by Kelly Hall
Rebekah sat across from him. “So was Ethan. You used his blood. Was it not enough?” She didn’t understand. Her abilities were so much like Ethan’s, they’d been the perfect pair.
“Ethan’s couldn’t save you. His immortality was not working on the first batch of hunters. That’s when I decided to go after Kayne’s blood and the virus.” He remembered the first time the idea came to mind. “It took me a long time of observing to figure it out. And I remembered going to the leader of the Roman soldiers. I asked him how he made good soldiers out of common men. I was mostly entertaining ideas and being a pain in his ass, but he answered me all the same.” He would never forget the man’s words. “He said that he told all of his men that to beat their enemies, they had to think like them and become them.”
Rebekah turned up her glass and downed her drink as she let that all sink in. She took the bottle from his hands and poured herself another one.
“Hey, stop,” Ignis said. “You’ll be snockered.”
“High tolerance,” she said, looking him in the eye. “I’m pretty sure I get that from Ethan’s side.” She sat back in her seat. “So, what of my other enemies? Did I have to become them as well?” She remembered looking at Rogan and the sound of the word “Alpha” ringing in her ears.
Ignis shifted uncomfortably before turning the bottle up as he looked away. “What do you mean?”
“Don’t try and tell me that you didn’t include Rogan’s blood. You said to hunt my enemies. Plural. You put the blood of my enemies in me, didn’t you? Rogan included.” She had never thought about it, but it all made perfect sense now. She had all of the abilities of the others, and yet, she was her own unique creation. “No wonder.”
“No wonder what? That you think you’re in love with Kayne? But you’re not.” He pegged her with a hard look.
“I met Rogan. Do you know what I felt when I was near him?”
“You’ve come in contact with him before.” He waved his hand dismissively.
“I heard the word Alpha. Is he my Alpha?”
“I used his blood, nothing more. You’re not tied to his laws or to his rules, and other than your habit of growling at me, you’re nothing like him.”
“You said I’ve always growled.”
“Then see there? That’s all the more reason you’re nothing like him.”
“This is serious, Ignis. If this gets out, then we’re really screwed. Not that we aren’t already. Dixon was on the phone when you came in. He told me that the Elders’ Council is going to move forward with graduating the top hunters in his academy. He said they wanted to do it to make a show that they don’t need me.”
“But they do need you. If they perform the ceremony and stab that poor kid in the shoulder, it’s going to fuck him up good.”
“Then we have to fix the spell on the daggers.”
“It’s not that easy.”
Rebekah’s eyes widened. “That’s what I told Dixon. I didn’t know I was telling the truth.”
“You were. I’ll have to think on it. In the meantime, what are you going to do about this deal with Kayne?”
“No, I want to know more about this spell, and if you bargained your shadow for Kayne’s blood, then how did you get Rogan’s? Did you trade your soul?”
“No, and I’m not getting into that with you until after I tell you Kayne’s intentions,” Ignis said. Rebekah let out a growl of frustration, and Ignis held up his finger to point at her. “See, you’re doing it again. Just like a rabid dog.”
“I’m going to let you see the rabid dog in me if you don’t forget you know about the bargain. And if you’re pissed about it, you have yourself to thank, because apparently, I inherited my bargaining habit from you.” Rebekah’s eyes widened. “Did you give me your blood?”
She paled thinking she might actually be concocted from all of them.
“Don’t distract me. I’m trying to tell you something important. Now that you know the truth, I need you to understand Kayne’s motives.”
“I think I’m old enough to know his motives, Ignis. I’m a big girl, remember? I am not a virgin, nor am I a naïve girl.”
“There was another part to that bargain with Kayne. He didn’t just give me his blood freely. He wanted to know what I planned to do with it.”
“You told him the truth?” She didn’t think he would have.
“I did.”
Rebekah chuckled at how ridiculous it sounded. “So, you set out to create a hunter that was going to be strong enough to kill his kind, and he just gave you what you needed?” She gave him a sideward glance. “I call bullshit. Kayne would never allow that to happen.”
Ignis knew what came next was going to hurt the most. “He did when I promised him you.”
“Me?” Her eyes narrowed as she leaned in closer. “You bargained with me?” She didn’t even wait for an answer before jumping to her feet. “God, Ignis! That’s why he feels this sense of entitlement, isn’t it? You promised me to him?”
She had already endured being with Ethan, who had only taken her as his concubine because her father had made him promise to take care of her, and now she learned that the one person she thought loved her, despite how different she was, only wanted her because she was part of a bargain.
“I did what I had to do to get the blood. I knew I’d never let him have you and neither would Ethan. And by the time he was gone and Kayne started sniffing around, nature had already done its job and made you bitter enemies.”
If only that were the case. “Our people have made us enemies. Not nature, Ignis. That’s why it’s always been so hard to understand why I wanted him too. Now it all makes sense.”
“In theory, but that’s not entirely true.” He wasn’t going to sit and mix words with her about how she wasn’t infatuated with the shifter side of herself. He had more important things to get out. “What I’m trying to tell you is that this new bargain he’s made, it’s not only to get you into his bed, Rebekah. It’s to see if you can bear him a child.”
