Chapter 38: Layers, like an onion.

Hunt was just about to give her an ultimatum when he caught the glow in her eyes. He froze, his heart stopping for a fraction of a second. "What the fuck?!" he muttered, in shock.

Achilles noticed his cousin’s shock. "What? What is it?" He followed Hunter’s gaze to Zyra, but he saw absolutely nothing unusual.

But Hunter knew what he had seen. He had only ever seen one person’s eyes glow like that...his grandfather, a legendary soldier who had successfully fused his soul with his beast. It was a level of bonding that even Soul Maidens struggled to achieve because it tied the life of a human to that of their half-life beast. If one died, the other followed.

How could this untrained Soul maiden who had not even awakened her bloodline have an ability like that? Everything about Zyra Scorpion was a puzzle.

What shocked Hunter even more was the look in her eyes. As she stared at him, her gaze wasn’t filled with fear or awe. It was filled with... pity? Sadness?

People feared him. People hated him or envied him. But no one...absolutely no one.... dared to pity him. Why was she looking at him like he was a stray puppy? What was she seeing?

On her end, Zyra’s entire focus was completely absorbed by the horrifying vision before her. Hunter’s soul wasn’t whole. It was covered in thousands of deep, jagged, glowing cracks. It looked like a piece of priceless porcelain that had been shattered into a million pieces and barely glued back together.

"What the hell broke him to this extent?!" Zyra asked herself, shocked at the extent of the damage.

[Poor beast] Beauty replied, crying.

"This man is damaged goods. His soul structure is a total mess. He will be incredibly hard to deal with." Zyra said

[There are ways to fix him,] Beauty said. [But it will take time and rare resources. Will you heal him or do you want to go back out there and look for another fighter who is as strong as Hunter Magnus?]

Zyra let out a heavy sigh, but to the two men, it sounded like a tiny, miserable cry for help. She rubbed her face and looked up at Hunter. Finding someone else was a waste of time. The man was probably aware of the problems with his soul. Offering to help him fix it did not mean he would go with her. It was better to reach an understanding and leave the town quickly, before those looking for her got a whiff of where she was. "Alright, Mr. Magnus... what exactly do you expect to get out of this marriage?"

"Dear Christ, you are both completely insane," Achilles muttered, rubbing the back of his neck.

Hunter ignored him and nodded once at Zyra. "It is clear that you are a Soul maiden, despite the stories out there. Soul maidens are the only ones that can go beyond the veil without needing any authorization. I need a Soul maiden for access beyond the veil. Whenever I want to go, wherever I want to go."

He expected her to argue. After all, going beyond the veil was incredibly dangerous, a literal death zone for most people. He thought she would run away at the mere mention of it.

But Zyra didn’t even flinch. She actually needed to go beyond the veil too. She needed resonance stones to pay her debt, and she needed the mystic plants that grew out there.... rare ingredients that were crucial for beasts and making advanced human medicines.

She needed better half-life beasts and most existed beyond the veil. His conditions were not difficult at all. "Fine," Zyra said, her voice business-like. "What else?"

Many other things, Hunt thought to himself, his eyes darkening with secrets. But aloud, he simply said, "That is all. In return for your cooperation, I will offer you my absolute loyalty, my protection, my fighting skills, and whatever legal benefits come with being my wife."

Zyra frowned, waving a strict, warning finger in the air. "Let’s get one thing straight, mister. This is a marriage of convenience. Business only! You should not expect me to perform any ’wifely’ duties. Especially... bedroom duties! Or to give you off springs, But, as your legal wife, I will provide for you, feed you, and take care of your reasonable needs if you follow my orders."

"As you say, my dear." Hunter said, the ends of his mouth twitching.

Zyra gave him a look that said I dare you to call me that one more time.

He smiled impishly. "I have another condition. No co-husbands. No Soul maiden needs four husbands. It is ridiculous."

"Deal." She answered immediately. After what she had experienced with the brotherhood of scumbags in both lives, she didn’t need the problems that came with a poly-amorous relationship.

Achilles groaned loudly, slapping a hand over his face. He didn’t even know what world he was living in anymore. This was a circus.

"I want everything in writing," Zyra demanded, crossing her arms.

"Like a contract?" Hunter asked, an amused smirk playing on his lips.

"Yes, a contract!" Achilles chimed in, suddenly eager. "And we need to put a time limit on this madness. How long is this fake marriage going to last?"

"Five years," Zyra said firmly. Most Soul Maidens reached their peak strength in five years.

Hunt nodded. "Fine by me."

Achilles immediately led Zyra over to his large mahogany desk and turned the typewriter on his desk toward her, giving her full access. Zyra sat down and immediately began typing out the strict terms of the contract with furious speed.

While the keyboard clacked away, Achilles grabbed Hunter by the shoulder and violently pulled him into the far corner of the room.

"I don’t like this, Hunter. I don’t like this at all," Achilles whispered frantically, his eyes darting toward Zyra. "What if your parents find out? If they discover you married a broken Soul maiden! A criminal at that."

"It is none of their business," Hunter cut him off, his voice flat and hard.

"But look at her!" Achilles hissed, pointing a finger. "She isn’t an awakened Soul maiden, it is possible she can’t go beyond the veil. She is going to be a massive burden to you, not an asset!"

Hunter glanced over at Zyra’s small back. He tilted his chin up slightly. "Maybe."

"Then why her?!" Achilles asked, completely bewildered. "Out of all the powerful Soul maidens, why choose this one?"

"She is naïve," Hunter said softly. "And... she has very nice ink."

Achilles blinked, totally lost. "Ink? What ink?"

Hunter looked at his cousin, then jutted his head slightly toward Zyra’s hand, which was currently flying across the keyboard. "The tattoo."

Achilles squinted, staring at Zyra’s bare skin. He rubbed his eyes and looked again. "What tattoo? Hunter, there’s nothing there."

Hunter suddenly realized something crucial. Achilles couldn’t see it. The drawings on her hand were completely invisible to his cousin. It was possible no one else could see them. It was like a special secret, only for him.

A dangerous, thrilled spark lit up in Hunter’s chest. He could not remember when last he was interested in peeling someone like an onion to see how many layers they had. "Never mind," Hunter said, brushing his cousin off. "Go call the local magistrate. Tell him to get up here. This wedding is happening in thirty minutes."

Achilles stared at him for three seconds, realized his cousin was completely past the point of reason, and let out a long, dramatic groan. He pulled out his phone and walked away to make the call.

Hunter slowly walked back over to the desk. He leaned against the edge, looking down at the girl who was fiercely typing up a contract to trap him, completely unaware that she was the one walking into a cage.