Huntress and the Thorn Court: An Urban Fantasy Shifter Romance (The World of the Hunter Order Book 1)

by D. C. Gambel

  Turns out my accommodations were a tiny cell.

  “You’re kidding me.” I gawked wide-eyed at it. There was a small cot up against the one solid wall. A white pillow rested atop of a light grey blanket that was folded at the foot of the bed. Two other similar holding cells were in the room where we stood. The one she offered me just happened to be the furthest from the door. The scent of cleaning products and metal swirled in the air reminding me of our jail cells back home. Everything was encased in shiny metal bars.

  “They’re silver plated, stainless steel bars,” she explained noticing my fixation on them. “Gideon himself wouldn’t be able to escape, or rather in this case, break-in.”

  “And this is necessary?” I glared at the offending bars.

  She nodded. “Gideon believes so.”

  “And if I refuse?” I jutted my chin out testing to see what this older woman would do if I pressed.

  She smiled kindly as if knowing my true intentions weren’t hostile. “I’m sure one of the guards at the top of the stairs listening to us would be more than happy to assist you.”

  She spoke as if she’d already run every contingency plan I might come up with.

  I narrowed my eyes with a smirk holding a little more respect for her. The big bad huntress hadn’t intimidated her. “There are no guards.” While I had been distracted with admiring the décor, I hadn’t noticed the werewolves following us. I strained to hear any noise coming from above, but all seemed silent.

  “You want to risk it?”

  With a huff, I put my testing of this woman aside and stepped into the cell. The door clicked closed, locking me in.

  “There are no guards,” she admitted confidently.

  “You conniving old woman.” I smiled and she laughed.

  “I’ll be back around lunchtime with a sandwich. Is there anything else I can bring you to help pass the time?” I shook my head. “All right. Then I’ll see you around noon.”

  I plopped onto the cot with nothing better to do than to stare at the ceiling. After I counted all the ceiling tiles—twice—I stood, deciding some physical exertion might help pass the time and hopefully bring about the sleep I knew I desperately needed. Being in an unfamiliar place made it hard for me to let my guard down enough to relax into sleep. Collapsing from exhaustion was going to be the only way.

  Was this my life now? Living in a cell, too wary to sleep. How was I going to get through a year of this? Not only was I tired and bored, but the cell was incredibly cramped. I wondered if it was even humane to keep someone in such a confined space for an extended period. In the human world, prisoners got out of their cells from time to time. I wasn’t sure the Alpha was even concerned. This was a punishment. Who cared if I thought it was inhumane?

  Yanking off my jacket, something fell with a clank to the floor before bouncing off the concrete and skidding under the bed. I froze staring after the item with a knitted brow unsure what it could be. Squatting down, I reached for it. My fingertips grazed something cool. When it shifted easily, I wrapped my hand around it and withdrew. I stared at what rested in my palm, stunned. A knife. It wasn’t one of mine. Turning it over, I shook my head. Eric. His out of character hug suddenly made a lot more sense. He must have slipped it in my pocket without me knowing. It was actually incredibly smart of him. I’d have refused if he’d offered; yet my ignorance made it the perfect plan. If I’d been asked if I was carrying, and I said no, no one would have detected a lie. Genius.

  Snapping the knife open, I went to the mattress and sliced a small hole at the seam no bigger than a quarter. Closing the blade, I shoved it into the newly made pocket between some of the stuffing. Keeping it on me meant a higher risk of it being discovered. I hated feeling defenseless. Now I no longer was. I sent a silent thanks out to Eric.

  After dinner, I laid back on the cot, my arms behind my head, listening to the hubbub from upstairs. The wolves cleared out the house preparing to shift under the cloak of the full moon. Even with the high amount of supernatural energy buzzing in the air, and lying on an incredibly lumpy cot, the lack of sleep finally caught up to me. I suppose in a silver plated cage, during a full moon when the wolves would be otherwise occupied, and with a knife under my bed, created the right concoction for sleep.

