maggieveach@g*******m

Hunter's Choice Chapter 20 (This chapter contains explicit content. 18 plus only)

Chapter 20: Darkness Falls 

----------Julian's Perspective--------

I can't believe it. I failed. I completely failed. This was my last chance to save her from death. But now, she's gone back to that monster. I know he's seducing her, using her innocence against her. That villain!!! I'll kill him. And then I'll protect Cass myself. I'll keep her safe if it's the last thing I do. I won't give up. No matter how many times I fail, I will protect her. I will. 

I look on the castle from afar. I need to figure out a way in. The other hunters were slaughtered in an instant by those monsters. I barely escaped with my life. Not to mention, that forcefield earlier. How the hell can I get in? Everyone is on high alert. Wait a moment. I see a group of people entering the castle gates. What the hell?! I guess the forcefield is gone. Maybe it was temporary? Doesn't matter. I can use this moment to get in. I hop over the back gate and sneak towards the castle. I look around to make sure I'm not spotted. I see a back door. Perfect! And I here I thought it would be hard. Still, I need to get to Cass undetected. 

She's probably still recovering from her injuries. I'll need to carry her out. It'll be hard not to be noticed if I do that. And it's not like she'll go quietly. I guess I'll have to knock her out. Then get her back to hunterdom, there I can talk sense to her. Yeah. I just need to sneak in, grab her, escape and then all I have to do is convince her of the truth. Right. I sneak up the back staircase. I hear people talking. 

"Thank you for your visit, Council...." s**t! I need to move quickly. I'm losing time. I'm at the top and I see something whoosh through the hall. What the hell?! I dive into one of the rooms. Okay. I need to wait for the right moment. Then I can find Cass. You can do this. For Cass. 

--------End of Julian's Perspective-------

--------Mal's Perspective---------

My mate is fast asleep next to me. I am so wonderfully overjoyed at her words. We have come a long way. She used to hate me. Now, she loves me. She loves me enough to declare it in front of the Council. Oh yes, we have come so far. I am so happy. She is so cute when she sleeps. Her sun kissed hair lying on the pillow, her hands curled against her face. Her mouth open. 

"Mal." Hmm, she dreams about me. How wonderful. I flick a piece of hair from her face and she cuddles even more against me. How I love my mate. We really have come far. A knock sounds at the door. 

"Come in. Quietly." Charles enters and bows. 

"Pardon my intrusion, Master. But, the guards say they saw a suspicious character lurking the halls. I believe you are needed." Damn! I do not want to leave her. I am worried she will have nightmares. I do not want to wake her. I pull a piece of paper out from the bedside table. I will write her a note. She will understand. I finish my note. 

"Right." I quickly dress. I look back on my sleeping mate. Sleep well, love. I walk out the door. 

--------End of Mal's Perspective------

-------Cassie's Perspective--------

----Cassie's Dream-----

Mal is pinning me to the bed. My arms above my head and he's using his other hand to lift up my shirt. 

"Mal." He looks at me with lust filled eyes. 

"You are so beautiful, love. I promise I will take care of you, always." His hand moves over my breast. Hmm, I need more. 

"Please, I need more." He smirks. His fingers pluck my n****e. Kneading my bud until I can't take it anymore. 

"Please, Mal. Touch my p***y!" Oh my God. I can't believe I said that aloud. His hand shifts from my breast to in between my legs. He inserts one finger. Yes! Such bliss. Don't stop. 

"Cass! Wake up!" What the hell?! Who is that? 

-----End of Dream-----

I wake up with a jolt and there's Julian. What the f**k?!! I hop out of bed and take a defensive stance. s**t!!!! That hurts. 

"Please, Cass. Don't strain yourself. I know you're injured." 

"How did you get here? Hell, doesn't matter. You're going in a cell." I start to scream. He jumps and closes his hand over my mouth. No!!! 

"I promise, I'm not here to hurt you. I need to get you away from this place. From that monster." I see the steel enter his gray eyes. This isn't the Julian I know. No, I don't think I ever knew him. His hand is warm against my mouth. I don't want his hands on me. I don't want him touching me. I don't want this. I need to focus. I need to escape him. 

"I didn't want to wake you. But, I didn't want you waking up in the middle of our escape. I know you don't agree with me. Especially after our misunderstanding back at hunterdom. I promise you, I will explain it all. Forgive me." For what? He's done so much to hurt me. I feel his fist connect with my face. I can feel the darkness setting in. No!!!!! I can't.....fall. 

-------End of Cassie's Perspective------

-------Julian's Perspective-------

Dammit. I really hate hurting her like this. But, it's the only way. Right. I don't have much time. I carry her in my arms. I slowly peek outside the door. The hall appears to be empty. Perfect. I slip out into the hall. 

"Where the hell do you think you are going?" I turn around and there he is. His eyes are blazing and his fangs are out. Here he is. The monster. Why can't Cass see it? 

"I'm taking Cass out of here. Away from your evil intentions." I turn around again and there's another one. s**t!!!! 

"No, you will not. I will not let you. Now, put her down." Okay. How do I get out of this? He won't dare attack me while I'm holding Cass. Right? Hopefully I'm right. He doesn't want to hurt her. He just wants to use her. The bastard. 

"No, I won't. You can't hurt me. You might hurt her." He growls. Yep, just another monster. Cass is just blinded by his seduction. 

