“It's impossible to get to the parasitic planet through Eden’s Gate?” I whispered. A defeated sigh escaped me as I leaned back against the couch. “Really?”

Kesstel nodded. “When I was between worlds, I could somewhat see where the worlds were aligned and where the Portals led. There was no way out of the Portals attached to Eden’s Gate. In fact, I didn’t see a current Gate that was even attached to the parasite. It’s hard to tell because of the sheer size of everything.” Kesstel scowled. “I think there might be one on the other side of Earth. Somewhere North with a lot of snow. But I don’t know what it's called.”

I blinked at him. Other side of the planet, north with a lot of snow. “Siberia,” I said slowly. “That sounds like the Siberian Gate. It’s a no man’s land. The monsters are so strong and the weather is so bad there, every Hunter that’s gone has died. Very quickly.” Despair was heavy in my voice.

Kesstel smirked. “You really think it’s going to be a problem for me?”

I shook my head. “No, I think you might be the only one who wouldn’t have a problem. But that’s not what I’m worried about.”

It had to be there. Just traveling from the closest settlement to the Siberian Gate would take a long, long time. That’s with the proper equipment. I didn’t know how to drive, and I didn’t know how skilled Kesstel was at it. Nor did I really want to run hundreds of miles in the snow. That was if we could get out of Eden.

I stood up and paced around the room, thinking. “The hardest part might be getting out of the USA — well, for you. I don’t think I’ll be able to get out of Eden.” I looked at Kesstel, who didn’t seem alarmed. “Hunters are stationed at their Gates for five years. I still have three left before I can apply to leave. But the biggest problem is, S Hunters aren’t allowed into other countries. It’s like sending a warhead in.” When he didn’t react to the explanation, I went on, in case ‘warhead’ was a word he didn’t know. “It’s like declaring war on the other country. The only way you’d get through customs is if you’re signing an agreement to be that country’s citizen.”

He didn’t look impressed. “Do you really think any of that matters to me? I’d like to see them try to lock me up.”

“It matters to me,” I shot back. “Even if we have a way to get to the Siberian Gate — flights to the other side of the world and vehicles to make it up the Gate — if I just up and leave without permission, that would be breaking the law. If they couldn’t find me, my family would take the fall. My aunt and uncle would be locked up. If my sister proved to be a Hunter, she’d have to deal with the extra daily fines because of me.” My hands jumped up and grabbed my head as panic set it. “If she wasn’t strong enough to handle the fine, she’d be locked up, too. My mother … would be removed from the hospital.”

I’d be thrusting them into Hell. Over something that might or might not actually be there. My fingers tangled in my hair and fisted. My mind registered the pain, and I focused on it to try to calm my nerves. I didn’t know that I could do it. Leave without permission like that. Even if I was successful in destroying the parasitic planet — given that I even had a chance — there was no guarantee that my family would survive long enough for me to come back. Especially if the times between the worlds were different.

“Hey.” Kesstel’s hand grabbed my wrist. Then his other hand reached out and untangled my fingers from my hair. “Don’t hurt yourself,” he ordered.

I let him move my hands as he wanted, but I shot a glare at him. “Says the man who was covered in his own blood an hour ago.”

“That’s beside the point,” he came back. “I couldn’t feel the pain, so I didn’t even know I was hurt.” He shook my wrist, making my lax hand flop in the air. “This is different.”

It’s funny. The way I viewed him changed drastically in the last hour. He wasn’t just a freakishly strong Hunter from another world anymore. He was a Boss. It made him so much more. More dangerous. More powerful. More of a threat to me and everything I loved. I would have thought it would change how we interacted, but here we were, acting like this.

A grateful little flame grew in my chest as a small smile curled my lips.

Kesstel let go of my wrist and sat back down. “If freely leaving agitates you so much, I’ll find another way to let you leave without repercussions.” He snorted and tilted his head like the lord he was. “As if a bunch of humans are really going to tell me no?”

I rolled my eyes at him. Then I paused.

I appreciated how motivated he was at trying to find the path to the parasitic planet. It made it a million times easier for me, since I wasn’t strong enough to do anything about it. Nor did I know where to start. However, for me it was a mission to save my family and my home. But for him, it was a suicide mission. If these last two months were a preview of how it would be after he was gone, I didn’t know —

My thoughts were cut off when I noticed a dozen very strong auras closing around Kesstel’s house, a pair on each side, three in the back and the rest moving in on the front door.

The relaxed expression wiped clean from Kesstel’s face, replaced with an apathetic frown. “I suppose they’re here to see if I killed you after I ran off with my prey.” He pushed off the couch and walked to the door. “Took them longer than I thought.”

I followed a couple steps behind him. From their auras, it had to be Eden’s S Hunters plus two more high A Ranked Hunters. They weren’t going to attack him, were they?

A soft knock rapped on the front door.

Kesstel opened the door.

Blood Sword stood on the other side, with the S Healer and another S Hunter. From the looks of it, all the damage Kesstel did earlier had been healed, but there was a weary gleam in everyone’s eyes. They all held weapons, half drawn and ready for action in a split second.

“Good afternoon, Noble,” Blood Sword said slowly, watching Kesstel like he was ready to explode at any time. “It seems like you’ve calmed down?”

