Chapter 98

Chapter 98
Mae PoV

The car ride to the edge of town was painful, real fucking painful, not because Dren tried to talk me out of meeting with the hunter council, but because he was overly supportive. Like worryingly so. Maybe it was because I simply wasn’t used to it, but his attitude was giving me anxiety.

“I think you’ll manage to come to some sort of agreement, you’re smart for your age.” He said, eyes on the road.

“Maybe.” I say, choosing my words carefully, “but the council don’t mess around, whatever they want, it’s big.”

“I don’t think for one second that you’ll give any of us up.” Dren murmurs, glancing at me for a brief moment, “but just remember that we’ll be listening closely for any sign that you’re in danger.”

In other words, ‘be careful what you say because we are listening.’

Nothing like being threatened before I walk into the lions den.

“Don’t worry.” I say, my voice harsher than I intended. “I know how to protect myself; I’ve never been defeated before. If it comes down to a fight, I can handle it until back up arrives.”

“Good.” He says, his own voice strained. “Because it’ll take some time for us all to get there.”

Dren pulls over in a small car park, turning off the engine and lights, and for a few minutes we just sit there silently in each others company.

“You should go.” He finally says, handing me a map and a torch. “They won’t like it if you’re late.”

I nod, opening the door, “keep Mihai away unless I absolutely need your help.”

“I can’t make that promise.” He laughs coldly, “you know how he is.”

I do, and that’s the problem.

If he blows everything, we’ll be back to square one, and I don’t think we can best the hunter council, not even with an army.

I watch as my brother drives away, knowing he won’t be far, but also feeling very much alone. I’ve already lost one brother in this war, I don’t want to lose another.

I don’t know Dren very well, but he’s the closest thing to family I have left, and he’s trying to bond with me. Maybe I shouldn’t be so hard on him, but I’ve been burned once before by a brother, and I don’t want to go down that road again.

“Ok Mae, you’re on your own.” I say to myself, opening the map and looking it over.

Dren had circled the point where I need to be when the moon rises to its apex, and by the looks of it, he got me almost the whole way by car.

I’d be forever grateful for that if I wasn’t absolutely bricking it. I should be panicking around about now, but I’m not. It may be because I’ve dealt with the council before, or perhaps it’s because I know how to handle myself if things do go wrong. Either way, I have never been good at feeling the right emotions at the right times.

The walk was actually quite nice down the abandoned road. No cars passed me. No people around. It was almost Peaceful. Almost.

But I knew what was coming was going to shatter all of that, and maybe I would walk away from this meeting with my head. Even still, I would make sure that I show courage, even in the face of death.

I’m not going to give them the satisfaction of seeing me afraid. And I sure as hell won’t let them see me cry, never again. It happened once. When I was around ten years old, and I swore it would not happen again. Not even in my darkest moment.

The road was dark now, so dark I couldn’t even see in front of my face, that’s where the torch came in, even if I felt stupid for using it. I’m a born Nati for gods sake, I should be able to see in the dark.

Though I guess my body is still changing, I’m not fully there yet, Mihai said it would take time, but how much longer do I have to wait? It’s starting to really bug me. I want to be able to do what others can. I want to grow even stronger so no one would be able to catch me by surprise again.

I see fire in the distance, and right away, somewhere deep in my chest, I know that it’s them. They’re already here, waiting for me.

I turn on the earpiece before anyone can see me, “can you hear me?” I whisper into the night, “I see them. I’m going to approach.”

Mihai’s voice comes back a second later, “we hear you, be careful. Don’t make any risks.”

The sound of his voice brings me a surprising amount of comfort, but it doesn’t stop the tremor in my hands or the sudden weakness in my legs.

I can know I can handle this and be shit scared at the same time. It’s only natural, especially when facing a force as formidable as the hunter council.

Two men approach me as I get closer, I don’t flinch, I don’t immediately fight them, I wait. They don’t come at me with weapons, and I won’t do the same.

The letter laid out the rules, I was to come unarmed and I did exactly that.

I don’t need a weapon to kill.

“Mae, we are here to search you.” The first one says, and though it’s hard to see his eyes in the dark, I see that he’s a human breed.

I can almost sense it.

Human breeds have the strength of a vampire, without the bloodlust. They’re essentially walking weapons.

The second man is human, as far as I can tell.

I hold out my arms, showing that I’m not a threat, “you can search me.” I say softly.

They’re not the reason I’m here, if they don’t attack me, I won’t attack them.

They search me quickly, and wave me forward, “the council are waiting for you.” The human breed says, giving me a small shove on the bottom of my back.

I’d snap at him not to touch me, but I don’t want to start conflict, not yet.

As I approach, I see familiar faces, three council members have come. But there’s someone else, someone standing just behind them.

Nathanial. The man who raised me.

What the fuck is he doing here?