BRAVE ~ Jennifer L. Armentrout

by Armentrout, Jennifer L.

  “What the . . . ?” I stumbled back, shocked that a simple kick to the back would . . . oh God.

  I was stronger now. How could I keep forgetting that?

  A kick to the back had broken the man’s spine. My stomach churned as I spun, and I didn’t have time to really process that. A second man raced at me, and I sidestepped his attack. He whirled, but I caught his arm. Twisting sharply, I winced at the crack and desperately ignored the man’s yelp of pain. He dropped the dagger.

  “I don’t want to kill you,” I said, putting pressure on the man until he went down on his knees. I seriously didn’t want to. Killing humans, well, it was nothing like killing fae. They didn’t cave into themselves like fae did. Instead, it was bloody and messy and stuck with you long after the deed was done. “So, if I let go, you’re going to behave, right?”

  The man gasped out a harsh laugh. “You better go ahead and kill me, because if you let me up, I’m going to take you out, you bitch.”

  “Wow.” I increased pressure out of spite. “I’m holding your broken arm, dude.”

  “Kill me,” he gasped out. “Go ahead and do it, you traitorous whore!”

  My jaw clenched as someone in the distance shouted. There was a flare of orange light, and I assumed Fabian was lighting some people up in the worst possible way. “You’re an Order member.”

  “Just like you were,” he said, twisting his head to the side. “But you betrayed us.”

  “I didn’t betray shit. How did you know we were out here?”

  “How do you think? You—” He lurched, grabbing the dagger.

  I cursed as he swiped behind him. Letting go, I jumped out of the way. He stumbled to his feet.

  “Whatever you think about me is wrong. I haven’t betrayed the Order. I’m trying to stop—”

  He came at me like a freight train, and instinct took over. I didn’t want to kill him, but I also didn’t want to get stabbed to death either. I already knew how sucky that felt.

  Shooting forward, I shoved my other dagger into his chest, between the ribs. I yanked it out as I whispered, “I’m sorry.”

  He didn’t speak as he fell forward.

  Swallowing hard, I shot around the SUV, back toward the headlights. I kept to the dark, racing toward the car the Prince’s consul had been packed into.

  Bullet holes lined the entire side. Windows were gone. My steps slowed, and the burger I ate earlier almost ended up on the ground.

  All of them . . . they were slowly collapsing into themselves, their pale eyes wide with terror and pain, skin peeling and flaking away. Mouths gone. They couldn’t make a sound.

  “God,” I gasped, looking away from the sight and then back. My gaze met Fred’s. I didn’t know what to say, but I saw it . . . I saw it in his gaze.

  He was pleading with me.

  I looked down at the dagger, knowing what he wanted—knowing that I could end this for them quickly. Everything inside me rebelled against the idea, which was so crazy. I could kill during battle, but I was having a hard time carrying out a mercy killing? It was different though.

  Briefly squeezing my eyes shut, I forced myself to woman up and then I . . . I did it. I took care of all of them, and when I was done I wanted to be done with all of this, because their pain-stricken faces and knowledge in their eyes that I was sending them back to a world that was dying would haunt me for the rest of my days.

  But it was far from over.

  I turned, coming to an abrupt halt when I saw Fabian standing there, staring into the car. “I had to—”

  “I know.” His gaze shifted to me. “Thank you.”

  “Don’t say—” I saw movement over his shoulder and reacted without thought, firing the gun. Fabian whirled with a gasp just as another Order member went down.

  “Don’t thank me for that,” I said, then took off for the other car—to where I no longer heard gunfire.

  Tink was up ahead, having not stayed close to Fabian. He was kneeling next to something—someone—and he was shirtless.

  Faye—he was next to Faye.

  “Is she . . . ?”

  “I’m fine. Didn’t get hit by a bullet, but a piece of glass nearly severed my arm,” she answered, voice strained. It was then that I saw Tink was wrapping his shirt around her bicep. “I’ll heal. Dane is . . . he’s dead.”

  Pressure seized my throat. Shit. “Kalen?”

  “He’s with Ren,” Tink answered, not looking up. “I’m staying with her.”

