Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Ezra

“Where is he?!” I ask fuming with rage to the first individual I spot, the fear-struck Bronze Hunter points me in the direction of the library and I take off without a word of thanks.

I reach the library and shove the double doors open with enough force to cause the solid oak to groan from the impact of hitting the wall. “What the fuck were you thinking?”

I ask Ryker who is leisurely enjoying a drink while reading the inside of some blue binder. “Why the fuck is the name of that female on the raid application?!”

It had been six months since she first joined the Hunters and I had not seen nor heard a single word about it since. My mind was consumed with images and thoughts of her for weeks after the Convocation, going as far as invading my dreams. Very vivid dreams with her spread out beneath me, face flushed and breathing heavily, I wished I didn’t get such a good look at her. Fuck! I need to calm down.

Ryker looks at me through his glass of half empty amber liquid or maybe he’s admiring the bit of alcohol left. He said he would take care of it. I assumed she had quietly left never to be heard of again, now I see her name on the raid list. On the final list!

“You approved her request to raid? A woman?! Did we not learn the last time?” There had never been a female Hunter before but there were Medics and the result was disastrous, why in the fuck would anyone want a repeat of that?

“Yes I approved it, she finished basic training as all the new recruits have. After comes their first raid. How else are they to learn?” Ryker answers calmly.

“That is not what I meant and you know it. How is she still here, there is no way she survived the training grounds. What did you do?” I ask, accusation clear in my question.

Ryker has a cocky smile plastered on his face and I know I won’t like what he is about to say. “Nothing, turns out she did not need my help or the help of any men. She fared well all on her own.”

I narrow my eyes at him in inspection, he knows he cannot lie to me and so far he never has. He may not always voice his disagreements but he never lies.

“She is not joining my raid.”

“Our raid.” He corrects, we have joint raids twice a year to train recruits. Normally a raid only requires one commander, but with new recruits we all join together To evaluate for later rank establishment and protection. Recruits get picked off often in raids, due to a lack of experience and honestly fear tends to paralyse them. Leaving them open to attacks.

“She is coming Ezra. It is final, Elder Gabriel agreed to this.” Fucking Elder Gabriel needs to mind his own business.

“Then I will evaluate her myself.” I storm from the room not bothering to look back. She’s not making it past the preparations, I will make damn sure of that.

…

It has been four days since Ryker and I spoke, I informed Liam, Theon and Matteo of the situation. Liam was furious but agreed to leave the matter to me. Theon also seemed upset with her making it this far, while Matteo could barely contain his laughter. He took great pleasure in seeing us squirm and took Ryker’s side for the entertainment it would provide. I roll my eyes at his antics, I should have expected this.

We have two days of preparations to get done before leaving for the raid. Day one is for preliminary evaluations of the new recruits. We evaluate their capabilities and are then assigned accordingly for the raid.

All new recruits must go on one of the combined raids before they can qualify as Hunters. During the combined raid they are watched, evaluated and then assigned a Hunter ranking. Hunters can move up and down at any time within the ranks depending on how well they handle themselves during the chaos of battle.

The top Hunter rank belongs to the leaders, the original five. At second rank comes Diamond, they are regarded with the same respect as the leaders and can lead raids without a commander needed. The only difference between Commanders and diamond rank is that Commanders make changes and decisions on behalf of all Hunters and must attend convocation as representatives of the Hunters. u

Third is Gold rank, they are not to be taken lightly but do not hold the same authority as Diamond. Fourth is Silver which often consists of the ranged ability Hunters, they cannot fight on the front lines and have less physical strength.

Fifth rank is Bronze, they are still regarded as Hunters but more often will not go on raids, they are the academics, scholars and scientists. They scout, research the creatures and create amazing inventions and medicines for other Hunters. In last place is recruits, they have no rank and are not considered Hunters yet. They must attend their first raid in order to receive a rank.

Knights participate in raids but are not Hunters, they are very capable being able to take on one of two of the human-sized creatures. We pay them large sums of money, the workers are paid just as well for creature harvesting, camp set-up, food preparations and any clean-up. None of the participants of the raid are women.

That is until she showed up. It is the first day of raid preparations and all Hunters and recruits have training. The second day is for packing and resting with family before setting out. We missed most of training due to the bickering over the stupid female. We were meant to plan strategy and then join training.

We finally reach training, not coming to any unanimous decision. The sun has just begun to set and some of the Hunters have already begun to leave. I rush through everyone looking for the female. I swore I would evaluate her myself and she is not leaving until I have.

The scent of lavender reaches my nose and I look to the side and see her hunched over covered in a shimmer of sweat. She is a vision in long tight pants over toned legs, no shoes and a white short sleeve top, tied into a knot behind her back. The entire outfit accentuates her curves. Perfect round ass and perky full breasts. Her long hair tied into a high ponytail.

She feels my eyes on her and straightens up, her cold grey eyes look me over completely devoid of emotion. Fuck, she pisses me off. I snap out of my observation of her when I remember that Liam, Ryker and Matteo have come along with me for her evaluation.

