Page 77 of Blood So Brutal

Huntyr

“What was that?” I asked, looking to Jessiah and Wolf’s friend, who stood near the front of the bar.

Wolf was already pushing himself up from his chair and attempting to step in front of me. Venom was in my hand within a second, every single one of my instincts burning.

Jessiah held out a hand. The music and conversation of the pub ceased. Nobody moved. Nobody spoke.

“Huntyr,” Wolf warned from behind me, gripping my arm. “Stay here.”

“What’s going on?”

Jessiah pulled his sword from his belt and shared a glance with Wolf.

“Vampyres,” Wolf answered.He tried to step in front of me, but I stopped him.

Another scream echoed through the buildings outside. “What are you going to do?”

Wolf seemed to sober up pretty quickly, and his brows drew together with conflict when he gazed down at me. “What you spent your whole life doing, Huntress.”

Shit.I knew The Golden City wasn’t safe, and I had only seen the smallest amount of proof. This was what happened to the people here—they lived in fear. “Are they hungry ones?” I asked. “They must be, right?”

“Goddess above, I hope so.”

Darkness flashed over Wolf’s eyes before he pushed away from the bar and crept toward the entrance. Jessiah did the same, as did Wolf’s friend.

Wolf was going to kill his own kind? My stomach dropped at the thought of it. I hated that I was conflicted. I hated that I cared about it at all.

This was what I spent my entire life doing, there was no denying that. But knowing what I knew now, would I do it all again? Even the hungry ones—who tried to kill me on many different occasions—held a soft spot in my chest now.

It was the nerves. I was absolutely certain it had to be the nerves stirring inside my stomach, creeping up my chest, pulling a reaction from my magic.

Wolf felt it through the bond, and he spun to make eye contact. “Huntress,” he growled.

The room around us stilled. I knew exactly what he was thinking. If I do anything, if I even attempt to stop these things with my magic, everyone will know.

The secret would be out. I’d have confirmed what everyone else had been wanting me to be the entire time.

Voiler appeared beside me, stepping out of the shadows.Had she been here this whole time?

She slipped her arm around mine, securing herself at my side before whispering, “This could be a test sent from Asmodeus. Let them handle it.”

Shock sent a wave of chills down my body.Voiler knew. “How do you?—”

Another scream interrupted us, closer this time.

Wolf turned his attention back outside, following the others through that front door.

“She’s right,” he said without looking at us. “Stay here with Voiler. For all we know, he’s doing this to test your power.”

Voiler became the only thing anchoring me inside that damn tavern as the others rushed outside, swords drawn. “That sick bastardwouldrisk innocents just to push you into using your power,” she mumbled. “Every time I think I can’t hate him any more, he proves me wrong.”

I did a double take, realizing just what Voiler was saying. “How much do you know, exactly?” I kept my voice below a whisper, very aware of the lingering ears, though most were distracted with whatever lurked outside.

She didn’t even look at me, just kept her gaze glued on the door and her arm hooked through mine as she answered, “I know enough to know he will regret every fucking thing he’s done to you. We’re going to make him pay.”

If we weren’t in public, I would have pushed her further, but something deep in my gut told me to keep this to ourselves.

She knew more than she was letting on.

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