Chapter Nine #2
“I will not allow anyone to do that,” Hunter said, and I had to admit, he sounded very sure of himself.
A tiny spark of hope rose inside me. “You may not be my mate, but I like you. I like your legs. I like your mind. I realize I should have put the last one first, but I can’t think straight when you’re near, so you will excuse the fact that I didn’t put the nonphysical you first. Also, your ass is divine.
All that aside, you aren’t to blame for being tricked.
Bael is a master deceiver. Did this broker who threatens you know who Bael was? ”
I stayed in his arms, relishing the feeling of him so solid, and male.
I was far curvier than most ballet dancers, a fact that I’d resigned myself to, but now, pressed against Hunter, I was very aware of the difference between his hard muscled self and my curves.
His scent, something that reminded me of a walk in a pine forest, seemed to sink into my bones, and I was overwhelmed with a need to both whisk him away to the nearest bed and fight anyone to the death who thought they could harm him.
“Mabel?” he asked after a few minutes of me enjoying being held. He gave my waist a little squeeze.
“Sorry, I was thinking that I’d like to learn how to use a sword,” I said into his neck.
He was silent for a few seconds, then asked, “Why?”
“Because I want to be able to protect you, and a sword seems to be a pretty effective way to do that.” I took a step back, just catching the tail end of a look of surprise in his beautiful mossy eyes.
“I don’t know for a fact what Papi knew, or knows.
He’s good at hiding his thoughts, but I suspect he knew full well that it was Bael.
When I returned from the Hour, he was quick to point out that what I’d done had serious consequences, and the fact I’d accepted both the job and money wouldn’t look good for me should the Akashic League and Watch find out. ”
“And he used this to blackmail you into doing jobs you didn’t wish to do,” he said, his gaze searching mine.
Normally, I disliked people staring straight into my soul, but I knew if I wanted to have any sort of a relationship with Hunter—assuming I could get rid of the threat of Papi—I couldn’t hide behind shame any longer.
He needed to see the real me.
“That’s exactly what he’s done. And I honestly don’t know how you think you’re going to get me out of this horrible situation, because I’ve thought and thought and thought, and I can’t see any way clear. I offered him money, but he’s not interested in that.”
“If he’s like most people in the Otherworld, he prefers power,” Hunter said, his arm around me as he turned me back toward the seats.
“Who doesn’t like a good dollop of power?” Dawn asked from where she’d returned to the couch. “I know it always brings a kick to my steps. Are you all right, reaper? Your retching sounded most uncomfortable.”
“Yes, fine, thanks,” I said with a wan smile.
I was no longer feeling like I might barf, but I was now consumed with worry.
I looked at Hunter, who was waiting next to the two captain’s chairs for me.
“I’m sorry to drag you into this. I don’t know how you think you can free me from Papi, but I have a horrible feeling you’re going to give him your sword. ”
His eyebrows rose as I retook my seat. He sat opposite me, his eyes narrowed on nothing as he digested my comment. “I hadn’t thought of that, but it might be the answer to the problem.”
“Are you kidding?” I said, my voice rising half an octave. “Hunter, that’s your special sword. You can’t give it to Papi. Or rather, that Deus guy who probably wants it.”
“Deus is my half-brother, and is the only one who would want my élan vital,” he said with a grimness that descended on me like a physical weight.
“I’m sure he thinks he can wield it in an attempt to free Bael.
He can’t. Regardless, I can give it to anyone I like, not that I would do so without a good reason, but your suggestion has merit. ”
“It doesn’t, not that I was suggesting it!
” I wanted to weep at the way everything had gone so wrong.
Yes, I had reacquainted myself with Hunter, and was thrilled to find out he was even more wonderful than I had thought him before, but now my sins were threatening to destroy him.
“Don’t even think about it. There’s got to be another way to deal with Papi, one that won’t ask you to give up everything you love. ”
“What makes you think I’d do that?” he asked, an odd light in his eyes.
“Your sword is part of who you are, isn’t it?” I said slowly, suddenly unsure. “You made it sound like you can’t be a dragon hunter without it.”
“It is our defining trait, yes, but that has nothing to do with an arrangement with your broker.” To my surprise, his lips quirked in a small smile.
