I whip my head toward the trees, expecting to make eye contact with his teal mask, staring back at me. He is here, I know it. Watching. Waiting. My heart races in my chest as I wait for there to be movement.
He took his time with this sacrifice, and made sure the woman stayed alive until the very end. Even though it was a ritual killing, it almost seemed personal to Ryven on some level. Like he wanted her to feel it.What could this woman have done to make him treat this killing so viciously?
An ache fills my hipbone exactly where the woman’sXis displayed, and I put my hand over it. My scar feels like it is on fire. Like it remembers his touch, and knows exactly who did this. The bastard marked me so long ago, I nearly forgot about it.
Chapter 15
Ryven
I linger in the shadows, back pressed to a tree. She doesn’t see me—but she always knows I’m near. I watch as Rory crouches next to my victim and inspects each limb carefully. She doesn’t disturb the body as she studies each part. Her head tilts to the side in confusion. I wonder what she’s thinking in that pretty head of hers.
I know exactly when she spots the mark–my mark– on the woman’s hip. It’s right where hers is. Her head snaps up as her eyes sweep the trees. Searching.
She knows it’s me. And she knows I’m here. I always show up to the scene after a kill. Especially if I know she’s going to be there. It makes me feel closer to her.
Her hand flies to her hip, where my mark is and I smirk. That’s right Rory. Your body remembers who you belong to.
But then something happens that I don’t expect. Thomas stalks over to her and says something that I don’t hear from this distance. But it doesn’t stop me from staring holes into him as he raises his hand and places it gently on Rory’s shoulder.
My body stiffens at their contact. He touched her. He fucking touched what belongs to me and if I could choose my victims he would be next. And one day… he might be.
My phone vibrates in my pocket, pulling me from the thoughts starting to form in my head about all the vile things I would do to Thomas. My focus snaps.
Meeting in twenty minutes at the church.
Westley messages me.
I check my watch. It will take me at least forty minutes to return to my house, so I’ll have to jog to make it in time. I glance back at Rory one last time and head toward my home.
The elders stand around the fire pit in the middle of the church. Heads snap toward me as I slip through the door.So much for being unnoticed.Of course they’ve already started. I ran as fast as I could the last mile, but it wasn’t fast enough.
I pull the hood of my cloak over my head and sit. Cedric immediately sees me and calls me out. “Ryven, my boy. So nice of you to join us.” His smile doesn’t reach his eyes.
I dip my head. “My apologies, your excellence.”
He waves me forward. “Come. Join me on stage.”That’s not a request.Nothing ever is with Cedric.
I let out a soft sigh and march with purpose up the aisle. All eyes in the room track my every move as I climb the stage stairs.
Once I’m by his side, he wraps his arm around my shoulder and pulls me closer to him. “As you all know, Ryven is one of the highest-ranking members of our flock.”
Murmurs come from the pews, but I can’t understand what they’re saying. Cedric looks out over the crowd and continues. “That’s why I say this with such pride. But also with sadness." He takes a step forward. “Our beloved council member–Kris, has gone missing as of this morning. His whereabouts are unknown, but our order of operations will not be stopped.”
Missing?You have got to be fucking kidding me. I received my last order from him two days ago.Who the hell would have the balls to do anything to a council member?They’re practically untouchable. Or so I thought…
A throat clears nearby, and I look around to find the source. To my surprise, Cedric and the rest of the elders are staring directly at me.
I look behind me to make sure there is no one else behind me and then raise my brow. “I’m sorry. Will you repeat, sir?”
He displays a broad smile and chuckles. “I said your role will be changing within the organization. You’re the head of the other huntsman now. All orders will now filter through you, and you will divvy them out as you see fit.”
My lungs tighten as the words settle in.
Me?Bile rises in my throat. Why me? Why now?
Then it hits me.With this new power I can control everything, or at least try to.With this change, will Rory fight with me instead of fighting against me?
Cedric claps me on the back as the men in the pews rise to their feet to congratulate me. All except the front row. That is where the other huntsman sit—my fellow brothers of rank. They stare at me, calculating. They wonder why I was chosen for this job. Then, one by one, they begin to rise to show their respect. Each one bows their head in unison.
