Bought by the Beast King (Katerina and hunter) novel Chapter 174

1:44 pm P P DD

Chapter 174

Chapter 174

KAT

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“We need a team outside. Just lookouts,” I said. “If the boundary is breached, fall back inside. The house is warded, too.”

The Deputy Director looked at me like I’d lost my mind, and maybe I had. He’d spent his life dealing with threats like this; I had no right to order him around. My only experience at the Bureau came after the crime had already been committed, when I could easily reconstruct the scene in my head for the legal department’s research.

“Miss Munroe… Your Highness,” Mr Tanner said carefully, glancing at the agents gathered behind him.

“Katerina,” I said.

I’d clung to my fake name for survival, but that was when I’d been convinced my parents hated me. Before they almost died because of me.

“Katerina,” he repeated, “we have our orders, and Mr Rivers has already briefed us on the security measures. You should be resting with Alpha Sterling. You went through a lot last night.”

How could I rest at a time like this? We were already surrounded, and we didn’t have the manpower to take on that many Lycans by ourselves. I couldn’t even ask my father to help because he’d been weakened, too.

“No, I’m overseeing things tonight.” Just one night. If we survived the full moon, then the fanatics would stop clinging to the prophecy. “Whatever spell Kostas is under,” I continued, “it’s powerful. He’s the biggest threat, not the pack.”

Something inside him had twisted him beyond recognition. Even after the moonset, I didn’t trust he’d stop. He could still be the one who killed me.

“Alpha Sterling needs to rest,” I said. “We can’t disturb him.”

Did they know how weak he was? Did they already assume he wouldn’t recover? I pushed that thought away before it could fracture me.

“Did Nathan

say where the Blackmore coven is?”

I’d already disabled them, but Zachary would want his pendant back. But if they saw us survive the night their Seer had foretold, maybe they’d finally doubt him. Maybe they could help Hunter heal faster.

“When we extracted you from Lordswood Castle, they were already dismantling the wards,” Mr Tanner said. “Half of them scattered. I don’t know if the coven still exists.”

Then it didn’t matter. Besides, if they came now, she wasn’t sure if they’d try to help Kostas again in their desperation. It would be better if they stayed gone for now.

“Did you bring your weapons?” I asked. Bureau weapons were top-notch, designed to hurt supernaturals.

“Yes. Rest assured, we’re prepared to defend you, Your Majesty.”

I stopped short. That servant had made the same mistake before, but I hadn’t expected it from Mr Tanner.

Before I could correct him, the scent of pine filled the entry hall. Nathan descended the stairs like there wasn’t a hostile force circling the property. Like this was a lazy evening and not a countdown to a battle.

“Let them do their jobs, Kathrine,” Nathan said.

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Chapter 174

“Katerina,” I corrected. “You should use my real name now.”

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Nathan swallowed and looked away. I scented the disappointment immediately, and could guess why. Kathrine had been compliant. Afraid. Easy to manipulate. That girl was gone. I could never be her again, even when I returned to my apartment.

“You should stay with Hunter,” Nathan said. “If they breach, it will take them time to reach the upper floors.”

I didn’t intend to let them get that far.

“Can we bring the Blackmores here?”

“Why?” Nathan asked, frowning.

“If their coven stopped this magic before-”

“Stop,” Nathan cut in. “That coven is broken. And you still don’t understand, do you? Zachary is nothing compared to me.”

It sounded like arrogance, but I remembered the way Zachary had deferred to him at the cabin.

“So why couldn’t you save Hunter?” I demanded, my mind already jumping to conclusions. Had he hoped my mate would

die?

“Because Lordswood Castle was saturated in dark magic,” he said tightly. “It blocked everything. Only someone already corrupted could have reached him.”

My stomach dropped. So I’d been right, Kostas was also corrupted. Could he still be saved? Could I get my brother back?

Before I could ask, something pressed against my senses. Magic. A spell. The entry hall went cold, and the air thickened, the spell weaving through the air. I could smell it. Death and decay. Evil. Only one person carried magic like that.

“Kostas,” I whispered.

My stomach twisted.

“Can we save him?”

They’d been friends once, before I’d been dragged back into this world.

“I don’t know,” Nathan said quietly, running his hand through his hair as he turned towards the door.

The people were still stuck outside the boundary, but this magic slipped through the boundary like smoke through cracks.

“We’ll handle this,” Tanner barked, signalling his team.

The moment one of them opened the door, he froze, gasped, and then collapsed. A pool of blood spread beneath his head.

Chaos erupted. The agents pulled him back in and slammed the door shut while Tanner shouted orders. The temperature plummeted until my breath fogged the air. And that smell of rot became unbearable.

It was here. It was inside.

Nathan grabbed my arm and dragged me up the stairs. Even without him, I would have run. My only thought now was to protect Hunter.

“Get the pendant,” Nathan shouted.

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Chapter 174

“What? Why?”

#61

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We burst into the bedroom and shut the door. Hunter was sitting up, blood staining his T-shirt. I could smell it more now. I’d failed him already. I hadn’t even cleaned his wound after I chased April away.

He pulled himself up, but I saw how much that cost him.

But before I could go to him, Nathan pressed the pendant into my hand. It didn’t burn, but the power slid into me instead. The way it flowed in my veins, so alive and heavy, was already familiar. Was I really corrupted? Would I weaken like Hunter and my parents?

“Touch the wall,” Nathan ordered, pulling me to the eternal wall. “Expand your senses. Feel what followed us.”

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