A Reluctant Huntress: Tales of the Wild Hunt | Book One

by Knox, Graceley

  We get halfway up the stairs before he starts prodding me for answers.

  “What the hell took you so long when you were making that snack tray thing?”

  I snort a laugh at his description. “Not here. I’ll tell you when we’re in our rooms. Too many wandering ears.”

  Kapriel rubs his hands together, speeding up his pace. “Hurry up, slow poke, I want to hear all the gory details.”

  “Ugh. Don’t make me run. That’s just cruel and unusual.”

  “Suck it up, you big baby.” He jabs three fingers at my ribs, and I growl at him.

  “I will chop your hand off. Don’t think I won’t, you pest.”

  We round the corner into my rooms, and I kick open the door, entering ahead of him. I flop face first into my bed, sighing in contentment as the soft surface envelops me in comfort.

  Before I can get too comfortable, Kapriel nails me in the back of the head with a pillow and jumps onto the bed. “Spill all your secrets, Jin, or I’ll smother you with this pillow.”

  I roll over to my side and snarl at my best friend. “Gods, you’re such a girl sometimes.”

  Kapriel rolls his eyes. “Whatever, you know you’re dying to tell me what happened. And you owe me some answers anyway, you sneaky bitch.” He points a finger at me, waggling it just in front of my nose. “Don’t think I’ve forgotten you hid that you’re the heir to the Wild Hunt from me.”

  I sigh, knowing I owe him an explanation but feeling a bone deep exhaustion at the same time. The things we do for our friends and family.

  “We should have brought a pitcher of beer up here with us for this sordid tale.”

  Kap wiggles his eyebrows, fluffing up some pillows behind him and settling in like he’s about to watch a show. All that’s missing is a giant bowl of popcorn. “Enough stalling, cut to the chase, Jin. It’s not like you to beat around the bush.”

  “Yeah, well, usually it doesn’t involve something that’s incredibly personal and mortifying.”

  “Did you run naked through the castle?” he asks.

  I snicker at the thought before quickly sobering. “Nope. I caught my fiancé fucking my best friend.”

  Kapriel leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “The same pompous looking guy that you wouldn’t let me shake hands with?”

  “Yup. The one and only. And that’s not all of it either.”

  “Huh.” Kapriel searches my face for something. “I’m surprised he’s still breathing.”

  “You can’t tell anyone about this, Kap. Or he’d end up banished and probably broken into little pieces.”

  Kapriel holds up a hand. “Wait a second. Why are you protecting him? You aren’t in the wrong here, he was.”

  “Obviously. But think about how it would look for me as well. The heir to the Wild Hunt, losing her fiancé to her best friend, and not knowing about it for however long, and then just letting it go. I’d look weak if it came out.”

  “I don’t think anyone could mistake you for weak, Jin.”

  I huff out a breath. “Yeah, well, add in their affair and their now marriage and the fact that there were multiple attempts on my life, and then I received a note similar to the one outside my door at Karmakazis after Wren fell ill, saying that if I didn’t leave, they’d finish the job…it was enough to make me reconsider taking the throne.”

  “Pssh. Since when do you ever back down from a fight?”

  “Since I didn’t want to be responsible for any collateral damage.” I wipe a hand down my face, unsure how to explain how bad things had gotten in a way Kapriel would understand them. He hadn’t grown up in the court. Or around politics and schemes the way I had. “I couldn’t risk that the threat would escalate, and they’d go after my little sister or my brothers. And it was only a matter of time before they got sick of me thwarting their plans and attacks on me and then decided to leverage something or someone else against me in more of a permanent manner rather than just making Wren sick for a few days.”

  “I can see that, but why didn’t you talk to your parents? Surely they saw what was going on.”

  I shrug. “I’m not sure if they did or didn’t. But if they did, they did nothing to stop it, and quite frankly, I think it was the latter. I was younger and less sure of myself then. My eldest brother was gone, my younger sister was vulnerable, and my parents didn’t really seem to care that I was always sporting a new injury or getting into freak accidents. We are not like the Seelie or Unseelie where someone can protect you for a cost. Here, it’s kill or be killed, and if you can’t hold your own, you’re better off leaving.”

