“She was gifted?” Aria asked.
Hunter looked interested. “What is her gift?”
“Success,” Gray said.
There were murmurs in the chamber again. I watched Gray, so formal and poised, as he addressed his kin. I was taking in everything he said, but I couldn't believe what was going on. My brain struggled to process all the information, and I wanted to grab Gray and go somewhere private, where he could explain this slowly. I needed to absorb in and ask questions so I could be in control.
“I think the question should be asked now, as there seems to be no need to waste time,” Hunter said.
“Hunter,” Gray gritted out his name.
“Do you have an objection, Grayson? A reason why we should not?”
Gray was silent.
“No? Then I suggest you sit down.”
It took a moment, but then Gray took his seat, hands gripping the arms of the chair until his knuckles were white.
“I ask this council to help decide the fate of this demigoddess.” He spat the words with utter distaste. “All of those who believe she should be disposed of.”
Disposed of? They were going to kill me?
The panic clawed up through my body and the faint wisps that swirled languidly around my body became solid gold tendrils that stretched outwards, causing gasps from some of the Gods. I couldn’t stay calm, not when I might lose my life.
Multiple hands flew into the air. Hunter, Larkin, Aria, Waverly, and Flynn.
“Those who believe she should live. For now.”
Another set of hands shot into the air. Gray, Erik, Sloan, Elva, Ig, and to my surprise, Malachi and Bexley. Hunter looked at them all viciously.
“SHE STAYS HERE WITH ME FOR THE TIME BEING,” Hunter roared furiously.
“Sloan and I will take her,” Erik offered.
“I SAID SHE STAYS WITH ME!”
No one else tried to defy Hunter. Even Grayson sat there, expression schooled into something blank. Hunter came towards me, and I took two steps away from him.
“I can make your life very difficult, so I suggest you listen. For now, you will stay in Elysia while we try to sort out the mess your very existence has made. They’ll soon come to their senses and then we’ll be rid of you. Until then, you’ll stay with me.” Hunter gripped my arm and pulled me along with him. “You’re all dismissed!” he called to the chamber.
My aura — because that was what it must be, right? — my aura was nothing to his. I didn’t know how to control it.
Looking over my shoulder, past Larkin, who was running towards us, I caught Gray’s eye.
They were completely black, and Erik stood next to him, keeping a hand on his shoulder.
And then Hunter pulled me out of the chamber, and I lost sight of them.
In hindsight, I could have done so much more. I could have dug in my heels and called out to Gray. But neither of those things happened. Despite my brain struggling through the fog of confusion, I knew calling for Gray would implicate him even further. They were already talking about putting my life on the line. How much more would it take to add Gray to the list? So my mouth remained glued shut as Hunter did as he pleased.
Hunter’s home was an icy mix of blue and silver. Bright open space with a minimalist interior. A celebration of him and Larkin, lacking any warmth or personality.
The goosebumps that prickled my skin the moment he had come towards me in the chamber had yet to resolve. I hadn’t uttered a single word the entire way here, out of fear. There was too much going on. Too much that I didn’t understand.
“I don’t want her staying here.”
Larkin and Hunter stood by the door of the room, arguing. I’d been taken upstairs and into a room without explanation. My aura continued to pulse, flickering in and out of life wildly, and forcing me to squeeze my eyes shut.
