CHAPTER 4 #3
“Perhaps you should have considered the possible repercussions before you took her abaci from the prince.” Falkner didn’t look happy over this news. “At the very least, you should have spoken to us first.”
“There wasn’t time, Chairman. Stripping the prince of her abaci was the only way to free the female completely of his hold. The memory block would never have taken if I had not acted quickly. She would have ended up committing suicide.”
“Show us the abaci pattern that formed on your skin? Is it the same as that which develops on a Raiden warrior after a claiming?”
“Yes, Chairman, the pattern is the same, though not as dark as what would normally appear on a Raiden warrior.”
“Come closer, Hunter. Let us see for ourselves.”
Gauge walked closer to the chairman. Pulling his long blond hair aside, he exposed the faint yellow diamond pattern along the hairline and down the outside of his neck.
“I see,” Falkner said, turning his attention to the other twenty-three members of the council.
Gauge knew they were speaking to each other telepathically, though he could not hear what was being said.
There were six mated pairs of vampires and six mated pairs of shifters on the council, all ancients—or alphas in the case of shifters, kings and queens in their packs.
The members of this council ruled Laizahlia with an iron fist.
Gauge stiffened inside when Chairman Falkner finally returned his attention to him. “Did you exchange power with the serpent female, as one would with a true eillelé?”
“No, Chairman. To be honest, it wasn’t until months later that I felt a pull toward her. I believe it took time for her abaci to work through my system. I know what Teo thinks, but he is wrong. Lena cannot be my true mate. She does not carry half my soul, and I do not carry half of hers.”
“Yes, of course. If memory serves, you lost your true eillelé when you were still quite young.”
“Yes, Chairman. Meegan was killed during a training exercise in space.”
“It is my understanding that your union had yet to be consummated when she was lost. Is that how you survived her death?”
“That is correct, Chairman.”
“So, in your case, there is no hope of ever meeting a true eillelé. This presents an interesting scenario. Theoretically, this serpent female could prove to be a suitable replacement, if she were willing. This is not something we have ever contemplated before. Do you know if the connection is as strong on her side?”
This was the part Gauge had been dreading.
The part he himself was unsure of. “I do not wish to help Lena because I believe she could be a suitable mate. I’m not sure it would be wise to travel down that path.
She is a young Leviathan. I’m an ancient Laizahlian Hunter.
We have absolutely nothing in common to build a relationship upon.
But I would still like to try to help her if I can.
She will forget me once she is fully free of Ngozi’s influence.
She will be free to accept the claim of another serpent, or Raiden warrior, if she so desires. ”
“But will you forget her?” Falkner said, raising one eyebrow. He didn’t wait for Gauge to answer. “Permission to return to Raiden is granted. I’m assuming your tracker will wish to accompany you?”
“Yes, Chairman,” Gauge replied.
“You will travel to Raiden in a ship rather than be transported in. Jax, another Hunter, will accompany you. I believe Teo already has a blood bond with Jax. He has recently returned from a difficult hunt on Earth. This distraction will do him good.”
“Yes, Chairman,” Teo replied. “I’ve tracked for Jax in the past.”
“Good. Jax can remain on the ship unless you two run into problems you can’t easily handle alone. You are both dismissed.”
Gauge and Teo crossed their fists over their chests as they offered the Chairman and council members a shallow bow. Once outside the door, Gauge said, “You should not have mentioned the possibility of Lena being my mate.”
“I did so because you wouldn’t. It was the only way the council would agree to allow you to return to Raiden.
It may not seem so at times, but they care about the welfare of their Hunters, Gauge.
Your well-being is important to them. It’s important to me.
We are all aware you are growing tired. You need Lena.
She will give you a reason to carry on. And I believe she needs you.
This will work out for the best. You’ll see. ”
Gauge didn’t reply, though he wasn’t so sure Teo was right.
A newly mated Laizahlian could be overly possessive.
A Hunter of his age could be downright dangerous.
He would not be reasonable should Lena be threatened.
No, Teo was wrong. He needed to fight this building bond.
He would help Lena get free of the Raiden warrior trying to claim her, then he would leave her in peace.
She would find a nice young serpent to mate, as it should have been before Ngozi abused her.
Which meant he had to find a way to break their bond. A permanent break. Not just between Lena and Ngozi, but between Lena and himself.