The hunters’ occupation of The Shade was a dream come true for anyone with a deep-seated hatred for vampires and I was keenly aware of it. I could practically feel the hatred oozing out past their veneer of calm confidence. It was a matter of time before things turned out for the worst. I would be a fool to think that they wouldn’t capitalize on the power they had over the vampires of The Shade.
Soon after our first council meeting at Vivienne’s penthouse, the hunters had taken over the Residences. They wanted the vampires to retaliate. They wanted a valid reason to harm the vampires of The Shade. They were just waiting, prodding, allowing the tension to increase.
I walked past a group of hunters as I made my way along the cobblestone pathways of what was left of the Vale.
“So this is The Shade.” Zinnia, a young hunter whom I’d mentored, began walking in stride with me. “This is what you left our cause for.”
“You know why I left our cause, Zinnia. I did it for Sofia and Sofia alone.”
“So you admit it.” She tucked a loose strand of her blue-streaked, shoulder-length hair behind her ear. “You have left our cause.”
I chuckled as I waved at one of the humans from the Catacombs manning one of the stalls at the Vale’s main market, or at least what was left of it. They were making a valiant, but rather shoddy, attempt to rebuild what we’d lost at The Shade after the Elder’s devastating attack. “A cure has been found, Zinnia. You and I know that changes everything. Perhaps you should be asking yourself what exactly your cause is.”
“Revenge. Hasn’t that always been a hunter’s cause? We can talk about the big picture all we want, but the only reason any of us ever became hunters was because vampires took something—someone—from us. And we want them to pay.”
“So what are you proposing now? What do you intend to do? Spend your whole life chasing after vampires—none of whom are personally responsible for your loss? And what happens when these vampires turn back to humans? What then?”
Zinnia shifted her weight. I was getting to her and I knew it. I couldn’t blame her. After years of devoting oneself to a cause, it was difficult to have what you were fighting for seem meaningless.
“What happened to you? You were the infamous Reuben. Ruthless… merciless… devoted to our cause.”
“Again with this cause. Revenge is not a cause, Zinnia. It’s a controlling obsession. It accomplishes nothing.”
“That’s not what you taught me.”
“It’s the truth nonetheless. Most of what I taught you was born out of hatred. I found a better way, a higher cause.”
“Go ahead. Preach it.” Teeth gritted, Zinnia glared at one of the vampires nearby. “How can you stand them?”
“Sometimes I can’t, but I remember that my daughter risked her life too many times to make a home out of this island, so I convince myself not to compromise everything she worked for.”
Zinnia was about to say something, but was silenced by the sight of Vivienne and Xavier making their way to us. Worry was traced in the countenance of the beautiful vampire.
I took a step forward, ignoring the way Zinnia was seething over the idea that they’d found the largest, most influential vampire coven in history, and there was nothing she could do to ruin it.
“Vivienne?”
“Natalie just arrived at the Port. She’s badly wounded.” Vivienne’s gaze lingered on me before she shuffled her feet nervously, glancing at Zinnia.
“I thought the hunters shut down the Port.”
“For a catch like Natalie Borgia, do you really think they wouldn’t re-open it?” Vivienne narrowed her eyes at Zinnia.
“They’ve taken her to Corrine’s,” Xavier added. He paid little heed to the spunky hunter beside me.
Zinnia raised a brow, never one to enjoy being ignored. “Take us to the witch’s temple then. Hurry, vampire. We wouldn’t want to miss what your messenger has to say, would we?”
Xavier’s steely eyes shifted from Vivienne to Zinnia. His fists clenched tightly.
Though Vivienne didn’t quite have Derek’s authoritative temperament, she still had fire in her. She was still princess of The Shade and in her eyes, Zinnia was a brat threatening her home and everyone she loved. Her face hardened.
I could tell that Xavier was just waiting for one word from the princess. Should it come to that, I had no idea whose side I was going to take. Despite our current differences, Zinnia and I had history. She was like a daughter to me.
Xavier took a step toward Zinnia.
I wasn’t a huge fan of the teenager at that moment, but I didn’t want to see her mangled either. She was one of our most well-trained but she stood no chance against vampires as powerful as Xavier or Vivienne. The hunters’ strength was always in the element of surprise, strategy and cunning. She had none of those at the moment. I gave her a quick glance and saw nothing but defiance. Did I train you to be this way? A complete fool?
To my relief, however, Vivienne’s shoulders sagged and she heaved out a long sigh—probably to reel her temper in. “Take her to the Sanctuary, Xavier. Aiden and I will soon follow.”
Xavier’s jaw twitched. He was clearly not happy, but he had no choice but to obey.
Once left alone, I studied Vivienne. “What’s going on, Vivienne?”
“Something’s wrong, Aiden. I’ve had a bad feeling all day and then Natalie shows up and…” Stark panic was in her eyes.