by Jessica Gunn
A pang of regret… no, guilt, struck my chest. I pushed off the wall and stepped directly in front of where he was on the other side of the glass. “Of course I came here to check in, Will. That and to tell you that there might be a way to free you of this burden. Maybe. There’s just… not a lot of time right now, unfortunately.”
He nodded and stood from the cot. “Then what is it? It must be a crazy plan if you’ve got that look on your face.”
My brow furrowed. “What look?”
Will pointed to my face. “The same one you gave me when you wanted to fight Kian again for a million dollars despite not having your anonymous identity anymore. You’re desperate, unsure what the right direction is. But you’re going to ask something impossible of me again anyway because you think it’ll help me in the long run.”
I let a small smile grace my lips. “Can’t get anything past you.”
“I’ve known you since you were born, Ava,” he said. “What is it, then? What’s this crazy plan?”
A heavy breath made its way past my lips and into my lungs. “It involves making a deal with the Neuians, the civilization with the magik that powers cianzas.”
Will had begun official Hunter training, so even if he didn’t know this information the last time Neuians had been mentioned, he’d know it now. He nodded. “What kind of deal?”
“Their magik has a way of neutralizing other magiks. It’s how cianzas work.”
“Unless too great a power from either side screws with it.”
I nodded. “Exactly. Which translates to basically not being able to really use your magik again, like how Krystin doesn’t. A little here and there, but nothing like she once did.”
Will frowned. Which took me aback. “Really?”
“Yeah.”
“So all this training and confinement would be all for nothing?” he asked.
“More or less,” I said. “You could still be a Hunter. I didn’t have magik—or at least, I didn’t know I did—for a long time and still hunted demons.”
He looked away, turning on his heel and pacing a few steps away. Will brought up his hands and scrubbed his face once more with his palms, not saying a word.
“Will?” I asked after a few long moments.
Will turned back to me, a resolute, determined expression washing over his features. One I knew well. He’d given me the same look a hundred thousand times over the years. “Yeah,” he said. “Whatever they need to do. I don’t want to be a danger to anyone anymore. And if allowing the Neuians to try fixing me helps the other Ember witches, then yes. They can do whatever it is they need to.”
I stepped closer to the glass wall, ever mindful of the magik coursing over it. Such overkill for someone who’d never willingly hurt another living being. “Are you sure, Will? You don’t have to do this. You can walk away.”
His brow lifted, a twist of frustration and anger on his lips. “Can I? Because as far as I understand it, there’re two locks and a wall of magik keeping me locked in this room. And even then, even if I got free, there’s a good chance that anyone I touch will die. So, no. I can’t walk away from this.”
I swallowed hard. Every word he said was true, and I hated it. The dread that was in my heart now slid to my stomach, twisting and churning inside me. I nodded. “I’ll let them know, then.”
“Thank you.” He didn’t look so grateful, though. More desperate and angry than anything else.
My tongue felt heavy in my mouth, numb and useless in the face of Will’s acceptance. “I’m sorry, Will.”
“It’s not your fault.”
I backed up against the wall and slid to the floor, laying my head against the plaster. “I mean, I could have kept you out of this, period. Or not joined at all. Then we wouldn’t be in this position.”
Will walked over and sat nearby on the other side of the glass. Mirroring me. “Maybe. But there’s no way to know what else would have changed had you not. Veynix might still be terrorizing people. Still working with Talon.”
“Talon’s doing plenty fine on their own,” I said, my tone dry. “Mason being dead might help, though. Unless Jerrick had knowledge of Mason’s processes.”
“And the chances of that are?”
“High, unfortunately,” I said. “If Mason was able to replicate Veynix’s work and poison, it’s safe to say Jerrick has it all too.”
Will looked to me through the glass. “So killing Mason didn’t stop Talon like we thought.”
I shook my head. “Likely not. It… I’m worried we might have to take out Talon as a whole. Every member of their organization. And that’s…”
“A long shot?”
