Rise Of The Hunters: A Seven Sons Novel (The Immortal Huntress Book 5) Read online

  Rise Of The Hunters

  The Immortal Huntress Book 5

  Kelly Hall

  Laurie Starkey

  Michael Anderle

  BrixBaxter Publishing

  Contents

  Description

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Continue the Saga

  Author Note

  About Seven Sons

  About The Author

  Copyright

  Description

  Rebekah is picking up the pieces of her broken home while

  secrets surface about everyone’s beloved mage.

  With Kayne making good on his promise to take Liam to safety, it’s only a matter of time before he comes to collect.

  But when Rebekah finds that Liam has been given to Fiona, will it mean all bets are off?

  There is a book that can answer Rebekah’s questions about her life. There is only one problem. It’s written in the Angelic language.

  And Aziel is paying for disobeying Michael.

  Rebekah still has more than one enemy to destroy. Can she depend on her support, or will the uprising of the Fellowship destroy everything she has worked so hard to accomplish?

  Chapter 1

  The day had dawned with fog, and the salt from the sea hung heavy in the air over Rebekah’s castle home. Standing in front of her north tower window, she stared out at the rubble—what was left of the south tower—as though any minute, Ignis could poke his head from the fallen stones and yell out April Fools.

  Only it wasn’t April, and what had happened just hours earlier as dawn broke over the horizon was no joke or laughing matter.

  Katie Kelly, the bright-eyed better half of Canter Jackson was dead. Her body rested in the chapel on a slab of marble as if the cold of the stone could preserve her forever.

  There was a commotion from down below, and Rebekah made her way to the stairs to find Frankie and Timms in a heated discussion.

  “I’m going, Mary Frances! Now you can either help me, or I’ll stagger down, but I must say a blessing over the girl as soon as possible.”

  “I’m not arguing with you, Randall. I’m simply telling you that this could wait until after your medicine wears off and you’re not as dizzy and nauseous.”

  Rebekah walked down and knocked on the wall beside their open door.

  Frankie lifted her head with surprise. “I’m sorry, Rebekah. Did we disturb you?”

  “Not at all. But you waste your time arguing with this man, Frankie. He’s going to go to her. I should have prepared you for that, and I’m sorry.” She had a feeling duty would call to the priest, and he’d feel the need to step in where Katie’s soul was concerned.

  Frankie waved her hand dismissively as she steadied him with the other. “Make no apologies. I had a pretty good idea of it myself. And I would like to cleanse Katie’s body and prepare her in something more fitting for her final travel.”

  “I’m sure that Canter would appreciate that.” Rebekah hated to see the young man losing his mind and prayed that once the services were complete, he’d start to heal.

  “He’s been with her since I’ve heard,” said Frankie, who knew the pain of that loss firsthand. It had been difficult not to think of Merik at a time like this, with so much mourning around her.

  Rebekah nodded. “Yes, he’s not left her side. He has to be exhausted, but he won’t sleep. And while we hunters have incredible endurance, he still needs to rest.”

  “He’ll be fine,” said Timms. “He just needs to get it out of his system. And speaking of.” He reached for the pills that Frankie was trying to tuck into her pocket. “I’m done with this medicine. I’m healing just fine, and the pain is not anything I haven’t been able to withstand from battle.”

  “I just wish the doctor could have given you something that didn’t make you sick.” Frankie turned toward Rebekah to explain. “This is the second prescription, and he’s not tolerating it any better.”

  “It doesn’t stop you from making me take one when I wince a little. I’m fine, so promise me you’ll stop nagging me about it?” He knew she cared, but she was going to care him to death.

  “Only if you stop calling me a nag,” she said. “I’m concerned for you. There is a difference.” Frankie was worried that they were growing tired of one another during his convalescence. They had been stuck in a room together for days. She offered support and administered medicine while he was dealing with a bum arm, a concussion, and a lot of frustration. It proved trying, to say the least.

  “I’m sorry, love.” He took her hand, and then they followed Rebekah down the hall to the stairs where they remained quiet until they walked out into the courtyard.

  Father Timms turned toward the ladies. “Could you two give me a moment?”

  Rebekah turned and stood near a bench where Jarreth and Delilah sat looking at the dreary sky.

  “It’s like the weather knows how we feel,” said Delilah, whose face was still soaked with tears. “I can’t even believe this is happening.”

  “I know,” said Jarreth, planting a soft kiss to her temple. “It’s a nightmare for us all, and I can’t imagine how it must be for Canter. I want to do something for him. I just don’t know what.”

  “All we can do is give him space and time,” said Rebekah. “You know, this is the one thing about immortality that doesn’t ever get any easier.”

  “It makes all of our strengths seem rather useless as well,” said Jarreth.

