Chapter 12

CHAPTER 12

HUNTER

H unter felt the weight of the darkness as soon as he stepped out of the Range Rover. There had been no visible sign, but the heavy feeling of doom—there was that word again—had descended almost immediately and only got worse as they crossed the threshold into the abbey. The oppressive magic clung to the air, thick and cloying, choking off the benevolence and light that had always been a defining part of this place. He could almost feel it wrapping around him, dragging its claws through his mind like an insidious fog, clouding everything with the stench of danger and deceit.

His senses were on high alert, his muscles tense with the knowledge that something was deeply, dangerously wrong. The abbey had always been a place of sanctuary—a space where the forces of good, of balance, were upheld. But now, with the presence of the witch and the vampire—and perhaps even the fae-shifter—it felt as though the very foundation of that peace was crumbling beneath their feet.

Colby stood beside him, his jaw clenched, his body radiating tension. The lynx-shifter clearly felt it too, even though he wouldn't say it aloud. Colby shot Hunter a sidelong glance, his mouth twisted in a scowl.

"I don't like this," Colby muttered. "Never thought I'd be in a position where I had to invite a vampire into this place—much less two."

Hunter kept his expression neutral, though he shared Colby's sentiment. To protect the sanctity of the abbey, they'd kept it sealed against all threats—especially vampires. Now, out of necessity, Colby had been forced to grant the vampire prisoner access, as well as Hunter.

"Don't worry," Hunter said, his voice low and steady. "You put him in the dungeon. It's not like he'll be wandering the halls."

"Still," Colby grumbled. "Feels wrong."

It was wrong, but they had no choice. The vampire they'd captured wasn't just another rogue. He was a key player in whatever dark scheme was unfolding, and Hunter intended to get answers, no matter what it took.

They moved quickly down the stone corridor toward the abbey's dungeon, the echoes of their footsteps bouncing off the cold, hard walls. Colby had the vampire secured in one cell and the witch in another, each at opposite ends of the dungeon, far enough apart that they couldn't use whatever twisted magic had linked them together.

As they reached the heavy iron door leading to the dungeon, Colby hesitated, his hand on the latch. "Adriana cast a protective spell around both the vampire and the witch's cells," he said quietly, his eyes flicking to Hunter. "We should be safe from whatever magic she tries to throw our way. But if the vampire gets wind of it…"

Hunter nodded grimly. "He won't. Not if I can help it."

Colby pushed the door open, and they stepped into the dungeon's cold, damp air. The smell of earth and old stone greeted them, a stark contrast to the malevolent magic that hummed just beneath the surface. Hunter could sense the dark energy seeping from the witch's cell, pulsing against the protective barrier Adriana had erected.

Colby led the way, stopping at the vampire's cell first. Inside, the vampire sat casually against the far wall, his wrists bound with silver shackles, the gleam of the metal biting into his pale skin. He looked up as they entered, his cold, calculating eyes narrowing as they locked onto Hunter.

"Back for more?" the vampire sneered, his lips curling into a smug smile. "Or are you just here to gloat?"

Hunter didn't respond immediately, his gaze steady as he assessed the situation. The vampire was playing a game, but Hunter wasn't in the mood for it.

"We're here for answers," Hunter said, his voice flat, no room for negotiation. "You're going to tell us everything about the ritual, the witch, and what you were trying to accomplish with the fae-shifter."

The vampire laughed, the sound hollow and mocking. "You think I'll just hand over that information? Please. You don't understand the game you're playing."

Hunter stepped closer to the bars, his expression hard. "I understand more than you think."

For a moment, the vampire's smile faltered, a flicker of unease crossing his features. But it was quickly replaced by his usual arrogance. "You're wasting your time. I won't break."

"We'll see about that. I have a wolf-shifter friend in New Orleans who happens to be acquainted with some demon-hunting fae who I'm sure would like to know what you and your friend are up to," Colby growled.

"These are nice," said Hunter, eyeing a small table they'd set up for the interrogation—an assortment of silver-tipped tools and weapons meant to extract the information they needed by any means necessary.

"Thank you. Some of them are very old, and Adriana tells me have been imbued with some really powerful forms of white magic, some of which are so old that they blur the line between extracting justice and vengeance."

The vampire's eyes followed Hunter's movements, but his confidence didn't waver. Even so, he ignored Colby and focused on Hunter. "Do what you want. I'll tell you nothing."

Hunter leaned closer, his eyes narrowing. "You won't have a choice."

Before they could begin, a loud crash echoed down the corridor from the far end of the dungeon. Hunter's head snapped toward the sound, his instincts immediately on high alert.

"Damn it," Colby muttered, dropping the tools back onto the table. "That's the witch."

Hunter's jaw clenched. Of course, it wasn't going to be that easy. The witch was no ordinary prisoner. They both knew her power, and despite Adriana's protective spell, the dark energy surrounding the dungeon had been growing more oppressive by the minute.

