Page 101 of Bound by Vengeance
Ida’s smile didn’t falter as she broughtSimone’s hand toward him. “Mayday and engagement ceremonies arealways such a day of celebration,” she replied in a singsong voice.“Now, join hands.”
Nathan glanced at Simone as she smiled shylyand lifted her hand toward him. He hated himself and Ida forthis.
Running a hand through his hair, he glancedat the dunes. Vicky stood there, gazing down at him. Her goldenskin gleamed in the sun, and her emerald eyes glistened with whathe suspected were tears. Brian and Abby flanked her sides, and iflooks could kill, Abby would have dropped him a thousand timesover.
He didn’t want to offend Simone, but hewouldnothurt Vicky.
“No,” he said to Ida. “I’m sorry, Simone, Iam. This ceremony wasneversupposed to happen.” He shot Idaa furious look. “The engagement ceremony will not be taking placetoday or any day in the future. From now on, engagements willhappen when both people agree to the arrangement.”
An astonished murmur raced through thecrowd, Ida paled, and Simone’s face resembled a tomato. Nathanlooked at Vicky again. The hope in her eyes made this wholehorrible situation a little easier.
“A lot of our ways have already changed, andmany more will change over the coming days and weeks,” he continuedas he focused his attention on the gathered hunters. “Theengagement ceremony is one of those things.”
“You… you can’t do that!” Ida sputtered.
“I just did,” Nathan said to her. “Thisconversation and ceremony are over. There are far more importantthings to deal with today.”
Turning, he waved at Ronan, who gestured tosomeone else. A minute later, Saxon and Lucien appeared at the topof a dune with Jordan held between them.
“Jordan!” someone gasped.
“What is going on?” Ida demanded.
Nathan ignored her as he waved for Vicky tojoin him. She hesitated, but when Abby released her arm, Vickyclimbed down the dune and strode across the beach with her sisterand Brian. Vicky glanced warily at the hunters who parted to lether pass while Ronan and the other vampires joined them.
Vicky glared at Jordan when she stopped afew feet away from Nathan. The hunters whispered amongst each otherand shifted as they looked from Nathan to the vamps and Jordan,then back again.
“Two days ago, Jordan attacked a vampire.Not one of Ronan’s men, not a Savage, but a woman who's beenhelping me hunt for Joseph.” Nathan told them about what he’d beendoing with Vicky, not all the details, but enough that the hunterseyed the two of them suspiciously while he spoke. “As you know,Jordan violated the rules binding the alliance between vampires andhunters, but he did more than that.”
Unaware of what Nathan planned, Vicky almostjerked her hand away when he seized it. Holding it firmly, he drewher closer as an explosion of livid chatter burst through thegathered hunters.
Vicky threw her shoulders back and liftedher chin as she gazed at the crowd. If they had pitchforks andtorches, they would have fit every angry mob she’d seen stormingthe castle in old Frankenstein movies.
“What are you doing?” she hissed to Nathanas the hunters yelled at him and argued with each other.
“Immersing them gradually hasn’t worked.It’s time to throw them into the deep end. Those who can swim willsurvive; the others will sink,” he replied.
She glanced nervously at the crowd, but theywere too busy shouting at each other to band together enough tolynch the vampires, so far. “You’re risking everything.”
He grasped her chin and turned her headtoward him. “No, I’m not. Theywillaccept this, or theywill go.”
“But, these are your people and your familyhas ruled them for thousands of years.”
“My family never had to contend with theshit I have. I’ll always question if I’m the leader my father was,but I’llneverquestion choosing you. The only way to savethe hunters is to make them change. I’ve discussed this withRonan.”
It took a second for his words to sink in.He’s choosing me! That hope she’d denied herself burst overher. Then, she glanced at the crowd, and some of it dwindled.
“Were you going to discuss this with me?”she asked.
“I planned to, but the engagement ceremonyforced me into action before I could. I can tell them I’ve changedmy mind if you’d like.”
“No!” she blurted, and he smiled as he drewher closer.
He surveyed the crowd, waiting for them toabsorb his revelation, before speaking again. “I willnottolerate an attack on her,” he shouted to be heard over the voices.“I willnottolerate any attack against a vampire that isn’twarranted, just as I won’t tolerate any vampire in the allianceattacking a hunter.”
“Liar!” someone yelled from the back of thecrowd.
“Think what you will,” Nathan replied,remaining unruffled by the discord he’d sown with his revelation.This complete fracturing of the hunters was necessary so that theycould rebuild better and stronger than before, and with Vicky athis side, he could get through anything.
