Hunter: Faction 10: The Isa Fae Collection

by Angela Fristoe

  Yet, as stunning and welcoming as it all was, Thora couldn’t help but think of everything it was missing. Britta, her parents, Frederick, and, soon, Garrett.

  Garrett pressed his hand to the small of her back, urging her through, but just like his words, his touch left her aching. His fingers didn’t curl in to the arch of her back; instead, they were stiff and withdrew as soon as she was moving.

  Unease tightened her stomach at how differently he was behaving. Gone was the tender friend who held her while she wept, who hadn’t let her go back in to hiding when fear and uncertainty tempted her to stay in the woods. Gone was the passion that had surged between them as he'd kissed her.

  “You’re different,” she said, gazing up at him as they walked along the path to the front entrance. When he didn’t respond, she grasped his arm and pulled him to a stop, waiting for him to look at her. “What’s wrong?”

  His brows drew low over his eyes. “I’m the same as before.”

  “Friends should not lie to each other,” she scolded him, letting her hand slide down to join with his.

  The serious expression he wore didn’t fade at her teasing smile. “Thora… we are friends, but that is all we can—”

  “Garrett!” The joyous call came from the entrance to the building.

  Thora watched a woman run toward them. Her long black hair fluttered behind her, leaving her face clear for Thora to see. Delicately arched brows, large almond-shaped eyes, and an upturned nose gave her the air of a princess who rightfully belonged in a castle.

  Thora had never experienced jealousy before—at least not the angry, burning type that tore at her gut—and yet, that was what the woman brought on.

  Only a few feet from them, the ebony haired woman launched herself at Garrett, wrapping her arms around his neck and pressing her lips to his. Suddenly, his words and behavior made perfect sense.

  Chapter 6

  Seeing Sophie running toward them was exactly what Garrett had hoped to avoid. His plan had been to tell Thora about Sophie before they reached The Sanctuary, but the kissing and then Odessa showing up had completely distracted him. When she asked about Sophie, it had been the perfect opportunity, yet he'd froze.

  How could he tell her Sophie was the woman he planned to unite with? That the approval he sought from Odessa would allow The Council the unification between him and Sophie? Or that he'd kissed her while committed to another?

  That morning, when Thora gazed up at him, he'd seen something in her eyes that he couldn’t put into words. It wasn’t love. It couldn’t have been. They'd only known each other a few weeks. Besides, he'd seen love before, and it hadn’t been the same. Yet, what he'd seen shining up at him seemed stronger. But what could she feel for him that was stronger than the love Sophie had for him? Whatever it was, he didn’t know how to explain without hurting her.

  Sophie launched herself through the air, and he immediately reached for her, wrapping her tall, slender body in his arms. Her lips found his in a desperate kiss. He breathed a sigh of relief. He was home.

  He waited for desire to stir within him as the taste and feel of her filled his senses. But it didn’t. The press of Sophie’s lips was familiar and comforting, but at the same time, the furious passion he'd had with Thora was absent.

  From the corner of his eye, he saw Thora watching them, her face lined with confusion and pain. Her lips pursed as if she were holding in some cry of protest. Her lips were so soft, and the sweetness of her had intoxicated him so thoroughly he could almost taste her.

  But it was Sophie kissing him, and it was Sophie who he wanted. Closing his eyes to Thora, he deepened the kiss with Sophie, forcing thoughts of Thora from his mind. Seconds dragged by until it felt as if an eternity had passed. It was a pleasant sort of kiss. One that made him warm and cared for, but the fierce passion he'd always had for Sophie didn’t rise. He pulled back and frowned down at her. What had changed?

  She was still the most gorgeous woman he'd ever seen. Her ebony hair hung loose down her back, tickling the sides of her long, graceful neck, and her dark brown eyes sparkled with love. It was love he saw in her eyes. She was glad to see him, relieved he was safe, because she loved him. And he had been thinking about another woman.

