Page 141 of Huntress

Saint’s eyes widened, then narrowed. “No. He’s taken enough from me already, that snake doesn’t get to put his hands on you,” he growled.

Riven made moon eyes at him, resting her chin in her hand. “Such an overprotective and possessive puppy,” she sighed. “I want one.”

Saint sent her a withering glare.

“I know how much I’m asking of you with this, but it’s my decision. It’s my body.” Elsie took his hand and spoke gently. “Cornick has the answers to my questions.”

“What questions?” Saint demanded.

“I need to know if the seal can be removed without my mother. If it can, I’m going to ask him to do it. If—” She glanced at Riven. She was already trusting the mage with a secret big enough to potentially get her killed. What was one more?

“If there’s ever a day we need to leave for any reason, I need to be ready. If I can find someone to teach me how to use my ethereal magic, we can hide.” They locked eyes long enough for Riven to clear her throat.

“I’m still here,” she squeaked.

“What are your other reasons?” Saint asked.

“I want access to his research facility.”

Saint sighed heavily. Undeterred, she told them what she’d learned from Grady.

“We need to know what they’re up to. I need to know if I’m right, or if I’m being paranoid and need to go on permanent leave for my mental health,” she finished.

“What are you hoping to learn if you get in there?” Riven asked. “Why is this so important to you?”

“I’m hoping that I learn my instincts aren’t always right, and that the situation isn’t as bad as I think it is. Because if that madman created a monster that killed two people, someone’s going to have to put a stop to it.”

“Why does that someone have to be you?” Saint questioned. He threaded his fingers through hers. “There are hundreds of other hunters capable of going in your place.”

“And none among those hundreds who care about what Cornick’s done. You saw what happened in Colony Ten with that marshal. They’ll protect him, and he’ll get away with it. Hell, taking it a step further, I’m willing to bet that if it was him, somebody above his pay grade sanctioned it. There has to be something bigger behind this, some reason they’re allowing all of it to happen.”

“That’s only if you’re right,” Riven said. “I’ve met some pretty depraved demons out there. You don’t want to know the depravity of the vampire kingdoms.”

“Have you been there?” Elsie asked, surprised.

“Yeah, once. A few of us were invited for a tour as thanks, after we fished one of their people out of the ocean. The humans live like peasants in your colonies, compared to how the vampires live in those mountains. But with the rumors that come out of the kingdoms, experimentation wouldn’t surprise me in the least.”

“Well, in that case, I might be wrong, and I hope I am. But I need to know for certain that chimera wasn’t built by hunter hands. I won’t make any accusations until seeing proof with my own eyes.”

“How far are you planning on taking this crusade? Who will you involve?” Riven asked.

“That depends on whether or not Roz can convince Mordane to pass my message along to Cornick, and if he accepts it.”

“You already talked with her?” Saint asked quietly. The sting of betrayal zapped through their bond.

She squeezed his hand. “I have.”

“Until I know for sure, I’ll keep it to the three of us. Marley and Banks saw that creature for themselves, and you saw what they assumed. It would never occur to them to point a finger at another hunter for something like this. But if I have proof, they’ll have to believe it, and they’ll follow my lead.”

“You’re sure about that? From what I’ve seen, most of them are pretty stubborn. Riven raised an eyebrow.

“You aren’t wrong,” Elsie acknowledged. “But Morgan listens and thinks for himself before coming to conclusions, and Trenton is a logical thinker. With proof, he’ll have my back. They might need convincing, they may not want to believe it, but they’re not idiots. They wouldn’t be in my squad if they were.”

A few hours later, Saint followed her to bed, snuggling up and laying his head on her lap. He’d been fidgety and silent, pacing around and avoiding her. She set her book down, ready to listen.

“Why didn’t you tell me the seal hurt you? Does it still hurt?”

“I was a child when the seal was put on me. I didn’t mention it because it didn’t feel important. It burns when I try to use my ethereal magic, but I’ve only done that once in the past year, when I tried to take your collar off,” she answered.