“And it’s certainly not anything Deus can use.
He isn’t a dragon hunter, despite sharing a sire with Archer and me.
The élan vital will only react to a dragon hunter, so Deus will gain nothing from it.
Stop looking so guilty, mo chroí. I doubt if it will come to having to give it up.
This broker is bound to have other pressure points we can exploit. ”
“You keep calling me that. What is muh-KHREE?” I asked, unsure of how to spell what was obviously a Gaelic word.
He gave me a long look that made me feel about ten degrees warmer. “My heart. What else can you tell me about this hold the broker has over you?”
I was touched by the term of endearment, a lovely glow of happiness burbling up inside me despite Papi hanging over me like a storm cloud.
For the next ten minutes I bared my soul to him, going over all the jobs I’d had in the last few years.
By the time I’d finished, Dawn wandered back to the four chairs, taking one before eyeing us.
“I don’t mind going with you to this Beck place, but then I must insist that you guide me to the Fifth Hour, Mabel. Emily is delighted to have me visit her, and says she’ll ask her bestie’s husband to put the Hour on lockdown until my sons return to their Hour.”
Both Hunter and I gave her puzzled glances.
“So One-Death can’t send others out to find me,” she said in explanation to our confusion. “Which he absolutely would do if he knew where I was. So, you see that it’s important that I go to Emily in the Fifth Hour to be safe.”
I could see Hunter wanted to tell her we’d keep her safe, but he must have figured how she’d react to being told she couldn’t go visit her friends, because he simply nodded.
“Mabel will be happy to take you there just as soon as we meet with the dragons.” He was silent for a handful of seconds, then added, “And a few of the Dark Ones. But after that, we will be happy to ensure your safe arrival to the afterlife of your choice.”
“You sound so Masterpiece Theatre right now,” I told him, extremely aware of the attraction that was growing between us despite his declarations we couldn’t be together, and my own issues with Papi.
“But until that time, we will focus on your safety while you’re in our care,” he continued, sending me a heated look before shifting back to Dawn. “Although I see now why Sally insisted you use another name. I hope you don’t mind that we continue to use it in order to better protect you?”
She made a face, but said, “I guess so, although I never liked the name she uses for me.”
“Why don’t you pick out one you do like, and we’ll use that, instead,” I suggested, trying hard to ignore my libido’s rush of interest once I knew Hunter wasn’t furious for my role in everything.
Now I just had to keep Papi from using and abusing him.
“Hmm.” She thought for a few seconds before nodding. “That is an excellent suggestion. I will meditate on the subject.”
We didn’t have long for her to dwell on a new name, which resulted in her saying we could use her current name for the present.
“Do you really think that this Deus person is going to show up?” I asked Hunter, my gaze on Dawn where she sat in the front seat, grilling the rideshare driver as to tourist sites in Amsterdam while we traveled to the building that housed the offices of the Midnight Bazaar..
“You told the blackmailing broker that I was with you, yes?” he asked.
I nodded.
“Denny’ll be there,” he answered, a look of grim pleasure curling his lips. “He won’t be able to resist rubbing salt into the wound by claiming my élan vital in front of me.”
Guilt hit me again, this time that I’d involved him in my own situation. “And you’re sure you’re willing to give up—”
His grim smile turned to one of steamy seduction. “Would it make you feel better if I told you that I have no intention of allowing him to keep it?”
“A little.” I glanced at the front before leaning close to him and whispering, “Is he dangerous? To you, I mean. Like ... personally dangerous? Is it likely he’ll attack you once he has your sword and you’re defenseless?”
The look of utter outrage that followed had me mentally giggling.
“If we were anywhere private, I would be forced to chastise you with my tongue, hands, and whatever other body parts I could rally for even thinking that I am nothing without an élan vital.”
“You said the sword defined dragon hunters, so I figured that if you didn’t have yours, it would mean you’re not as badass as you could be,” I hurried to explain.
“A fully powered élan vital is necessary for tackling demons and their ilk, yes. But even if it were to be unpowered, I would still retain abilities, just lessened. If it was destroyed ... that would be another matter, but Deus does not have that sort of ability.”
I thought about Papi, but relaxed when I realized that he, too, lacked the sort of mojo it would take a kill a magic sword.