aziel strolled in late, and after everyone said their good mornings and he took a seat, Rebekah realized that Mace was the only one unaccounted for. “Will our mad scientist be joining us for breakfast?” she asked Ignis.
“I don’t know. I haven’t seen her.”
Canter’s eyes narrowed. Ignis had said he was going to find Mace when he left. “She wasn’t in the lab? She’s usually up in the morning with Lulu.”
“I didn’t go down,” said Ignis, offering no explanation.
“Did you see her, Aziel?” Rebekah thought maybe he saw her while he was upstairs.
The angel was busy piling cinnamon rolls on his plate. “No, sorry.”
Frankie sighed. “She’s probably sleeping. Her patterns get all messed up with her working, and I think she’s still adjusting to the time change here.”
Rebekah nodded and then put Stella away. It had served its purpose.
The others continued eating, and while they made small talk, now and then she would see Delilah look her way.
When they were done, everyone scattered but the young huntress, and Rebekah could tell that something was on her mind. She took her time getting up from her seat as Delilah lingered near the door.
She walked back over as Rebekah got to her feet and took one last swig of her juice. “I know why you passed Stella around the table. It was to test my loyalty.”
Meeting her eyes, Rebekah smiled. “And to prove to you that you don’t hate me as much as you’re coming across.”
Delilah nodded. “That’s a hell of a way to weed out the undesirables, I’m sure.”
“Yes, it’s always been effective.” Rebekah led her out of the dining hall and to the front window where the fog outside had cleared and the sun glistened on the ocean waves. “It’s always been one of my tricks for keeping my weapons safe, as well as myself. Being the only woman hunter for centuries in a world dominated by men who want to do war and killing their way, I’ve had to have some type of advantage. That’s why I never corrected any of the legends. It’s better to let people believe what they want.”
“You must trust us all an awful lot to share that secret.”
“Some secrets are for sharing apparently, while others are not.” She hoped Ignis had a good reason for keeping his secrets.
“I’m sorry about my attitude. I guess you can say I’m not angry at you, but just disappointed because I don’t understand what’s going on between you and Kayne.”
“The Church has been after me for centuries, Delilah. They took an innocent moment and made it look dirty. I am not worried, though, because as my father always told me, God knows the truth. God knows my heart. If he wants to judge me for it, then so be it. I can no more control what God thinks of me than I can anyone else. My life is complicated. I’m not the girl next door. I’m hardly the type of friend who sits around braiding hair and telling stories about boys. I’ve lived with men most of my life, and I’m kind of new to having friends who aren’t. All I can ask is that you be patient with me and trust me.”
“I do. I guess I was just hurt.” Delilah wasn’t good with girlfriends either.
“Which is why I didn’t murder you when you hit me.” Rebekah had shown great restraint.
Delilah’s cheeks reddened. “I’m so sorry. I’m so embarrassed that I did that.”
“Consider it your one free pass.”
“Right.” She stepped away from the window to leave.
“Hey, Delilah?” called the Huntress, getting her attention. “I’m glad you’re here.”
Delilah smiled. “Me too.” But before she could hurry off to find Jarreth and the others, he ran into the room with his phone held out.
Chapter 9
Rebekah hurried to take the phone from Jarreth. “Brock?” she asked as she put it on speaker mode. “What’s happened?”
“I took a crew to escort Grady Gimble out of the camp, and he wasn’t in his hole. I found one of my guards, Port, dead at the bottom.”
“Oh no. I’m so sorry.” Rebekah couldn’t believe that Grady had managed to get away, much less kill one of the men.
“Me too. I should have killed the little motherfucker when I had the opportunity. I only showed him mercy because the girl was Jarreth’s friend too, and look what that did for me.”
Jarreth let out a long breath, wondering how he was getting the blame for his father’s poor decision. “You didn’t have to spare him on my account. I hate that guy.”
“Well, when I find him, I’m going to put my knife in his skull, so you can tell that to your little, blonde friend.”
