The Huntress : The Alterealm Series Book 1

Chapter 81

Shaking my head, I glanced away from the huge map of my neighborhood and looked over at Michael. “If you look at where the alley is that we beat them down in and follow it back to the club, there’s a lot more places to look than just my neighborhood.”

Moving away from the papers he’d been flipping through, he came over and crossed his arms and looked at the marked map. “We thought of that too, but so far no luck anywhere we check.”

“Can Clairee or any mage do something? Like a seeking spell or… whatever?” I really had no idea if that was even possible, but hey it was worth a shot, right?

He rolled his eyes in my direction, looking bored. “Don’t you think we haven’t thought of that? They can find anything.”

I bit my lip. “Is it possible a spell is hiding them?”

“More probable than possible.”

I went over and leaned against the desk, scowling at the map on the wall. “So someone that can see through Marcus’s hoodoo needs to go looking.”

Michael’s back stiffened but he didn’t turn. “It could be the reason we aren’t finding anything.”

Victor came into the room and just stood there looking from one of us to the other.

I took a deep breath and pushed away from the desk. “I can go start checking places out…”

Michael spun and glared at me. “Absolutely not.” He ran a hand through his hair looking crazed. “Troy would have my ass if I allowed such a thing.”

I shrugged. “As the huntress it’s my call, not his.”

Michael turned and looked at Victor, hoping for back up.

Victor looked down at his hand like he needed to examine something on it. “She is right,” he said calmly.

Moving with stiff motion back to his desk, Michael sat down and shook his head. “I am so not telling him.”

I glanced between the brothers for a moment, wondering what I’d missed while being away. “Isn’t it my job to track him down? Why would Troy care how I have to do it?”

Michael snorted out a weird noise. “Oh, I don’t know maybe the fact that you’ve turned from Chase narrows down the options to only him…”

Going over I slammed my hand on the desk. “First, I haven’t decided a damn thing! Second if it’s my choice I could choose neither in the end.” I spun and looked at Victor. “I could choose Victor if my heart desired and no one can say a word.” Victor looked like I’d just stabbed him in the chest rather than used him as an example.

He cleared his throat. “As interesting as all of this is…” He glared at Michael like it was his fault. “I was sent by Mitz to get you, my Queen.” With a hesitant expression, he looked at me and then to the floor. “It seems you have a dress fitting.”

Completely disarmed I straightened and gave him a wide-eyed look. “A dress fitting?”

He nodded quickly. “The kings have decided the welcoming dance is to happen in two days, before we go to battle again or some other incident postpones it and Mitz is in a huff because they aren’t giving her enough time...”

They couldn’t have shocked me more if he’d announced the Easter bunny was waiting in my room. “Really? We’re putting Marcus on hold to play dress up?”

His lips quirked, but he didn’t smile. “It seems so.”

I looked from Michael, who was intently studying the floor, back to Victor who looked too amused for his own good. “We’ll see about this.”

I stomped all the way to Troy’s office and went in without so much as a knock. Chase was standing beside his desk. They both turned, looking surprised to see me.

“Great, just the men I wanted to see.” I paused long enough to check out Chase’s face to see if his injuries were gone. They were. “What is this crap about having a dance when we should be out there tracking Marcus’s ass down and locking him in a box in Timbuck-fucking-too?”

Chase gave his brother an odd look. “I told you she wasn’t going to let it slide quietly. Although I expected time to escape before she got here.”

Troy stood up, giving his brother an annoyed look. “Colorful description.” He tucked his hands in pockets and stared at me. “Everyone from Alterealm is getting more restless by the minute, a dance in celebration of the arrival of the long-awaited Huntress may help to reassure and strengthen our subjects.”

I stood there glaring at him, noticing Chase stepped back out of the path of our eyes locked together. I really, really didn’t want to admit he had a point and could be right. That would have pissed me off more. “In two days?” He inclined his head in that aggravating regal way. “Fine. In the meantime, I’m going back to my side. Michael and I have figured Marcus is hiding their location with magic…” Troy visibly tensed. “…and because it doesn’t work on me, I will be able to see through it.”

Chase stepped back beside his brother. “What about your strange friend, I was told she can see through it too.”

I sent him my best death look. “If you met Crissy, you wouldn’t even suggest something like that.”

Troy leaned over the desk. “I agree with that, bringing anyone else into this more than your friend already is, would be a mistake.” He paused and took a deep breath. “What are you suggesting, Daxx? That we allow you to…”

I stepped over to the desk and leaned so my face was a few inches from his. “Allow? Did I miss something? Am I servant now? Or maybe you’ve adopted me and are my new dad?” Chase hissed out a breath and lowered his head without a word.

Troy looked confused. “No, you are neither a servant nor my daughter…” A lethal look appeared in his eyes as they bordered on turning red. “Your safety…”

“Is. Not. Your. Problem.” I pushed away and paced, trying to resist the urge to smack him. Hard. “I am in charge of what I do and my own safety. Period.” I spun back and glared before he could reply. “Stands equal with the thrones ring a bell here?” Glancing at Chase, I could see he sided with his brother on this, but he was apparently a lot smarter and knew when to keep his mouth shut.

Troy’s jaw snapped shut and he straightened to study me for what felt like hours when it was probably just a few seconds. “We will…”

Shaking my head, I crossed my arms over my chest. “Not be coming with me. I’ll take someone with me, but I am choosing who.”

Troy looked to his brother, silent communication taking place. Turning, he inclined his head again. “Very well. Who?”

I chewed on my lip, trying to decide who would be the easiest to work with. Any one of the royal brothers would drive me nuts right now. “Tim.” I said with a nod.

Chase’s eyebrows rose.

Troy frowned. “Who the hell is this Tim? Your first words while lying there bleeding out was concern for him.” His eyes were red now.

Chase tucked his hands in his pockets and gave me an amused look. “Tim is the guard whose life she was protecting when she was hurt. He was her personal guard while she was on my side.”

Troy’s jaw clenched as he studied his brother for a moment. “Is he to be trusted to protect her if she almost died protecting him?”

Something close to being offended crossed Chase’s face. He didn’t like his brother doubting his decision making. “He is the most skilled of all my guards. When Daxx was hurt the circumstances were unpreventable.” He looked at me for a second, regret filling his eyes. “They are very in sync with each other during a fight.”

Troy stood there, looking down at his desk. “Very well. Tim will accompany you while you search out Marcus’ location.”

I wasn’t entirely sure what just happened, but I’d take it. “Great. Now apparently, I have to go have a friggin dress fitting …whatever that is.”

With an amused glint in his eyes Chase looked me up and down. “I’m sure Mitz will dress you in good taste.”

I sighed. “Yeah, that’s what I’m afraid of.” With a cold glare at Troy, I turned and walked out of the room. I couldn’t even remember when I’d been in a dress last, but it must have been when I was a child because I didn’t even own a dress that I knew of.