Chapter 6

T he next day passed uneventfully and quickly. Typical, considering that I was dreading the evening to come. By the time I got to the chapter house to shower and change, my stomach was in knots, and I doubted I’d be able to eat a damn thing at this dinner tonight.

The hunters’ carriage sat in the drive, which meant that either Hemlock or Ordell was inside waiting to drive me to Branwood.

I went straight to my room to shower and change, grabbed my sword, then headed down to the kitchens, where I was pretty sure I’d find one of the hunters.

Rumbly voices met me in the passage to the kitchen, and I entered to find both brothers at the table with Edwin and Padma.

The conversation, or argument, if the tone was anything to go by, stopped as soon as I entered.

Padma’s face was red and Edwin’s jaw tight, and the hunters looked just as tense. I hadn’t seen either of them for more than a moment here and there the past two weeks.

They’d kept their distance, and I’d taken my cue from them, because like hell was I going to force my company on people who obviously didn’t desire it. But seeing them now, seated at the table in the same spots that they’d been that first morning at the chapter house, brought a pang of nostalgia and longing to my chest because, try as I might, I couldn’t stop caring about these men. Even though it seemed that they’d had no difficulty in curbing their feelings for me, if they’d even had any real feelings to begin with. No, that was a lie. Ordell and I had connected way before they thought I was Arabella reborn, and the mate mark…that was all real. So how could he be so distant now?

I shoved the thoughts in a box because now was not the time. “What’s going on?” I looked to my team for answers, but it was Hemlock who replied.

“Your friends were just educating us on how to treat you.” His tone had an edge of mockery which instantly had my back up.

“Oh? And how should you be treating me?”

“Better,” Ordell growled. “We should treat you better.” At least he sounded sincere.

Damn, I loved my team, and as much as I appreciated their sentiments, there was no need for discord. “Guys, Ordell and Hemlock haven’t treated me badly. I mean, I’ve hardly seen them the past couple of weeks.” I winced internally at the way that came out.

Pure ammunition which Padma didn’t hesitate to utilize.

“Exactly!” she said. “Before Ariella came along, they were always hovering on the sidelines, joining us for meals, appearing to pick you up and take you places. They acted like more than guardians, they acted like friends, but now we hardly see them.” She glared at the brothers. “Fine, so you don’t want to be friends anymore, but you were hired by the Order to watch over her. Do your fucking jobs.”

Ordell flinched, but Hemlock’s expression hardened. “Our job is to protect her from Ezekiel, who, as you might have noticed, is no longer a threat to her. If she accompanies him to an event, then we will be there to watch her back, not from the vampire king, but from his enemies. Other than that, we have no obligation to her.”

His words were like a fist to the gut, and my pain must have shown on my face because Ordell cursed softly, his gaze meeting mine, filled with apology. But I didn’t need an apology for something that was so obviously true.

“Hemlock’s right.” I smiled tightly at him, my heart cold and still in my chest. “We have no obligations to each other outside of our commitment to Ezekiel. So how about we get on the road, hmmm ? I’m sure he won’t appreciate tardiness.”

Hemlock tucked his coin into his pocket and stood. “Good idea.”

“Am I to assume that you will no longer be needing accommodation, then?” Haiden asked coolly from the stove. The hunters looked over at him in confusion, and he smiled, hard and unforgiving. “If the vampire king is no longer a threat to Miss Lighthart, then there is no reason for you to reside at the chapter house. You can accompany her to events as needed. I’m sure you’ll find accommodation in Old Town.”

Hemlock’s eyes narrowed to slits, and it looked like he was about to unleash, but Ordell stepped in with the smooth grumbly voice that always soothed me, even tonight when all I wanted to do was scream at them both and ask them what I’d done to deserve such cavalier treatment.

“We have Order authority to use the residences,” Ordell said. “But if we’re not welcome, then?—”

“No.” I lifted my chin. “Of course you’re welcome. The Order shelters those who serve it.” Edwin made a sound of disgust, but I pressed my hand to his shoulder. “We all have a job to do, so let’s just focus on that, shall we?”

“In that case, I’ll get the carriage ready.” Hemlock strode out of the room, but Ordell lingered, his conflicted gaze fixed on me.

I smiled thinly. “I’ll be out in a minute.” It was a clear dismissal which he took with grace, ducking his head and following his brother from the room.

“How can you stand it?” Edwin asked. “They were all over you a few weeks ago and now…Urgh.”

“They have what they need to save our world, and I’m not essential any longer. They’re just doing what they need to do, and we should do the same.” The fact that my team knew about Loviator and Ariella and the danger we faced if Ezekiel’s curse wasn’t broken made living through it easier. I had their support. People to talk to, to turn to. I was glad I’d made that a condition of helping Ordell and Hemlock. Glad I’d set boundaries.

“But the fact they’re here is stopping you from coming home,” Edwin said.

Had I been avoiding the chapter house because of the hunters? Had Kaster been an excuse? No. “I enjoy spending time with Kaster, but I promise to be here more often.”

“Well, as long as it’s not because of them.” Edwin jerked his thumb at the door.

“It isn’t. I swear it.” I ruffled his hair. “Now I really should get going. I’ll see you guys in the morning.”