  I started forward, but I stopped. “I’m . . . I’m sorry about Dane.”

  Faye closed her eyes.

  Drawing in a deep breath, I started running. Up ahead was a truck, the kind that had running lights on top. I was careful to be quiet, but it was pointless. There was another car in-between us, one that looked like it had just arrived on the scene. There wasn’t even a part of me that hoped they were on Team Not Kill Us. I just knew better.

  The doors opened up, and five climbed out. Five. Great. I didn’t see guns, so at least there was that. Fabian was suddenly behind me.

  The odds starting looking a lot better.

  A rush of adrenaline coiled tight as I shot forward, reaching the first Order member. She dove at me, but I shot under her arm, faster than she could track. I came up behind her, and I shut everything down inside me. I didn’t think about her being a human or that we used to be on the same side. I didn’t wonder if they’d still be fighting me if they knew how much the Order had lied. I had to for me to do this. I couldn’t think about the fact that I was pulling the trigger and shooting her right in the chest.

  Swinging around, I caught another in the back with my boot, and he went down on one knee. I brought the dagger down, wrenching it back out when I hit the target.

  Hearing pounding footsteps coming from behind me, I spun and jumped to the side, narrowly missing a dagger to the chest. I started to twist, but the man’s neck snapped to the side. He fell, revealing Fabian.

  “Thanks,” I gasped.

  “I owed you.”

  Fabian made quick work of the remaining members, clearing a path for me to make it to where I hoped Ren was still standing. I neared the grill of the truck when a form stepped out. I lifted the gun, prepared to blow a hole straight through whoever it was.

  Kalen lifted his hands. “It’s me—just me.”

  “Crap.” I lowered the gun. “I could’ve shot you. Where’s Ren?”

  The fae jerked his head. “He’s got one of them.”

  Apparently, Ren was the only one who had the intelligence to leave one of them alive. I followed Kalen around the side of the truck, keeping an eye out for other Order members.

  I saw Ren and wanted to tackle him out of relief. I managed not to do that, mainly because he had a gun pointed at someone, and I figured a tackle-hug wouldn’t help the situation at the moment.

  “Now that Ivy’s joining us, I’m hoping you’re going to change your mind and start talking.” Ren’s voice was as hard as granite. “She’s got way less patience than I do.”

  I smirked as I reached his side. My gaze followed to where the gun pointed, and I had to look down because Ren had whoever it was on their knees. I gasped as I recognized the dark-haired man.

  Every muscle in my body locked up as I stared down at the man who’d killed Ren’s best friend. The man who oversaw the Elite and had come to New Orleans to hunt me down.

  Kyle Clare.

  Chapter 23

  Kyle didn’t change his mind. Not that I was entirely surprised. As Order members, we were practically bred to keep our mouths shut if we were captured by the enemy.

  And to Kyle, we were the enemy.

  So, we were going to have to make him talk, like we had with Marlon, and that wasn’t exactly something I was looking forward to. Even if Kyle was a giant prick who needed a healthy dose of karma.

  Since it was only a matter of time before our little showdown along the interstate would be seen by some unsuspecting person with terrible luck, we had t
o get off the road and someplace safe where we could question Kyle and find out how they knew we’d been heading to San Diego.

  Who was left of our group piled into the SUV, including a tied up and gagged Kyle. We made it to some creepy-ass roadside motel where I normally wouldn’t even think twice about staying, but they had vacancies and looked like the type of place that was used to hearing screams in the middle of the night.

  We paid cash for three rooms and stuck Kyle in the middle one, gagged and bound to one of those uncomfortable desk chairs. It was just Ren and I in the room with him. We figured having any of the fae there wouldn’t entice him to play nice.

  Besides, Kalen was out there somewhere dumping our damaged vehicles and getting us new rides, and Faye was resting so her arm would heal. I guessed Kalen was going to glamour someone into handing over their keys, and I really didn’t have the brain space to decide if that was right or wrong.

  Ren stood directly in front of him, arms folded over his chest. “I’m about to remove that gag and I’m hoping you’re smart enough to not make a lot of noise.”