I go over to her in long quick strides and the other recruits start scurrying away at the sight of me. Other Hunters stop training to look on, people slowly start to gather around us. Every Hunter or recruit in the room is cautious of my arrival and rightfully so, except of course for her. She just stares at me, making no attempt to move. An endeavour to show everyone around that she is not afraid.

“You are not going on the raid until I have evaluated you.”

She just stares at my eyes and then looks past my left shoulder at Ryker. He gives her a curt nod in confirmation of what I said and she lets out a deep breath, mouth still closed.

“If you can last for two minutes with me, you can come to the raid. Grab whatever you want.”

She says nothing, grabs no weapon, hell she doesn’t even attempt a fighting stance.

I remove my sword and turn to face her again preparing to charge. Has she finally decided to give up this ridiculous dream?

“Do you need time to prepare?”

She shakes her head in no and I do not plan on wasting any more time on this. I have every intention of causing damage with my attack, she will be the example to all woman. The message clear that they do not belong here and never will.

I charge towards her at full speed but she remains unmoving. She almost looks bored, I feel Ryker building up energy behind me and I know he plans on jumping in before I can kill her.

I swipe with my right hand in an upwards motion, intending on taking her by the throat when her mouth opens.

“Kneel.” It is not loud enough for everyone to hear but I heard it.

My entire body freezes and I fall to my knees paralysed from the waist down. Gasps and murmurs break out from the crowd. I lift my hand and look them over before I look up. There Alessia stands staring down at me. I cannot move my legs no matter how hard I try. Ryker’s energy dissipates from the area, feeling confident that I am unable to cause Alessia harm now. Does he have a thing for her?

She does not move she just leaves me there to kneel before her. it feels like eternity and then just like that she turns and leaves.

“Two minutes are up, guess she’s comin to the raid.” Matteo says while walking away, laughing the entire time. I can feel the strength in my legs returning and I attempt to stand. Ryker is standing next to me looking on as I struggle to my feet.

“What the hell was that? Did you know about this?”

“No”

I believe him, he was ready to step in but was equally surprised by this.

“That is no Hunter ability.”

Ryker raises a single brow at me, “Well there have never been female Hunter’s before either.”

Ryker being satisfied with having the final word turns and leaves. Everyone has gone leaving me standing in the training grounds alone. There is no way I am leaving it at that, they may be able to accept this but I am not.

I quickly follow the scent of lavender in the air, knowing the source of it could only be her. I finally arrive at the gates leading to the recruits and I am forced to focus my senses. The scent of lavender is everywhere.

But more importantly, why do I not hear the screams from the cells? Even at sunset, I can see the number of changes that have been made to the area. Flowers all around, bushes cut and trimmed to perfection and benches for sitting.

The strong aroma of spiced meat being cooked coming from the kitchen. I can see some of the recruits with freshly bathed with bath towels wrapped around their waists.

I see a billboard just behind a newly place fountain I the courtyard and stride over to have a closer look.

‘Weekly task board,’ and on it is the names of different recruits assigned to different tasks. Some are on cooking while others must, clean, wash or are on leisure time. It has been meticulously organised, every recruit performing the same amount of work.

I see a small note in the corner of the board that reads, ‘No men in bathhouse after sunset.’ There can only be one reason for that, and I now know where to find her. No special treatment my ass.

I storm into the bathhouse that is separate from the rest of the recruit block. Once inside I see her standing by the running shower testing the waters with the tips of her fingers. I walk to her clenching and unclenching my fists in an attempt to calm my raging anger.

I am about to speak when she lifts her shirt up and over her head before tossing in to the floor at my feet. She looks back at me and then removes the wrap around her breasts at an agonizingly slow pace.

I have been paralysed again and apparently turned mute. The last bit of wrapping falls to the floor and I have to clench my fists again to stop from reaching out. My cock twitches and I grit my teeth painfully reminding myself that this is reality and not another one of my suggestive dreams.

She steals a glance at my clenched hand before turning her back on me. Bringing an end to my torture or so I hoped. She sticks a finger from each hand in-between the pants and her smooth skin, the action causing my semi-hard-on to grow to its full length.  She then hooks her finger to the fabric and slowly starts pulling down to reveal the smooth perk skin of her ass.

She relaxes her fingers allowing the pants to fall to the floor and she stands before me bare. I clench my teeth to suppress a groan of approval at the sight before me. I have never seen a more beautiful woman in my life and I doubt I ever will. She has her back turned to me in a pose like that of the muses portrayed in great works of art.

She has me completely enthralled but it would appear that it is not enough for her. In a final finishing blow, she bends over with hands reaching to untangle her foot from the fabric. I nearly fall to my knees, this time of my own volition, either for the view or to start praying to the goddess before me.

She is bent over legs kept straight and together to reveal a gap between her thighs. The lower she bends to more impatient I get. Then finally she reveals the delicate skin of her pussy. My mouth is watering and I have to fight every cell in my body to remain standing and away from her.