Kesstel nodded to the side. “Is there a reason you’re surrounding my house?”

Blood Sword’s thin lips pressed together. “Just a precaution. After all, we are charged with defending the lives in this city. Against anything.” The huge sword in his hand vanished and he took a slow breath. And a second, his face relaxed to a more friendly appearance.

A man cleared his throat from behind the small group of Hunters. Blood Sword and his people stepped to the side, presenting two middle-aged men. Both were dressed in armor, but they held themselves more like businessmen than Hunters. The reason was as obvious as their identities. The man in the front with a short, square haircut and gray hair around his ears was President Paul Anderson, the leader of the Hunter’s Council. The man with blond and gray hair just a half step behind him was just as influential, the Treasurer of the Hunter’s Council, John Wilks — Bethany’s father.

Kesstel didn’t so much as blink an eye. I, however, went stiff as a board. This is not what I thought was going to happen.

President Anderson walked up to the door. “I was hoping we could talk. That was quite a commotion in the Square today.” There was a smile on his face and a comfortable tone in his voice, but a sharp glint in his eyes. It was like he knew he had to be careful around Kesstel but didn’t want to be steamrolled by him.

Kesstel glanced at me. “I already have a guest.” His look clearly said it was up to me to let them in.

I bit my lips, not sure what to do. Honestly, I didn’t want them to come in. I was comfortable around Bethany because I’d been around her enough, but that didn’t apply to big shots who just randomly appeared. At the same time, this was the head of the Hunter’s Association. It would be rude to send him away for no obvious reason. Since it seemed like Kesstel was waiting for me to respond, I slowly nodded.

He turned back to them. “Come in.” He waved his hand and stepped to the side so they could enter.

President Anderson looked a little perplexed at Kesstel’s actions, but stepped inside. As soon as he saw me, he paused. “Good afternoon.” His gaze flicked up over my head, obviously checking my rank, before he finally looked at my face. A wrinkle formed on his forehead as he glanced between Kesstel and me. I could practically see his mind ticking, wondering why an S took an E’s opinion into consideration before he let the president of the Hunter’s Association in. Still, President Anderson must have concluded that he didn’t want to poke a hornet’s nest because he flashed a business smile and reached out a hand. “Paul Anderson. And you are —?”

“Shy,” Kesstel stepped slightly in front of me, blatantly blocking off the president’s greeting. Just like when Stone Mace’s president showed interest in me. “And more of an introvert than I am.”

President Anderson froze. Whether he thought Kesstel was being rude or he was shocked at the situation, he got over it in a flash. He merely nodded at me and walked to the kitchen table.

Mr. Wilks followed behind him. He gave me a small smile and nodded in greeting. From the looks of it, he knew who I was. A testament to how well he knew what was happening around his daughter, I’m sure. Still, he didn’t mention my connection to Bethany and sat at the table with President Anderson.

As soon as President Anderson’s attention was off me, I finally relaxed enough to breathe. Slowly, I slipped further behind Kesstel. Thousands of people saw how Kesstel reacted to me earlier in Gate Square and now I was seen in his home. In a cutthroat city like Eden, I could be considered a tool to influence Kesstel if someone wanted to make a move. Being friends with an S did give privileges, like the top contract Jordan was still trying to push on me, but it was also a dangerous thing if I couldn’t protect myself.

Paul Anderson fought his way into leadership during the initial opening of the Gates and subsequent collapse of society. That might have been twenty years ago, but if someone wanted to stay on top, they couldn’t be soft. President Anderson might look reasonable, but that could change. Fast.

Blood Sword followed them in. He paused when he saw me half hidden behind Kesstel. “You’re that girl from Josu Rainforest. I heard you sat there all day. Why?”

My eyes widened as a bolt of lightning shot down my back.

Kesstel glanced at me. His face was as blank as ever, but I knew him enough to see the little light in his eyes. “Josu Rainforest, huh? How long did you wait?”

For way too long, I thought and scowled. My cheeks were burning as I glanced to the side. Damn Blood Sword and his big mouth. Just because I was worried around Kesstel, he didn’t need to know just how worried. It was embarrassing.

The rest of the team ambled in and crowded around, trying to get a good look at me.

It was more than I could bear. I looked up at Kesstel to tell him goodbye so I could run out, but I paused.

Slowly, I looked towards President Anderson. Months ago, when I first found out about the energy crystals, I made an appointment to see him. That date was still a couple weeks away. But now he was right here in front of me.

I glanced at the Hunters around me. Well, they should know too. Honestly, the more people who knew, the better. They didn’t believe Kesstel when he told them seven years ago. And no one has taken kindly to the posts that I leave on the Hunter Forum every month — before I get blocked from the forum for another month for causing such a ruckus.

Still, even if I made anyone mad, no was going to hurt me with Kesstel here.

I took a breath and walked towards the Councilmen. As soon as I stepped in their direction, everyone in the room looked my way, eyes wary. I was an E, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t have a bomb in my Items Bag. Kesstel’s blue eyes narrowed as he took in their reactions to me. I could practically feel his tense muscles quivering as I passed him.

I tossed a shallow smile at him then focused ahead. “President Anderson, there’s something I wanted to talk to you about.”

*****