Page 48 of V for Vilified (Hunter V #4)
I was so afraid of what I’d find. What I’d be faced with when we went back. What if I made a mistake? What if I couldn’t reverse what happened? What if I couldn’t save them even if I could rewind time? Would I spend every day regretting that I didn’t go with Big?
I couldn’t lose them.
Fire erupted on the floor around me, ready to incinerate everything in its path. The powerful feeling in my gut called to me. It wasn’t one I’d felt before. It was dangerously dark and inviting. It urged me to destroy and wreak havoc on anyone who got in my way.
The fire around us grew and burned brighter. Without a doubt, this was chaos. The magical bond had been broken. I now had access to my chaos magic again.
Aram was bent over with his hands firmly holding my face in place.
“I know what you must be thinking, little mate. I know you must be blaming yourself. But you can’t.
That is exactly what Hera wants. She wants you to give into chaos.
She wants it to consume you so she can use you. Don’t let her win.”
The flames flickered out of existence as my eyes focused on his. “What if I can’t save them without tapping into it?”
His mouth pressed against mine hard enough to make his point. “You will. Accept nothing less.”
Time seemed to crawl as he used the map to locate Phillip and Sloan. Could he locate them if they were dead? I never thought to ask, but the mere thought of saying it out loud was impossible. I’d choke on the words before managing to ask my question.
He spoke before I could sink any deeper into despair. “It’s as I thought. She found them in the space Marius created.” He stalked over to a desk nearby and grabbed something, then he was back in front of me.
“We can’t wait on your brothers. That green-haired bastard will argue. The longer it takes, the more time I have to reverse… and I don’t know how far back I can go. It’s already been nearly five minutes. I don’t want to risk it,” I said quickly. “Please don’t make me wait on them.”
Aram dragged a hand through his hair, his fear bleeding into my head. “If we go alone, we’ll be at greater risk. After you reverse time, we’ll need to act.”
Suddenly, the wall wobbled and a figure broke through and stood near us. He was still in the outfit he’d worn to the ballroom earlier, but now he carried a long sword. His dark hair was brushed away from glowing green eyes.
Aram let loose a breath and greeted him. “I should’ve guessed you’d pick up on my distress, Dagon.”
The looming figure with steely eyes and a silent but deadly presence took a few more steps into the room. I hadn’t expected to hear his voice again, but when it hit my ears, it was as dark and as ominous as his appearance. “I’m rather surprised Rayis isn’t here first. Is it the hybrid?”
His stoney face shifted my direction, and I glared at him, too anxious to get the hell out of here to care what he had to say.
“My mate needs assistance. I suspect Hera is on the move with the plans we failed to get out of Lyra.”
So that was what they were doing at Lyra’s.
Dagon’s eyes widened just a fraction. “Then you’re walking straight into a—”
“Trap? Yes, I’m well aware,” Aram interjected firmly.
“But my mate’s loved ones have been…” He paused on the word as another tear escaped my eye and I tried my best to stay as emotionless as possible in front of his brother.
“I’ll explain everything once we have the time, but we need to leave.
Will you come with me, Brother, or do you also believe I’ve gone mad because of my mate? ”
Dagon didn’t react to the question. He stayed perfectly expressionless and still. “Rayis is free to feel the way he does, but I have waited a long time to kill Hera and won’t let even our emotional brother get in the way. I suspect the hybrid will reverse time to fight her, yes?”
Surprised to hear it, I realized how this would be the perfect opportunity to get rid of Hera. I’d been so locked up by the thought of trying to save them, I didn’t think about how we could use it to our advantage.
I could reverse time and finally end this once and for all. We could essentially do what we planned from the start with Aram, but Hera instead. I kept my mind focused on that thought and not what already happened that I’d have to reverse.
“Aram,” I said, pivoting. “Get rid of this fucking contract and bring Big and his pixie buddies with us. We’ll need all the help we can get.”
His eyebrow rose, but he didn’t argue. I heard a snap and the contract symbol that appeared on my wrist earlier that day when I made the deal disappeared. Unlike the other two, it didn’t burn as it faded.
“Are you sure they can be convinced?” he asked, coming closer. “It’ll slow us down if they try to attack us, and it’s very unlikely you’ll be able to reverse time again if they do.”
This many strong supernaturals in a time freeze and reversal was likely to put a lot of strain on me. I’d have to lean into my bonds, and I wasn’t sure that’d be enough. But I couldn’t lose them or risk Hera getting away. It had to end today.
For all our sakes.
Aram’s soft smile greeted my next glance. “You are truly a wonder, little mate. Have it your way. I should know better than to underestimate you.”
“What about Rayis?”
Aram’s lips slid up, his smirk devilish. “My poor brother will do as he’s told and keep the human safe so she’s not used by Hera to subdue you.”
Fuck, right. Kate. Last thing I wanted to do was put her directly in a trap with my super-powerful enemy, but I couldn’t leave her here, either.
“Big can do it.”
Aram grabbed a weapon laid out on a nearby table. “Rayis will be a better protector, and despite all his venom, he’ll do what’s right. Believe it or not, he quite likes humans.”
I didn’t believe it.
“Fine,” I grumbled, shocked when Aram handed me a pair of daggers.
Dagon watched the exchange closely. “Our mother’s daggers? How poetic.”
My mouth dropped open, nearly forgetting my urgency to stare down at them. “But—”
“They are enchanted and a fitting demise for that Eishic hag,” Aram whispered, throwing on a few weapon straps. “Aim for the heart and the poison will do the rest, Nioche. ”
Dagon reacted to the weird language he spoke, but only for a second. Then the quiet giant offered me an assessing look, the first signs of emotion since he’d come into the room. “What makes you sure you can even reverse this much time?”
“I don’t have much choice, do I?” I sheathed the daggers on my belt. More determined than ever, I lifted my chin and looked the stone-cold Dagon in the eye. “We’re wasting time. Let’s go get everyone, reverse time, and kill this bitch.”