“The longest. Many of Talon’s soldiers have been trained since the day they became demons. And no one knows exactly how many soldiers they have or where all of their bases are. Even the facility in Landshaft is likely just one of several.”
“All over the world?”
“Probably. The Hunter Circles spread, why not Talon too?”
Will rubbed the back of his neck, then rested his head back against the wall. “Sometimes I wonder if France would have been as safe as we’d hoped.”
I nodded. No words were needed. I’d often wondered that myself.
After a few minutes of silence, I glanced at Will. “Mind if I stay here with you for a while? Even in silence, if you don’t want to talk.”
“Ava, I always want you near,” he said, smiling. “You’re my best friend. No matter what bullshit gets thrown at us.”
I grinned back at him. “And you’re mine.”
Silence fell between us again, easy and comforting. It wasn’t long before both of us were nodding off, exhausted and worn. Will’s light snore reached my ears before I fell asleep for a long time.
Chapter 8
Fingers brushed mine softly. The sensation stirred me, my eyelids fluttering open and taking in the light of the quarantine room. My neck ached. But after a moment, I realized that was because of the position I’d slipped into while sleeping.
“Hey there, beautiful.” I looked up. Kian knelt in front of me, smiling.
I smiled back. “Hey.”
“Think he’s talking to me,” Will said from the other side of the glass, his voice thick with sarcasm.
Kian laughed. “Yeah. Definitely.”
Chuckling, I pushed myself up off the ground. “What time is it?”
“Eight,” Kian said without actually checking.
My eyes widened. “Eight at night?”
“Sleeping beauty slept for a good long while,” Will joked. “You must have needed it.”
I shot him a look. “You fell asleep too.”
Will shrugged. “I know you can be an insomniac. I wasn’t going to wake you up at all, but Kian insisted.”
“What’s wrong?” Something had to be if Kian was here like this.
Kian touched a hand to my arm. “Nothing. Ben still hasn’t heard back from the Neuians yet. I wanted to check in on you because you disappeared for a while.”
“I didn’t disappear. I was here.”
He nodded, smiling. “I know.”
“I’ll do it,” Will said to Kian, looking at him with that same serious glance he’d given me earlier. “To help the others.”
Kian nodded. “I’ll let them know on my way out.”
My brow furrowed. “Your way out where?”
“Into the city,” he said, indicating vaguely where with a thumb over his shoulder. “I had a thought about getting a general read on what the demon population might be thinking about all of this. See if they’re even down with following Talon into war.”
“You think they’re not?” I asked.
Kian shrugged. “Maybe. That’s what I want to find out. Especially if what Talon’s doing to Ember witches would hurt demons too. I know it’s a Hail Mary, but I guess I’m hoping to find some dissent. Even just a little something we can put pressure on to leverage the balance back into our favor.”
“Good idea,�
�� Will said, his mouth forming a thin line. “I’d join you if I could leave here.”
“I can handle it. Unless”—Kian turned to me—“you want to come with? I understand if you don’t want to leave Will before we know what the Neuians decide.”
Will nodded my way. Honestly, if they hadn’t even made contact with the Neuians yet, nothing was likely to happen until tomorrow morning. And as much as I didn’t want to leave Will’s side, I had to admit that Kian’s plan had merit.
“Yeah, we can go,” I said. “You’ll be okay, Will?”
He put on a smile, though this one seemed genuine. “Knowing you’re on my side? Always. Go on—get out of here for a while. I’m not going anywhere.”
“Okay. I’ll be back soon.” I went step closer, so instinctively used to hugging Will, then remembered. Damn this quarantine chamber. And damn Veynix for turning Will into an Ember witch in the first place.
“Just a few hours, then I’ll have her back,” Kian said, grinning at Will.
Will waved him off. “Yeah, yeah. Go on.”