  My gun was aimed at Malcolm. Reed was beside me as I watched the wolf change. “You’ll never lead now, Isabel. Everyone will think the creatures tainted you. Your father will fall and I’ll be there the take the reins and lead the Order to the position they were always meant to have; superiors to all supernaturals.” When the gun went off there was no Cyrus to jump in front of my target. Instead, the bullet struck its mark, but it wasn’t Malcolm.

  “Dad!” I screamed jolting awake. My head was pounding like a steady drum. I tried to recall the dream, but it dissipated like mist. The more I fought to keep it the quicker it dissolved. As I shook the sleep off, the pounding didn’t relent. Frowning, I realized it wasn’t an internal rhythmical beat but was a hard crash of something colliding with metal. Pivoting hard, I gasped seeing a large gray wolf’s head beat against the silver bars. He didn’t seem to care the silver was burning into his body. Every few strikes, he’d pause, reaching his paw in between the bars attempting to grab me. The cell was small. If the bed had been even an inch closer, he might have had me.

  Reaching into the hole on the side of the mattress—grateful I’d chosen the side against the wall—I withdrew the knife Eric had given me. The wolf paused his assault. Glancing off to the side, I wondered if he was giving up. Peering at the cell beside me, I noticed the doors were left open when the cells weren’t in use. My heart leapt.

  He charged into the neighboring cubical. Without attempting to batter ram his way in, his claws shot out, shredding the mattress in his clutches yanking it toward him in an attempt to bring me with it. Flipping backward off the bed, I landed clumsily but was on my feet just in time to see him shove the bed back knocking me to the floor. My head bounced off the concrete dazing me. With every attempt back to my feet the world blurred. I didn’t realize until it was too late that the wolf had returned to the front of my cell. I was now within his reach.

  His claws ripped into my leg. Even with my spelled clothing the pain registered as if the injury were real. Screaming, I snapped open the knife that I had somehow managed to keep in my hand through my fall. He was pulling me to the bars when I flipped over, sitting up. I drove the knife downward into his paw that held me, repeatedly. Blood blossomed with each new strike and flesh sizzled. The blade was silver. Bright crimson rained down on us both with every swing.

  It seemed he couldn’t feel the pain. He buried his muzzle between the bars. His sharp white teeth snapped at me. Even if he couldn’t register pain, I was pretty sure that if I drove the knife into his skull, it’d be enough to stop him. The closer I got the more rabid he became. Saliva dripped heavily from his mouth. Grimacing, I wanted to recoil at the sight, but was held firmly by the wolf.

  Picking my point of entry was difficult. Hitting my intended mark while attempting to avoid getting bitten would be a struggle. There were areas on my arms were nothing protected me. If he bit me, there was a good chance he might just take my arm and I was determined not to let that happen.

  When he grabbed me, to when I was dragged to the bars, happened in seconds. I made my decision to stab under his jaw first, unsure if the blade was solid silver or just plated. If solid, it’d never make it through the bone of his skull. It’d snap and I’d be without a weapon.

  I drove the knife upward with such force but missed my mark. The gray wolf withdrew so quickly taking the knife I’d buried in his chin. I let out a scream as he released me. Scurrying back, I searched for any other weapon.

  The wolf glared up at me eerily calm, with Eric’s knife still protruding out of his chin, causing my heart to take off. I muttered a curse when he glanced at the other cell. Moving predatorily slow he entered the neighboring jail. Standing, I quickly went to grab the cot, but he was
already there. We reached for it at the same time and he was stronger.

  He shoved it into me. I fell onto the cot before he flipped the bed, tumbling me out. I rolled, slamming into the silver bars.

  A thunderous roar echoed off the walls.

  Glancing up at the stairs, my heart sank. There were now two of them. I groaned. I was weaponless and had no space to fight. The wolf at the top of the stairs had a midnight black coat that the florescent lighting glinted off as he leapt down the flight in one jump. Shit. The gray wolf had moved out of the cell and charged the front of my cage, but I rolled away having barely missed him. With a frustrated growl, he twisted facing the other wolf. Tipping my head to the side, I watched them dance around each other. There was something familiar about the black wolf. He stared at me revealing a deep scar that ran down the left of his face where his fur no longer grew.

