Page 34 of Blood So Brutal

Jessiah shifted in his seat across from me at the breakfast table. “What’s going on?”

“Scarlata is still crawling with vampyres, but I plan on sending some of ours that way to begin rebuilding while our blood queen is still stepping into her power.”

“You want us to go to Scarlata?” I pushed. “Isn’t that dangerous?”

“Yes, it is, but you’ll be bringing her with you.”

Bring Huntyr to Scarlata?

“What exactly do you want us to do there?” Jessiah asked. “Scope out grounds?”

“I need a good idea of what’s left—buildings that are still standing, anyone living there who is sane, remaining fae in the area, anything.”

I leaned forward. “Can’t you send some of your other men there? Huntyr’s weak since she isn’t feeding. She won’t survive an attack if we encounter hungry ones on the journey.”

My father pulled out a chair and sat down, leaning back and stroking his own chin in thought. “No. This is going to be your kingdom to rule, son. One of you, anyway.” Another teasing smile. “Bring her with you. Perhaps it’s the last bit of motivation she needs to finish her transition and become who she was born to be.”

“When?” Jessiah asked.

“Start packing,” he said. “You’ll have to take the horses, as only one of you has wings.” Again, not a single speck of guilt laced his words. It would have been nice if he at least acknowledged that he was to blame for my missing wings, but that would require him to care. “You’ll be on your way bynightfall. It’s a three-day journey on horseback, so you’ll need to get started as soon as possible.”

“Just us three, then?” I didn’t know whether I was relieved or annoyed that he wasn’t sending a single guard on this trip with us. The journey was dangerous, but if time taught me anything, it was that my father had an ulterior motive here. He was always testing us, pushing our limits.

This was no different.

My father’s cold gaze met mine. “Doubting the task, son?”

I shook my head, pushing myself from the breakfast table. “Nope. We’ll be on our way come sunrise.”

“Are you fucking kidding me?” Huntyr asked. “You want me to travel three days with you and Jessiah into vampyre territory?”

I stayed near the door, not wanting to risk moving any closer to her. I thought about our kiss every damn minute of every day since it happened. It was impulsive and reckless and stupid as all hells, but she actually kissed me back.

Something in her still cared for me, if that’s what you’d even call it. Something in her wanted me, enough to kiss me back, at least.

And that was all the hope I needed.

“We don’t exactly have a choice, Huntress. Besides, you’ve spent your entire life tracking and killing them. We’ll be perfectly safe.”

“And Jessiah? He’s okay with storming into vampyre territory?”

“He’s skilled with a sword. It won’t be a problem.”

She threw herself back onto the bed and groaned. I felt another wave of her hunger threaten the bond.

“You’ll need to eat, Huntress. You won’t survive the journey like this, and we both know it.”

“I’m not hungry.” She threw a hand over her eyes, blocking out the sun.

“I’m not talking about food.”

She stilled, freezing for a second before lifting her head and looking at me again. “I don’t need blood.”

“You do, and the sooner you realize it, the better. You can’t run from your cravings forever. That’s how they control you. That’s how you become one of the hungry ones.”

“I’ll never become one of them.”

“Agreed, which is why you need to feed now.” I took the risk and stepped closer, slowly putting one foot after another until I stood at the edge of the bed. “I can help you, you know.”

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