Page 17 of V for Vilified (Hunter V #4)

And thank fuck, that little bit of pep-talking seemed to do the trick. The heat subsided slightly, and when Cash wrapped his hand around mine, I could finally breathe again.

Jo was on her feet. “So, to answer your question, no, they won’t kill her.

Aram won’t let them. My guess is he wouldn’t want to put her in any danger.

If tonight is anything to go by, I’m betting his objective from here on will be to woo her in some way or another. That gives us time to do what we plan.”

“Woo me?!” I nearly shouted before catching myself. “Why not just imprison me or something? They rule the realm, right? Isn’t that like, Villains Being Villains 101?”

Jo smirked and crossed her arms. Out of my periphery, I saw Cash looking extra smug.

“Because, V, if this bond acts the same way every bond does, and I suspect it does seeing how he hasn’t shown up to kidnap you now that he knows where you are, he won’t want to do anything that hurts you—imprisonment included.

Bonded are drawn to each other. The great and powerful Aram, God of the Realm, will want you to be…

happy. We can use that to our advantage. ”

What the actual fuck? But by that logic…

“Um, hold on. Are you suggesting the bond will also make me want to be with him?” I was afraid to ask, but I didn’t want to ignore the elephant in the room.

Cash snickered and shook his head. “If our bond is any evidence of how a hybrid like you differs, I doubt that very seriously, love. Look at how often you refuse me. A bonded mate could never.”

It was weirder that he was bragging about it.

“Is that why you were drawn to me?” I found myself asking him.

As if I’d slapped him in the face, my Fae Karen gaped in outright shock.

“Absolutely not. Think of the Season as the catalyst for unlocking every bit of your Fae. This part was still locked inside until you crossed over and the Season took hold. It only validated what I already felt for you. We were meant to be, yes, but my feelings for you weren’t born from the bond alone, love.

They came long before that connection was made. ”

He stared at me like I was the only person in the room. Like the only person in all the realms, really. It gave me all those ooey-gooey falling in love feelings I refused to acknowledge for so long. Was I actually in love with Cash?

Oh my fucking god, I was.

Out of fear of saying or doing something I couldn’t take back, I redirected, “Will I feel drawn to him? I can’t be drawn to him, you guys. That’s a red line I can’t fucking cross.” My breath came faster, slowly drowning me in panic. “My ten-year plan is on fire.”

My face was in Cash’s hands before I could totally lose it. “I won’t let you, love. I’ll be the stronger bond. No matter what it takes, I’ll be the one you choose instead of him. Do you believe me when I say it?”

His confidence usually bothered me, but it was exactly what I needed in this moment. Even with the little bud of fear I knew wasn’t mine, the confidence he felt in us was stronger. So much stronger.

“I do,” I finally whispered.

“Leave it to me then, love.” Then he said something I didn’t expect.

“We’ll magically bond you and this one tonight.

” Well, at least he hadn’t called her devil woman.

Baby steps. “We can’t risk waiting. I’ll get what we need and return with someone we can trust to keep the human safe,” he explained.

I was surprised to hear about someone else. “Who can we even trust here?”

His lips lifted. “Someone who owes you a favor, and one who always pays his debts.”

It took me a second to figure out who he meant. Then it clicked. “Goth Tinkerbell Dude?!”

Chuckling, Cash nodded and got to his feet with a hand outstretched to me.

“Pixies like him are incredible escape artists and distance hoppers. If in a pinch, he’ll get her to safety if comes the need.

And I expect he’ll be happy that the favor has nothing to do with the Nether Royals directly.

Big prefers to stay out of their purview and won’t have any trouble keeping a human out of it, too.

He’ll find a place safe enough to keep her out of their ever-watchful eye. ”

Kate was still sleepy-eyed and groggy, so it was especially noticeable when she perked up at the thought of a new stranger. I definitely couldn’t wait to see her in a room with Big.

Jo nodded and sat down on the bed next to her. “I’ll stay here with Kate. Take V with you. Get the item, your little pixie bitch, and come back.”

Pixie bitch. Classic. Bet Big would love being called that.

But after a little chuckle, I realized what she was suggesting. I stared at her. “You want me to go, too?”

“Better with a monster than a daughter,” she said with a very unsubtle wink. Yeah, pretty sure I was in love with this woman, too. “He might be an insufferable asshat, but he’s powerful and can help you control your magic and emotions with the bond.”

Cash made a little noise of annoyance, but Jo didn’t bother to look his way.

“As much as I hate to say it, Lyra won’t fuck around with him after Nix’s.

She’ll know who he is now. My guess was she only thought he was some no-name Hand of Death before this if she didn’t expect him to chase you down.

Which means she wasn’t there to see Harmony perish.

A miscalculation on her part and a goddamn gift to us.

So, this prissy asshole is another fucking problem for her, and one she can’t solve without risking her revenge. ”

Cash was no longer annoyed. He tried to hide it, but he was absolutely flattered. Jo didn’t give out compliments to just anyone, and while this one couldn’t necessarily be called flattering, it was the closest he’d ever get to a compliment with her.

“Go. I’ll keep this one safe. I can promise at least that much,” she said directly to me, smirking.

My hand was squeezed before a snap took us away and stopped my reply dead in its tracks.