  Guilt gnawed at him. Sophie deserved better than a man who would lust after another woman. She had accepted his unity pledge; had given her pledge to him. There was no room between them for Thora and her gentle touch.

  “I’m so happy you’re back.” Sophie cupped the sides of his face with her hands. “Promise you won’t go for so long next time.”

  “I was hunting.”

  She arched a brow and gave an exasperated sigh. “There is more to life than hunting. You have your position with The Depository.”

  It was an argument they'd had many times the past year, and one he wasn’t sure they'd ever agree on. He understood that she wanted him home, but he couldn’t leave the breeds to the Bascadors.

  “That is little more than a title that lets me sit at a round table. Finding lost breeds is more important than that.”

  “Such a noble Fae.”

  There was a bite to her words that confused him, but when she smiled and patted his cheek, he brushed it aside as simple frustration at his continual absences.

  Sophie spun around to face Thora. “Who’s this?”

  “This is Thora,” he said. “I found her on the other side of the woods.”

  “The other side? Really? I thought it was a myth that there was anything other than trees out there.” She stepped over to Thora and held out her hand.

  “Thora, this is Sophie.” Garrett cleared his throat, hoping to swallow a bit of the guilt gathered there.

  “Nice to meet you,” Thora said, and slid her hand into Sophie’s.

  “Do you truly come from the other side?” Sophie asked with a light laugh.

  “I do.”

  “Garrett’s been searching those woods for months and never found anything other than more trees. How did he find you?”

  Thora glanced at him, sadness shining in her eyes. He could tell she was remembering that it was her choice to enter the forest with Frederick that had led to the devastating events that followed.

  “We’ve had a long journey,” he said. He stepped forward, and Sophie dropped Thora’s hand in order to grasp his. “I’m sure Thora would much rather get inside and have a hot meal that wasn’t cooked over a fire pit.”

  “Of course,” Sophie said. “You can fill me in later.”

  Sophie tugged him along beside her, toward the steps leading to the mahogany door. He glanced back over his shoulder at Thora. There was a moment’s pause as she watched them, and he thought she might turn tail and head for the woods. But with a slight lift of her chin, she marched behind them, her once animated face stiff and emotionless.

  For the past four weeks, he'd been looking forward to seeing her reaction to her new home. And as they entered the building, he wasn’t disappointed. Her hazel green eyes widened as they took in the luxury surrounding her.

  To her breed eyes, it would be a spectacular sight. The chandelier would be lit with the soft glow of candles, the ceiling awash with a diamond coated paint that would catch the light perfectly to create a sparkling aura of luxury. It was a sophisticated perpetual glamour that kept the breeds and witches from seeing the true state of the structure.

  It wasn’t a horrible place, nor was it about to fall down around their ears, but the years had taken their toll on the once great structure. Cracks marred the walls and floors, and the diamond coating on the ceiling had been put on to prevent mold.

  Before the human world was destroyed, maintaining the building wouldn’t have been a problem. The Fae would have simply used magic to make repairs. But using that amount of magic on a continual basis wasn’t feasible once the Fae no longer had an endless supply of atern. The glamour had taken the one time sacrifice of life force from a high ranking Fae.

  Tatiana had been the most powerful of all
Fae, and she had been determined to keep the breeds safe. She had seen the evil that dwelled in the hearts of the witches and Fae around them. She had heard of the vile rituals conducted by other factions, and such atrocities had moved her to make the necessary sacrifice. She stepped forward to create the breeds’ haven, and Garrett would never forget that his family had been tasked with ensuring its continued safety.

  It was a responsibility that ultimately fell through his father’s fingers and in to the hands of Garrett and his sister, Marcella.

  “Stunning, isn’t it?” Sophie smirked at the awed expression Thora wore. “I suppose, though, that after a life spent on the other side, anything would be.”

  “It is pretty,” Thora said, her eyes narrowing slightly. “Though, I do believe that the canopy of morning dew in the woods would easily be considered more beautiful.”

