All hunter kills were recorded. I was fairly certain Max knew the answer to this, but I guessed he wanted to hear it for himself. “Yeah.” I still felt sick at the memory. Even if I’d absolutely had no choice. He hadn’t been feral. No, he’d been totally in control. And intent on going through me when I got in his way.
When Tombs caught up with me, he’d been jubilant. Proud. Slapping me on the back whilst sporting a huge grin like I’d done something amazing, not taken another life.“That’s my boy,”he’d whispered, fingers digging into my shoulder. “About fucking time.” He’d made my skin crawl.
I shook off the memories, hating the way they left me feeling dirty. “Made me finally realise that I couldn’t do it any longer. Couldn’t pretend I was cut out for Tombs’ idea of the hunter life.” I looked over at him. “Don’t get me wrong, I have no problem bringing people—human or non-human—to justice, even if that means hunting them through forests or wherever. But taking joy in ending their lives?” I shook my head. “Not for me.”
It had taken me far too many years to summon the courage to tell Tombs I’d had enough. That what he was doing was wrong. To realise I wasn’t scared of him anymore and I’d be okay on my own.
Waiting so long was one of my many regrets.
Lying to Rys was another.
“We’re here,” Max said a while later, startling me.
I must have zoned out because, as he turned off the engine, I realised we were parked outside Midnight and I couldn’t recall the last part of our journey at all.
Zane met us at the door, but as we walked inside, I came to a grinding halt as we passed the main bar.
“Nick?” I stared at the tall, dark-haired guy standing behind the bar, tablet in hand. Tattoos covered his forearms, and he was far more built than the last time I’d seen him, but it was definitely him.
His face split into a wide grin. “Fuck me, Mase. Where the hell did you come from?” He walked out from behind the bar, all six foot two of him, and scooped me up into a crushing hug.
Nick Parker.
Witch.
And more importantly, my best friend. Or at least he used to be.
When breathing started to become an issue, I smacked him on the shoulder. “Put me down,” I wheezed.
He set my feet back on the floor and stepped back, looking me over from head to toe. “You look good.” His gaze flitted to Max and then back to me. “If you’re the partner Zane said Max was bringing, then I take it you’ve finally left that creepy fucker?”
“Yep.”
“Never thought he’d actually let you go, but thank fuck.” Nick grinned again.
Seeing that wide familiar smile directed at me, it was hard to believe it had been almost six years since I’d seen him. My hands were still on his shoulders, and I gave them a squeeze. “I see you’ve been keeping busy. Couldn’t find anything else to do but go to the gym?”
He laughed, and it wasn’t until a throat cleared behind me that I remembered we weren’t alone and I was actually here on official business.
Max raised an eyebrow. “Someone else I wasn’t aware you knew?”
“Um, yeah.” I rubbed the back of my neck, aware of how this looked. “But I had no idea Nick was here, and in my defence, we haven’t spoken in years.”
“Just like Rys, then?”
It took me a minute to get his meaning. “Oh, no… noooo. Nick was my best friend.”
Nick scoffed and grabbed me in a headlock. “None of thatwasshit. I still am.” He let me go and ruffled my hair, earning a glare. I was twenty-nine, not five. “Losing touch doesn’t change that.”
Losing touch was a nice way to put it. Nick had a little trouble sticking to his coven’s rules. Nothing major, but enough that being bffs with a hunter wasn’t in his interests. At least that was what the rest of his family decided, so they shipped him off elsewhere.
In hindsight, it had definitely been for the best, but fuck, I’d missed him.
Now really wasn’t the time for reminiscing, though. I eased myself out from under his arm. “We can catch up later, yeah?”
“Count on it.” He slipped a card into my back pocket. “Give me a call when you’re done today.” He gave me another hug and whispered into my hair, “So fucking good to see you.”
“You too.” I watched as he disappeared out the back somewhere, leaving me alone with Zane and Max.
