HUNTED-Chapter 430: The Hub

Ash hesitated for a moment, watching Kodi stalk towards the building like he owned the place. Although they were close friends, Ash didn’t have the same upbringing as Kodi, nor did he have such a disturbing background. He was a rogue, but not by choice.

It sucked that there was such a stereotype about the rogues that made it easier to ridicule him no matter where he went. Kodi was different. He wore the title like a badge of honour and scoffed in the royals’ faces.

Which was why Ash couldn’t understand Kodi’s insistence on finding the Princess, unless Keira Cross was his mate—if that was the case then the Moon Goddess must have grown bored and needed some entertainment even to the point she placed her favoured children with the likes of Kodi Black.

Ash stared at the building, bustling with noise and rowdy fights. "Are you sure rejecting the King and Queen’s help is a good idea? I’m sure every resource they have is searching for their daughter."

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Was he that prideful? Ash glanced at Kodi’s back. ’Course he is.

Kodi stopped by the doors of the Hub. "You know what they don’t have?"

Ash stared at him, knowing well it was a rhetorical question.

"Connections where it counts," Kodi finished as two bald men with tattooed heads and piercings along their ears opened the doors and glared at the youngsters for standing near the door.

Kodi glared right back, but the werewolves backed away, deeming him a threat they didn’t want to deal with, especially so early in the night. Rogues were ’vicious by nature’ due to a lack of the companionship and pack mindset that came with living in a pack. The two rogues probably sniffed Kodi out instantly. They knew when to back down.

"Tell me why you’re hung up on the Princess first before I go in there with you."

Kodi’s gaze flicked back to Ash after the rogues had shifted into their forms and disappeared into the surrounding woods. "You don’t have to come in if you don’t want to." He tugged the door open and stepped inside the Hub.

All eyes fell on the newcomers. Every rogue turned in their seats, drinks in hand and stared them down, gauging the threat level. Ash stopped at the door but almost stumbled after Kodi, who didn’t bat an eye under their scrutiny.

Unlike what Ash knew of the Hubs scattered along the country, he didn’t expect the joint to be as stylish, sleek and clean. The bar running down the side of the first floor was manned by fierce-looking barmen wearing waistcoats and ties over shirts. The booths and tables were all of high quality, and the metal stairs leading to another floor were guarded by bulky men.

Kodi stopped at the bar. "Shade here?" Once the rogue spoke, everyone returned to their conversations, arm wrestling, and a few even took their drinks further away from Kodi.

The bartender stopped wiping the glass and narrowed his eyes at him. He was all muscle, had a trimmed beard, and sharp brown eyes. Gary was the one he always sought out. "He’s busy."

"You say that every time. Let me through-"

"Who’s the pup?" Gary pointed his chin at Ash behind him. "You’ve never brought a friend with you before…"

Kodi read through the meaning. "That’s for Shade to know."

Gary scoffed. "Like he doesn’t already know. Or know why you are here."

Kodi slammed his fist on the bar. A loud, dramatic sigh behind him announced the man’s arrival. "Why do I always have to deal with your temper tantrums?"

Kodi glared over his shoulder at the neatly groomed, handsome figure with long black hair tied back. Like Kodi, the man had mismatched eyes, one burning brightly in amber and green; most were intimidated by it. Adorned in a slim-fitting suit and black gloves, Shade, AKA Einar, a powerful warlock and owner of this particular Hub, swiped his hand to the side, gesturing for Kodi to follow.

The warlock was not only one of the most powerful beings on earth but also collected useful information- whether that was by listening to his patrons or some otherworldly power. Kodi didn’t know to what extent his power went, but his father told him the many times Einar stopped time with the click of his fingers.

The warlock led the way up the stairs, the guards not giving Kodi or Ash a second glance as they passed by. Atop the metal stairs, it extended like a balcony, revealing the fight club below. Mini arenas were set up beneath them, and crowds screamed at the blood-splattering walls of the fighters who needed to release pent-up energy or earn some money.