Rebekah’s jaw dropped as her eyes bugged. “What? Is he insane? He knows I’m barren, right? Haven’t you told him that?”
“Part of the deal was that you be his bride and give him a child.”
“Part of the deal? Dammit, Ignis. You knew this the whole time, and you didn’t tell me? All of these years and that’s why he’s been hanging around. Not because he really liked me, but so I could give him children?”
“Apparently, no one can. That’s why he wanted to try with you. He thinks you’re different.”
“And why would he think that?”
“Well, because you are, but mostly because I told him you’d be of extraordinary strengths and that perhaps you’d be able to give him the children he wanted so desperately.”
She had a sinking feeling in her gut, and a wave of nausea hit her. How could she have been so foolish? All of this time, she’d really thought that Kayne was into her. As if she could actually be something special to someone.
She’d had men falling at her feet for centuries, and all she could ever see was him. As if he were always there in her shadow, waiting. She had let herself grow used to the fantasy.
“I’m so sorry, Bexy. I know it’s outrageous, and I hope you see why I didn’t want to tell you as more and more time passed. I know you wanted children with Ethan, and knowing that it was my creation of you that killed that possibility? Well, I can never forgive myself for it. I should have considered every option and at least told you the truth and given you the choice of knowing what it would all mean if you stepped forward.”
“You should have.” She wanted him to feel bad about what he’d done, but she couldn’t help but feel sorry for him too. He hadn’t meant for any of it to happen that way, but she loved being the Immortal Huntress all the same. “Through every up and down, I’ve never had any regrets.”
“Until now?”
“Not even now, Ignis. You’ve given me a good life. The best you knew how. I guess if I shou
ld be angry with anyone, it should be Kayne. He knew all along and didn’t say anything either, and he used his dirty tricks to try and get what he wanted.” He wasn’t the person she thought he was.
Ignis liked the idea of her angry with Kayne. That was all the balance that was needed in the world; two enemies, staying enemies. “That’s right. Be angry with him. I’m sorry for my part. But I need you to know that I only did what I could. I love you more than my own life, Bexy. I always have and forever will.”
“I know, Ignis. You’ve got a lot of repairing to do with Canter. I’ll have a talk with him and make sure he understands that he’s not going to be able to disrespect you like that and stay here. He’s one of my best hunters, but perhaps he’d be better utilized in another camp if he can’t learn to focus his anger on the real enemy.”
Ignis thought of the times he thought he’d lost her and Talia. “Losing someone you love can make you do crazy things, Bex. I know it might take some time, but I’m going to try and repair that trust we had. I think once he learns to forgive me for my part, then things will be okay.” He hadn’t killed Katie, but Canter had been right. He had played a small part by letting the Shadow fall into other hands. “Now, I’m going to go and get cleaned up. I’ll see you at dinner?”
“Yeah, you will. But then I’m afraid I have to go and check on Liam.”
“You’re going to his castle?” He didn’t like the sound of that. “Don’t get him stirred up, Bex. You know you have enough problems with the Church right now.”
“Don’t worry. I won’t. I just want to check on Liam, and then I’m going to leave. But I’m not letting him play any of his flirty crap. We’re bitter enemies from here on out. All he’s ever done is cause me trouble.” She hoped by saying it, she’d believe it.
“That’s true.” He knew the same could be said for himself at times, but he was just glad her anger was directed where it needed to be. “I love you, Bex.”
“I love you too, Ignis. I’m glad you’re back.”
With a quick hug behind them, they headed out of the room.
And all the while in the back of her mind, Rebekah couldn’t help but wonder what Kayne wouldn’t give her for his little experiment.
Perhaps it was time for a bargain of her own.
Chapter 15
Canter had tried not to be bitter that Ignis didn’t want him around while he was explaining things to Rebekah, but as long as the asshole didn’t seem like he was possessed by the stigmata or going to put Rebekah in danger, he was okay with leaving them to their business.
He went up to his room, and just walking into the space, the smell of Katie’s perfume made him look toward the bathroom as if she were about to walk about of it, wrapped in a towel, her hair piled up on top of her head, with that flirty little look she used to get. The one where she’d crinkle her nose just a little and get a twinkle in her eye.
He had always loved that look, and he knew it was one only his sweet Katie could pull off.
“Yeah, I’m never going to see that look again,” he mumbled, sinking on the bed. He contemplated laying down and taking a nap, but she was everywhere he looked. Her smell, the things they shared, and the bed they’d made love on. It wasn’t any use to go next door to her room. She would be all around him there too, and the loneliness he felt without her was crippling.
He left his things and decided to shower. Then he dressed and went downstairs to see where Delilah and Jarreth had gone. They hadn’t been around at all, and he wondered if they had left the castle to go after him too.
He walked outside and found the orange cat lounging in the flower beds, swatting flies. Before he could look around, he heard laughter behind him toward the east tower. Delilah stood outside the front entrance shaking out a rug.