  Kyle glared up at Ren, and I had no idea if he was going to be smart enough or not.

  “We want to talk to you and we need you to listen,” Ren said, stepping closer. “We’re on the same side.”

  A moment passed and then Kyle nodded. Ren removed the gag, and the first thing out of the older man’s mouth was, “We aren’t on the same side, boy. We stopped being on the same side the moment you realized what she was and you didn’t put her down.”

  I arched a brow. “This is going to be a lovely conversation.”

  Kyle’s dark gaze shot to me. “Should’ve listened to my gut the first time I met you. Hearing stories of you fighting the Prince and surviving? Bullshit.”

  “Contrary to what you believe, I did fight the Prince and I did survive. Not only that, I was then kidnapped against my will, and I still survived.” I held his gaze. “I didn’t know I was the Halfling.”

  He sneered. “Like that matters.”

  “I guess it doesn’t,” I mused, “because I’m sure you put down a lot of halflings in your day, people who had no idea what they were or why you were killing them.”

  “Why don’t you ask him how many he killed before he met you?”

  Ren stiffened in front of me.

  “He didn’t have the balls to take out Noah. Or you, apparently.” Kyle smiled. “But he’s killed—”

  “Shut up,” I spat.

  “Thought you wanted me to talk?” He leaned forward as far as the rope Ren found God knows where would let him. “How does it make you feel knowing that the very reason he came to New Orleans was to put a bullet between the eyes of the Halfling—to kill you. But I guess you’ve got a golden pussy, because—”

  Ren moved so fast I barely saw his fist connect with Kyle’s face, knocking his head back and the chair up on two legs. Ren’s jaw was so hard it could crack stone as he stood there, staring down at Kyle.

  I stepped forward. “Just so you know, I like the idea of my vagina being golden. That’s not an insult.”

  “Yeah, you wouldn’t.” Kyle spit out a mouthful of blood. “The lighting is shit in here, but I see you.”

  I had a feeling I knew what he meant and I realized I didn’t care. It hit me like a speeding train, but it was what it was. I knew I looked different. I knew what it meant, and I didn’t care. “I don’t give a shit what you see.”

  “How? How did you hide what you really looked like?” he demanded. “Because I know damn well if Daniel saw you for what you really are, he still wouldn’t be defending you.”

  My head cocked to the side as Ren glanced back at me. “Daniel is defending me?”

  For a moment, I didn’t think Kyle was going to answer. “He didn’t want to believe you betrayed the Order. Obviously, he was wrong.”

  “I didn’t betray the Order.” I paused. Daniel still believing in me was surprisingly great news. My lips pursed. “Well, killing those Order members who attacked us probably ranks up there in the betrayal department, but we were defending ourselves.”

  Kyle stared at me. His left eye was swelling, an injury I guessed had occurred out by the cars. “You look like a goddamn fae. You’re disgusting.”

  Striking like lightning once more, Ren’s fist connected with Kyle’s stomach. The contact echoed throughout the room. He caught Kyle by the shoulder, stopping the chair from toppling backward. “I think you meant to say she’s beautiful, but I understand. Words were never your forte.”

  “Doing your duty was never yours.” Kyle looked up at Ren and laughed. “Now was it?”

  They were eye to eye. “You know damn well I did my duty over and fucking over.”

  “But not when it counts.”

  “You’re wrong. When it counts, I’m doing the right thing.” Ren stepped back as the chair righted itself. “We’re not here to talk about what I was supposed to do. How did you know where we were?”

  Kyle spit out more blood. “Go fuck yourself.”

  “Language,” Ren murmured, letting his arms hang at his sides.

  The leader of the Elite laughed, and it sounded wet. “What information do you think you’re going to get from me? You and I both know how this is going to end.”

  I glanced between the two. “How is this going to end?”

  Kyle’s upper lip curled. “He’s going to kill me.”

  Looking at Ren, I waited for him to answer and when he didn’t, I decided it was time to step in. “Okay. Let’s get this train back on track. Do you know the Prince has found another halfling?”

  A muscle flexed along Kyle’s rapidly bruising jaw. “No shit.”

