by Maya Daniels
Not waiting on the hunter to make up his mind, I throw myself at him again. He grabs my raised knee that is going for his chest, but my forehead connects to his nose. The injured arm is slowing him down just enough to allow me to pummel him with fast jabs on the side of his ribs. His white clothing was dirty before but now it’s turning into a nice shade of dark red from being drenched in his blood. I don’t stop punching, the muscles of my arms burning from the speed of my movements. If I pause for a second, I’ll lose my advantage and I have no intention of doing that.
Bones crack and crunch under my knuckles while he grapples at my body in a futile attempt to stop the assault. Rage at what he did to me, to Astara the first time I encountered the hunters, is turning my vision red. All sound of fighting fades away and my entire being is centered on the creature I want gone from this world. Power pulses in my chest with its own heartbeat and sends a jolt of excitement through my limbs. I smile for a moment, feeling wonderful that he will die right here. The curl of my lips is wiped clean when I’m thrown away from him with such force my head hits something unforgiving, a loud crack echoing through the space around us.
Dark spots dance in front of my eyes for a second as I blink slowly, completely dazed from the impact. What the hell happened? There is no way the hunter has any strength left in him to throw me like that. Familiar skin touches mine when a hand grabs my upper arm and yanks me to my feet. Zoltan is right next to me snarling like a beast at something in front of us. It takes another long moment for the world to stop spinning so I can see what he sees.
I almost swallow my tongue.
The hunter is standing on his feet, his entire body and face caved in from my pummeling while blood drips freely from everywhere. A dark, thick shadow is extended from his body, writhing like a million serpents snapping at us. The most terrifying face stretches out of his features, the empty eyes of the incorporeal being stabbing me in the center of the chest. It’s no longer Zoltan holding me upright. My nails dig into his skin, gripping him for dear life. Even the magic inside me shrinks at the unknown monster staring at us.
“I don’t fucking think so.” A female voice cheers from my right and a blast of horrible-smelling liquid splashes the hunter, soaking him up from head to toe. The shadows blink out of existence with a teeth-jarring screech.
Jack drops on the ground like a puppet with his strings cut off.
My head jerks to the side and I gape at Myst. The female is grinning proudly, a large white bucket dangling from her hand. I stare frozen until she winks at me, her nostrils flaring. Alex, who is as stupefied as Zoltan and me, gets animated in that moment. Myst swings the bucket and smacks him across his face. Before he takes even two steps, he staggers back with one hand clutching his broken nose.
With a snarl, Alexius turns his attention to her. With my eyes so focused on Myst, I don’t miss the hurt that crosses her face. It is there for a second and gone the next, so I almost think I imagine it when she cocks her hip and curls the fingers on her hand in an invitation. That crazed look is back in her eyes and the smile looks like it never left her pretty face. Zoltan moves to intercept Alex.
“I got this, hot stuff,” Myst drawls at Zoltan, stopping both him and Alexius in their tracks. “Me and him have some unresolved issues to settle.” Twisting his lip in disgust at her words, Alex takes a step toward her. “I don’t think a quickie was enough for your girl there. Take her home. I’ve got this.”
Because the situation is what it is, I don’t even feel mortified that she smells the lingering scent of sex on me. As it is, I’m just standing here expecting Zoltan to ignore her and rip Alex a new one. Color me surprised when he simply nods at her, respect blanketing his features before he turns to me. I frown at the dumbass. He can’t possibly leave the petite female—no matter how crazy she is or the fact that she set me up to almost die—to deal with the vampire that looks like he can break her in half with one hand tied behind his back.
Neither me telling Zoltan off nor Myst fighting a losing battle comes to pass. It’s like that shriek from the shadow was an alarm going off, and all the remaining hunters go into a frenzy. They start fighting with desperation that makes them uncoordinated but more deadly by far. It’s like they have nothing to lose at this point so they throw themselves on claws and blades with no care for their lives.