"We'll come back to him," Hunter said, shooting the vampire a sharp look. "Stay put."

The vampire only smirked, settling back against the wall. "I'm not going anywhere."

Hunter followed Colby down the corridor toward the witch's cell, the tension mounting with every step. When they reached her, she was pacing the small, enclosed space like a caged animal, her hands twitching at her sides. Though her mouth was closed, Hunter could feel the pulse of magic in the air, like a constant thrum that grated against his senses.

Adriana's protective spell shimmered faintly around the cell, holding the witch's dark power at bay, but it was clear she was agitated—and getting more dangerous by the second.

"We need to contain her," Hunter said, watching as the witch's fingers sparked with raw magic. "Before she finds a way to break through that barrier."

Colby cursed under his breath; his gaze locked on the witch. "Easier said than done."

As they tried to figure out their next move, Hunter's phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out, glancing at the screen—it was Brie.

"What is it?" he answered.

Brie's voice came through, strained with urgency. "Elyria is causing chaos in the main hall. Adriana is with her, but we need you to get here fast."

Hunter felt an unfamiliar tension coiled in his chest—the ghost of a feeling that had once resembled a heartbeat—something he hadn't experienced for centuries. The fae-shifter's awakening couldn't have come at a worse time.

"I'm on my way," he said, shoving the phone back into his pocket. He glanced at Colby. "You stay here. Keep an eye on them. I'll see if Adriana can help, and Mercy and I will deal with the fae."

Colby nodded grimly. "Be careful."

Hunter wasted no time, moving quickly through the abbey's winding corridors toward the main hall. Perhaps he should have gone to the fae first, but hindsight was always twenty/twenty. As he approached, he could feel the sharp, erratic pulse of fae magic rippling through the hallway, growing stronger with each step.

When he entered the room, the scene was chaotic. Papers and furniture were strewn everywhere, the air crackling with energy. The fae-shifter, was flitting around the room, her movements erratic, sparks of magic flying from her fingertips and the tips of her wings leaving fiery trails behind whatever they touched. Her eyes glowed with an unnatural light, wild and frantic, as she whipped her head around, searching for something unseen.

Adriana stood off to the side, her hands raised as she tried to calm the fae, but it was clear her efforts were failing.

"Elyria," Adriana called out, her voice calm but firm. "You're safe here. No one is going to hurt you."

But Elyria wasn't listening. Her magic surged, sending a gust of wind through the room that knocked over several chairs and scattered more papers across the floor.

Hunter moved forward cautiously, his presence drawing Elyria's attention. Her head snapped toward him, her glowing eyes locking onto his as she stilled, her movements suddenly freezing in place.

She cocked her head to one side, her nostrils flaring as she sniffed the air around him. "Unnatural," she murmured, her voice laced with disdain.

Hunter stopped, keeping his gaze steady. He wasn't surprised by her reaction. Fae were sensitive to the energy of others, and to her, he would feel like a perversion of life—a creature that existed outside the natural order.

Everyone in the room went quiet, watching the interaction between Hunter and Elyria. Adriana's eyes were wide, her body tense as she stood ready to intervene if necessary.

Elyria stepped closer to Hunter, her gaze narrowing as she studied him. "And yet," she whispered, almost to herself, "you saved me. It was you who came for me in the dark."

Hunter didn't move, didn't speak, letting her come to her own conclusions. There was no point in arguing with a fae about the nature of his existence. She would either accept it or she wouldn't.

Elyria's eyes flicked toward Mercy, who had been standing in the room just behind Adriana. Her gaze softened as she took in Mercy's presence, her head tilting again as if sensing something about her.

"You," Elyria said, her voice clearer now. "You have the soul of a fae."

Mercy blinked, clearly taken aback by the comment. "I—what?"

Elyria stepped back; her expression thoughtful as she continued to study Mercy. "I will speak with you," she said, her voice soft but firm. "And only you."

The room went silent, all eyes on Mercy as Elyria's declaration hung in the air.

Hunter glanced at Mercy, watching the way her face tightened in surprise, and then with purpose and fortitude. Whatever was happening between her and Elyria, it was important—maybe even critical.

"Adriana, Colby needs you downstairs," Hunter said without elaborating.

Adriana seemed to be able to read between the lines and, with a nod, left them.

Mercy took a breath and moved closer to the fae-shifter, her expression guarded but open. "All right," she said, her voice steady. "Let's talk."

Hunter remained where he was, his eyes following every move. The tension in the air hadn't lessened, but there was a shift—one that told him this moment was a turning point, a chance to finally get some answers.

And while he couldn't shake the growing sense of danger surrounding the abbey, he knew that for now, they had to focus on the fae-shifter and the secrets she held.

But the witch's presence in the dungeon, her connection to the dark forces swirling around them, lingered in the back of his mind like a storm waiting to break.