Page 66 of Hunter

“Blah, blah, blah. We’ve already worked out our squabbles. I’ve got style. He’s got…I don’t know. A skill for killing people. Let’s face it. It’s not like he was always good. He killed people. For a living. Why do people always assume he’s the good one?”

“Because he’s a badass. And they’ll tell him whatever he wants to hear.”

“Okay, he does have that special power too,” Viktor held up his fingers, making air quotes. “But, ah, dear friends, I can do things he can’t. Which before you ask, I’m not telling either of you, but it does bring us back to Prince Julian.”

“That’s not his real name,” she told him.

“But of course it isn’t.” Viktor sighed. “My point is just that when you are ancient, when you are origin wolves, you get special powers too. Things others don’t get. But it takes time to develop them and you,” he blew out a breath in disgust, wrinkling his nose, “you spend entirely too much time with humans. What were you thinking?”

“That I’m saving lives. That I’m a humanitarian.”

“But you’re not human. And that’s my point. Whatever little trick you did with your blood is drumming up all this nonsense. The demons probably all have their pointed little tails in a bunch over losing your special soul. Someone got paid.”

“And they want me back.”

“But they’re not getting you back. The assholes who took you are going to die. It’s the only way. They’ve already killed humans and vampires. My beta is missing. It’s just a matter of time.”

“Your beta is not a good person,” she insisted.

“He’s not. But he is missing. I don’t know what his involvement is in all this, if any, but he’s my responsibility and I have to deal with him too.”

“Tomorrow will be the day.”

“Ilsbeth.” Hunter’s expression flattened in anger.

“You cannot let her get to you, Alpha,” Viktor warned. “She’s cunning. I don’t trust the demons have not gotten to her.”

“She saved your ass.”

“Ilsbeth works in trades. Tit for tat. It’s what she does,” Viktor explained.

“You owe her.” Like the fae, Ilsbeth would see it as a debt. “But she owes me, and she owes Dimitri. I could call him in if I have to, but I think it’s best we keep her away from him. I don’t think Logan would go for it and frankly as an Alpha, I wouldn’t allow it either.”

“I hate owing that bitch, but she saved my life.”

“And mine. In Hell…” Willa’s voice faltered as if she were in a trance. “With you…I remember flashes you know. It’s like a movie. Even with Ilsbeth there, you could have killed me.”

“I barely had control, but I tried not to hurt you.” Viktor sighed and glanced toward the ground. “My entire life I’ve stared into the face of evil. Baxter. If you didn’t know him, you’d think he was Satan himself. When I was first turned, the thirst for blood was so great I could have killed for it. He’d chain us with silver just for the hell of it. Quint and I…so many days we wanted to stake ourselves. But you can’t, you know. His laughter. I can still hear it. He’d bring in a human, draining them dry right in front of us. One after another. Like wild dogs, we’d pant, tugging so hard at the silver the entire room smelled of burnt flesh. When he’d release us…oh Goddess. Death. It was all I could think of. Not one time though.” Viktor shook his head, his expression somber. “I could not do it. I’d take what I needed, and escape, running so far into the night, until I couldn’t go any further. All the while knowing he’d never release me from his mental hold. When I close my eyes, I can hear the screaming. The kind of screaming that punches through your chest, wraps around your heart until you can barely breathe. He’d kill them all. I wasn’t strong enough. Neither was Quint. We’d learned restraint. All the time growing stronger and stronger until we could break free of Baxter.”

As a pregnant pause lingered, Hunter recalled Quintus’ recollection of their brutal sire. A mercenary, the ancient vampire had killed for money, claiming he’d enacted retribution on those who embraced evil. Yet the lethal nature of the vampire edged darkness despite his leaning toward goodness.

Viktor, seemingly unaware of his brief silence, continued. “The souls in Hell who are destined for an eternity of torture? Some made their choice while they lived on this plane. Maybe they chose evil. Maybe, like our dear high priestess, they made a deal with a demon. Even when you have nothing left to give, you can still make the right choice. And then the souls who’ve been stolen? Like you.” He lifted his gaze to meet hers. “Or me. Or perhaps even those who are as foolish as our Alpha, who risk going into Hell for any reason. We continue to make the choice over and over again until we are released of our misery or give in. I made a choice Willa. I chose you. And Ilsbeth? She also chose you. This is why you felt no pain.”

“I’m sorry,” Willa offered.

“Ilsbeth, if she’s truly trying to change, she owes the Goddess. I’m sure it wasn’t the first time she’s traded with demons, but she got in over her head with whoever she played with,” Hunter said. “I’ve been thinking about this ever since I rescued her. I just can’t help but think whatever she did, I think it was more than just bargaining for Dimitri. She’s been around a long time. Something’s bothering me about it. I don’t think it’s as simple as screwing up over wanting a wolf.”

“I agree. And so,” His expression lightened, a small smile crossing his face. “We must be careful tomorrow. Whatever took her from the coven, which I’m believing they absolutely did take her, could be waiting for her.”

“They’ll be after her again,” Hunter warned.

“Possibly. We need to talk to her, but I’m letting both of you know right now that if we need to flash, we’re all out of there. Sorry pet, but no taking the car.”

Willa smiled. “Only if we have to. I can’t risk getting any sicker. There’s something about when you dematerialize. It seems like it’s taking me longer and longer to recover.”

Hunter kissed the top of her hair. “We’ll drive.”

“Ah, the wolves are going soft.”