Dawn of the Hunters のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 41 - チャプター 50

LENEVE It was pouring down rain. In the distance, I could see the chard remains of the Tree of Life. It burned all day and night, the flames only going out once the rain had come. Absently I lift my hand to my neck, feeling the mark that now rested there. Was I happy I had been fully claimed? Yes. It’s what I wanted. Except did Rhett only do it to save my life? If I hadn’t swallowed the poison that almost killed me, would he have claimed me? The little voice in my head said no. It was his beast that had given me his mark, not Rhett. At least now I knew why he hadn’t wanted to mark me. He had been wronged and it had left a nasty taste in his mouth. It made me feel slightly better knowing it wasn’t me but something else that had turned him off from the idea of marking a mate. Since I had recovered from healing Oliver, my mind had been in a fog. I was still a little pale and shaky. The dark magic I had siphoned was powerful, beyond what I could fathom and beyond my own powers. It was

LENEVE Like a goddess, a vision of pureness and all that is good stood the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. Almost white, her hair fell in curls down her shoulders, and her violet eyes gleamed with powerful magic. Our eyes met and a connection formed. My dark magic reached out toward her, and I felt the pureness of hers seek me. Like kindred spirits, invisible threads wrapped around each other. Like long lost friends our magic twined and embraced one another. A puff of air left my mouth as I felt her mind probe mine. I saw the confusion in the light witch's eyes as if it had taken her by surprise too. The dark-skinned wolf with long black hair by her side growled. I could see him look between us as his eyes began to shine a beautiful golden color, then turning black. Just like Rhett’s the dark eyes held a flash of white in the center and I knew he was one of the Queens four knights. The tension in the room became thick, our magic stifling the air and the worry of her mate and

RHETT “The blood moon is in two days.” I give Travis a painful look and raise my sword, ready to spar again. “Don’t remind me,” I say, twisting to the side as he plunges his weapon towards me. I spin, knocking his back with my shoulder. “Rhett, it must be done.” Travis turns with a sweeping motion, his leg catching mine. I fall to the floor, dust licking the air from the heaviness of my body. “How are you okay with what I’m meant to do?” I stand back up dropping my guard because I don’t feel like sparring anymore. “Seriously, I can’t do it. There is no way I can stab you in the heart.” “I rather it be you than anyone else.” He tells me honestly, now dropping his sword to his side. “Well, that’s the catch. No one else can hold the dagger. So, if I don’t, no one will.” Well, no one but Travis, my thoughts take me back to the way he easily held the dagger, unlike Oliver. It sounds so good in my head. If I refused what was said to be my destiny, then there’s no way it could happen.

RHETT I spent the rest of the morning with Leneve and Angelica, watching as they played and laughed. So many new feelings were surfacing, and I hoped this would be a new normal I would be navigating in the near future. Two weeks ago, if someone had told me that I was Lycan, not half-wolf and there was a beast hidden inside me. I wouldn’t have believed them. If someone had told me I would meet a second chance mate, one I didn’t want, and one I would end up falling for more with each passing day; I would have laughed and told them to take a hike. Yet here I sat on the damp grass watching the two females who held my heart play chase. Leneve was genuine with her reactions; she wore her heart on her sleeve, and I’ve noticed she doesn’t hide her emotions well. So, the way her face lit up when Angelica smiled, made me smile. I caught myself as my lips curled up and my changing expression froze. I can’t remember the last time I smiled. The last time I enjoyed a moment in the day. Minus whe

RHETT Like a black cloud tension hung in the air. MacTire palace grounds and its people were eerily and unusually quiet than normal. The atmosphere was thick with a forlorn vibe that passed from one shifter to another. It was no longer a secret what was going to happen once the moon rose tonight. Whispers could be heard, the warriors gossiped, and the palace keepers mumbled protests under their breath. No one was happy about the deed I was meant to perform tonight. Least of all me. I thought I could keep my mind off the pending events by ignoring them. It had worked up until now. “Damn, I bet you are the most hated shifter in MacTire right now,” Mason says with a mocking tone. I shoot him an annoyed glance as we make our way to the training grounds. I thought maybe some light sparing would keep my mind focused on something other than stabbing my best friend. “He probably is.” My smile is weak as Tawny struts across the field in our direction. “I mean shit, Travis is loved by every