“I was born into the family in charge of the council. Kyan is a cousin, never supposed to be in charge,” she admitted. “Everyone was looking forward to the day I would take over, but…” She looked away with a frown. “I didn’t want it. I knew my family was up to some shit, but I never knew it was this. I ran. I kept my identity hidden and started my clan. I never looked back.”
“Is that all?” Cedar asked. “Kyan seems to hate you.”
Atlas’s jaw clenched.
“I may or may not have killed her lover.”
It was so silent you could hear a pin drop.
“Maybe we should get a messenger to drop it off.”
“Agreed.”
“Yep.”
Vesper
“Vesper!”
Tate’s arms wrapped around my middle, and I froze. I’d been unsure of how he’d feel about the new me, but I couldn’t help but melt into him when he squeezed me even harder.
The wind tousled my hair, so I pulled him to me, afraid that his still-human body might catch a cold.
It had taken some intricate work to get a message to them, but I was glad it worked out. We decided to meet on the outside of the property, close enough for my absence not to garner unwanted attention and far enough that no one would be reporting hunters gathering.
It was quiet, save for the sound of the other hunters Gabriel had brought with him, stationed just over the tree line. They were setting up a small camp, murmuring about what their leader was up to.
“I missed you,” I whispered into Tate’s hair. “I’m glad you’re safe.”
“It’s you we should be worried about, always finding trouble,” he grumbled and pushed himself away from me. Tears shone in his eyes, betraying his true feelings.
My poor, sweet little brother.He didn't deserve any of this, and it sucked that I had to tell him our father had died in a note. I could tell it was bothering him. The bags under his eyes were deep and told me he had been crying far more than usual.
This life was too hard for him. Part of me was glad he wouldn't have to go through what I did growing up, but that didn't mean I was any happier about us losing a parent.
I ruffled his hair and sent him a smile.
“Trouble seems to be finding me these days,” I said with a sigh. “Are you hanging in there? Has Gabriel been treating you well?”
He gave me a sly grin.
“Well, if youreallywant to know, the organization sent us on a mission to capture these crazed rogues that were shooting?—”
“Oh god, here we go again,” Gabriel interrupted, coming up from our right. “He’s fine. If anything, I think he likes living the nomadic lifestyle. What happened to never wanting to see me again, huh?”
He hadn’t changed much, though my eyes narrowed on the tattoo on his neck. I didn't expect bitterness to flare at seeing it intact, but I couldn't help it. That wasn't the only thing getting on my nerves.
Anger flared in me no matter how hard I tried to clamp it down.
“Times change, but more importantly, you’re taking him on missions?” I growled.
Gabriel shot me a look.
“We have to keep up appearances. Jobs don’t stop when our father dies, our sister is cast out, and our mother is missing.”
My slow-beating heart threatened to skip in my chest.
“No sign of her yet?”
