Ripper (Hunter #1)(102)

“Because they’re dangerous?”

“No, because the Council is always watching to see if the loner takes a human lover. It is rare, but some do.”

“Why does the Council care who some loner sleeps with?”

“Because if the lone wolf manages to produce a child with a human, there is the slight possibility that child will be what they call a Hunter. A Hunter has many of the strengths of a wolf. It’s like having the soul of the wolf, but not the body. A Hunter has strength and speed and instinct, but they aren’t vulnerable to silver and they don’t have to follow the moon. Some Hunters find, once they accept the beast inside, that they can change their hands into claws.”

I stopped in the middle of the hall. “And you think I’m a Hunter. You’re not the first person to call me that.”

I thought about Syl. He’d said I was a Hunter, and it was who I was not what I did.

“Yes, I suspect many people have tracked you,” Dan replied. “My coup, as you call it, saved you, Kelsey. The former head of the Council was a man named Louis Marini. Two days before he was killed, he signed an order to have one Kelsey Atwood brought to France under Council supervision. You would have been kidnapped, brought to the Council, and trained to do what you were born to do. You were sixteen and something had triggered your power a few months before. The Council watched you from the time you were born.”

The night in the woods with my father had been the first time I’d felt the power. My fear and rage that night had been a catalyst. It had been a turning point. “And what was I born to do, Your Highness?”

The doors at the end of the hall opened, and Dev Quinn stood there impatiently.

Daniel wouldn’t be rushed. “You were born to track and kill demons here on the Earth plane. It is what Marini would have trained you to do. It is what Hunters have done for millennia.”

The room got cold as I realized the impact to Gray and me. How was he going to take the news? Would he be angry? And there was still one last question I had.

“Are you trying to tell me my father is a lone wolf? My father hunted and killed wolves. He hated wolves.”

“All of those things are true about John Atwood,” Daniel allowed. “But John Atwood was not your father as I will prove when we go before the Council and have your protection declared.”

I stopped as he tried to lead me into the Council chamber. I didn’t want to go in there. If I went in that room, everything was going to change. My whole life was going to change. “I want to call my fiancé. I’m getting married in three days. I want Gray here.”

The king’s face hardened. “He’s on his way, but I don’t think you’ll like the reunion. He has a lot to answer for. Now it is time to go. Don’t worry. It will all work out and you will be well taken care of. I promise you that.” He pulled me along, and I entered the chamber where my life would change forever.

The Council chamber was a large, intimidating room dominated by a huge semicircle of dark wood that functioned as a desk. It’s a little like a big old courtroom and five judges sit above it all. There was a place in the middle that was empty and plenty of seats in the back of the room. Nate, Jamie, and Liv were sitting in the gallery seats. Jamie was facing away from Nate, a sure sign he was pissed. Zack sat next to the blond wolf named Neil and his gun-happy Goth boyfriend, who I still kind of wanted to injure heinously. Dev Quinn sat next to the beautiful redhead from the photo in his office. She winked at Daniel as we walked into the room and then caught my eyes and smiled encouragingly.

I really didn’t care. I wanted Gray. No matter what the king said, I wanted Gray here.

“Gentleman, madam,” Daniel addressed the Council. “This is Kelsey…Atwood, for now. She’s the woman in question. Kelsey, allow me to introduce the Council. You know Marcus Vorenus, of course. He represents Vampire. To his left is His Royal Highness Declan Quinn, Prince of Faery. Yes, it’s his twin.”

The man who looked exactly like Dev Quinn sighed. “Finally, Daniel, some interesting business. You’re quite pretty. Whatever shall we do with you?”

“You’ll have to pardon him. He’s an ass,” Daniel said, continuing the introductions. “John McKenzie, he’s the alpha for the North American pack.”

McKenzie was roughly forty-five and his face was as hard and unforgiving as one would expect from a man who led that many werewolves. His hair was cut in a military style and he had the bearing of a general. “Damn, Donovan. She’s really his daughter. I can smell it from here. Wish the old guy was alive because I’d love to see him try to handle this one.”

“Chris Hancock, he’s the leader of the panthers and holds the shapeshifter seat,” Daniel said as he moved down the line. “Esme Reynolds represents the witches, and Sir Ronald James speaks for human interests.”

“Good evening,” the older Brit said with a nod of his head.

“Now,” the king began, “Will Jamie Atwood please stand?”

Jamie complied, standing readily, his green eyes confused and wary. “I want to know what’s going on, Your Highness. If my sister killed a wolf, then she was defending herself.”

Daniel nodded. He turned back to the Council. “I move to declare the killing of Darren Castle to be righteous. Ms. Atwood was defending herself. All in favor?”