Page 72 of The Hunted

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Raven

“You really like him, don’t you?”

I turn at Scarlett’s question. Her red hair still glows like fire. Even after all she has surely been through, she’s still there. A little spark under all the dirt and bruises.

“I do, Scar. I think I could love him. I’m terrified he’s not walking back out.”

It’s already been an hour since he disappeared through that gate. I made Lucian give me his watch so I can keep track.

“He will. I saw it in his eyes. The way he looks at you, he eats you up with his eyes. Nothing is keeping him away from you.”

“He looks at me like that?”

A small smile stretches my lips, and my face heats at the thought. I hope she’s right. I want him to look at me that way.

“Like he’s a starving man staring at a buffet. He’s got it bad.”

Her light laughter is music to my ears as I pull her into my arms.

“I missed you so bad, Scar. I was so worried about you. I didn’t think I’d see you again.”

“I didn’t think I was getting out alive, Raven. It…it was hell. The things I’ve seen, that have been done to me, I’m not sure how I come back from this. If I can come back from this.”

“We’ll get through it. We will. I’ll be there for you every step.”

I squeeze her a little tighter, assuring her I’m here.

“I love you, Raven.”

“I love you, too.”

Scarlett pulls back from my embrace. “What is this place, anyway, and why are you wearing this god awful, filthy dress?”

“That’s a story for another day, Scarlett.” I can’t imagine ever telling her what I might have had to do here, in the hopes of finding her. If that first Hunt had ended differently, had Knox not caught me the night of the second Hunt, this could have been a completely different scenario right now as far as she’s concerned. For that matter, as far as I’m concerned. I’d do it all again, a hundred times over if it brought her back to me.

“Ace.” She breathes the word softly, almost reminiscent of a prayer as she pulls from my embrace.

“What about Ace, Scarlett?”

“He’s coming out.” I turn and see Ace, who walks out covered in blood.

“Oh, my God! Are you okay?” Scarlett walks up to him, and he tucks her under his arm. I’m not sure what’s going on with these two. Something’s there. Maybe he makes her feel safer. I just hope he doesn’t hurt her. She’s been through enough.

Lazz comes out behind him covered in blood from head to toe, and a member of the biker gang follows behind him. He looks up and gives me a nod with his chin as he walks toward the motorcycles. Slowly, the men trickle out, and I wait, my breath caught in my chest. My knees weaken as they struggle to keep me upright. Slowly, the amount of men coming out is dwindling.

Where are you?

Something’s wrong. I know it. I’m going in. I begin to run toward the gate. Voices call out behind me.

I’m not stopping, not until I find Knox. I hear someone giving chase, shouting at me, but they can keep running. I’m not stopping. I crest a hill and the sight before me does stop me in my tracks. Dead bodies everywhere, littering the ground, the moonlight casting an eerie glow on their lifeless forms.

“Raven, what the hell are you doing?”

It’s Lazz, but I can’t take my eyes away from the carnage before me. Someone’s arms engulf me.

“Don’t look.”

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