Page 80 of A Hunt So Wicked
The air seemed to shift between us, like it had become charged somehow.
I narrowed my eyes. "We did not murder them."
"Then what do you call what we did, Torin?" he hissed, stepping into me. My dragon did not appreciate the challenge, and I felt my spine roll.
"Necessary," I spat back at him. "We didn't have a choice. If anyone is to blame here, it's that fucking sorcerer! What else were we supposed to do?"
Dair gritted his teeth together as we stared at each other. "Not. Do. It."
"Not do it? Not do what?"
"The Hunt!"
“That’s preposterous! Do you not understand that we'd have lost our gifts without doing it? Why are you being so fucking dense?"
Dair paused and then plucked my glass out of my hand. Slowly, he drained the entire thing. "What is our number one priority, Torin? Our people! Our kingdoms. From where I'm standing, we just completely dishonored them. And for what? The chance to turn into animals every ten years and run amuck in a forest?"
I narrowed my eyes. "Who am I even looking at? Because it sure as hell isn’t my best friend. Do you even hear yourself right now? "
"Do you?" he rebutted. "What would it even look like, Torin? With no curse in place to protect our people from the wreckage and carnage we just proved we're capable of?"
"We'd be able to learn to control it! Repressing the beasts does nothing but turn them absolutely feral when they do get to emerge. Given time, we'd be able to be in control while in our animal forms."
He pointed at me with the hand still wrapped around my empty glass. "And you can ensure that?Youcan guarantee that outcome?"
"Well, it makes sense that—"
"CAN YOU SWEAR IT?" he barked at me, his face now red.
"Do not speak to me like that, Alasdair. We are not equals, and I won't tolerate it."
The air that had been charging between us seemed to explode with a burst of lightning as the glass in Dair's hand shattered under the strength of his grip, severing the bond of friendship and brotherhood that we'd built over the years. Glass shards fell to the floor, little tinkling sounds that sounded more like bombs in the silence that surrounded us.
"Well then, if you'll excuse me, Your Royal Highness, I have a bride to collect," Dair said, his voice devoid of emotion, as though all of it had been channeled into the grip that crushed the glass.
I groaned and ran my hand down my face when I realized Dair was bowing. To me. "Come on, Dair," I pleaded. "I didn't mean that. I'm not— I mean, my mind is all over the place."
His deep green eyes never left mine as he sidestepped me. "Have a pleasant evening, Your Majesty." And he vanished back into the Great Hall, leaving me standing there, alone.
"FUCK!" I shouted.
Why was he being so difficult? Frustration and anger seemed to pulse through my body, two emotions I’d never felt regarding Alasdair. It's not like I took pleasure in knowing what we'd done out there, but what did he expect me to do?
Footsteps approaching made me attempt to compose my annoyance. Good thing too, because my father and Corvus rounded the corner.
"Ahh, Torin, perfect." My father smiled, and I bowed. "The women just joined our ceremony, son. It's time."
He slung his arm over my shoulder, and we walked back into the ballroom together. My eyes immediately landed on the stage where the potential brides were lined up. Their dresses sparkled so much that they seemed to be living treasures, and my dragon wanted to keep them. Such pretty, shiny treasures. From where I stood, there were no obvious physical injuries, almost as though The Hunt had never happened, but there were fewer smiles than the first night here. Some of the men were fast approaching the platform, clearly eager to talk to them. I subtly adjusted myself, already insanely aroused. What the Goddess was going on with me?
Father side-eyed me and chuckled. "It's always like that after a shift. The urge to fuck, to claim."
"Well, we're all feeling it, trust me," I mumbled. "It's torture." I glanced around and spotted Dair, Alden, and Evander heading for the stage. "I suppose I should go speak to them, too." I started to break away and was stopped by a firm hand on my shoulder. I looked at my father questioningly.
"Not yet. Let's see who talks to who. I am curious..."
His eyes were on the trio as they climbed the stairs. Alden and Dair headed right for Evie and her two friends. Isla and Rivka, at least, I thought was her name. Evie was a vision, her dark hair nothing but cascading curls, some of them pinned back to show her face and neck. Her pale skin nearly glowed against the deep green velvet dress. Her much shorter friend, Isla, wore a muted yellow pastel dress that complimented her. She was also beautiful and would look good on any man's arm. Rivka was fidgeting with her dark blue gown and frowning. I hadn't gotten the chance to talk with her, but something about the way she fussed with the long sleeves around her wrists made me feel a bit of a connection to her. She wasn't comfortable in that dress, and as I fiddled with my cufflinks, I knew she and I felt the same at the moment. I'd much rather be out in the woods, flying over the trees, not a piece of restricting clothing in sight.
Movement grabbed my attention, and I let my eyes drift down the line. A servant escorted Eliza to the platform. I frowned, wondering why she was arriving late. I remembered the way I had nearly done very inappropriate things with her the night of the ball. She lifted a hand and waved at me, which had me grinning and waving in response.
