Ripper (Hunter #1)(112)

He held out his hand for me. I wanted to reject it. I wanted to tell him to f*ck himself, but I wanted his warmth even more than that. I’d listened to everything he said about trainers and Hunters, and while the idea of having Marcus be my personal Cesar Millan rankled, I also found it tempting. What if I could feel love without the presence of a love spell? What I’d had with Gray had been the best feeling of my life. It had been like seeing the sun after a lifetime of rain. I still felt it. I didn’t know how long the spell would last, but I didn’t want it to go away. Even if the pain was heartbreaking, it was better than the dull fog my life had been before it.

“The arena is covered in sand,” Donovan explained as he walked us toward the elevator. “It’s best you go in barefoot if you aren’t used to fighting in it.”

“Is Castle used to fighting in it?” I asked.

Donovan’s blue eyes were hooded with concern or maybe plain irritation. I couldn’t tell. Things hadn’t gone according to plan, and I had the feeling not many things had the nerve to go against Daniel Donovan’s plans. “No. The arena is where we train new vampires. Castle wanted the fight to take place in the wolf compound in Denton, but technically you belong to Vampire according to ancient laws concerning Hunters. Lone wolves aren’t popular in the wolf world. It was easy for the previous councils to claim ownership of them. I have the right to determine where you will fight since he chose the weapons.”

“Shouldn’t I have been the one to choose where to fight?” I asked curiously. “Or Marcus? He is my patron.”

“And I am your king,” Donovan stated firmly.

I snorted. I really had to stop that. It was neither feminine nor pleasant, and yet Marcus always smiled when I did it. Donovan wasn’t as amused.

We got into the elevator and Marcus’s hand played with mine. “And where would you choose, cara mia?”

“Starbucks. I could use a Frappuccino.” My stomach was grumbling. I really should have taken Donovan up on his offer to get me something. “And one of those little cookies. Maybe a bunch of those cookies.”

Marcus chuckled. “I promise to feed you properly after you have defeated the alpha and, I suspect, the two betas.” He slid a glance to the king. “Am I wrong, Your Highness?”

The king shook his head as the elevator plunged downward. “No. By accusing the alpha, she accuses the pack. Yes, he is insisting she fight him and his two betas. I didn’t want to scare her.”

No, because I hadn’t been scared at all. “And I don’t get any weapons?”

“I managed to negotiate with McKenzie on that point,” the king said. “You’ll be allowed to use cesti.”

I had no idea what that was. “Yay me.”

“It is a glove used by gladiators in Roman times,” the king explained as the doors opened and I was assaulted by the sound of people chanting. We got off the elevator and we seemed to be backstage, so to speak. Above me, the ceiling seemed to rumble and shake with sound. The arena seating was over my head and from the sounds of it, the place was packed.

“Kelsey?” Zack Owens held a large box in his hands. His face was tight as he walked over to us. “It seems like every wolf in North Texas made it. I found what you needed in the armory. I got the smallest pair we had, and we’ll still have to tape them on.” He stared down at me and I wondered what he saw. I was a five foot six, one hundred twenty pound female in clothes that didn’t quite fit and no shoes. I was sure I came off as pretty pathetic. Zack turned to the king. “Damn it, master. Let me take her and run. She’ll get torn apart out there.”

“It’s her choice, Zack,” the king said.

“Yes, now it is her choice,” Marcus interjected with a bitter flair. He eyed the king. “You have given her no say in anything that is to happen to her up to this point, but it is her choice to fight the alpha. Perhaps you and Devinshea will get everything you desire, Your Highness. You will have quelled the wolf rebellion by allowing such a valuable asset to honor their traditions and, if she dies, you can get rid of me as well. Your precious family will be safe from me once I am gone.”

The king shoved his hands through his short, dark blond hair. “Damn it, I am so sick of being in the middle of this. I have no problem with you, Marcus. I have no problem with any of it. You think I don’t remember what I felt the first time I met Z? I was eight years old and I knew I was going to spend the rest of my life with her. I don’t begrudge anyone that, but I can’t get Dev to understand. I don’t want you dead, Marcus. You’ve been my friend, my freaking father half the time. I can’t stand having you look at me the way you have the last two years, but what do you want me to do? He’s my partner.”

I took a step back, not quite understanding the conversation, but feeling so wretchedly jealous of the queen I could hardly stand it. She had three men fighting over her it seemed. I only wanted one, but even he had been an illusion.

“I apologize, Daniel,” Marcus said solemnly. “I don’t agree with you on the way you have handled Kelsey. I also do not wish to put you in a bad position. I withdraw from the Council. Henri can take my place until another election can be held.”

“Marcus,” Donovan said, practically pleading.

“It’s for the best. I will return to Venice,” Marcus explained as my heart fell. “I have been gone far too long. If it helps, I have no intention of acting on any impulses I might have. Your family is safe.”