Kayden leapt decisively from the window, his body as agile as a hunting leopard. Once outside, he quickly spotted a shadowy figure in the dark.
The silhouette was identical to Hunter’s. There was no doubt-it had to be him.
With that thought, Kayden charged forward. Felicity had already given him her blessing; even if he killed Hunter, she wouldn’t hold it against him. As for Felicity’s mother? That was none of his concern. If not for Felicity’s unique status, Kayden wouldn’t have bothered with her mother at all. She didn’t deserve an explanation.
“Tonight, you die,” he growled coldly toward the figure.
The shadow turned its head deliberately, glancing back at Kayden before breaking into a sprint toward the town. Without hesitation, Kayden gave chase. The two figures raced through the night, one pursuing, the other fleeing.
Three minutes later, Kayden closed the distance. Without mercy, he hurled his blade. A sharp whistle cut through the air, and the fleeing figure collapsed, one leg severed cleanly from the body.
A guttural scream of agony filled the night as Kayden strode forward. But as he approached, something felt wrong. This wasn’t Hunter-it was an unfamiliar cultivator.
A diversion?
Undoubtedly, this was a ploy by Hunter to lure him away.
“Ha! You’ve fallen for it!” the injured man sneered. “Let me tell you, that woman belongs to our master. You-”
A second blade silenced him instantly. His head tumbled to the ground, the rest of his words forever unsaid.
“Useless chatter,” Kayden muttered icily before turning back toward Felicity’s house.
When he arrived, Felicity was gone. There was no question-Hunter had already made his move.
Hunter hadn’t originally planned to act so quickly. His intention was to take his time, win Felicity over, marry her, and then find a reason to take her to the city. From there, he would deliver Felicity to his master, ensuring himself a bountiful reward.
Hunter knew Felicity was the kind of woman his master sought. Her unique traits, evident since birth, set her apart from ordinary people. And when he thought of Felicity, his cousin, he decided he had to take the gamble. Whether or not she fit his master’s criteria, he’d risk it. If she didn’t, he could simply discard her.
But what Hunter hadn’t anticipated was the troublesome man standing in his way. That meddler had nearly ruined everything. So, tonight, Hunter put his plan into motion.
Now, with Felicity unconscious in the back seat, Hunter drove swiftly, glancing at her occasionally through the rearview mirror. A smug grin spread across his face.
“You’re no match for me,” he scoffed.
Just as he finished speaking, a figure suddenly appeared in the middle of the road. The car’s headlights illuminated the man-it was him.
Kayden had caught up. This realization left Hunter momentarily stunned, but his surprise quickly turned to mockery. He was in a car, after all. Kayden, just a man of flesh and blood, couldn’t possibly stop him.
“Foolish,” Hunter sneered, his face twisted with contempt. “You think you can stop me? Die!”
He slammed his foot on the gas pedal, the car roaring forward with deadly intent. Kayden stood unmoving, calm as a lamb awaiting slaughter.
But just as the car was about to hit him, Kayden raised a fist.
Hunter couldn’t believe it. Was Kayden seriously planning to stop the car with his bare hand? How ridiculous. Did he think he was invincible?
Hunter laughed maniacally. “Pathetic! Die already!”
The car hurtled forward, but as it reached Kayden, it came to an abrupt halt with a loud crash. It was as if the vehicle had slammed into an unmovable wall. Hunter’s head slammed forward, saved only by the airbag.
Kayden had stopped the car with his fist.
“What kind of monstrous strength is this?” Hunter thought, shaken but not defeated.
Hunter quickly turned, grabbing Felicity from the back seat. Dragging her out of the car, he wrapped an arm around her neck, using her as a shield.
“Stay back!” he barked, his eyes locked on Kayden. “What do you want?”
Kayden’s gaze was icy, unyielding. “Let her go. Tell me who sent you, and I’ll give you a quick death.”
It was as if Kayden wasn’t the one being threatened, but Hunter himself.
Hunter laughed nervously, his grip on Felicity tightening. “You’re in no position to make demands! Do you even realize the situation you’re in? If it weren’t for you meddling, she’d already be mine! Do you think I won’t snap her neck right now?”
Kayden remained unfazed. His voice was calm but firm. “This is your last chance. Who sent you? Who ordered you to take Felicity?”
“You’re insane!” Hunter shouted, panic creeping into his voice. “You think you can threaten me? I’ll tell you, but it won’t matter. I serve Asher Voss! My master is Cyrus Nightbane! Have you heard of them? Asher Voss! Cyrus Nightbane! You don’t stand a chance against them.”
Hunter puffed up with false confidence, believing the names of his masters would intimidate Kayden.
Kayden muttered under his breath, “Cyrus Nightbane and Asher Voss… seems they’ve been busy lately.”
“Exactly!” Hunter sneered. “Now get lost! If you cross them, you’ll become a hunted man, a criminal across the entire country!”
Kayden’s expression remained cold. “Tell me, do you know Hawthorne Eastwood?”
Hunter froze. A chill ran down his spine. How did Kayden know that name? Hawthorne Eastwood was dead, and Elysium Gate had been destroyed. Could Kayden be connected to it?
“You…” Hunter stammered, dread filling his voice.
Kayden’s next words were like ice piercing Hunter’s heart.
“Hawthorne Eastwood… I killed him.”