"Dada. Do I have permission to help?" What the hell? Behind him is a little girl. Wait, I've seen her before. She's that witch Cass saved. What is she doing here? Her eyes are shifting. 

"Yes, ma petite. On the condition that no harm comes to Momma and that he does not die. Understood?" She nods and smiles. What the f**k?! There's no way this kid can do anything to me. I feel my arms empty. What the f**k?! I'm pulled to the ground. I'm kneeling with my hands behind my head. How?!!! 

The girl giggles. "That was too easy. Is Momma alright?" I look up and see that monster holding her. 

"She appears to be fine. But I will have Charles look her over just in case. Thank you, Dani." 

"Of course! I will always protect Momma. I know you protect her. But, I can protect her too. Right?" She tilts her head. I don't understand what's going on. Cass can't be her Mother. It's not possible. 

"Yes, ma petite. Now, I need to deal with the threat. Can you take your Momma back to her room?" 

"Of course." The girl waves her hands and Cass is floating. What the f**k? She floats on pass me. I feel my head gripped and turned away. 

"I would be more concerned with your own fate. Because if she is seriously hurt, I will torture you within an inch of your life. Understood?" Typical. 

"I knew you were a monster. Cass is just blinded by your seduction." His eyes seem to flash. 

"You are wrong. If I were a monster, I would kill you in the most painful way possible. Instead, I am throwing you in our dungeon. Where you will await your true fate. Who knows how long it will be before it is decided." I feel a whoosh. What the f**k?! I feel dizzy. So damn dizzy. I'm thrust onto a cot. I'm in the dungeons. How did that happen so fast? 

"Enjoy your new home. Because this is all you will ever see again. Good night." He turns and whooshes out. f**k!!!! He's so damn fast. I can't even see him. I'm in way over my head. And what did he mean by my true fate? What on Earth is going on here? I just hope Cass is alright. I don't think I hit her too hard. Who knows if I'll ever see her again. I lie back on my cot. Nothing I can do now. Except wait. 

--------End of Julian's Perspective--------

---------Mal's Perspective----------

Please be alright, my mate. Please. I cannot lose you. Everything was starting to go well between us. We were just starting to come together. I cannot lose you now. Charles finishes his examination. 

"Well?" 

"I cannot tell, Master. She may have a concussion. Her other injuries seem to be healing normally. There is no additional damage to her stomach. We will need to keep a close eye on her." Dammit!!! 

"Thank you, Charles." 

"Of course, Master." He bows and leaves. I sit down on the bed. I cannot lose her. Her eyes are closed and they may not open again. No, I need to have hope. Cassandra is strong. She will pull through. She must. For I could not live without her. 

"Is Momma okay?" I hear Dani behind me. Damn. What can I tell her? 

"Momma is hurt. The bad man hit her on the head. Now she is sleeping to try and get better." Dani looks at me. She climbs up on the bed. 

"Come back, Momma. We need you. Please, come back. I love you." She kisses Cassandra's cheek. So sweet. So strong. Just like her Mother. That is right. Dani will need me if she does not survive this. I need to live for Dani. My mate has given me so much. I am so grateful for her choosing Dani as her child. Dani hops back down. 

"Don't worry, Dada. She'll wake up soon. Be patient." 

"Of course, ma petite. I love you." Dani smiles. 

"I love you too, Dada." She smiles and skips out. What a wonderful child. She deserves our love. She needs our love. 

"Please, love. Come back. I need you." I kiss her on the lips. Maybe it will be like the fairytales, maybe she will wake up. 

Her eyes open. 

----------End of Mal's Perspective-------

----------Cassie's Perspective---------

Motherfucking ow!!!! I thought I was hurt before. I was wrong. My head is f*****g killing me. I see Mal and he looks so relieved. 

"Hi. What happened?" He hugs me. 

"Oh love, I am so happy you came back. Please do not ever leave me again." Hmm, feels good in his arms. And yet, it hurts. 

"I love you. But, I need to lie down. I'm hurt. Bad." He sets me down gently. 

"I am sorry, love." 

"It's alright. So, what happened? Last thing I remember was Julian." Oh God! Julian touched me. Who knows what he did to me while I was unconscious. No, I don't even want to think about. 

"It is alright, love. He did not touch you. He was carrying you in his arms when I apprehended him. Dani and I took care of him and you." Wait, what?!

"Dani was there? Is she okay?" 

"Yes, without her I would not have been able to retrieve you. I owe her for that. Our little girl is quite wonderful." Phew. I should've known. She's strong and fierce. She's a fighter. 

"Yeah, she is. So....where is he?" 

"In the dungeons awaiting your punishment. I know you need to heal. And so, there he will wait until you are fully recovered." 

"Thank you. I want to personally beat the s**t out of him." 

"I know, love." His eyes flame. Hmm, he's so sexy. I press my lips to his and he responds. His tongue wrapping around mine. So good. Ow. Dammit. I pull back. 

"Sorry. Kinda hurts. I hate this. I want to kiss you." He laughs and it bounces around in my heart. 

"It is alright, love. I can wait. Though, I am glad you will miss kissing me." 

"Cocky bastard." 

"Yes I am." He smiles. So beautiful. 

"I love you." 

"I love you too." Ow. I really need to rest. I can feel my eyes closing. 

"Dammit. I need to rest. I really hurt." I slip into darkness. 

-------End of Cassie's Perspective------

End of Chapter 20