“Oh God,” she cried. “This was a horrible mistake.” The dust flying out of the thing had been there for years. She covered her mouth and coughed.
Canter shook his head and went over to join her. As soon as Delilah looked up and saw him, her eyes widened, she shrieked with joy, and she ran into his arms. “Canter!”
“It’s good to see you too.” He took a step back, and she reached up and stroked his hair.
“I thought I’d never see you again.”
“You know me. I can’t stay away from you two for too long. And, as it turns out, I found Grady dead on the beach. Mace came after me, so we buried him down by the shore. I came back to tell Rebekah.”
“That means the stigmata had probably taken over someone else, right?”
A large thud sounded from inside, followed by the sound of bottles clinking together. “Del, are you coming?” Jarreth called from the house.
She gestured toward the door. “Come on in. We’ve been tasked with cleaning up in here. Jarreth’s dad is coming to visit with some of his men, and this is where they’ll be staying for a while. Rebekah wanted us to have a bit of help in case we get attacked again.”
“That’s probably a good idea. If the stigmata ditched Grady, then it’s likely that’s why Ignis came after us.” Before he could explain about Ignis, Delilah cringed, stopping in her tracks.
“Wait, you think the stigmata got Ignis?” If that happened, it could be devastating for everyone, although she felt he deserved everything he had coming.
“Who are you talking to?” asked Jarreth, stepping into the foyer. He looked up and saw Canter. “Holy shit, you’re back!” He stepped into a hug with his best friend and clapped him on the back. “Dude, I hope you’re staying.”
Before Canter could respond, Delilah jumped in. “He just said that Ignis was overtaken by the stigmata.”
Jarreth’s eyes widened. “Damn, really?” He dropped the garbage bag he was holding.
Canter shook his head and held up his hands to calm them down. “No, not exactly. Apparently, he traded his shadow—whatever the fuck that means—to Kayne, and that’s what the stigmata has taken over.” He relaxed as it seemed to sink in with the others. “But I’m not the only one back. He’s returned too.”
Jarreth’s eyes narrowed, and Delilah balled her fists. “Then let’s go beat his ass,” said Jarreth, taking a step toward the door.
“No. Calm down. He’s talking to Rebekah about all the crap he’s kept from her. I don’t think it’s wise to go after him. Besides, I’m not sure I’m directing my anger at the right person.” He sighed, knowing that Mace’s talk had gotten to him after all.
“Well, are you going to stick around, or are you going to leave again?” Jarreth hoped that he was going to stay put a while. He didn’t want to worry about him getting in trouble with the entire race of hunters—or Rebekah.
“I guess I never really wanted to leave. It took actually going to realize this is where I should be. At least until the stigmata is defeated and we complete the mission.”
Jarreth breathed a sigh of relief. “Man, that’s great. And anything we can help with, we’re here.” He was eager to be there for Canter.
While he appreciated it, Canter still needed a little space. “I’ll be okay. I just need time. It’s not easy being here. Everywhere I go, it’s a reminder.” He reached up and raked his hand through his curls. “I see her in everything.” He looked over toward the living room. “You’ve got this place looking pretty good.”
“Yeah, it needed lots of help. It would be better if I could rip out the carpet.” Jarreth made a face.
Delilah rolled her eyes. “The place needs a torch if you ask me. It’s pretty hopeless. Your dad’s rogue camp was nicer.”
“Katie and I joked about living here when we married.” He looked around and thought that the two might have been able to make it work. Someone had at some point, and with a few grand dumped into it to update the color scheme, it could have been someplace to grow old together.
He looked over and saw Jarreth and Delilah’s expression. “Hey, it’s okay to talk about her,” he assured them. “I’m finding it makes me feel better. You know, thinking about the good times.”
“It should make you feel better.” Delilah still felt the pinch in her own heart each time she thought of her friend.
“Don’t get me wrong. I’m never going to get over it or be the same. I’m lost without her. It’s like I’m not myself anymore.”
Delilah knew he couldn’t keep it all bottled up, but she had never really lost anyone like he had to fully relate. “Maybe you could talk to Sister Frankie. I know it sounds strange, but she lost Merik. I mean, you can talk to us anytime, but she’s actually been through it.”
“I hadn’t even thought about that. I guess you’re right.” He felt like he was in it all alone.
“You know I’m a good listener,” said Jarreth. “You can talk to me about anything and as much as you want.”
“Thanks.”
“Hey, if it’s too much being in the castle, you could have my room,” said Delilah. “Or maybe Jarreth’s dad would let you stay here with them?”
“He’d like that. He’d have me joining his camp.”
Delila’s eyes lit up. She hadn’t expected to hear that come out of his mouth. “You’d do that?”
“I’m not sure. I feel a change is inevitable.” As if things hadn’t changed enough already. His future path was completely different now that Katie wouldn’t be on that road with him.
Jarreth picked up his garbage bag and carried it to the door. “We had better get back to work. It will be dinner soon, and I’m expecting dad to show up.”