  Rebekah looked toward the church, and while Frankie had followed Timms to the door, she had waited outside, filling a pail of water from the outdoor spigot. Now, as he stepped out and waved her in, she walked over to the chapel to join him. “They will take care of them now.”

  “I’m glad those two are here. They should know what to do. I keep feeling like I’m going to say or do something to make it all worse.” Delilah wrapped her arms around her middle. “I still can’t believe Aziel is gone too. I’m not sure he will come back this time.”

  Jarreth cleared his throat. He had known about Aziel making a deal, and he had a feeling this was precisely what the angel had been talking about. “I don’t expect him to.”

  “It’s just not fair losing him too.” She leaned closer to Jarreth, taking comfort in his warmth.

  Rebekah had a sinking feeling. She’d lost not one, but three people in a matter of hours. Four if she counted Liam, who had gone with Kayne the night before. “I don’t think it’s about what’s fair, Delilah. Death is never fair.”

  “What will happen to Katie now?” asked Delilah. “Are we going to lay her to rest here?” She figured that Canter would want to keep her close. But then it might not be up to him, since they were not yet married. />
  She looked at Jarreth, thinking of how horrifying it would be if she ever lost him. A breakup was tough, but when something like that happened, there was always hope of getting back together if you wanted to torture yourself with it. With death, there was no hope.

  Rebekah took a deep breath, feeling her nerves rattle as she tried not to think on the phone call she’d had to make or the sound of Katie’s mother when the reality that her little girl would not be returning hit her. The wail that had come from the woman’s throat broke Rebekah, and she was certain it would haunt her until her dying day.

  “No,” she said. “I haven’t spoken to Canter, but she had a family back in the states. I called them about an hour ago, and they want her there with them. She’ll be taken to the nearby academy after we say our goodbyes, and then they’ll handle the transfer for me. I’ve already spoken to their commander. He’s going to make sure she’s shown the utmost respect and receives proper services.”

  Delilah wiped her tears. “This sucks. We should be planning her wedding, not her funeral. She and Canter were perfect together and so in love. He’s never going to be the same again.” Her voice cracked as more tears slipped from her eyes. She sniffled and then wiped her nose on her sleeve. “You can see it in his eyes. It’s like a part of him died with her.”

  Jarreth couldn’t help feeling responsible, and he pulled Delilah closer. “He’s had it rough enough in life without all of this. In a way, I wish I’d never encouraged him to go for it. I should have left well enough alone with him and let him be miserable. At least she was alive.”

  Delilah nudged him. “Don’t say that. If she had to go, I’m glad it was while she was in love and happy.”

  Rebekah felt the emotions building up inside of her to the point that she had tears in her eyes again. She quickly wiped them away and tried to keep her composure. It wasn’t that she thought her tears were weak, but she felt she needed to stay strong for her hunters.

  “Are you okay, Rebekah?” Jarreth reached out and placed his hand on her arm. “You don’t have to be strong for us. We’re all a mess, and I’m sure it’s okay for you to join us.”

  She gave him a half-hearted smile to put him at ease. “Yeah, I know. It’s just been a long morning.”

  “Yeah,” said Jarreth. “It can’t be easy with Ignis turning on you like that.”

  The tears came so quickly from Rebekah’s eyes that she didn’t have time to wipe them before they rolled down her cheek. Ignis had been her family, best friend, and confidant, and while she mourned the loss of Katie, she mourned the loss of him as well.

  “Forgive me,” she said. “It’s come as a great shock to me that he would betray me after all of this time.” How could someone who had been with her since birth do her that way? And while she had never thought he’d be so vile and wicked, she had seen it with her own eyes. And all because of what? That she let Canter go digging into the library? Was that so unforgivable?

  There had to be more. What other lies had he told or secrets had he kept? She realized that she had only had his stories from his past to rely on, and suddenly, she wondered why a mage had sought refuge on Earth in the first place.

  Ignis had told her the story of he and Talia, how they had come to the Earthly realm together. He’d also explained how they had been unable to stay together here once they had learned that his magic was not going to work the same as it had back home, and Talia’s life depended on her being in her habitat.

  “I don’t think she wants to talk about it,” mumbled Delilah.

  Jarreth met Rebekah’s eyes with a look of sympathy. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be insensitive.”

  The look only made her feel like a fool. She should have known better than to trust anyone. Even her own father, a man she loved and respected had borne her out of secrets and lies, and she had come into the world unclaimed, though not unwanted, and was forced to live a lie in order to keep her family safe.

  What had been in it for Ignis, other than refuge?

  “It’s okay,” she said, knowing that it was so much worse than they could know. Especially if she couldn’t try and work out some kind of deal with the mage.