The hallway is swarmed with fighting bodies separating me and Zoltan from Myst and the female from Alexius. I lose sight of her when I must move so I don’t end up skewered on the edge of a dagger or a sword. Falling back into the rhythm of fighting alongside Zoltan, all I look for is white clothing so I can rip into the person wearing it.
At some point we step out of the narrow passage and into the foyer, which is more open and allows easier movement even though it turns us into bigger targets. I manage to take a look around, and I’m shocked anew at how many people Fenrir and Leo brought with them. It’s like three quarters of the Academy is here fighting with the intent focus of killing everything in sight. Too bad I don’t catch a glimpse of Roberti. That coward must’ve fled the first change he got. Ever since I’ve known him, he intimidated all of Sienna by getting the rest of us do his dirty work. Just his name was used to bring fear. Funny how things become clear when you get sucker punched by betrayal and you can finally see clearly.
The air around us thins out as more hunters drop lifelessly on the floor. The stench of sweat, blood, and death sinks into every pore of my skin. I doubt I’ll be able to wash it off for months. Fur brushes against my bare thighs and I see Leo has come next to us, pouncing on any hunter stupid enough, or alive enough, to comes near us. When one of the suckers drops in front of me, I get a clear view on Myst being herded to a corner by two hunters. She looks like a deadly doll, moving with grace and each kick or punch she throws out landing with staggering accuracy. Platinum hair catches my attention closer to her than anyone else. Fenrir is flinging hunters off him like a battering ram, hair flying around his perfect face and making him look like an avenging angel. Deadly perfection is the only way to describe what I’m seeing.
“Fenrir!” yelling out his name, I kick a hunter away from me before locking my eyes on his. “Help her!” I wince when a blade slashes too close to her neck.
The blood turns into icicles in my veins when Fenrir turns to look at Myst and simply ignores the female. Giving her his back, he continues moving in our direction with renewed strength. If I don’t know better, I may say he is trying his best to get as far away from her as he can. The Fae can be annoying and arrogant with the best of them. Even cruel and menacing, as I witnessed when he was dealing with the mage who came to heal me and Astara. I never think to see him as heartless, but the way he glances at her dispassionately is the only thing I can call it. Heartless and almost as if he wants her dead.
What the hell is wrong with him?
“Leo, you need to help Myst.” Even Zoltan cranes his neck when I huff at the shifter. “They have her cornered and more are making their way to her.”
The wolf snarls while barreling through everything standing in his way. Shouts of surprise or anger follow him as he disappears through the bodies. I finally breathe easier when I see Astara, alive and well albeit with blood all over her, stepping next to Myst. The female has help and that leaves me to deal with mine. I ignore Fenrir when he finally steps next to us. Between the three of us, we reach the center of the foyer much faster than expected, coming face to face with Astara and Myst. All the people from the Academy are looking around in case someone still lingering is alive. Dead hunters cover the floor at our feet like a grotesque rug. And then the weirdest thing in this messed up night happens.
Every single person turns their attention to me.
One by one, as my gaze connects to theirs, demons, shifters and mages nod their heads and murmur, “Drake.”
Goosebumps pop up along my skin, and I squirm uncomfortably under the weight of their intent stares. My heart slows down when the heat from Zoltan’s hand on my lower
back stops my panic. What is going on? Why are they looking at me like they are seeing me for the first time? It can’t be the damn sex smell still clinging to my skin. The stench of death is too strong even for their sensitive noses.
“How did you get all these people to come on such short notice, Fae?” As much as I don’t feel like talking to him, I can’t help but ask.
“They are not here because we called them for back up.” Fenrir’s voice has a tone of wonder in it, and that confuses the shit out of me.
“What do you mean?” I press my back closer to Zoltan’s hand, the only thing stopping me from bolting out of here.
“They came to back you up, Hellion,” Fenrir murmurs, a note of pride ringing from his words. “The moment Leo mentioned your name, every single one of them ran through the portal. They followed you, not us.”