  “So you left? Without a word to anyone, you just packed up your shit and decided you’d come to the human realm and thought that humans would be any kinder to you?”

  “I couldn’t be everywhere at once to make sure Wren and Edern were safe while I was out on long hunting missions without tipping off whoever it was that I’d told someone else.” I sigh, rubbing my eyes. “At least the humans and other supernaturals weren’t trying to kill me in my sleep, Kap.” A few had gotten violent as we’d chased after them for breaking bail bonds and missing their arraignments, but it’s not like I couldn’t handle it. They were only human, after all, and certainly no match for me.

  “I’m just trying to understand your logic, I guess. The Jinx I know would have turned around and dealt with the threat by any means necessary, outed that lying, cheating prick to the court so he could reap what he sowed, and learned everything she could to take over the kingdom when it was time to do so.”

  “When you put it like that, it sounds so simple. But I wasn’t exactly thinking logically back then. It was a lot of change at once. Who would have me after learning that my fiancé didn’t even want me? Me?” I press my hand to my chest, my voice cracking. “The heir to the Wild Hunt, one of the best hunters the kingdom has ever seen, me?” I blink rapidly to hold back the tears of frustration threatening to fall. “Would it be worth it to chance my siblings’ lives just to take the throne? How would I live with myself if I were the cause of one of their deaths when I could have done something to stop it?”

  Kapriel pulls at his beard, staring up at the ceiling as he thinks over my words. “I see your point there. I’m not sure I have a solution to that problem, Jin.”

  A scuffle sounds outside the door, and I look to Kap to see if he heard it. He tilts his head like a hound would when they’re listening for something. We’re silent for a few moments, but everything is quiet and I shrug. “Probably just a hound or something.”

  I scoot up the bed, propping myself up next to him, a mound of pillows at my back, and rest my head on his shoulder.

  “I’ll give you this, Jin, when I agreed to come here and help you find your dad, I had no idea it would be this eventful twenty-four hours into our visit.”

  “I tried to warn you…” I close my eyes, weariness finally catching up with me now that I’ve gotten most of my secrets off my chest, and I can finally get some rest.

  “Yeah, yeah. You did a shit job of it.” He throws a blanket over me, letting me keep my head where it’s at. “You better not hog the bed, or I’ll kick you off of it.”

  I snuggle into the blanket, its warmth pulling me further into unconsciousness despite his threat. “Shut the hell up and go to sleep, you high maintenance bastard.”

  10

  Kapriel’s snoring in my ear wakes me up just before the sun has cracked the horizon, and after trying to get him to shut up with little success, I crawl from my bed and splash some water on my face.

  Dark circles surround my eyes as I stare back at myself in the mirror. I look like a raccoon who’s just stumbled into her den after a five-day bender of tomfoolery and risky decisions. I pull my hair out of my ponytail, running a comb through it and make quick work of a braid before stripping out of my clothes.

  After a quick rinse, I grab the bag I’d brought and pull out a pair of black jeans with rips in the knees. I pair that with a black tank top that hugs ever
y curve I’ve got and strap on a small arsenal of weapons. Kapriel snorts out a snore as I open the door, fastening the last buckle on the sheath holding a knife at my thigh, and I roll my eyes. I swear, he could sleep through a full on assault around him.

  I head down to the main hall, taking my time and appreciating the hustle and bustle of the castle staff and hunters around me. The clink of weapons against fastenings, the thud of boots as they march to their next post, laughter, shouting, and the clang of plates topped with food as they hit the tables.

  I’d missed this. The controlled chaos of everyone who calls Castle Tor home.

  Just before I enter the great hall, a wall of warm sugar and bread hits me, and I gulp in breaths of the tantalizing scent. My mother must have requested my favorite breakfast pastry. Cinnamon and orange sweet bread.

  I hum in delight as my pace quickens, making a beeline straight for the giant buffet style table that the kitchen staff has set up for us. There’s a six-tiered rack of bread, and for a moment, I wonder if anyone would notice if I just took an entire loaf.

