Page 77 of Hunt Me

“What was I to do, Ezra?” she asked, heading to the cookery. She required sweets to tamp down her anxiety. She had three days to prepare for the challenge in the city center for Night Falls to bear witness. She was confident in her ability, but nothing in life was certain, and she’d bet her favorite dagger Duchess Marquis wouldn’t fight honorably.

“Oh, I don’t know. Not agree to fight to the death and break his fucking heart!” Ezra snapped, frustrated with her selfishness. She had no idea what her death would do to Luka, and he didn’t know if he could watch his friend suffer in agony for another century.

Matilda whirled around and confronted him. “And what would you have me to do? Settle for me to be his concubine?”

“It’s not as bad as you make it sound. He wouldn’t love her. She’d be his wife in name only.”

“And how long would Queen Alaria Alesi allow that to go on?” Ezra glanced away, but she wouldn’t let him off that easily. She chased his eyes with her own and begged the question again. “Huh? How long would it be until she had me assassinated? A night? A fortnight if I’m lucky?”

“We could keep you safe.”

Matilda scoffed. “Send me and our child to live secretly in some faraway land?”

Ezra registered the pain in her voice, but some things couldn’t be helped. “Tilda… you have to think about the baby,” he whispered. “Sometimes being a parent comes with sacrifices.”

“What would you know?” she spoke quietly.

“My mother sacrificed herself for me on the battlefield so that I may live to fight another day.”

Matilda discreetly wiped away a tear before continuing her journey to the galley. “Luka said you are quite a formidable opponent.”

“I suppose.”

Matilda nearly groaned when she caught sight of the blueberry muffins cooling on the sill. She took the largest and ripped the cap off before shoving it into her mouth. “He mentioned something about a war hammer and what else?”

“Spear.”

“Wonderful. You will train me on the spear.”

Ezra balked at her reckless suggestion. “I will do no such thing.”

“It’s my best option. It’s lightweight and easier to wield than a sword. Plus, I can force her to keep her distance. I will meet you in the courtyard for training. I must change out of these diabolical robes.”

“Wait! I didn’t agree to this!” he called after she abandoned him in the cookery.

Matilda searched for her lover, high and low, until she found him in the throne room.

“My goodness. You’re a tough vamp to find,” she said pleasantly as she approached the morose man who sat on his jeweled and gilded throne.

“I didn’t want to be found. Where is Ezra? He should be with you.”

“He is preparing for our training.”

He snorted. “You’re going through with it,” he said accusingly.

It wasn’t a question but an obvious statement.

“What would you do if you were in my place?”

“Not be so cruel and selfish.”

“Did you stop to think for a moment that perhaps you’re the cruel and selfish one?”

“Don’t twist this on me, huntress,” he spat.

“Oh, I’m huntress now? Just last night, you loved me, and I was yours. I see that your love is conditional.”

“Stop. Just stop,” he demanded, frustration growing.