Page 24

CHAPTER 23

“ W hen I meant you should meet Althea, I did not expect this,” Simon says as he crosses his arms, looking over my ragtag team and the naked vampyr. He blinks, dragging his gaze down his body then back to his face. “Congratulations.”

“Mate,” the wolf at his side growls.

Simon rolls his eyes. “You’re still the biggest, so calm down.” He meets my eyes. “It’s good to see you.”

“You as well, friend. This Althea . . . I don’t suppose she’ll have some clothes for . . . Addeus here?” I ask.

“I mean, maybe. One of her mates is a big fucker, but this one might be bigger. Guess we’ll see.” He turns, and we follow him into the sprawling Gothic estate.

I’m hoping we are welcome because I really don’t want to fight a horde of bloodthirsty vamps right now.

He walks through the front door without knocking, but we hesitate at the threshold. Simon looks at me, but a woman appears behind him, smiling widely.

She’s stunning, with long black hair, curves to die for, and eyes that sparkle like amethysts. “Took you long enough.” She smiles at Simon and then me. “You must be Tate.”

“Althea?” I ask.

“That’s me.” When I continue to hesitate, she steps back.

“Come in. My mates are working right now, so it’s just me.” She smiles wider, flashing fangs.

“Are you not afraid to have this many strangers around you?” I ask as I step inside and look around. It looks like a Gothic castle, but it has a warm, homey feeling to it and a strange herbal scent that relaxes me.

“No,” she replies. “I could kill you all if necessary, and besides, Simon vouches for you. Come, let us have tea.”

“Tea?” Ronan whispers. “She’s weird.”

“Hey, that’s my best friend,” Simon snaps. “She isn’t calling you weird for floating around.”

“Enough, you two.” I walk past them, following the vamp into a huge kitchen. I sit at the table, and she sets out some tea before disappearing. When she reappears, she hands me a stack of clothes. “For your mate.”

“Oh, he’s not my mate,” I grumble, but I hand them to Addeus. “Put these on.”

“Why?” he asks, confused.

“People don’t walk around naked,” I explain.

“I am not a person,” he responds.

“Fine. Monsters don’t walk around naked. It’s . . . distracting, and aren’t you cold?” I retort.

He frowns and looks at the clothes but shoves his chair back and dresses right in front of us. They are tight, but they cover him. I have to drag my gaze away from his bulging muscles.

I quickly remember my manners, not wanting to offend her. “Thank you, Althea.”

“You are welcome, Tate.” She smiles. “I have heard a lot about you from Simon. I would chitchat, but I have a feeling you are a very busy person, so I’ll cut right to the chase.”

I like her already. Vamps have a way of being dramatic and slow, but she seems unbothered and unafraid, even when facing a hunter in her own home.

“Simon told me about you, that you help monsters,” she says as she pours me a tea and slides it over before pouring herself one.

“I’m a hunter,” I correct.

“Yes, but you also help innocents—monsters and humans alike. Well, I have an innocent I want you to help. It is my gods-given duty to keep our race in line, so I cannot interfere with others’ business.” She rolls her eyes. “But he is innocent, and if we do not act soon, he will die.”

“Why me?” I ask as I sip my tea. It’s fucking amazing, and I swear I feel some of my wounds heal.

“Because your kind is hurting him. No other will dare go against them.” She frowns as if she’s troubled by it.

“My kind? Humans?” I question as I sip the tea again and almost come on the spot.

“Yes, but also hunters. Hunters trapped him, draining him for his magic and using it illegally. We found out from a friend of a friend, but I saw it myself.” She frowns angrily. “I wish to help, but I can’t.”

“And you expect me to? What do I get in return?” I ask as I lean back.

She smirks at me, but it only enhances her deadly beauty, and I know she is more dangerous than she seems.

“I like her.” She winks at Simon. “She’s smart and unlike the other hunters I’ve met. Fine. If you help me with this, I will help you with what you need when the time comes.”

“Who says I will need your help?” I retort.

“It can’t hurt to have me as a friend, can it?” she reasons. “You are haunted. I see it, but I also see the destiny surrounding you. Yes, you will need me in the future. Do this for me and I will gladly help.” She holds out her hand, and when I reach for her, she looks at my glove.

“Bare,” she counters. “You can see what you wish. I will not stop you.”

I freeze, my eyes widening, and she smiles. “The gods speak to me,” is all she says.

Who the fuck is this woman?

Someone terribly powerful, I realise, and it seems nothing is a secret to her, which means if she is saying I will need her . . . I oddly trust her.

Taking off my glove, I lay my hand in hers, meeting her gaze, but I’m not seeing her—I’m seeing her memories. She holds nothing back, and when I lean away, I know this woman is someone I should trust.

She has earned it.

Nodding, I get to my feet. “We will go then. Where is this man you wish for me to free?”

“I couldn’t see everything, but I saw a great skyscraper in the city.” I know it annoys her that she can’t help. She’s the type who wants to save everyone, unlike me.

“The southeast tower.” Ronan groans. “Great . . . It’s filled with hunters.”

“It was not inside. It was . . . below. Hidden,” Althea offers.

“I’ll figure it out.” If she says this is important, then I will trust her on that. We will go, and after, we will find Black. Time is running out, and I’m growing impatient, so I nod at Simon and his mate, telling them goodbye, and head to the door, my team in tow.

“Oh, and Tate?” I glance back as she sips her tea. “Trust those you surround yourself with, no matter how hard it is. You will need to before the end. You will become so much more than a hunter. You will become our champion, our protector, and our scribe.”

I don’t know what she means, but when she smiles at me, I have a feeling I will find out.