  “Gideon?” I questioned, unsure. He either didn’t understand me or ignored me. The wolves circled each other until the black wolf stood between my adversary and me. Whether the new arrival was on my side or not was yet to be determined. Either way I wasn’t letting my guard down and watched the scene intently.

  The gray wolf crouched down then leapt. I almost balked at the stupidity because the black wolf was prepared for such a move. He stepped out of the way and the gray wolf slid across the floor slamming into my cell, where the sound of his flesh burning caught my ear, moments before the scent of it wafted up causing my stomach to churn. Before the gray wolf could stand, the black wolf was on him tearing at his neck. Blood sprayed adding to the gore I was already covered in.

  Jerking his head back and forth like the neck was nothing more than a chew toy, the black wolf tossed the other across the room, once the body he held went limp.

  The black wolf glanced up at me from his mark. Taking cautious steps toward me as if he was afraid I might startle, he moved until he stood in front of the bars. He skimmed over me taking stock of the blood I was covered in. It was unnerving the way he studied me.

  “It’s not mine,” I stated hoping to ease his concern, if that’s what the expression I saw on his face was. Besides some major bruising, I was mostly fine. My bewitched clothing had done their job.

  The wolf glanced at the ceiling like he was staring at the night sky. I didn’t know how long I had slept for but there was a quality in the air that caressed at my skin. Dawn was coming.

  With one final look at me, the black wolf darted up the stairs leaving me alone with the body of the gray wolf that was quickly transforming back to human.

  5

  With my back stiff against the wall, I sat arms wrapped around my knees, staring out between the bars of the cell. The body didn’t distress me. I spent my share of time around the dead. It had been over an hour since the black wolf, that I assumed was Gideon, had departed. I expected someone to have arrived by now to inquire over what had occurred. The sun had risen and time had passed, but here I remained staring at the dead body of the man that had tried to kill me. He had his reasons, I was sure. I had just killed two wolves twenty-four hours ago.

  Eleanor came strolling down the stairs close to eight. She was busy focusing on carrying the tray she held that she hadn’t noticed the body.

  “I hope you’re not one of those that refuses gluten because our chef makes some of the best pancakes you have ever tasted. I mean—Good God!” She jolted dropping the tray with a crash at the sight of the half mutilated naked man. “What happened?” She turned seeing me caked in drying blood. “Are you okay? Do you need medical assistance?”

  “I need a shower,” I muttered refusing to move until I had to. The feel of the blood on my skin was even more disturbing if I moved and it cracked.

  She seemed unsure what to do. “I’ll be back.” She raced back up the stairs. Ten minutes later she returned with the Alpha and another wolf in tow. “I don’t know what happened,” she explained to them.

  I peered up at the three. Gideon seemed surprised by what he saw. Perhaps I’d been mistaken. I wondered how many werewolves wore the exact same scar as him. He turned letting his eyes rake over me.

  “Eleanor,” he approached my cell. Typing in the code into the keypad the door snapped open. “Why don’t you take our little huntress upstairs to an empty room and let her shower.” When I didn’t immediately move, he glared at me. “Can you walk?”

  “I can though I’m not sure I want to.”

  “Unless you wish to stay in the dead wolf’s blood then I suggest you move your ass before I change my mind.”

  Glaring, I considered being stubborn and remaining sitting just to spite him, but it would only hurt me. The idea of not getting a shower was something I couldn’t do.

  “Good girl,” he stated patronizingly when I stood. Narrowing my eyes at him only made him smirk.

  I followed Eleanor out of the basement and up another three flights of stairs to the end of a wide set hall. We passed several beings, none seemed stunned by my appearance, but all gave me the same hostile scowl making sure that I understood they knew whom I was and that I was not welcome. Standing taller, I held my head high refusing to cower under their glares. Withdrawing a key ring, the older woman grabbed a seemingly random key unlocking the door. Leading me inside, she flipped on lights as she went. She seemed familiar with the room.

