Destined to Kill: A Destined Novel (Destined Novels Book 1) Read Online Free PDF

about Anala?"
    "I have thought of that, Henry, and I do know the risk. I believe Anala knows the risks as well. She will be careful."
    "She allowed herself to be bitten. Do you think she is ready for battle?"
    Ouch. Hurtful or not, he is right and it will serve me well to remember that.
    "I am ready, papa. I made a mistake. It is something I will not allow to happen again. I have learned my lesson, I assure you."
    "Henry, before you say more, I have been working on something," mum interjects. "I knew the day would come when Anala would need to get out. You knew it as well. She is a Hunter, in more ways than one now. We must not keep her locked up. I think it would not be good for any of us." She turns to me and holds the clothing out. "If your father approves, you must wear this at all times when you are out hunting. There are no exceptions, Anala. You are no longer a part of their group out there. You are on your own."
    It stings, hearing I am no longer a member of the Hunters society in the basic sense. I understand what mum is telling me. I could help them, but if I am ever in danger, no one would be there to help me. I will take that chance.
    I unfold the clothes and find fitted trousers and tunic. The belt that accompanied them was also black and wide, specially made to house daggers or other small weapons of my choice. Leather knife sheaths, again black, were fashioned to strap around my thighs.
    "You will wear this cloak at all times, Anala." Mum hands me the garment that is surprisingly light despite its appearance. "I have made sure the hood covers most of your face, but you will still be able to fight with it on."
    "You have thought this through, woman," papa says in wonderment.
    "I have."
    Papa rises from his chair and steps to mum, giving her a small kiss. Without a word, he retrieves a box from his workbench and brings it to me. "Open it," he orders.
    Obeying, I open the box. Inside are what looks like two hilts from swords. Odd, there are no blades.
    "I do not understand, papa."
    He takes one 'hilt' and holds it out. With a push of a button a blade appears as if it were magic. I gasp in awe.
    "How?"
    "I have been working on this for a time now," he says in answer. "Hunter's swords have become cumbersome. I wanted to develop something that would give us more of an advantage. These would allow us to easily hide our weapons. We could perhaps catch Cursed Ones unaware." He hands me the sword. Expecting it to be as heavy as my sword, I overcompensate.
    "Careful," papa says and steadies my hand. "If this is what you want, I will agree. However," he continues before I can celebrate, "you will need to train with these new swords, first. I do not anticipate you having trouble, but you will give me a week or two nonetheless."
    "Yes, papa." I am no fool! I would agree to almost anything as long as I got to hunt!
    "I will also need to take you out hunting…for food. You will need to be able to take care of yourself out there."
    Well. That is something I was not anticipating. I suppose I do need to learn to hunt for my own food. Having papa teach me should be natural, but there is nothing natural about this. Set it aside, Anala, and do what needs to be done, I tell myself.
    "Yes, sir. But, papa, what of your experiments? If you are busy training me, how will you be able to work in your lab?"
    Papa considers for a moment. "I suppose I could get word to Bernard. He could come in and help until I am able to get back to it."
    Bernard Luxford is papa's former apprentice. I do not know much about him other than he and my father had a falling out years ago. I wish I knew now what the feud was all about. Maybe then I would understand mum's disapproval of papa's suggestion.
    "Like it or not, Eleanor, he is talented. We can keep an eye on him, but I need someone who knows my methods."
    "You have me, Henry. I can help."
    "You do help, my love, but this is turning out to be more than you and I can handle alone. I had this thought before