He must see my expression because he bolts from his seat, slapping his palm down on the desk. “He killed my son! My flesh and blood.”
My insides twist up. “And mine.”
“She is of his blood. She must die,” he grates. “You get her trained and into that lodge, then into that room. And when you’re done with her, you fucking kill the last living, breathing piece of Rune.”
Eye for an Eye. Blood for blood.
My father will not rest until every shred of Rune is destroyed.
None of this is about saving lives. Or even stopping the hunts. Father wants blood, wants everyone who took part, every person associated with Hunter’s death, removed from this plane.
“You complete this mission, then slit the girl’s throat for all I care, but I want her body delivered to me when you’re done.”
“Understood,” I say, my stomach sinking.
“Get it done,” he snaps, and the feed goes dark.
I switch the screen off, and my eyes slide to the picture again.
Kill her.
Yeah, that’s not going to happen. I’m going to do something far worse.
Revenge hammers at my head, scorches my veins, but something far more toxic planted a vibrant little seed inside me years ago, and it has grown over the years. It took root, and now its vines stick to my ribcage, and I can’t get her out.
She’s going to be mine, even if it takes me forever to convince her.
What’s worse than killing Rune?
Taking his daughter and turning her against him.
What’s worse than defying my father?
Falling in love with the enemy’s daughter.
Keeping her alive. Keeping her safe.
Keeping her for myself.
The woman whose life I destroyed.
I lean back in the chair, sucking in air, my heart skipping.
She’s going to be mine.
Ours.
They both are.
Cora Julian just doesn’t know it yet.
No one does.
I stalk across the room, my boots thudding as I descend the stairs. When I reach the first floor, my brothers all glance my way. “Who feels like going to a costume party?”
Viper quirks a brow. Breaker tosses the video game controller onto the coffee table, glancing from me to Viper.
Striker groans. “Bad idea, Reap,” he says. “You know damn well they are going to that costume party at Rune’s club tonight.”
