Page 106 of Challenged Mate
I shrugged. I had no idea how magic affected the appearance of one’s age.
“My father is the one who mated your traitorous mother.” His irritation vanished, replaced with a creepy smile. “I suppose that makes us step-siblings.”
“Is that why you sent rogue sorcerers to find me?” I asked, choosing to ignore his remark. “To get the Moonstone? Why didn’t you just come to me yourself?”
Coolly, he replied, “As the Graystone leader, I don’t handle such minuscule tasks.”
“Then why are you here now?”
“Because it is clear to me that someone needs to make you seereason.Let there be no more attacks, no more animosity, Blair. Release the Moonstone. Hand it over, and all of this ends.”
There was nothing I wanted more than for this nonsense to end.
But there were a few problems.
One: Something told me that Hugh gaining possession of the Moonstone—gaining access to the source of the Mother Goddess’s power—would only spell disaster for me and everyone I loved.
Two: Even if I wanted to give him the Moonstone, I had absolutely no idea how to do that.
And three: I felt confident the Moonstone was the only thing keeping me safe. Once it was out of my possession, I had no guarantee Hugh would honor his promise and leave me alone. In fact, I was sure he wouldn’t.
Because the way Hugh watched me, despite his best efforts to hide it, revealed his desperation. And I knew how unpredictable desperate people could be.
“I need time.” I needed to talk to Asher—to officially mate with him before Hugh could try to take the power by force.
My father believed our mating would help keep me safe, and I wasn’t in a position to doubt him. “I don’t know how to release the Moonstone to give it to you. Give me time to figure it out.”
“There’s no need. I can help you. Come to the forest’s edge this afternoon. I will be there and guide you through the process.”
Alarm bells rang in my head.
“Why don’t you meet me within the Wilds town center?”
“And risk being mauled by those barbaric half-breeds?” He sneered. “I think not. You will meet me at the forest’s edge. I promise no harm will come to you.”
I refrained from reminding himIwas a half-breed. “How can I trust you? I nearly died both times you sent your minions to find me.”
Hugh didn’t deny my allegation. “Forgive me. In my eagerness to find you, I didn’t vet the rogues I sent after you. They are wild, impulsive creatures. It’s why they are no longer welcome among covens. I swear to the Mother, each of the men who harmed you, or risked your life, have paid the ultimate price.”
The cold indifference in his words made my stomach roll.
He was a sociopath. That much was clear.
“I’m sorry.” I shook my head. “But I still don’t trust you.”
With a heavy, dramatic sigh, he stared at the dark above. “That is too bad.” He shrugged his shoulders, then lowered his gaze back to me. “I was hoping I wouldn’t need to do this, but it seems you must be persuaded to comply.”
Hugh snapped his fingers.
My eyes were drawn to another glowing shadow as it interrupted the dark. I watched a figure stumble out of its depths.
No, not stumble.
The brown-haired male was shoved out of the portal. He fell on his chest, unable to catch himself with his hands bound behind his back.
Horror washed over me as recognition dawned.
“Hunter!”
