Page 2 of V for Vilified (Hunter V #4)

For Fae’s Sake

“ T rapped?” I asked, drawing back slightly. “What do you mean trapped?”

“That underworld slag, she’s one of the Originals.

She isn’t a mixed breed like Serine. That devil is the real deal.

I’d know that magic anywhere. Never thought I’d see Mistress Chaos in the flesh—I’d been rather good at avoiding her and her ilk once upon a time—but I haven’t sensed a Fae that powerful since…

well, it doesn’t matter. The realm had been convinced she and the Originals had been killed off ages ago.

Unfortunately for us, that doesn’t appear to be the case. ”

Cash didn’t let go of me, but his magic still moved around us, on alert and actively defensive.

“We don’t have much time before she tracks this location. We need to move again, so you must tell me what she wanted. That rat bastard, Lux, was dead on the ground. She could’ve killed you and your chittering human, but she didn’t, so she must’ve wanted something.”

I was grateful that at least Cash was perceptive enough to gather that much.

“Our dear friend Mistress Chaos, she’s One.

She claims to have killed off the rest of the Seven as a ‘good faith’ measure to appeal to me.

She wants my help getting revenge against the Fae who sent her to the human world to be a prisoner owned by the Organization.

In return, she’ll wipe out the Organization and anyone within its network.

” I tried to pull away, but Cash only tightened his hold on me.

“For fuck’s sake…” he groaned. “Guess we’re going back to the Nether. I’ll need all my bloody stones—and to call on every favor I still have in this godsforsaken realm.”

“The Nether?” I asked before realizing something else. “We?”

Cash was already moving around the tight space, but only in a way that permitted him to hold me close.

Shelves lined the walls everywhere we turned, filled with things I hadn’t any hope of recognizing.

“You didn’t honestly believe I’d leave you to figure this bloody mess out by yourself, did you, love?

I vowed everything I am to you. That I’d be your sword and shield.

Your Hand of Death. Yours to command. I didn’t vow those words lightly, and I’m a man of my word if nothing else. ”

I couldn’t believe that even in this situation my heart was pounding like a lovesick adolescent. Some things never changed.

“I’ve always wondered this, but isn’t iron supposed to hurt Fae?” I asked. “It didn’t seem to do any damage at all to any of the ones I’ve fought so far.”

Cash scoffed and gave me a patronizing look. “Because the ones you’ve fought weren’t mere Fae folk. They’ve all been powerful in their own right. Iron doesn’t have a strong effect on powerful Fae like myself. Merely an annoyance, really.”

“That explains why she wasn’t bothered by the dagger I brought with me,” I grumbled. “So, what does work on them?”

“Wit, my dove. And really, anything you can do. It’s smart not to showcase everything. Keep your powers close to your chest. It’s about the only thing that devil woman and I agree on. Not all of your powers will work against the Fae you encounter here, especially not a Royal Siren like Lyra.”

“Lyra?”

His sigh wasn’t for me. It was for the whole situation we were in.

“One. The Mistress of Chaos. Second-most powerful Original to reign,” he said, grabbing items. “But along that note, your fangs and magic are more weapon than a dagger against the Fae in this realm. Aside from that bloody sword that brute you let slobber all over you carries everywhere he goes. That sword isn’t a mere weapon. ”

“Oh?”

“It’s enchanted,” he mused absently. He tucked me in close like he was afraid I’d scurry away the first chance I got. “Has he never said as much?”

Blood Slayer was enchanted? To do what, exactly? I’d thought his entire story was one big joke, but was his sword actually special?

Cash’s rumbling laugh annoyed me. “Well, I doubt even that brute truly knows what a weapon like that can do. Knowing him, he amounts all his success to mere skill alone. But yes, it’s a rather formidable weapon and could kill a Fae as powerful as the ones skulking around this realm.”

The Dark Fae peered down at Kate, humming. “Now, what to do with the human…”

“We’re not leaving her here or anywhere I’m not,” I quickly interjected, and the pretty jerk actually sighed like he’d been thinking about it. I plowed ahead, leaving it as a statement and not open for argument. “Will she stay unconscious?”

How am I supposed to explain all of this and figure out a way to get her out of it?

Magic swirled around us as Cash dug out another stone and rubbed it between his fingers.

