Huntress

Chapter 79

"That is a massive accusation," Ajax stated, his body tightening. "What proof do you have? What evidence is there?"

These people had become my family in their own disastrous way. But now, when I looked at the poised Keiko, all I saw was the blood thirsty woman who had my nails pulled out one by one. Could they have really done that? Could they have exterminated an entire species off the face of the earth? When she had wanted to hurt me, her people had let her.

No, not Ajax and not Keiko. Even Hades with his crimson eyes and deadly powers was not violent and vengeful at his core. Defensive and occasionally impulsive is the worst that I believed they could be.

"They would never do something like that," I protested, my voice filling the room before I could decide against it.

All eyes turned to me then, the king's and queen's included. Had I known back then that all these creatures existed, I might have wanted to hunt them all down like trophies to keep, just on the off chance that they could hurt humans, that what happened to my parents happened to someone else. But with every pair of eyes on me now, I didn't feel so brave.

"And who are you, dear human?" the alchemist asked, cocking his head to one side with a simple curiosity, like he hadn't just accused someone of genocide.

"She's a werewolf hunter. Or was, until she found out that she was mated to one. But even with the mate bond destroyed, she has chosen to remain sided with us," Ajax rambled.

If the king was angling for distraction, it didn't work. The pretty MC – whatever she was—regrouped and rerouted the conversation. "She is no concern right now. Nigel, please explain what has happened to your people. Please tell us how you know that it was the werewolves that are responsible for this."

The man seemed to flicker once just as I blinked. My throat constricted. Was I about to pass out? Is that what this was? I placed my hand on Ryder's thigh, an anchor keeping me whole. His hand came on top of mine, steadying me.

Nigel, the accusing alchemist, met Ajax's cool gaze and began, " We were never strong in numbers. As we all know, my breed has trouble reproducing as many of us do. We are able to give potions of fertility and love, but seldom allowed to have such things in our life. It didn't take the werewolves long to slaughter us, one by one. Like the sirens. Rounded up like cattle."

"And why would we do such a thing?" Keiko demanded, a hitch in her voice.

"Why has any war been waged, sweet Keiko?" Nigel prompted. "Power."

"That is absurd!" Keiko protested. Her hands were clasped together in her lap, knuckles white.

"Stephanie, Quinten, grab them," the MC ordered.

Two massive beings appeared out of seemingly nowhere. Stephanie was a stunning woman, so tall with broad shoulders that I was certain she intimidated most men. Quinten was equally massive with hands that seemed large enough to wrap around my skull and crush it with one single squeeze. I didn't need to know what they were to know that I needed to be frightened of them.

"Alright, alright." Ajax rose from his chair. Though he was doing his best to maintain normalcy, there was certain jerkiness to his movements as he stepped around a couple guests, moving towards the hulks that were acting as security. "This is a huge misunderstanding at best and a blatant lie at worst, but I am perfectly fine with being locked up for a couple days while this is sorted out."

He turned his back to the two enforcers, clasping his hands behind his back. His chin was held high, something that could have been read as amusement in his eyes.

"And you, Queen Keiko, will you come willingly?" Quinten asked.

Ajax whirled around, eyes alight with something I had never seen in him before. "I have tens of thousands of community members that rely on our leadership. I have given myself up. You can hold me in a cell all you like, but we cannot leave the community without leaders. I go. Keiko stays," he ground out.