  “Well, not really,” said Jarreth. “I hope we’re going after him, is all I’m saying.”

  “Stop it,” said Delilah. “Now is not the time to talk about revenge.”

  Rebekah couldn’t believe that it was Ignis they were talking about getting revenge on. It just couldn’t be so. It was too much of a nightmare. She took a deep breath and felt like a part of her chest had cracked open with a burning pain. Her heart was breaking, but more than that, she knew she could lose everything.

  Just then, Frankie stuck her head out and waved Rebekah over. “I should go and help,” she said as she stepped away. She had to make herself useful, or she’d fall apart. She didn’t want to do that in front of Canter. By the time she made her way across the courtyard to the chapel entrance, she made sure her face was free of tears, and she had squared her shoulders and stiffened her jaw. She couldn’t let him see her cry. She didn’t deserve to cry when Ignis was her friend, and she had been the one to bring him into Canter and Katie’s lives.

  As she walked into the room, Canter did not look up at her. He busied himself brushing back Katie’s hair, and then he planted a kiss on her forehead. Then he stood with Father Timms, who led them to the back room of the church.

  “They were going to give us a little privacy,” said Frankie as she knelt down and undid Katie’s top. “I had hoped you could help me dress her. I don’t want to lift anything too heavy, and it’s simply not decent for the men to help.”

  Rebekah had not helped prepare a body in ages. And then, her hunters did not get bathed or redressed for burial. Many were lucky to get their own hole when Ethan was around. He’d have the remaining hunters dig a huge pit and toss the men in like they were nothing. As for after he’d gone, she’d usually had others do that sort of thing for her, making sure each hunter had the proper respect they deserved and their own private burial.

  She saw that Frankie was having trouble with Katie’s top as she struggled with the buttons which only went halfway down the front. Rebekah took Stella out of the scabbard on her hip and knelt down to cut the buttons away.

  “This might make things go a little faster,” she said, moving the blade gently. She didn’t think that Katie would mind.

  Frankie’s eyes widened. “Yes, it does. Thank you, Rebekah. I didn’t want to send her to the other academy or home in these blood-soiled clothes. And we should probably bandage her wound.”

  “I’m sure her family will appreciate you doing this.” She had never seen how strong Frankie was until this moment when Katie’s soiled clothing was removed, and Frankie dipped the washcloth into the water and gently washed away the dirt and blood from Katie’s face.

  Frankie shrugged. “It’s all I can do.” She was careful to mind the wound, and soon, the water was reddish brown, and Katie was clean. Her skin had a pale, greenish tone, and her lips were turning blue.

  “Do you think that will do?” she asked.

  “Yes, I’m sure it will.”

  “I found her ceremony robe,” said Frankie. “She had it packed up. Canter said she had planned on having her wedding dress made from it.”

  “So many huntresses do,” said Rebekah. “I think she’d like that.”

  Frankie nodded. “And there I was certain the next death would be Liam’s. I wonder how he is doing?” Her face twisted as if she were about to break down.

  Rebekah placed her hand on the woman’s back. “I’ll go and check on him soon. When things settle down. I promise.”

  “It’s just too much loss. Liam, Aziel, Katie, and I know you’re hurting about Ignis. I’ll keep you in my prayers, Huntress.”

  She wasn’t sure how much of a comfort the words were, but she gave an appreciative look all the same. “Thank you, Frankie.”

  She turned her eyes down to Katie, and they rolled her on her si
de and slipped the toga around behind her. One more turn in the opposite direction and they had Katie dressed. Frankie pulled the robe around her and cinched it tight. Rebekah helped to straighten the fabric and then got to her feet.

  That was one deed down, caring for the dead. Next was the aftermath. The reality of it all wasn’t getting any better.

  She was going to have to hunt Ignis.

  Chapter 2

  Rebekah sat at her desk staring across the room at a drab painting of a bouquet of sunflowers she’d received on her birthday decades earlier. It had been a gift from Ignis and a way to remind her that she wasn’t always right.

  Decades before that, Ignis had tried his hand at painting when they were in Arles, France, and even though he was convinced that his friend had given him great lessons, Rebekah knew the two spent most of their days drunk and bickering, their redheaded tempers clashing horribly. Thankfully, the man—Vincent if she recalled correctly—wasn’t around long. He had gone crazy, and apparently, cutting off his ear was the last straw for Ignis, who still claimed the man had stolen his ideas. “Relax,” she’d told him. “It’s not like anyone will remember the drunkard. Let it go, Ignis.”

  He’d shown up years later with an I told you so and ranting about the fact that the man had become famous. When he’d given her the painting as a birthday gift months later, she was reminded of how Ignis could hold a grudge when he wanted to.