Page 70 of Their Rejected Queen

If I survive this, I’m killing you first, I vow.

An arrow whizzes past my ear, making me flinch.

I hadn’t even seen it. It came out of nowhere.

A scream sounds from behind me, and I glance back long enough to see one of the vampire hybrids now holding an arrow that’s shot right through his eye.

How is he not dead?

Fear skitters up my spine as another arrow sails past me on the other side.

Whether or not the arrows are being aimed at me, or at the royals pursuing me, I decide to make myself less of a target. I dive into the forest and zigzag through the trees.

The snarl of a wolf echoes, making my legs go weak.

I have a feeling Godric has joined the fray.

Another screech sounds from behind me, quickly followed by the snap of bone and then complete silence.

I stop running and dive behind a bush and wait.

Ze’ev drops down in the small clearing, making my eyes widen. I’m about to jump on his back and beat his stupid head with my fists when a massive wolf with a coat of bronze emerges.

The hunter doesn’t seem afraid of the huge beast, even when he snarls, twists onto his hind legs, and shifts with impressive speed.

I’m left staring at a very naked Godric, who seems to have been crafted by ancient gods determined to make the most perfect creature in existence.

“I can smell her fear,” Godric snarls. His teeth are still enormous, but he managed to speak. He scans the bushes. “Where is she?”

He can’t spot me. That’s odd.

Ze’ev is out of paper, so he can’t very well give Godric a note. Instead, he tilts his head and smiles.

That only seems to piss the Alpha off.

He storms up to the Outcast and wraps his hand around his throat. His nails are still extended with claws, and they leave bloodied marks on Ze’ev’s neck. “You promised she would be returned to me. Although, I didn’t expect her to trust you. I expected her to run again.”

I bite my lip.

This had all been planned?

And had I screwed up that plan by trusting the hunter instead of fleeing from him like I probably should have?

Ze’ev points a single finger at the bush where I’m hiding, confirming my thoughts. One of his abilities is making things go invisible. He could have hidden me from sight this whole time, including the first time I had been fleeing from Godric in the woods.

Damn it.

Godric releases the Outcast and shoves him away. “The deal is once a month. Same spot. You’ll teach her your skills. Don’t bring more vampires into the mix, or your throat is the next one I’ll rip out.”

Ze’ev doesn’t respond. Instead, he matches my gaze as if he has no trouble seeing me.

He gives me a wink, making my stomach flip.

I’ve seen that wink somewhere before. But where?

When Godric starts manhandling the bushes, I step out before he tears my arm off with one of the branches.

“I’m right here,” I tell him as I shield my eyes. “Can you, um, put on some pants or something?”