Page 27 of V for Vilified (Hunter V #4)

God of the Realm

L ittle hybrid? That was what Aram called me. Guess the devil came a-knockin’. Fuck my life. And my power didn’t work on him. Fantastic. He’d found me in frozen time like Serine managed to. Lyra got it wrong. My luck, or lack thereof, was really kicking my ass lately.

Villain was the new trending look, and fuck was it gorgeous. Like he’d stepped right out of an anime film, his cloak fluttered around him without wind or reason. Aram was prettier than I’d like for an enemy. Totally Kate’s type of you-better-fucking-not. A real menace on a hottie-addicted heart.

Long silver-white hair, staggering red eyes, and a powerful body even the armor he wore couldn’t conceal was a staggering sight in front of me.

And this bro was absolutely massive. Easily the biggest fucking dude I’d ever seen.

Bigger than Big. Bigger than the monsters in my nightmares, and he had fucking wings to add insult to injury.

Now the whole God of the Realm name made more sense. Because that was exactly the word that floated across my mind when he appeared out of thin air, postured like a king without a crown. The authority he put out with a single glance was stifling.

When I finally tore my eyes away from him, I found the Trickster bastard dead on the ground. Though I hadn’t seen what killed him, I somehow knew it was Aram. His human slave was off her leash and free, still paused by my power in a stumble.

I stared at the scene in confusion.

It was as if Aram had read my thoughts and knew exactly what I wanted. Did I fail to protect my mind against him? Had he’d been reading my thoughts this entire fucking time?

Shit.

But when my eyes met his dangerous gaze, I couldn’t read a damn thing off his expression. It was muted, and our bond was uncomfortably silent.

Unlike the rage and desperation flushing out all other emotion from the Hand of Death who was ready to mummify his ass, I didn’t feel any other emotion that wasn’t my own.

My bond with Jo didn’t share our emotions, just our magic.

Well, and really hot sex, but something told me she’d rock my world with or without the bond.

But I had sensed something weird when he appeared. A tingle down my spine so subtle I’d nearly missed it. Maybe something to look out for.

We were outmatched, and I knew better than to run my mouth. Okay, I didn’t, but I’d run it in the right direction.

Aram’s eyes went from me to Jo to Cash, and when his mouth lifted, his pronounced fangs were all I could focus on. “Freeze them and let’s talk, Hunter, or I’ll make it so you want to.”

The unexpected title struck me nearly as hard as his appearance in frozen time. How did he know I was a Hunter? I had questions, but I didn’t want to risk anything when this asshole had all the cards.

Cash was mid-movement, his dark mummifying magic billowing out around him. Jo was losing solidity and becoming translucent, her shadow power screaming across our connection. Neither one waited for him to speak again, and the collective throb and pulse of all three bonds was terror on my body.

I didn’t think about it. I did exactly what he wanted. I froze them along with the rest. The fear of him doing something made my magic act out before my brain caught up.

Amusement reached the asshole’s eyes as he slowly closed the distance between us, peering around like he was an unassuming tourist and not a god capable of killing any Fae he wanted.

“I must admit, I didn’t think it was possible for a hybrid to have the power of time manipulation.

” His height dwarfed mine as he stared down at me, impossibly large hand capturing my jaw. “But here you are.”

The tingle I’d felt earlier slithered up my spine again. Our bond. It had to be. It was softer than I expected. For some reason I thought it would strike me like an electric bolt, but it was coaxing and gentle in a way that didn’t fit its host.

This was an opportunity. If Cash and Jo were right, he wouldn’t hurt me. He could’ve hurt them, but he hadn’t. He’d given me the choice to keep them safe. Maybe he wasn’t the only one with cards.

Let’s see if he can read my thoughts.

I watched him through a narrow-eyed scowl. “Great. Glad to be the object of your wonder and awe, asshole. Now take your fucking hand off me before I show you how time really works with me.”

I didn’t expect the smile. I expected evil villain snarling or a killer glare. Maybe a sassy monologue because my luck always landed me the chatty ones.

But he laughed and released my face. “I guess I should’ve known that the mate Fate would send for me would have a mouth on her.” His voice was low and husky, and I despised what it did to me. “Makes me wonder what that tiny mouth of yours is also good at, little hybrid.”

Fuck this bond, seriously. And Fate could get fucked, too.

I couldn’t be certain he wasn’t reading my thoughts, but I didn’t have any choice but to play this out like he couldn’t. “It’s V, and how do you know about hybrids?”

Seeing how my own kind didn’t know how they were created, having access to that sort of information meant he’d gotten it directly from the top.

Lyra wouldn’t have told him, and it wouldn’t explain how he knew I could manipulate time.

When and where had he gotten his intel? More importantly, from whom?