  “Dew?”

  “Have you not been in the woods?” Thora asked.

  Sophie shuddered. “Why would I ever venture in to such a place?”

  “You wouldn’t,” Garrett broke in, “because leaving The Sanctuary without the protection of unification is one of the most dangerous things you could do.”

  “Exactly,” Sophie said, her head bobbing up and down. “That your parents would be willing to risk your life outside society is just horrid.”

  “Garrett’s been telling you stories again.”

  The deep voice came from behind them.

  Garrett turned to see his friend, Darrian, walk up the front steps. “Just speaking the truth,” he replied.

  He and Darrian had made fast friends when the other man arrived little more than two years ago. He had been responsible for training Darrian, and assimilating him in to the faction as a Fae. There were few breeds who could pass as full-bloods, so Darrian’s ability provided him a unique opportunity to assist The Council in hunting for breeds and for a normal life.

  “Heard you found someone in the woods, and thought…” Darrian’s words died as he gazed landed on the new arrival. “Thora?”

  Garrett looked from Thora to Darrian then back again. Shock had both of them gaping at each other.

  “Darrian!” Thora cried and leapt into the man’s arms.

  He laughed and wrapped Thora in an embrace that had Garrett’s hands curling into fists.

  “You two know each other?” Sophie asked.

  “We’re from the same village,” Darrian said, still holding on to Thora. He glanced down at the top of Thora’s head. “How did you get here? I can’t believe your folks actually let you leave.”

  “They didn’t,” she said, her words muffled against the collar of his shirt. “My father left for the capitol months ago, but didn’t return. So I went looking for him.”

  “Alone? In the woods?” Darrian exclaimed, then he paused and understanding dawned on him. “With Freddie.”

  Her head bobbed. “He…"

  “The trees took him,” Garrett finished for her.

  “Thora, I’m so sorry you had to see that.” Darrian stroked her hair, and irritation gnawed at Garrett’s belly.

  Thora pulled back a bit. “That’s when Garrett found me.”

  “You didn’t try to go back?”

  “We did, but the Bascadors arrived before us,” Garrett said. He gave a slight shake of his head, not wanting Darrian to ask for more details. The other man nodded in understanding.

  “How did you find this place? How long have you been here?” Thora stepped back, though not so far Darrian couldn’t keep an arm wrapped around her shoulder.

  Darrian explained how he'd come across a hunter in the woods who had brought him to The Sanctuary, and that he'd joined the ranks of the hunters shortly after. Thora rattled off more random questions, and as Darrian answered her, Garrett watched the ease at which they conversed. There was a familiarity in the way Darrian ran his hand along her arm that made it apparent there was more than friendship between them.

  “How long were you out there?” Darrian asked as Thora leaned in to him, and he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

  Garrett couldn’t stomach it anymore. He grasped her arm, careful to keep from tightening his hold, and tugged her toward him.

  “Nearly a month,” he answered for her. “As you can see, we haven’t even had a chance to freshen up.”

  “You kept her in there for a month?” Darrian exclaimed.

  Garrett straightened in offense. “I didn’t keep her there. The woods held us, then the trees closed in on us. There wasn’t any other option.”

  Darrian’s furrowed brow told Garrett his friend didn’t quite believe him. He wasn’t sure why it was so important that Darrian believe him. He'd never felt so defensive about his decisions before. Especially knowing he'd done everything he could to get Thora to The Sanctuary.

  “It was a difficult month,” Thora said. “I really would love to get cleaned up.”

  “Unfortunately, Amadeus will be expecting you,” Darrian said.

  “Who’s Amadeus?” Thora asked.

  A giggle came from beside him, and Garrett realized Sophie was standing next to him. How had he completely forgotten she was there? He dropped his hold on Thora and stepped back, needing to separate himself from her.

  “Amadeus is only the most important Fae in residence,” Sophie explained. “He’s the head of The Sanctuary.”