Kian and I exited Fire Circle Headquarters through the back door. Not so much to avoid detection, but rather to not have to deal with whatever might be going on in the lobby and common areas. Kian’s quick movements suggested tension and drama to the highest degree, so I didn’t complain as we slipped out and headed down the street into the city’s financial district.
I breathed in the crisp, cold air of the night. Despite the smells of the city, it was like a breath of truly fresh air. Leaving Fire Circle Headquarters always felt like that, as though a heavy cloak of authority and something approaching despair had been lifted from my shoulders.
The burden of masking this war while trying to keep it from reaching critical mass.
“Where do you want to go first?” Kian asked as we rounded the first block.
“We can check out the usual bars if you want.” I nodded ahead to a nearby venue frequented mostly by Hunters. Every now and then a few demons popped up, but it wasn’t enough to warrant worry. This was also the same bar where, not long ago, Mason had first shown his face to Kian and me.
Kian nodded, keeping his attention on the street before us. “Those or Hunter’s Guild. If we’re looking to actually talk to demons rather than fight them, Hunter’s Guild is probably the best bet.”
“You’re right.” I hadn’t been to Hunter’s Guild since hiding out from Mason after going to Crimson. But with the protection magiks in place—to keep people from fighting one another—I couldn’t think of a better venue to look for information.
Kian held out his hand and ducked us into a tiny alleyway. Once we were swathed in shadows, he pulled me in close and smiled down at me.
“Yes?” I asked, grinning up at him.
He shrugged, smiling. “Nothing in particular. You just make me happy, especially in times like this.” Then, after a moment, he said, “Teleportante.”
Magik pulled on my body. The shift from an alleyway in Boston to the woods outside Hunter’s Guild happened nearly instantaneously. One second we were surrounded by the smells and sounds of the city, and the next I was assaulted by the scents of wood and wet grass from a recent rainfall, the sounds of a quiet nighttime forest.
Kian held me for a long moment even after we landed from the word-magik. His strong arms kept me close, relaxation finally, finally, starting to set in.
“You make me happy too, Kian,” I whispered.
“Good,” he said, then let go. “Shall we?”
I shrugged. “We could always stay here and enjoy a quiet night to ourselves?” Kian shot me a weighted look. “Right. You’re right.” We didn’t have time for enjoyment. Relaxing. Not with a war knocking at the gates. “Let’s go.”
Kian and I trekked through the small amount of woods standing between us and the clearing where Hunter’s Guild sat—and the wall of protection magiks surrounding it.
I grinned up at him. “You know, this might be the first time we’ve come here together while neither of us is bleeding to death.”
Kian chuckled a little. The sound of his laugh caused my muscles to relax more and my breathing to slow. Maybe after all of this was over, we could be a real couple. One that went out on dates and took trips that didn’t involve spying on Darkness or fighting demons or one of us being seriously injured.
“I think you’re right,” he said. “We’ll have to make an occasion of it, then.”
“A few rounds of drinks?” I asked.
“Absolutely,” he said. “On me.”
We approached and then passed through the wall of protection magiks surrounding Hunter’s Guild. The wave of magik was heavier this time, much in fact. I stopped to turn and inspect the faintly-shimmering wall as goosebumps tidal-waved across my skin.
“They’ve upped the power of the magik wall,” Kian said, noting my reaction.
I nodded. “A lot, too.”
Looked like even Hunter’s Guild was prepared for war. We have to stop it. There had to be a way, even if it meant somehow slaughtering all of Talon. But would Darkness retaliate in full because of it? There were no good options.
Which had been the problem all along.
Kian and I hurried along to the two-floor building hidden away by magik so only those who knew where it was could find it. Hunter’s Guild looked like a large two-floor cabin in the woods from the outside, a structure as out of place in this forest as it was appeared out of place in time. We stepped inside and, once again, I was floored by the odd decor of it all. Like Fire Circle Headquarters, Hunter’s Guild remained untouched by present day amenities, aside from plumbing and electricity.
