Page 102 of Bound by Vengeance
“Jordan would normally be tried as a traitorfor his actions. However, there will be no trial as some of youhere see me as a traitor, and I broke the rules by keeping Jordanimprisoned without alerting the elders.”
“That’s because youarea traitor!”someone shouted.
“Jordan and I will try each other, inone-on-one combat,” Nathan said, refusing to rise to the anger andaccusations.Clear head, clear mind.“One of us will pay forour crimes.”
“Wait!” Elfry cried as she pushed her waythrough the crowd to stand at the front. “We cannot risk the lifeof our leader!”
“I second that!” Roland agreed as he steppedforward.
Asher and Logan slid through the crowd toflank Nathan and Vicky. Some hunters moved to stand with them, buthalf still looked uncertain, and the other half looked prepared tomurder.
“He’s not our leader. He’s a filthy, vampirefuckerlike his sister!” someone else shouted.
“Iwillnottolerate that!”Ronan bellowed, and the hunters closest to him staggered away asred fire burned from his eyes.
“Hang Nathan; save Jordan!” Ida cried andthen cringed away from the look Vicky gave her.
“No! Everyone is too emotional right now!”Elfry shouted. “We must discuss this rationally!”
Vicky kept waiting for the pitchforks tobreak out as the crowd increasingly yelled over one another.
“Enough!” Nathan roared and lifted his handinto the air.
Vicky marveled when even the hunterscampaigning to kill him hushed at his command. Whether theybelieved him a traitor or not, he still exuded an aura of authoritythey obeyed.
“This trial will be between me and Jordan.If I lose, you will find another leader and be free to do as youchoose. If I win, you are still free to find another leader,continue your traditions, and pull out of the alliance with thevampires. With everything that’s happened, I’m sure the otherstrongholds would welcome new members to strengthen them. But whenthe Savages come for you, and theywillcome for you, thevampires won’t be there to back you up.”
When many hunters looked to Ronan, his smilerevealed his fangs. “I won’t save your lives if you’re not helpingus stop this.”
More excited, loud voices exploded as thehunters argued with each other.
When Roland stepped forward and raised hishand, the chatter died down again. “I don’t like it, but Nathan’sright, let them try each other. This continued division willdestroy us all. Many of us don’t like change, but the time has comewhen we must adapt or perish. If Nathan is meant to rule, he’llwin. If not, then Jordan will win and we’ll sort out the piecesafterward.”
“I don’t like this,” Elfry said.
“Neither do I,” Vicky murmured.
“It’s what must be done,” Nathan said. “Doyou agree to this and feel up to it today?” he asked Jordan.
“I’m up for killing you any day,” Jordanspat.
“We need weapons,” Roland said.
Striding forward, Declan removed twoidentical swords from where he’d strapped them in a cross againsthis back. “Will these do?” he asked as he held them out toRoland.
Roland took the blades from him andinspected them both before handing them back. “Yes.”
Declan passed a sword to Nathan and theother to Jordan. “Don’t ruin my blades,” he said to Nathan beforerejoining Ronan.
Nathan tested the weight of the sword in hishand and examined the honed edge of the blade. It would slice ahead off in one swing.
“Do me a favor,” Roland mumbled as he walkedby Nathan, “and kill that asshole.”
Nathan bit back a smile as Jordan was ledover to stand across from him inside the circle of hunters andvampires.
CHAPTER 44
“This shouldn’t happen,” Kadence said.