Aram’s smile wavered. He hadn’t expected my question. Surprise that quickly morphed to confusion that wasn’t mine flickered inside my head. It was the first emotion I’d gotten from him. Thank fuck. Any edge I could get over this god I’d take.

He licked his lips, and I struggled not to chase the action with hungry eyes. The burning in my chest was back. “Hybrids aren’t some kept secret, V. Especially not to us Fae. And you can thank the ones who created you for the fact that you exist at all.”

The Organization or the Chaos Fae? Or maybe did he mean him and his douche two?

He circled me, eyes taking in every inch. “You’ve bonded with another.” It wasn’t a question, so I didn’t bother to answer him. “Two.”

His head dipped back and his eyes closed, making him look obnoxiously pretty with all the light raining down on his glittery skin.

I refused to quote Twilight , but if Kate were here she would.

“No. Perhaps four is more accurate.” His laugh was dark and haunted.

“Greedy little thing you are. That appetite of yours is…impressive.”

Not sure what that meant, but I could almost guarantee it was an insult.

I’d certainly be taking it as one. So much for wooing me.

And where the fuck was he getting all this?

Was he reading my mind? But why was it that I just knew deep down he couldn’t?

Why did I feel so sure he couldn’t gain access to my head the way he wanted to?

Yearning twisted my insides in on themselves, but it wasn’t mine. It was his. He wanted to know everything about me. Every last piece. He wanted me all to himself, but he was lost on how to do it. Frantic, even.

I sucked in a sharp breath.

He wanted it so bad it was all he could think about since our bond was formed.

He’d spent the last week and a half ignoring his duties, his brothers— Wait, brothers?

—all to spend countless hours concocting a plan to make me want him and no one else.

He didn’t care what it took or what he was forced to do to make it happen; he'd get the others out of the way.

How the fuck am I so sure about all of this? Am I reading his mind? Is this the bond?

Holy shit. Jo was right. But why was the bond so strong for him and not me? Why didn’t I feel the lure like I did with Jo and Cash? Other than the burning in my chest, I still retained complete control over my head and body.

Then I realized I’d wandered over to him and gripped his arm without noticing.

His eyes dropped to where my hand barely made its way around his forearm—the thing was so damn big—and I recoiled like I’d put my hand directly onto a flame.

I berated myself internally and crossed my arms to keep them from clinging to our fucking enemy .

Aram’s gaze slid over to Cash, his hulking form stopping within inches of my Fae Karen. My heart lost a beat before taking off again. Adrenaline pumped through my veins when I thought what someone like this Fae god might do to get what he wanted.

Jo hadn’t thought he’d do anything to make me unhappy, but what if she was wrong? It could mean they were dead before I had a chance to do anything, and I couldn’t take that risk.

Red eyes rose to meet mine, and Aram’s lips thinned. “You care for them that much? Enough for it to scream across our bond, little hybrid?”

Shit. Fuck, fuck, fuck.

I didn’t answer again. I’d give myself away one way or another, but hell if it’d be with my own fucking words of admission.

His intense jealousy was choking me, and it was practically torture to calm my body, slow my heart, and melt the tension building in every muscle.

His next words ruined all the effort I’d made to smother my panic. “What would you do to protect them?” he demanded, claw-like nails aimed and ready to slash Cash’s throat wide open.

My core throbbed. The hair on my body stood on end.

A flash, a jolt down my spine, a sudden echo of heat, then I watched Aram speak without saying words, his mouth movements odd.

He took the same path he’d walked in the last several minutes in reverse, faster than if time were moving normally, his hair moving in ways it shouldn’t.

I stayed where I was as the unsuspecting asshole relived every action in reverse until he was gone and the Trickster was back on his feet, retracing his steps the way Aram had. My eyes chased him and his human, heart thundering, until they were completely out of sight.

I’d done it. I’d fucking done it!

Out of nowhere, it all stopped and time moved again. Cash and Jo turned to me in confusion, looking around for Aram.

“What in the bloody hell happened?” Cash demanded before his eyes went wide and a grin split his face.

The Trickster and his human slave rounded the corner and shuddered to a stop when they saw us. “Uh…pardon me.”

With a snap, the Trickster was dead on the ground— again —and his human unleashed. She went into a crouch, shielding herself. Another snap and she, too, disappeared. I was about to demand where he’d sent her, but another sound cut me off.

Jo laughed into her fist. “Questions later, V. Do it again or you know what’ll come next.”

My vision swayed, but I ignored it. I wouldn’t risk another encounter with that oversized asshole, not when our plan was blown apart the minute he showed up in frozen time.

I reached out to their power again, and this time they were there with me as the world reversed for as long as I could hold on, nearly twenty minutes by Jo’s account. It was enough time to flee so we could figure out our next step.

Cash took extra pleasure in killing the Trickster again and releasing his human, this time detailing that she was placed with someone who’d take good care of her, then we got the hell out of dodge.