“You just did,” said Canter who walked into the room with Katie at his side. She was pale as a ghost.
“Yeah, have some sensitivity,” said Delilah.
“I did that already, ladybug. I won’t make that mistake twice.”
“I’m sorry for the loss of your man, Brock,” said Rebekah.
“It’s okay, sugar lips. You can make it up to me next time you’re in town.” Brock’s angry tone grew flirtier.
“Sugar lips?” Delilah’s eyes narrowed as Jarreth made a face like he’d licked a dead frog.
“Take him off speaker, for fuck’s sake.” Jarreth didn’t want to hear anything else.
Rebekah took the phone off speaker and walked away to stand in the library, where the walls of books made for much better soundproofing than the rest of the castle. “Okay, it’s just you and me, and don’t call me sugar lips. I’m still your Huntress and practically your mother, who is young enough to be your daughter, if we want to talk semantics.”
“I don’t,” said Brock. “Not right now, anyway. I’m angry enough as it is.”
“Anything else to report?”
“Just that his buddies are missing. One of them that showed up with him stayed behind. Kyle Cross? He’s being questioned. He says he wanted to do the right thing and join up with the 2Ks.”
Rebekah tried to remember Kyle from the academy. She remembered seeing him there with Grady and his other friends, and she hadn’t thought he fit in. “If he stayed, you can believe him. He’s never shown me any direct disrespect, and I’m sure he only went along because his friends did.”
“Well, I’m hoping he can shed some light on where that bastard Grady went.”
“My guess is home,” said Rebekah.
“I bet his pal Katie knows where he lives.”
Rebekah wasn’t about to make Katie give him up. “I’m sure she does, but I’m afraid she’s not able to talk to you about it right now. She’s busy working on something for me. I’m sure Kyle can tell you what you need or knows someone who can.”
Brock let out a long breath. “I miss you.”
Rebekah sighed. There were many reasons she shouldn’t let herself get mixed up with Jarreth’s father, and she could only imagine what Kayne might do to him if he found out that they’d kissed. She had, after all, thrown that little tidbit in his face.
“Have you given your wife her divorce yet?”
“I called and talked to her. She’s sending me another set of papers, and this time, I’m not going to burn them.” He was prepared to give Cindy the divorce she’d been longing for and hoped to rub Rebekah in both hers and Sage Miller’s fucking faces.
“I’m sure Jarreth will pleased to learn that.” She hated to see families splitting up but knew it was for the best in this situation.
“And it leaves me free to be with whoever I want.” Brock’s voice took on a smoldering tone that was even hotter than his normal voice.
Rebekah didn’t want to lead him on. “It’s never going to work between you and me, Brock. You’re too much like my ex—dangerously so—and while I care for you and respect the hell out of you, I’m just not looking for a relationship. Especially with one of my hunters or one of their fathers.”
“Two strikes against me,” said Brock. “Hey, I had to try, you know? I’ve dreamed about you since I first made the decision to become one of your hunters.”
From what she had learned through the years, she was the subject of most of her hunters’ fantasies, and she had to be careful to not become the ultimate notch on their bedposts. “It’s very flattering.” That had been the reason she’d kissed him in the first place. He had made her feel wanted. Besides, if she acted out her feelings on the one she really desired, she knew she’d be in serious trouble.
Her thoughts surprised her, and she looked around to make sure that no one was watching or saw the look on her face as she thought them.
“Let me know if I can do anything to help you, Brock.”
“Take care of my kids, and don’t be too hard on Delilah. She looks up to you.”
“We’re good, actually, but I will make sure I keep my eye on them. You’re a good father and friend.”
“Don’t make me get too sentimental. My guys will give me hell. We have a mission to find this lone wolf that’s been spotted. We’re sure he’s a shifter. I have a bad feeling he might be a scout, and I don’t want us sitting around waiting to get attacked.”
“Good luck to you.” She ended the call and walked back to join the two young couples who were filling Father Timms and Aziel in on the latest.
