other answer.
“Of course.”
I guess the hunt just began.
KHALID
The city is still mad, but it gives us cover to slip to the other side and try to reach out and learn if anyone saw anything without the council being alerted. I’m betting they have bigger things to deal with right now, but they won’t catch this necromancer. I felt their power, and it was stronger than any I have ever felt…stronger than even me or my brothers’ magic.
It was pure power, and it was evil. Its eyes are set on this world, but why?
My life has been dedicated to stopping evil and those intent on hurting innocents in hopes of protecting my mate. Yet here I am, with her at my side, hunting down the biggest monster I have ever felt. And I wouldn’t have it any other way. Together, we stand a chance of stopping whatever this is before it gets too bad. And it will get bad, I know that. I can feel it, the purpose in the air, and the world is holding its breath. Maybe this was coming all along. Maybe the Librarian was right.
The world will end.
Can we stop it in time?
And when we do…what then?
Remi leads me to a warehouse where strays hang out. Apparently, they are the best for information on what’s happening on the streets. They are a misfit band of random shifters, vamps, hell, I even smell a fucking troll in here as we step inside. The overwhelming stench of unwashed supes and blood fills the air, making my nose crinkle, but Remi doesn’t even hesitate. I watch her, following closely behind. We have barely spoken. She agreed to help me hunt the necromancer, but the space between us is tense. Damaged. All because I flipped when she brought up my past.
It took me by surprise. My mate has every right to ask, but I wasn’t ready, and she’s right—I’m not over what happened. My first response was to hurt her, to make it stop, and now I might have ruined the budding trust between us.
She moves through the big, abandoned room to a door at the back, which is painted a peeling, rusted green. She knocks, and the slat slides open before eyes peer through, only it’s at the bottom of the door. With a grunt, it slides shut and opens to reveal a dwarf. “Fuck you want, hunter?”
“Nice to see you again, Freddy.” She laughs and pushes past him. He grumbles, his body vibrating with magic, while I just stare. It’s not often you see them in public, and Remi seems familiar with him. He looks back at me and glares.
“Who’s the pretty boy ginger?” he snarls.
“Don’t be jealous, Freddy.” She sniggers and nods her head at me. “He’s helping me out, come on.” She turns the corner at the end, and I slide past the glaring man with a grin and follow after her.
I hear him mutter something, and then the door shuts, but I’m too busy gawking, because after turning the corner, I’m greeted with what I can only describe as a mansion. It’s filled with riches, sofas, TVs, and even trees. There is an environment for every stray. Pixies float on a tree. Fae curl up on some fur beneath it. There’s a bear shifter in a den in the corner. A vamp on the sofa with what must be his blood bag. They are all getting along and don’t seem to notice as we come in.
“What is this place?” I ask in shock.
“The place where the unwanted come,” she informs me, looking around with a smile. “I never shut it down because they aren’t hurting anyone. They are just finding some place to belong,” she murmurs, and I glance at her to see her eyes far away. “I know how that feels.” She turns and heads up some stairs without another word.
Swallowing, I trail after her with only a backwards glance. She wanders along the top of the warehouse, passing closed doors. I hear noises behind some, but I choose to ignore it. If my mate trusts these people, so will I. After all, they haven’t hurt us yet. They may be lost, ferals and strays…but maybe they aren’t all so bad. Maybe they are just alone and searching for their place like me… Like her.
She knocks on a door at the end, and before anyone can answer, she pushes it open and strides inside like she owns the place. I follow her, shutting the door,