  “He’s a dirty old man,” Darrian sneered, and shared a look with Garrett.

  Sophie scoffed. “He looks no more than a human thirty.”

  “A pretty exterior does little to conceal the darkness of his soul.”

  She turned to Garrett with her eyebrows raised in expectation. He knew she thought he'd defend Amadeus, but he couldn’t. Not when he knew just how evil the man was. Eventually, she gave up on waiting.

  “Regardless of his… dalliances, Amadeus is the one who will decide if you get to stay. No one is allowed further than the first floor before he has granted approval,” she said to Thora.

  “I thought that was what the alítheia water was for.”

  “That was to determine your intentions. Amadeus will determine your worth,” Garrett answered then caught the side-eyed look Darrian shot his way. “Worthiness.”

  “Perhaps if Darrian can tear himself away from you, we can get the introduction out of the way, and then get you a bath,” Sophie said, and gave an audible sniff. “Have you any other clothes? Judging by the smell, I'd say no.”

  “Sophie,” Darrian hissed.

  Thora patted his arm. “It’s okay. I'd love a bath and clean clothes.”

  “Then let’s meet the man,” Darrian said, and took Thora’s hand.

  Garrett grit his teeth, and forced himself to walk with Sophie behind the two of them. His presence at the meeting would be necessary to detail the location and circumstance surrounding his initial encounter with Thora. Given a choice, he'd rather just go to his room and… Shit. What he wanted was for Darrian to take his hands off Thora and piss off.

  “I thought we could go to the gardens for a stroll,” Sophie said, turning her big brown eyes up to him.

  He'd heard humans once believed that the eyes were the window to the soul. Yet, as he stared down at Sophie, there was something in her gaze that looked hollow and forced. He shook his head. He was tired. Imagining things that weren’t there.

  “Garrett?” Sophie prodded.

  “The gardens. Sure.”

  He could tell his response wasn’t what she'd been hoping for, so he gave her a smile, pushing a charming glamour through. It worked its magic, and her face relaxed.

  As they neared the atrium, Amadeus appeared in the archway. His figure was imposing despite his lack of stature. While Fae tended to be taller than their witch counterparts, Amadeus was not much taller than Thora, and his slight frame carried little muscle as he spent his days indoors at his desk.

  “What do I say to him?” Thora asked, her eyes focused on Garrett.

  “The truth.”

  “Good to see you back, G
arrett.” Amadeus’s voice resonated through the cavernous foyer. “Darrian, I believe there are chores to be done in the laundry. You may assist there until I require your services.”

  With his back stiffening, Darrian gave a curt nod then glanced at Thora. “I’ll see you at dinner.”

  Frustrated by the harsh dismissal of his friend, Garrett barely managed to bite his tongue. As much as he wanted Darrian to leave, that type of treatment was unjust. It was well known in The Sanctuary and beyond that Amadeus had little use for breeds outside their ability to generate atern for Fae. That Darrian had been appointed by Marcella to the hunters never ceased to annoy the older man, and at every opportunity, he put Darrian in the place he thought the breed deserved.

  It took everything in Garrett to keep quiet, but if he stood against Amadeus, he'd lose any chance he’d have to bring the man and his corrupt allies on The Council down.

  Amadeus flicked his eyes over Garrett and Sophie, before focusing on Thora.

  “Garrett, you may submit a written report. I shall speak to the breed alone,” he said, and motioned for Thora to proceed into the atrium.

  Thora hesitated, her eyes finding Garrett. He forced himself to not react. He didn’t want her to trust Amadeus, but she needed the protection of The Sanctuary, and Amadeus was her only chance of having that.

  Eventually, she turned away and let Amadeus lead her in to the atrium. As he watched her, Garrett couldn’t help wondering if he’d done the right thing by bringing her to there. Despite the secrets concealed there, it was still the safest place for any non-unified breed. So, why did the sight of her walking in to her new reality leave him feeling as if it was the most dangerous for her?