20
“Okay, so they all came for Zoltan.” The knot forming in my stomach loosens at that.
“Actually”—Leo steps closer again in his birthday suit, and for a minute I don’t even notice him joining us—“I only had time to say Alexius has Francesca. They swarmed out of the Academy, spreading the word as they went.”
“Yes, because they knew I was going after Zoltan.” I cling to that like pushing a pull door. They have no idea what they’re talking about.
“I actually very much doubt they are here because of my brother.” Astara steps to Zoltan’s other side and he tucks her under his arm. “Not in these numbers anyway.”
I look around the faces again, aware those closest to us can hear our conversation. That knot that loosened is now tying my insides, twisting like a fist inside me. They must be wrong. I’m a loner and I like it that way. Having the four of them—as much as I’m angry at Fenrir at the moment—is more than I’ve ever allowed myself. As the only other friend I’ve had, Daren would say I’m too prickly for anyone to want to get close to me. Again, just how I like it.
“They have no reason to be here just to watch my back.” Hissing at the Fae, I clench my fists because I don’t want to snap at Astara for encouraging this stupid idea.
“You chose us.” It’s not Fenrir or any of my friends answering my outburst. “They stood there holding the one you’d willingly die to protect with a knife under his throat and you chose to protect us.”
I blink at the mage standing in front of me with his shoulders pulled back.
“Between your heart and the rest of us, you picked Sienna when they threatened to bring down the portals,” a demon I’ve never seen before grumbles from behind the mage. More of them crowd closer around us. “We can fight to protect ourselves, but all of us have families that will be slaughtered if the hunters have free access to everyone. That type of loyalty cannot be bought or forced into any of us.” The demon squirms uncomfortably at the same time I do. You can hear a pin drop. “You have no reason to trust my kind when many have turned traitors and worked against you, yet you fought alongside us and had our back. We will pay you back in kind until our last breath, Drake.” Thumping his chest, he spins on his heels and walks away.
I find it difficult to breathe.
“That was Crim; he leads the demons in the Academy. Like Leo is the alpha of the shifters,” Zoltan whispers in my ear, his breath tinkling my skin.
“I don’t want this.” Wiping my sweaty palms on my thighs, I swallow the lump the size of a tennis ball that’s trying to choke me. Not even the vampire’s hand rubbing my back is helping right now.
“You see us as equal to you and each other. The mages and Fae will follow your lead and have your back until our last breath as well.” The mage thumps his chest as well.
Zoltan leans toward me again.
“If you say a word, I’m going to scratch your eyes out.” I elbow him to keep him away.
He grunts but still chuckles.
Asshole.
“I don’t have to tell you the same goes for the shifters, Drake,” Leo says, casually stretching his arms over his head. “We’ve waited a long time for something like this. You have our loyalty, no questions asked.”
I’m very proud of myself for keeping my eyes on his face. That’s until Zoltan chuckles again when my heartbeat triples from Leo’s words. Shifting so he has a perfect view of my face, I pointedly lock my gaze on the shifter’s cock, which is still an acting arrow. The shaft jerks and jumps slightly at my scrutiny. Leo’s grin matches mine when Zoltan snarls. Shaking his head, the shifter leaves, hopefully looking for some pants.
“This is so screwed up.” I rub a hand over my face my mouth, twisting in disgust when flakes of dry blood crumble from it. “I’m a walking disaster waiting to happen. I know it, you know it, and everyone that’s ever heard of me knows it too. They’ll follow me right off the cliff soon enough.”
“You’ll be fine, Hellion.” Fenrir touches my shoulder but I flinch away from him. “They needed hope. You instigated a new order simply by being yourself. It’s not a bad thing.” If me cringing away hurts him, he doesn’t show it. “You know the three of us will always have your back no matter what.”
“Like you had Myst’s back?” The words are out before I can stop them.