“If they catch him, they’re going to kill him,” said Father Timms. “A crime like that, against one of his own, particularly in the rogue camps? It doesn’t go unpunished, especially since he’s already got two strikes against him.”
Katie’s arms were wrapped around her front. “I should have just kept quiet. I just hated to see him lose his life over his own stubbornness. I had hoped that he’d be scared enough to learn his lesson.”
“Loyalty born of fear is a dangerous thing,” said Canter.
“But it’s my fault that man is dead.” Katie covered her mouth as the tears pooled in her eyes. “I’m so sorry.”
“Stop,” said Canter. “It’s not your fault.”
“Grady’s actions are no one’s but his own. You’re not responsible for anything he’s done.” Rebekah said the words with such finality that Katie nodded and let them sink in.
“Thanks. I think I’m going upstairs to lie down.” She let go of Canter’s hand and stepped away.
“Go on. I’ll be up in a minute.” Canter gave Jarreth a hard look after she was gone. “She’s not going to take it well when it happens, so let me be the one to break the news, okay?”
Rebekah nodded. “Okay, but I want you all to be on alert. Grady could have easily known where we were headed. If he’s still stuck on Katie, he might try to come here and find her and convince her to come back, or he could seek revenge on Canter. He’s got Bull and Drake with him. Kyle Cross stayed behind. You heard what Grady said. He was desperate. He doesn’t like the two of you together.”
“I hope it doesn’t come to that,” said Canter. “If he comes here, I’ll have to kill him myself.”
Chapter 10
Hours later, Rebekah sat in the library at her rolltop desk that she’d bought at an auction back at the turn of the century. She had decided to use the place for business, and since she needed a bit of privacy, she’d called Father Timms to meet with her there.
“This is probably my most favorite room in the castle,” he said as he entered and turned to glance up at the rows of books that lined the shelves. “Mostly because of the smell.”
“It does have a certain appeal,” she said. “I suppose I should no longer call you Father Timms?” Frankie had told her he was considering leaving the priesthood.
“Yes, I’ve sent in my papers, and I’m sure the Church has them already. I gu
ess you can say I’m officially a free man. Back to being Randall Timms, retired priest and former commander.”
“Once a hunter, always a hunter.”
“But never a priest again,” he added with a laugh, as if his words were the end of a limerick.
“Do you regret it?” She hoped that he wouldn’t have regrets later for the decisions he’d made. He had meant to retire to the clergy, but being her confidant had taken its toll.
“Not for a minute. I found my vows had become too hard to keep, and it was better to step down than to do anything that might compromise my integrity. But now I’m free to do as I please, and I might even get the chance to be a different kind of father.”
“Life is sure strange sometimes. So, you and Frankie?” She gave him a sideward glance. “Is that a thing?”
“We’re taking things very slow. I know she’s still tender from losing Merik, and while I would never want to, nor could I, replace him, I want to be more than a rebound born of mourning.”
“I’m sure you’re not.” She saw the way that Frankie looked at him.
“I should be thankful for anything at this age. Whether I get a month or year, or even another day with her, I’m blessed.”
“You look half your age, Randall.”
“Not with this mop,” he said, tugging his long white ponytail.
“Please, it only makes you more distinguished, and compared to me, you’re just a youngster.” She gave him a wink, and they shared a laugh. “I need your young mind, Timms, to help me out. I want to try and put Kayne in a corner, but what do you do to the biggest, meanest vampire in the world? I can’t hold someone he loves. He doesn’t love anyone.” Aside from me. “I’m afraid that I won’t have a choice but to bargain with him, and while I have Canter doing some digging for me, I’m not sure what it’s going to turn up.”
“Did he say anything when he took you? Something I need to know so I might help?”
Timms, as she’d mostly called him long before the title of Father had ever been adopted, had always been her confidant and had done most of her dirty work through the years when it was something she couldn’t handle herself. “It’s like I said. It was a power play. He’s also trying to make me suspicious about Ignis.”