Chapter 0438

"He expected you to show up." I inform her. "If anything, he was irritated that you didn't. He has enough syringes loaded with drugs to eliminate more than just this pack. He could potentially turn every single one of us Human."

"Did he intend for it to wear off so fast? Was that part of his plan?"

"I doubt it. He appeared genuinely shocked when he noticed the drugs had left my system. That's why he stabbed me."

"It's because he's a Hunter." Luc shrugs casually as if stating an obvious fact.

"What does that change?"

"Seriously, Mister Research." Luc rolls his eyes dramatically. "You've mapped her entire bloodline for centuries, yet you never bothered to investigate your own heritage?"

"I've been slightly occupied."

"You heal quickly, correct?"

"I suppose. I always considered it luck."

Luc gives another exaggerated eye roll. "You're a Hunter. Despite how wrong that title feels for you. Hunters heal fast. We recover like Alphas because we're our own breed. Have you ever seen me injured?"

"That's why the drugs didn't last in his system?" Athena scowls.

"Exactly."

"But there's more you should understand about Hunters." His eyes scan the surrounding area cautiously. "Perhaps we should continue this inside."

He motions toward the door and Athena enters first. She leads us into the office and takes Alexander's chair behind the desk. "Well?"

"This is information I never imagined would be relevant."

"Just say it, Luc." I snap impatiently. I'm exhausted and need rest to clear my thoughts.

"If you haven't researched yourself, I assume you know little about Hunters in general?"

"I never needed to. Usually when I ask, you tell me what I want to know."

He perches on the edge of the desk, much to Athena's visible irritation. "Hunters don't exclusively hunt Rogues."

"What?"

"Actually, that's not entirely accurate. Some Hunters don't hunt Rogues at all."

"What are you implying?" Athena demands. "Because I'm clearly missing something."

"It doesn't help when Luc insists on being theatrical!"

"Look who's growing a backbone after making a successful kill!" He smirks.

"LUC!" Athena warns sharply.

"Fine. You spent days with Levi. What did you learn?"

"He's completely unhinged!"

"Anything else?"

"We're mated!"

"Are you certain about that?" Luc raises an eyebrow skeptically.

"He bears a mark with my initials."

"Does he now?"

"He showed me."

"See, that's where things get interesting. Witches do have marks."

"The mark displays their mate's initials. Yes, I know. I lied and gave him a false name, but I don't think he believed me."

"That's not entirely accurate."

"That's what you told Alexander. You said the mark evolves into their mate's initials over time." Athena frowns.

"I said I believed that, but now I'm not so sure. Otherwise there would be more Witches around, and he'd likely be mated to another Witch to preserve bloodlines."

"Luc, just say it plainly. These cryptic answers make me want to rip out your tongue!" Athena glares darkly. Or perhaps it was Nyx emerging through her darkened eyes. When did that start happening again?

"So I've been wondering why you're unaffected by Lycans. In fact, you're insatiably curious about them, which disgusts me slightly. But regardless, you're a Hunter. There's a reason you withstand Levi's nonsense. That mark he showed you? I don't believe it's a mate mark. He's still half Lycan. Clearly he wasn't raised to understand this. I think I was wrong. I believe the initials belong to his destined killer, not his mate."

"What?" Athena presses urgently. I couldn't tell if her shock came from Luc admitting error or from his revelation about me.

"Theodore isn't just any Hunter. He's a Witch Hunter."