With the exception of a few metal support beams scattered throughout the space, the furniture, floor, and walls were made from various types of wood, from the tables and chairs to the booths and bar top. A fireplace sat along a wall opposite the bar area, nearby which were the same set of stairs Kian and I had once descended, into the presence of fifty Talon soldiers. Above, the inn rooms were visible from a balcony that looked over the rest of the first floor.
Kian made way for the bar. I followed, scanning the room in an attempt to get a read on the ratio of humans to demons. It was harder than it sounded, given colored contact lenses could hide the color of demonic eyes, and that I also couldn’t see auras. But given the eyes I could see, and the general demeanor and postures of those they belonged to, it seemed to be an even crowd tonight.
Good. Not that it mattered much with the protection magiks in place—no one would be fighting. But asking around about Darkness’s thoughts on everything while surrounded mostly by demons seemed like a shit idea.
“Two whiskeys please,” Kian ordered.
I leaned back against the bar counter to watch the crowd. A few of the patrons had eyes on Kian and me, curious and observing. As soon as I met their burgundy, demonic gazes, they turned away, their expressions unreadable. Did they know who we were? Between the events of the last few months, including my reveal in Midnight’s ring, I wouldn’t doubt it.
“Thanks,” Kian said as the bartender dropped off our drinks. Kian handed one to me.
I accepted it gratefully and took a long pull of the liquor. “Where do you want to start?”
A loud crash tore apart the easy atmosphere as two tables went flying. A tall, muscular man stood between them, his face twisted in anger. People and demons scattered away from him as he charged forward a step.
“Excuse me?” the angered man—no, demon, judging by his eyes—demanded.
His opponent, who had her back turned to the bar, rose with fists clenched at her sides. “I said your kind are going to get us all killed!”
“Fucking humans,” the demon growled, lifting his own hand. His fingers curled and he motioned as though summoning magik to his palm, but one of his friends grabbed his arm and forced it down.
“Not inside,” his friend, taller and with hair dyed bright purple, said to him.
“Enough!” the barman behind me shouted.
I jumped at the sudden volume as his voice coursed over the chaos. “If you’re going to fight, do it outside the wall. I don’t want to clean up after the magiks splatter you.”
“Splatter?” Kian hissed, his eyes darting between the barman and the pair about to fight.
If the protection magiks had been upped enough to go from smacking you back with your own magik thricefold to actually splattering someone, why the hell hadn’t the violence of tables being overthrown triggered it? Maybe I should be glad nothing happened.
“It wouldn’t be necessary if the demons put a stop to their own shit!” the human woman screamed. “Your acceptance of what Talon’s doing is going to get us all killed.”
Someone shushed her. Evidently, someone much smarter. Calling out Talon like that was generally a bad idea, especially since the last few times I’d been here, Hunter’s Guild had been swarmed with their soldiers.
“Guess there is dissension,” Kian said.
“Between the two sides, yes,” I replied. “Always.”
“No shit!” the demon shouted back at her.
“Outside!” the barman yelled.
I set my drink down on the counter. Kian gave me a curious look. I nodded quickly and walked over to the scene. “So not all of Darkness is on board with what Talon’s doing?” I asked the demon.
His lips curled as he looked at me. He shook off his friend’s hold on his arms and cracked his neck. “The Empire isn’t one fluid entity, Hunter.”
The demon’s burgundy eyes, filled with disgust, roamed over me. My Fire Circle knife was tucked at my waist, but he’d known before looking what I was. Which meant he likely recognized my face because of Midnight. Great.
I nodded, lifting an empty hand. “I know, believe me. I just wasn’t sure the rest of Darkness even knew what Talon was doing.”
“Rumors travel fast,” the demon said.
“Apparently,” I replied.
The demon’s friend stepped forward, anger warping his features into a grotesque mask. “And what are the Hunter Circles going to do about it?”
“We’re not in charge of micromanaging your empire,” the human spat.
