They were all staring at Asher, then at me, trying to piece together the unlikely sight in front of them.
Asher finally spoke, his voice sharp and defensive. “It’s not what it looks like.”
“Not what it looks like?” The hunter stepped closer, keeping his crossbow pointed at the ground but still within reach.
His gaze darted between us, narrowing when it settled on me.
“It looks like you’re protecting a bloodsucker. Care to explain that?” the hunter demanded.
I leaned against the wall, deliberately casual, even as tension rippled through the air.
“I’d love to hear this one too, Asher. Enlighten us,” I drawled.
“Shut up,” he snapped at me before turning back to the hunter. “It’s complicated.”
“Complicated?” the hunter repeated, his voice rising with incredulity. “This is Gael, isn’t it? The psycho from Beric’s nest who’s been leaving a trail of dead bodies all over the countryside.”
It seemed my life was about to get even more interesting.
“It’s under control,” Asher insisted, his tone brooking no argument. “Stand down. That’s an order.”
“You’re not in charge here,” the hunter shot back. “You’re supposed to be on leave. What the hell are you even doing here?”
Asher’s jaw tightened. “I’m following a lead. And like I said, it’s under control.”
“It sure as hell doesn’t look like it,” another hunter muttered from the back of the group, his shotgun still loosely aimed in my direction.
I decided to step in. This was far too entertaining to resist.
“Oh, don’t be shy now. If you’re going to shoot me, at least do it with a little conviction,” I taunted.
That earned me a sharp glare from Asher, but I just laughed, enjoying the way the other hunters bristled.
“Asher, what the hell is going on here?” The lead hunter’s voice was lower now, more cautious. “You’re not acting like yourself.”
For a moment, I thought Asher might crack.
His shoulders were tense, his expression hard, but his eyes gave away the storm brewing underneath.
He didn’t want to explain himself, and he definitely didn’t want to admit why he hadn’t let them kill me yet.
“This is none of your business,” he said finally, his voice colder than I’d ever heard it. “I’ve got it handled.”
The hunters exchanged uneasy glances, clearly torn between respecting Asher’s reputation and following protocol.
But before anyone could decide what to do next, another voice interrupted.
“Handled? From where I’m standing, it looks like you’re in over your head.”
The new speaker stepped into the alley, his presence instantly commanding attention.
He was bigger and older than the others, his movements precise and controlled.
His gaze swept over the scene, lingering on me with barely concealed disgust.
Great. Reinforcements. Just what we needed.
“Who the hell are you?” Asher demanded, his voice hardening again.