  The room was simple with only the bare necessities. A queen size bed with a cherry wood headboard that was engraved with leaves and flowers was up against the wall to my left. Matching nightstands sat on either side. Directly across from the bed sat a chest of drawers in the matching design. The walls were painted in a warm champagne color a few shades lighter than the carpet.

  “The bathroom is through there. Help yourself to whatever toiletries you need. You’ll find clean towels in the closet behind the door. Once you’re stripped just set your clothes outside the door and I’ll get them cleaned.”

  Nodding, I went straight into the bathroom. The bedroom seemed too clean for me to stand there in my state. It felt wrong. The bathroom was no better. I worried about ruining the pristine white staining it with the blood. The room was a vortex of white porcelain. The walls were even covered in porcelain tiles more than halfway up. If it wasn’t for the blue paint that covered the remainder of the walls; I might have gone blind walking in.

  Turning on the shower so it warmed, I stripped out of my bloodied clothes. I hesitated when I went to set them outside the bathroom door. Not because I was worried Eleanor or someone else might see my delicates, but because the carpet was vanilla colored and I didn’t want to tarnish it.

  “I got it,” she replied realizing my hesitation, as I stood there with my clothes halfway out of the room. “I’ll be back in a few but don’t feel like you have to rush.”

  The shower was heavenly. Not only did it feel wonderful to wash off the blood, but my muscles ached from the attack. Add in spending the morning sitting on the concrete floor, and I was moaning as the spray kneaded my tense body.

  The shower lasted longer than was necessary but without knowing when the opportunity would arise again, I took advantage while I could.

  “Eleanor?” I called stepping out of the shower and wrapping myself in a fluffy off-white towel. The bathroom was so full of steam that I felt muggy remaining in there. Peeking my head out from around the door I noticed I was alone. “Hello?” I called out for good measure.

  Exiting the bathroom, I went to stand by the bed. Dropping my towel, I began using it to dry off my body. I patted down my arms and chest and was working down one of my legs that I propped up on the mattress when the door opened.

  “You’re back?” I called out. Eleanor lived among werewolves who weren’t particular about being naked in front of strangers, which I guess was the reason she entered without knocking.

  “I didn’t know you were expecting me,” a deep male voice stated with a hint of humor.

  I jerked the towel against my body. “I’m naked!” I yelled.

  “I can see that,”
he smiled letting his gaze rake over my damp skin.

  “Get out.”

  He rolled his eyes. “It’s not like you have anything I haven’t seen before.”

  I glared at him. “I may be your prisoner but that doesn’t entitle you to a free peep show.” I struggled to wrap the towel around me without revealing anything as I did it.

  “I didn’t peg you for a prude, Isabel.”

  “Just because I don’t want you to see me naked doesn’t mean I’m a prude.”

  “As I’ve already seen you naked perhaps your desire is nonessential.”

  “So what?” I asked narrowing my gaze at him. “Should I just drop my towel and let you get your fill?”

  He shrugged. “I’m a werewolf. Nudity doesn’t bother me the way it does you. Do as you wish.”

  “My wish is for you to leave until I get some clothes on.”

  Gideon reached up behind his neck. Clutching the collar of his t-shirt, he tugged it off over his head.

  “What are you doing?” I demanded my eyes going wide. Then my heart began racing for an entirely different reason. His body was absolutely stunning. I’d seen shirtless, muscular men all my life but seeing Gideon was a new level of hotness. I blinked focusing on his face. If I didn’t want him gawking at me then I owed him the same.

  “You’re clothes are being cleaned and I don’t have the time to wait for them before we speak.” He tossed his shirt at me and I almost dropped my towel to grab it. “Put it on, then you won’t be naked.”

  He turned his back on me. I hesitated, but when he made no attempt to peek, and while keeping the towel clutched to me, I quickly slipped his shirt over my head. It smelled amazing. Not like cologne but manly all the same. With his back still to me, I grasped the collar and sniffed it. Wow.

  “Wow, what?” he asked. I hadn’t been aware that I said it aloud.