  I snag a plate, filling it with crisp strips of pork, potatoes, some eggs, and look around, checking to see if anyone is watching me. Nope.

  I reach for the loaf of sweet bread. “Come to mama.” I lick my lips as I tear off a hunk of the bread and shove it in my mouth, moaning in bliss as the flavors dance on my tongue. I grab a cloth to wrap the rest of the loaf in and almost choke at Edern’s words as he appears behind me.

  “You never could resist the sweet bread, Jinx.” Edern chuckles.

  I cough, pounding a fist on my chest to dislodge the piece of bread stuck in my throat. “You startled me.” I cough again, finally dislodging the pesky pastry.

  “You okay, little sister?” Edern asks, ignoring the bit about startling me. If there was ever a person who could get the drop on me, it’s him. Much to my frustration.

  “I’m fine, want to eat with me?” I ask the question softly, unsure if he’ll continue to give me the cold shoulder or let me explain why I’d left.

  Edern studies me for a moment. “Are you going to bullshit me about why I haven’t seen or heard from you in five years? Or are we actually going to catch up and talk?”

  “I’ll tell you whatever you want to know if you stop acting like I killed your puppy.”

  Edern grunts in agreement and nudges me with his elbow. “Come on, let’s sit over here, away from curious ears.”

  We head over to a table in the corner of the hall, both of us sitting with our backs to the black brick wall. I take a few bites of my breakfast, trying to quell the rumbles of my stomach before I get so caught up in catching up with my brother.

  “Why did you leave, Jinx?” Edern asks me before shoving a fork full of potatoes covered in melted cheese in his mouth.

  I flinch at the question, unused to anyone asking me so directly about one of the hardest decisions I’d ever made in my life. “You’re not going to like my answer…” I trail off, unsure where to even begin.

  “I already know that I’m not going to like it, but I still deserve an explanation.” He takes a sip of his tea, watching me expectantly.

  “You remember how Wren got sick? And we couldn’t figure out what it was?” I ask, continuing to eat as I wait for his response.

  He scratches at the stubble on his cheek. “Vaguely. What does that have to do with anything?”

  “The day after she fell ill, I received a letter telling me that if I didn’t refuse the throne and leave, they’d finish the job with Wren.”

  Edern’s knuckles turn white as he clenches them into fists on the table. “Someone threatened our baby sister, and you didn’t tell us?” Edern curses, slamming his palm on the table, making our plates jump. “What if the threat had continued once you’d left, Jinx? Did you think about that?”

  “Of course I did! Do you think that this choice was easy for me? To walk away from everything I’ve ever known? To leave my family and friends?” I laugh mirthlessly. “Let me assure you I almost didn’t survive it.”

  “Then why, Jinx? Why not speak to father and me? Why not let us help you?” Edern rests a hand on my shoulder, his gesture meant to be comforting, but all it does at this moment is make me feel like I’m trapped and I’d made the wrong decision and I wasn’t the only one who’d paid for my actions.

  “Because I was afraid, Edern. I wasn’t willing to risk you or Wren if me telling someone set off that psycho.” I push my plate away from me, crossing my arms over my chest and leaning back against the wall. “I wasn’t thinking clearly at the time, Edern, not after everything else that had happened.”

  Edern glances at me sharply and drums his fingers on the table. “What else happened?”

  “Gerant married Isa, father made me heir instead of you, and last but not least, I found my fiancé cheating on me with my best friend. Wren falling ill was the final straw. A little bit of me broke inside, and I wasn’t thinking rationally.”

  “I will kill that bastard with my bare hands.” Edern growls the words and looks around the hall as though searching for the little weasel right now.

  I lay a hand on his forearm. “He’s not worth it, Edern. He never was. The most important thing now is keeping our family safe and finding father.” I take a sip of my orange juice. “My decision to not face this little rat head-on has come back to bite me in the ass, and this time, I’m not running away.”

  “If you think I’m not going to have words with that little shit stain, you’re sorely wrong, Jinx,” Edern mutters, his words laced with hatred.

