Chapter 11
FIONA
The moment I confessed my dirty desire, Hunter became mission focused. It only took him five hours to find Brett, but it didn’t end with tracking.
Part of the thrill for him is the hunt.
During the day, he leaves me to stalk. Figuring out Brett’s patterns and behaviors.
And at night, when he fucks me, I’m not entirely sure he sees me. While that should be terrifying, I get it.
We’re survivors of a cruel world that’s molded us into unspeakable atrocities. He’ll never be normal, and neither will I.
But through our faults and imperfections, we’re perfect for each other.
Is it sad that he’s my Prince Charming? That no other man will ever hold a candle to him? That I accept every dark deed he’s ever done and encourage him to commit more.
Perhaps it’s me who’s the worst of us, because while he may be a psycho killer, he’s never encouraged me to give in to my base desires.
And I all but demand it of him.
Eager for Hunter to return, I try to distract myself and go up to the rooftop to inspect the chicks, frowning when I see that two of them didn’t make it.
Hunter accounted for this and assured me we’d be fine losing up to forty percent of the hatchlings, but it still feels like a gut punch.
The chicks help me feel somewhat close to normal, which I know I’ll never be, but the illusion is so tempting.
I hear footsteps behind me and turn to see Hunter approaching.
“How is he?” I ask.
“Still surviving.”
I ball my hands into fists. “I’d like to remedy that.”
He frowns, which isn’t typical. He’s not one to flaunt his emotions, and the one he shows most is anger. But it’s rare that I even see that.
“Let me take care of him,” he offers.
My brow pinches together. “You? As in alone?”
“I can give you the revenge you crave.”
“But that’s not enough. I have to be there.”
I don’t like the way he’s looking at me. I like it even less when he looks away.
“What are you not telling me?” I demand.
“I’ve told you everything.”
“About Brett.”
“He’s looking thin, keeps to himself. There is a guy he trades with. After I’m done with Brett, I’ll keep an eye on him to see what misdeeds he’s guilty of and if they require judgment.”
“If everything is fine, why are you trying to convince me to stay behind?”
“I’m very particular about my work, and slight deviations could make the experience less satisfying. You are much larger than a slight deviation.”
Offended, I move past him, too angry to formulate a reply.
“I could take pictures, if you’d like.”
Fuck silence. I pivot on my heels to face him, glaring daggers. “I want to be there—I need to be there. Don’t take this from me!”
“Dead is dead, and I’ll make sure he suffers for what he’s done to you.”
“That’s not enough! It will never be enough. I need to see it—to experience it—to do something more than watch.”
“You want to torture him?”
“Not start to finish, but maybe I can cut off one of his ears or something.”
“And you think that will sate you?”
“Nothing will ever sate me. Not entirely. But it will help.”
“Then go get dressed.”
I blink back at him in shock. “Seriously?”
“You said you needed this, and I promised you revenge. I won’t take that from you. I was just trying to offer you other options.”
A strange feeling twists in my gut. It’s equal parts: fear, anger, and a sickening cruelty I’ve never felt before.
“Are you having second thoughts?” he asks.
“No…”
“Then what are you waiting for?”
HUNTER
This might come as a surprise to anyone who knows my true nature, but I try not to lie.
I had to wear a mask, so no one suspected the darkness lurking within me, but whenever possible, I told the truth.
After the Keep found out about my crimes, I vowed never to wear a mask again. And I meant it. In this world, I can be my true self and not have to apologize.
No more fake smiles.
No more offended facial expressions.
No more false narratives.
Only truths.
Except that’s a lie.
Because when I looked into Fiona’s eyes, I couldn’t let her know the real reason I didn’t want her to come with me to Brett’s.
It’s because I’m terrified something will happen to her.
I never understood why the men of the Keep were so obsessed with the women they kept. They threw logic and reason aside in favor of smiles and laughter.
I’m not like that, and I’ve never been like that.
But it’d be a lie to say I wasn’t worried about her.
Obviously, it’s because she’s introduced me to the pleasures of having sex without the crying screams of one of my victims in the same room. Sex makes men stupid, and it’s been that way since the dawn of mankind.
But it’s never been like that with me.
Until she came along.
Each day, I clear streets leading up to Brett’s building, putting down as many threats as I can. The dead still linger in droves, so I’m thorough. Making it my mission to clear the area for when I finally take her with me.
I tell Fiona I’m stalking Brett, and it’s not a total lie. I do enjoy the thrill of a good hunt, but I can never let her know my true feelings towards her. That good sex has turned me into something I don’t even recognize.
These feelings have to stop.
I am what I am, and no one can change me.
Not even her.
Whatever I’m feeling can’t be sustainable. I’m not like the Keepers. I refuse to be foolish and do anything nonsensical, and yes, torturing Fiona’s ex makes a lot of sense. Someone needs to rid the world of its trash, and I’m more suited for the job than most.
And if Fiona gets herself into trouble, that’s on her. She’s the one who wants revenge. Let her deal with the fallout.
This is all about sex. Nothing more. Nothing less.
It’s not lost on me that I’ve never had to lie to myself before.
“Okay, I’m ready,” Fiona says, looking small in the layers of clothes I’m making her wear.
My heart nearly stops beating at the thought of something getting to her. I don’t want to take her out into the streets. I want to keep her here, safe, where I can keep her well fed and sated.
“Are you sure you want to go? You’re only going to get in my way.”
“You’re not talking me out of this, and don’t act like you don’t like fucking after you’re done. If I’m not there, what will you do? Are you going to fuck Brett’s corpse?”
Ewww. I would never.
“If the people I used to run with see me, they’ll shoot on sight.”
“They hate you that much?”
“They fear me, which is worse than hate, because fear is harder to control.”
“Well, I won’t get you killed.”
“You know there are risks—”
“I’m aware! Now hurry up.”
There’s no putting this off.
I hand her a sword she’s been practicing with, because her axe had her getting too close to the dead.
“When we get to the apartment, I’ll go in first. You trail me by ten steps. Do you understand?”
“It’s literally imprinted on my brain.”
“Your sarcasm isn’t as witty as you think.”
“Maybe if I wasn’t bored to tears, I’d think up something more insightful.”
“Fine. Let the excitement begin.”