Leo tilted his head to the side, looking curious. “Do you…Do you think she isyoursthen, Hunter?”
“I think she can decide for herself.”
But Leo had the audacity to smirk at Hunter, retorting, “Do you think she would ever take you as you are, Hunt? You have accomplished nothing tangible in your life. You have so much fucking potential, and you’re not taking advantage of it. Instead, you’re violent, angry, and you leave behind a trail of blood wherever you go. Those barbarian fucks have destroyed you, turned you into their little killing machine, used you, inflated your worth—Don’t fucking look at me like that, Hunt. You know I’m right. You’re not worth anything to them. You’re nothing but a fucking weapon, and Skye deserves better. She deserves the fucking light, Hunt, and I can give her that—Iwillgive her that.”
Hunter’s body quaked as Leo’s words ran through him, viciously piercing at his every vulnerability. He didn’t know whether to hurt his best friend or sob—both emotions roared strongly within him.
Leo’s face flashed suddenly with guilt as he watched Hunter come apart before him. He sucked in a breath, rubbing at his chest now as he whispered, “Look, I’m not trying to be horrible, Hunt, I swear it. I love you, man, you know I do. It’s just…”
It was just what?
Leo stopped, unable to continue because he was spouting truth, Hunter realized. He meant every word he said.
Hunter, a nothing.
Leo, the white fucking knight.
This was how it had always been—would always be.
“How does it feel to be so perfect?” Hunter wondered just then, the Savage tossing and turning within him. “How does it fucking feel to have the world at the tip of your fingers, Leo?”
Leo’s guilt waned. “How does it feel to always be the fucking victim, Hunt?”
The corner of Hunter’s mouth flitted up. “I’m playing the victim, Leo?”
“You were given every opportunity as Skye, and she’s not part of some violent cult, brother.”
Now Hunter’s smile felt sour as it spread across his face. “I am not yourbrother.” And before he could stop himself, he said the one thing they both knew was the absolute truth. “You will never stop playing that part, and like I suspected, Leo, you will become the very person you loathe the most.”
Leo looked raw all of a sudden. His eyes turned glassy, and he sniffed, turning away from Hunter. They stood for a few minutes, saying nothing, as the sky once again opened its jaws and spouted more rain over them.
Did Hunter mean what he said? He wondered. Did he think Leo would become like his father? He looked down at his feet, his throat closing because…yeah, yeah, he did mean it—he didn’t want to mean it, but he did. He fucking did.
Right?
But then again, he was a violent monster. He was worse than Leo, and, yeah, he didn’t deserve Skye. He never felt like she was his—
Well, that was a lie.
She was his once.
A long time ago.
His tears blended in with the rain as he choked out, “Why did you come that day? Why didn’t you leave us be?”
Leo turned his head to look at Hunter as his body stilled. He looked like he knew exactly what Hunter was asking. Because it was equally as pivotal of a time in his life.
With a quiet voice, he said, “It was the sound she made when she laughed.” He looked away, gaze lost to the trees. “I wanted her then. I knew…I knew she was yours. That…if I walked away, she would always be yours.”
Hunter had always kept that feeling of loss at bay, but now, upon hearing Leo’s truth, and realizing himself that she could have been his—all his—he felt it sink into every atom of his being.
The loss ravaged him.
All that might have been swirled within him.
“What matters to you more, Leo?” he asked now, voice broken. “Your father’s seat, or having Skye?”
Leo finally looked back at him, his expression hardening with determination. “I will have both.”