Page 61 of Bound by Vengeance
“I might as well cover your asses if you’rewalking into a trap,” Killean replied.
“It’s not a trap,” Kadence insisted.
“Let’s go see what it is,” Ronan said as hewalked over to stand before her.
• • •
Nathan dropped Jordan onto the floor of theprison. This was the first time the cell was used, as crimesagainst hunters were rare. There were fights, some came to blows,but nothing bad enough to warrant being locked away. Still, everystronghold had a prison just in case. Over the centuries, therewere a few murders between friends and jealous spouses, or theoccasional theft that warranted locking someone away.
Nathan didn’t bother to remove Jordan’srestraints as he stepped out of the cell and shut the door behindhim. He stood with his hand on one of the bars while he watched thehunter.
“Are you okay?” Vicky asked from behindhim.
Turning, he spotted her standing at thebottom of the stairs. The lantern on the wall cast shadows over herbruised and swollen face, but she already looked better than shehad an hour ago.
“Yes,” he said.
“He….” She swallowed as she tried to thinkof the right words. “He betrayed you.”
“He did.”
“That can’t be easy to deal with.”
“I’m okay.”
“Has anything like this ever happenedbefore?” she asked.
“No, but since my father died, a lot of shithas gone wrong, or differently than in the past. I know thisalliance is the best thing for our survival, but I’m not sure myfather would have approved.”
“You’re doing the right thing with thealliance,” she said.
“Am I?”
“Yes!”
He glanced back at Jordan. “Many hunterswould disagree with you, and I’m not the leader my father was.”
“Just because you’re a different leader thanhe was, it doesn’t mean you’re worse, Nathan. The hunters can’tkeep living in the Dark Ages.”
“Maybe not, but if our society completelyunravels, then I’m not saving anyone. I’m looking for our long-termsurvival by aligning with the vampires, but we might not survivethe short term, and if it falls apart, then it ismyfault.”
“Nathan,” she breathed.
“I won’t let that happen.”
“I know you won’t. Why did you callKadence?” She’d been so dumbfounded by the move, and his abruptdeparture from the truck after the call, that she hadn’t questionedhim about it yet.
“Because if I disappear one day, or end updead with my death blamed on vampires, she and Ronan have to knowit might not be that simple. If the hunters turn on me, they’llalso go for Kadence. Some already consider her a traitor. I wasborn to lead my people, but Iwilldo whatever it takes toprotect my sister, and so will Ronan.”
“That he will,” Vicky murmured.
“I’m going to keepyousafe too. Theyhave to know a hunter has gone after you. There may be more hunterswho know about our relationship, or at leastthinkthey do,and they’ll see you as a target. If anything happens to me, Ronanand your family will be aware of the threat and guard you too.”
“I can take care of myself, and you’re infar more danger than I am.”
“No, I’m not.”
“You can’t go back there.”