  “So, did it ever occur to you that if the Prince was en route to San Diego for another halfling, that maybe I wasn’t on board with getting pregnant and ushering in the end of the world as we know it?”

  Another moment passed. “Doesn’t change what you are or the danger you present.”

  I exhaled noisily. “Okay. I’ll give you that. But why do you think we are heading to San Diego? Don’t you dare say to join up and meet with the Prince, because I might just punch you, and guess what? I hit a hell of a lot harder than Ren does.”

  “You’re traveling with a bunch of fae,” he replied. “Pretty sure it’s obvious.”

  “We’re trying to stop him, you dumb son of a bitch.” Ren moved to stand behind Kyle’s chair. “But you kind of got in the way, delaying us. You better hope he hasn’t found her.”

  “The Order in San Diego has been watching for him. We aren’t stupid.”

  Ren clapped his hands down on Kyle’s shoulders, causing him to jump. “That’s up for discussion.”

  A little bit of hope that we weren’t too late sparked in my chest. “They haven’t seen the Prince yet?”

  Kyle said nothing.

  “That doesn’t mean the Prince isn’t there, that he hasn’t already found her.” Ren’s hands curled, digging into the man’s shoulders. “And while you’re here barking up the wrong damn tree, he’s getting exactly what he wants.”

  “You know we have almost no time to stop him from succeeding,” I tried again to reason with the man. “You don’t have to like what I am. You can think whatever you want, but by now you have to have realized we’re not working for the Prince.”

  “But you’re working with the fae.”

  “And this isn’t the first time the Order has worked with the fae.” Ren smiled when Kyle winced. “You want to talk about that?”

  Kyle fell silent.

  “That’s the interesting thing about all of this.” Ren’s hands slipped off his shoulders, nearing the man’s throat. “You talk to me about duty, but you all are a bunch of damn liars. Did you ever think one of us wouldn’t cross paths with the Summer Court and learn about how the Order and the Elite worked alongside them? How they helped close the gateways? How they don’t kill humans or feed off them?”

  Well, except for the royals. They fed, but I thought it wa
s best we kept that to ourselves at the moment.

  His eyes flashed. “You all were trained to kill, not to ask questions with the fae while you share tea and biscuits.”

  My brows lifted. “The Order lied to us—all of us—and continue to do so, because they thought none of us would ever talk and listen to one of the Summer fae?”

  “Worked so far.”

  I stared at him a moment, dumbfounded. “That is absolutely stupid.”

  Kyle gave me a bloody smirk. “Order members were never trained to talk and listen to the fae. You were trained to strike first. Always.”

  “Again,” I said. “That is stupid and sloppy.”

  “You know what’s stupid? You thinking you’re going to make it out of this alive.”

  “Shaking in my boots.” I rolled my eyes. “I’m guessing you put a bulletin out on us, and we were spotted. That’s why you found us.”

  “Probably in Texas,” Ren agreed, sliding one hand around Kyle’s neck. “When we stopped to grab food. I’m also guessing the sect in Southern California is going to be looking out for us.”

  The man visibly swallowed. He may act like he was tough shit, but he was scared.

  Kyle dragged in a deep breath as Ren let go and stepped back. “I’ve got nothing to say to you all.”

  “It’s okay.” I smiled. “Because you did tell us something we can use.”

  Kyle’s eyes narrowed. “I haven’t told you shit.”

  “Oh, you did.” I laughed softly as Ren’s gaze lifted to mine. “You told me exactly who we need to contact. Daniel.”

  His gaze widened with understanding.

  “So . . .” I lifted my hand, extending my middle finger. “Thanks for that.”

  There were no words to describe the satisfaction I felt when his face paled. “Go ahead and kill me.”

  “I’d love to do that for you.” Ren walked past him, smacking him on the back of the head in the process. “But what does that do but prove you right that we’re the enemy?”

  I looked at him sharply, but managed to stay quiet. Based on the look on Kyle’s face, he was just as surprised as I was.

  Ren smiled down at Kyle. “Leaving you alive will hopefully get through that thick skull of yours that we’re on the same side. I won’t have your blood on my hands. Neither will Ivy.”