Ripper (Hunter #1)(111)

“Cara,” Marcus began.

“No,” I said, moving away from him, turning to the queen. “Tell your husband he can go to hell. I won’t be treated like a dog. He can’t order someone to adopt and housebreak me. I’ll stay in this f*cking cell or he can put me down humanely, but I won’t go with that Henri person.”

“You’ll go with who I tell you to go with.” Donovan opened the door with a wicked frown on his face. A shorter man in a suit came in behind the king. He stared at me, wariness on his attractive face. “I’m doing this for your own good, Kelsey. Don’t you interfere, Z. If I allow her to walk into that arena and she gets killed, you’ll never forgive me. Henri, persuade her to walk into the Council chamber and take back her accusation.”

The blond guy named Henri narrowed his eyes as he concentrated his will my direction. A rush of power sizzled across my skin as he attempted to get me to do his will. He was strong, much stronger than Michael had been. He was stronger in this way than the king, but he wasn’t anything close to Marcus. The impulse was right there. My legs wanted to move. I wanted to rise and do exactly what that voice ordered me to do. I would walk into the chamber and tell them I made the whole thing up.

My feet hit the ground and I saw the king relax. He thought it was going to be all right. That was what really did it. I pushed through because I didn’t intend to give the king what he wanted. That slight smile gave me the strength I needed. I shoved back at the magic invading my limbs. I pictured that wall in my head and slammed it shut with everything I had.

“Hell.” Henri staggered back. He put his hand to his forehead as I climbed back on my bed.

Just to piss the king off, I slipped my hand back into Marcus’s.

“She shoved you out?” the king asked, frustration evident in his voice.

“Yes. That was very unpleasant,” Henri complained. “I’ve never had that happen before. I would like to avoid it in the future.”

“She’s extraordinarily strong,” Marcus said and I heard the satisfaction in his voice. “Don’t feel bad, Henri. She almost managed to shove me out the first time I tried. With training, she will be able to.”

“Fine,” the king said, gritting his teeth. His Texas drawl got worse when he was angry. “Marcus, if you get her to take back the accusation, I’ll let you train her.”

“And she would never trust me again,” the Italian replied, letting his arm wind around my shoulders. “I won’t bend her to my will. I will, however, give her something to think about. You’re good at invoking rights tonight, Your Highness. Perhaps I should invoke one of my own. I am the oldest vampire walking the Earth plane. You have placed her under the protection of the Council. I invoke my right to be Kelsey’s patron.”

The queen’s jaw dropped. “Marcus, no.”

The king let his head drop back and a groan came out of his mouth before he looked back at us. “This f*cking night is never going to end. Hell, if you think it’ll work, I’m willing to give it a try. I’m out of options. You’re betting a lot on her, Marcus.”

I pulled away from the vampire who, it seemed, claimed some right over me. “What does he mean?”

Marcus flashed a secret little smile. He reached out and gently touched my cheek. “He means I do not wish to live in a world that would grind you into dust, cara mia.”

“He’s your patron, Kelsey.” The queen’s perfect pale skin seemed whiter than before. “If you’re killed, the alpha will demand Marcus’s head and Daniel will be forced to give it to him.”

“My fate is tied to yours,” Marcus put succinctly.

“Motherf*cker.” I was going to have to kill another damn wolf.





Chapter Seventeen





“Take it back,” I growled, standing on my toes to try to look the vampire straight in the eyes.

“No.” Marcus smiled infuriatingly. He was enjoying this. I tried to remember that the first time I’d seen him I felt his terrible sorrow. Now, there seemed nothing but amusement and a willingness to see what happened next.

“I don’t want you to be my patron,” I swore.

“I don’t want you to die in the arena.”

“I am not taking it back, Marcus.” That decision had been made in Helen Taylor’s backyard when she’d asked me for justice. I’d promised. I had nothing left but my word.

He lifted a shoulder, elegantly showing me his lack of concern. “Then you will fight, but you will fight for my life as well as yours.”

The door opened and we stopped the argument we’d been having for the last fifteen minutes. Once I’d started yelling at Marcus, the king and queen had taken it as their cue to leave. Now the king was at the door again.

“It’s time,” he said grimly.

I stared up into Marcus’s beautiful, serene face. He didn’t look like a man terrified of dying. He seemed like he would accept anything fate offered him. He’d tied himself to me in a fundamental way, and I knew I couldn’t let him down.

“Maybe I’ll decide two thousand years is plenty of time to live,” I warned him, though I knew I was only talking tough.

“Not quite two thousand,” he corrected with that mysterious smile.