  Before I can respond, Kapriel drops into a seat across from us, grinning from ear to ear as he looks between the two of us. “Oh, something’s up. Fill me in.” Kap nods at my brother before focusing on me. “Did you tell him?”

  I sigh. “Yes, I told him everything.”

  Edern frowns. “You knew?” His expression tightens, his nostrils flaring. “You told him before you told me?”

  “I literally told him last night before we passed out from exhaustion, so don’t get your manly bits in a twist about it.” I pull my plate back toward me, tearing off another piece of my sweet bread and shoving it in my mouth.

  “Are you two involved?” Edern raises an eyebrow, his eyes narrowed on the two of us.

  Kapriel pulls a face as though someone just told him his meat was full of disease, and waves a hand through the air as he tries to choke down his food. “Gods no.”

  Edern sits up straighter in his seat. “What do you mean, ‘Gods no?’ My sister is a catch. You would be exceedingly lucky to have her.”

  “Oh my gods, Edern. I don’t need you to play matchmaker. Kap is my partner. As in for work and hunts. Not in a sexual way. Ugh, just thinking about that gives me hives.”

  Edern leans forward, eyeing Kapriel. “Is there something wrong with you? Are you deformed? You seem to be sound from what I’ve seen of you.”

  Kapriel’s jaw drops, and I bust out laughing. “It’s just not like that for us, Edern. He’s like a third brother.”

  “I’ll have you know, I am perfectly formed!” Kapriel shouts, drawing attention to our table.

  I laugh harder as a slight blush creeps up Kapriel’s neck when he realizes he just announced that for everyone to hear.

  “Jin, if you do not stop laughing, I will string you up by your overly large feet.” Kapriel growls the words, and I struggle to pull air into my lungs as I lean over, tears streaming down my cheeks in merriment.

  Before I can respond, the slight hum of conversation in the hall dies at the elevated words of my mother as she storms into the main hall, her face pinched.

  “I should have been informed the moment you found out!” My mother whirls around as Isa enters the room behind her. Where her neck is flushed and she’s clearly frustrated, Isa’s expression is serene as she faces off with my mother.

  “Uh-oh,” I whisper.

  “Your mom looks pissed!” Kapriel rests his elbow on the table, propping up his head for a be
tter angle to watch the show.

  “Nah, I’ll bet you ten bucks Isa wins this argument.” She’s far too calm to be anything other than determined to kill my mother’s ire with kindness.

  Kapriel holds out his hand. “I’ll take that bet.”

  I slap my hand into his, and we shake on it. “Sucker.”

  “I am sorry that we did not send a letter ahead of our arrival, but truly, it wasn’t meant as an offense. Once we heard the news of Gwyn’s disappearance, we rushed here without a thought. Honestly, we wanted to be sure before we told anyone about my pregnancy, as this is our first child, and Gerant wanted to tell you in person.” Isa rests a hand on her belly. “Who am I to deny him that right? This baby is just as much his as it is mine.”

  “I could have helped with everything. Shared my knowledge with you. I am your mother now as well, and that is my grandbaby you are carrying. But instead, you have made a fool of me in my own home!” My mother’s voice is even up until the last sentence when her voice cracks.

  Isa steps forward, resting her hand on my mom’s elbow. “And I cannot thank you enough for each and every kindness you have shown me. Your letters to me have helped fill the hole that was left when my mother passed. I would never aim to hurt you, Queen Olwen. To do so would be to harm myself.”

  My mother’s face softens at Isa’s words, and she nods, clearing her throat. “I apologize for my harsh words, Isa. I was not thinking clearly.”

  Isa laughs softly, the sound like tinkling bells. “That is quite alright. I have found that a baby makes everyone do crazy things.” She wraps her arm around my mother, hugging her to her side. “Now, I would love to hear everything you know about motherhood. Since my mother isn’t here to guide me, I’d be eternally grateful for your advice.”

  Glee lights up my mother’s features, and she nods, leading Isa to the head table, fussing around her as Isa sits down. She grabs a plate and begins piling it high with enough food for three men. “You must keep up your strength, you are eating for two now.”