Page 156 of Hunters and Prey

And I agreed with Remington. I was tired of this, tired of the fighting and talking it to death. They weren’t going to change overnight, and I couldn’t make them. However, I wasn’t going to let them kill Rem for this.

“Agreed.”

Alec’s gaze bounced from Remington over to me. “What? No, you can’t.”

“I can and I will,” I announced, lifting my chin. “It’s my decision and my dad.”

“But he’s our director.” He acted like his declaration trumped my words. It didn’t, but it was cute to think he thought so. Instead of having a childish back and forth fight, I did the only thing I knew would make them understand how serious I was.

Lifting a hand, I allowed the pool of fire inside of me to bubble up to the surface. The light from the flame engulfed my hand and glowed off my skin which made my dress clash horribly, but it had the intended affect. More than half of the hunters backpedaled out of the room.

There was a reason the Phoenix Hunters were named after the majestic legendary bird. Stories say that the first hunter was born from the ashes of one of those firebirds and created our race. However, there were only a handful of us who ever come into their full powers.

Alec was one… and so was I.

It was why we were such good vampire hunters. We didn’t need weapons or fancy gadgets to take them out. One little nip of our fire, and the whole nest would burn until there was nothing but ash left behind.

Unsurprisingly, Alec didn’t so much as flinch. Remington, I had expected to be afraid or at least a bit wary, but he watched me like I was some kind of goddess ascending from the ocean with clam and all.

“Well, looks like some of your hunters know what’s good for them at least,” I mused as I took in the few that were left hanging around. I noticed one of those was Bolt who only looked tickled pink by the whole thing. Freaking idiot.

“Really, Adara?” Alec gaped at me. “You’re going to protect this thing after taking your father? He threatened you.”

I let the fire on my hand spread to my forearm and coolly replied, “That’s between him and me. You’re not welcome here.”

“You heard her, old chap.” Remington patted Alec on the shoulder, earning the vampire a glare. “We have business to attend to.” He shifted out from Alec’s grasp and offered me his arm. “Shall we, love?”

With a flick of my skirts and a wave of my hand, my fire retreated, and I looped my arm with Remington’s. “Lead the way.”

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