“Fear not, darling. Your friend will wake shortly. Without that obnoxious demon’s power being reenforced, it’s only a matter of time.

But we do need to get to the Nether and figure out our next move. She’ll track us too easily here.”

But where was here?

Cash continued to stuff random items into a bag that was too tiny for the number of things he’d put into it.

If not for so many thoughts swirling around in my head, I might’ve found a moment to ask about it.

But I was more concerned with the ancient as fuck Fae he called Mistress Chaos to worry about a mysterious Mary Poppin’s baggy he’d carried around the room like it was his personal purse for all things weird and unrecognizable.

I hesitated when I thought about all the people at risk if we ran and hid. She’d go after Grams. Sloan. Jo. Every Hunter under our protection.

…Phillip.

Against a Royal Siren, they didn’t stand a chance. Definitely not one titled as one of the Originals. I’d learned enough about them through Jo to know that wasn’t a situation I wanted to fuck around with for them to find out.

“She’s not an enemy we want. I think we should do what she’s asked, at least until we figure out a better move to make.

Play amenable until we’re ready to strike.

I don’t think her pheromones or whatever work on me, so, as long as I’m useful, she’ll leave everyone else alone,” I finally surmised with a nod.

“It sounded like she planned to train me. Said my mind defenses weren’t where they needed to be. ”

Cash’s mouth dropped open, aghast, then his hand was on his hip in that Fae Karen way I’d come to both love and hate. “Are you absolutely out of your head, V?! Why would you even suggest working with that…that thing .”

As eloquent as ever.

“She’ll hurt everyone if I don’t, and that training can backfire in the end.

I’d be more of a threat with whatever she can teach me.

Plus, if they are the ones who enslaved her to the Organization—and the ones who destroyed the Royal Sirens—then they could become my enemy just as easily, right?

What’s to say they don’t come after me at some stage because of what I am?

If they’re working with the Organization, it’s only a matter of time until they find out.

Assuming they haven’t already,” I argued baselessly.

But apparently not as baselessly as I first believed because Cash went quiet, then he tapped his mouth with a finger.

“You make some fine points. It’s better to assume you can’t protect your mind from any powerful Fae you meet, especially in this realm.

They rarely reveal their abilities, and while most can’t read your thoughts without substantial help or talent—Mistress Chaos is one of the lucky few—it’s better to always assume the worst. And they are the ones who hunted me for centuries and made it impossible to stay inside this realm… ”

Centuries?

“The Nether Kingdom and their royalty aren’t known for their compassion.

Quite the opposite. I doubt their demise would lead to more than a celebration across the realm.

If they were truly the ones responsible for sending Chaos Fae to humans, I can’t imagine what else they’ve done under the guise of protecting the realm. ”

Cash snapped his fingers, and Kate levitated off the floor, oddly curled like she was still on the couch. I opened my mouth to ask why he’d done it, but my face was quickly pinned to his naked chest. A breath later, I suffered a hard tug on my stomach.

“The others—” I looked around the room in confusion. It was too dark to have any idea where we’d gone. The last place had been dark, but not this dark. We could be in Hell for all I knew.

Cash snapped his fingers again, and Kate was gone.

“Hey—”

But his hands were on my face, fierce cat eyes beaming down at me. The sensations that stroked my skin before came back with a vengeance.

“She won’t leave the realm with me here, love.

She knows what I am. Maybe not who, but certainly what.

Those you care about are safe while she’s locked realm travel.

Her power goes both ways, I know at least that much.

She won’t be able to travel without lifting it.

She’ll be extra careful until she’s got a hold over you again.

As a Hand of Death, I pose the most risk to her.

If that barbaric devil woman was swift enough to cross over, she does too.

It’s why that old slag tried to isolate you in this realm, but I was too fast. My guess is that devil woman was, too. ”

“Jo?”

Cash sighed, his thumbs stroking my face. How was even that small caress so damn intense?! “Loathe as I am to admit it, that barbarian was long gone before I’d even felt the tug. My guess is that she took extra measures to track you after failing to do it last time.”

Tug?

“She’s probably locked somewhere in this realm. I truly doubt her shadow ability could track you. It was likely disconnected when you crossed over. She’d be here otherwise.”

My mouth fell open in surprise. “You know about Jo’s ability?”