At the far end of the balcony, another staircase led to another floor where a snazzy, quiet lounge and bar awaited. It was like the clientele, too, had changed. Most were dressed in shirts and dress pants, and the women wore stylish dresses or blouses. They were probably after quality intel as well, and they heard that Shade had unique preferences regarding who he interacted with.

Kodi and Ash clearly did not fall into this category. Outside of the academy, uniforms, jeans, a top, and a jacket were all they wore. If Kodi wore his leather jacket, then it meant blood was about to be spilt.

"I didn’t expect to see you so soon." Einar led them to his usual office full of antiques over the centuries, his desk sitting in front of a balcony overlooking the fights from afar.

Kodi slumped down on the sofa on the sofa before the coffee table and desk, ignoring some of the potions on the side that Ash was stupidly curious about and had started to walk in their direction. "Sit," Kodi commanded.

Einar tilted his head as he looked at Ash, who scrambled forward, disliking the warlock’s attention falling on him. There was something unnerving under such delicate features. The burning amber and green eye glowed a moment more before his expression was nonchalant once more.

"You knew I’d be back," Kodi replied to Einar’s earlier statement as his friend sat down, eyes looking around the room with intrigue.

Einar smirked, leaning his backside against the desk as he stared back at the rogues before him. "I did," he admitted, but there was no need. "And I cannot give you what you need."

Kodi narrowed his eyes. "Where is she?"

"I cannot tell you."

"Cannot or will not?" Kodi’s voice dropped threateningly as his eyes glowed amber.

"Drop the anger issues, darling." Einar flapped his hand in front of him dismissively. "You know I cannot tell you."

"And what of last time?" Kodi snapped, trying to keep Blaze under control. Now that there was distance between him and his mate, he was becoming almost impossible to control. He hadn’t marked her, yet his wolf was almost feral, jaws gleaming with saliva, hungry to kill any in their way.

"Your path led you in the same direction with or without my help." Ash looked between the men like that of a tennis match. He didn’t understand much of what was happening. This Shade guy was meant to give them better information than any rogue might utter in the Hub below.

But he was refusing? It seemed as though he knew where the Princess was. If not to Kodi, why hasn’t he told the Alpha King and Queen? Is he involved somehow?

"And now?" Kodi rose and started pacing behind the sofa as a means to burn some energy before his wolf got violent on Einar.

He was capable of many things, but he could admit he wasn’t skilled enough to go up against a man who could stop time and see into the future.

"Your paths will cross again," Einar replied quietly, eyes following him. "Not yet, though."

"She could be hurt… Killed…" Kodi trailed off, searching the warlock’s eyes for any slip of his composure that might tell him anything.

There was none. Einar was a blank canvas.

"I cannot defy the Gods than I already have. I could not do it for Esme, and I will not do it for you. Keira’s path is set, and so is yours. It might change course, but I cannot play a part in the story fate writes." He turned his back on them. "I will tell you this much…"

Kodi stopped pacing and stared at the warlock, his body tensing, breath holding as he waited for any clue as to what he might give.

"There were many compounds the hunters used, and one of them had been top secret even to those like Silas Hunt. Such a facility was state of the art… Now, what can you give me? Information is not free."

Kodi clicked his tongue as he stared at Einar’s back. "Hellhounds are back."

Einar stiffened. "You’re sure?"

Ash’s head whipped back to look at him. Kodi ignored him and turned around to leave. "Positive."

"The leadership?" Einar asked, but Kodi merely smirked.

"That’s more than your information is worth."

"Kodi!"

Kodi shrugged at the open door. "I don’t know, and I don’t care."

"You should…" The door closed behind, cutting off the warlock. Einar did not follow or question further. He would do what he would with the information, while Kodi would do what he could with what he had learned.

Ash raced after him through the Hub until they were outside in the cool night air. "What do we do now? How are we going to find-"

"I know a few people who can help in the Hunters Association. Let’s go."