Page 17 of Rhett

Imani grinned, then winked at Nova.

Nova smirked. “Imani, I give you full permission to put that nickname on a T-shirt and give it to him for Christmas.”

“Can we get back to the business of Nova?” Quinn demanded.

“I already voted,” I grunted. “She goes.”

Both Nova and Imani rolled their eyes.

“Well, your vote don’t count, Sheriff,” Bonnie rebutted. “Only votes from the council and Quinn matter.”

“I’m the Protector of this town, so I have a say,” I asserted.

“You’re not the only Protector, Rhett,” Bonnie argued. “Quinn’s whole pack is Protectors too. But like I said, your vote don’t count.”

I widened my stance. “My job is to protect the residents of this town from harm and to keep this place safe.”

“Well, do your job and protect my granddaughter,” Bonnie said.

“She’s not a resident,” I rebutted. “She’s not one of us.”

“Yet,” Bonnie said with a hard stare.

“Quit it, you two,” Quinn interjected. “No disrespect, Bonnie, but you can’t just throw out the word Hunter and not expect hackles to rise.”

“Hello?” Nova waved her hand. “Why is everyone talking about me like I’m not here?”

Bonnie glared at Quinn and me. “Do you really think I would have brought you all here if Nova was a danger to any of you?”

“She’s your kin,” I replied. “So we have no damn clue what you’d do for her.” And I knew from experience that family could make you do the most despicable things, crossing many ethical lines.

“She’s my blood.” Bonnie peered at each of us before locking eyes with Nova. “I’d lay down my life for her. But I wouldn’t endanger the town. Now if all of you would just put your biases aside for a second, I’ll explain everything.”

“I agree with Bonnie,” Imani said as she started to move closer to Nova and Bonnie. Quinn gently tugged her to his side. Imani frowned at him. “Nova is not a secret assassin. Baby, please release your death grip on me.” He did so reluctantly. She rewarded him with a quick kiss before moving to stand by Nova.

“You’re playing with fire, Bonnie.” Quinn crossed his arms, glaring at her. “Once all the residents get wind of Nova being a Hunter, they’ll tear her and anyone associated with her to pieces. I won’t have that chaos in this town. Not when I have my mate to protect.” He nodded toward me. “Rhett, get her out of town.”

Bonnie stepped in front of Nova. “You touch her, and it will be me, you, and Rhett tussling in here.” Her fingers rippled, and long black claws grew from the tips.

Nova stepped back with eyes glued to Bonnie’s deadly claws. “Holy shit! My grandmother’s an alien too?”

I slapped my forehead. “For the last fucking time, we are not aliens.”

Bonnie frowned. “I’m not an alien. I’m Other. All of us in this town are.”

Nova’s eyebrows rose. “Other?”

“Others are mythical beings you’ve probably read about in human folklore and fairy tales,” Bonnie explained. “In essence, we’re a society of witches, vampires, shifters, and other supernatural beings.”

“Vampires? Witches?” Nova’s eyes widened. “Monsters from fantasy books and movies are real?”

“We aren’t the monsters,” I hissed. “Hunters are.”

Nova shot me an annoyed stare. “Sheriff, will you get that stick out of your ass? I’m trying to sort shit out in my head. So stop snapping at me like a pit bull.”

“I’m a jaguar-shifter,” Bonnie interjected. “That makes you a hybrid jaguar-shifter.”

I edged closer toward Nova. If I could get her out of my office, then I might have a chance of escorting her out of the Ridge quickly, before the shit hit the fan.