My eyes flick around scanning the wide space for the female. Fenrir stays silent, at least not making excuses for his shitty behavior. I see Myst sitting alone as far from everyone as possible, leaning on the wall with her forearms resting on her bent knees. Her eyes are closed, but the moment my gaze finds her they open and lock on me. It’s unnerving how she knows the second I notice where she is. Her blood is still in my veins and it feels familiar and terrifying at the same time. Now that the adrenaline is gone, I am tired to the marrows of my bones. That makes it easier to analyze what her blood does to me. As stupid as it sounds, I think it made me stronger and more immune to the hits I took. How is that possible?
Zoltan follows my gaze, so when I step away from him he doesn’t yank me back. I hear him talking to his sister in hushed tones as I weave my way through dead bodies and people sitting among them just to catch their breath. Good thing this place is away from humans because no amount of illusion can hide us from them. Not with the war zone in this place. Funny enough, I don’t see Roberti or Alexius dead on the floor.
“You did well, Chicca,” Myst says as I slide down the wall to sit next to her. I keep my legs stretched in front of me so my ass—or any other parts for that matter—doesn’t show.
“I’m glad you are not hurt.” Feeling awkward, I blurt it out to make up for Fenrir’s assholiness. “It was amazing to see you fight.”
“That’s like telling someone it’s amazing to see them breathe, Chicca.” She smiles to take away the snark. “Fighting is all I know. It comes in handy in situations like this.”
“I can say the same.” She gives me a strange look, but I keep my face straight while looking around at everyone. “Thank you for helping with …” my voice trails off before I add, “everything” lamely.
“Don’t sound too grateful or you’ll make me cry.” Snickering, she bumps her shoulder on mine.
I smile despite everything, but it fades quickly. “Alexius got away, huh?”
“It’s what cowards like him do.” Shrugging a shoulder, she picks at the dried blood smeared over her forearms. “When they realize they are outnumbered, they flee. I’ll find him soon enough, don’t you worry.”
“Just like Roberti,” I muse, watching as if fascinated how she flakes the blood off her skin.
“Mhm,” she hums absently before giving me the full impact of her knowing gaze. “Being the center of attention doesn’t sit well with you.”
It’s not a question so I don’t answer, just shrug one shoulder like I’m not bothered by it.
“They desperately needed a change in that place if you ask me.” She gets all my focus with that statement. “Calling themselves Daywalkers like they are the same while separating everyone into a pyramid of casts was bound to bite them in the ass.” We sit silent for a long time, and when I think that’s a
ll she’ll say she speaks again. “It was not always like that from what I’ve been told.”
“From Alexius?” Her jaw clenches for a second at my question.
“I woke up at the Academy doors one day.” Luckily, she doesn’t leave me confused for long. “I don’t remember how I got there, or anything else in my life before that day.”
“You are a Daywalker?” I frown when she smiles but it doesn’t reach her eyes.
“No, I stayed there just a couple of months before coming to the human realm.” I stop her fingers from scratching the skin on her arms raw. “I never looked back.”
“Is that why Fenrir has his knickers stuck up his ass?” I bite on my tongue. What’s wrong with me prying into people’s personal lives even though I don’t want them doing the same?
“No.” Myst chuckles but I don’t miss the sadness hidden behind it. “We have a bit of history together. And before your imagination takes off, no there was no hunky dories happening and no wild monkey sex either. “
“Okay.”
“He is not my type,” she adds when I keep my questions to myself, confirming that the Fae is very much her type. I know because that’s exactly what I say about Zoltan.
As if reading my mind, I can feel his eyes on me, but I force myself not to look his way.
“I get it.” The vampire turns me inside out from across the room, damn him. “No one likes that perfect face or killer body, right? It’ll give any female a complex.”
“Right,” Myst agrees a bit too fast.
“So, what’s your plan after tonight?” An idea swirls in my head as I give Myst a side-eyed glance. “You plan on going after Alexius on your own?”
“I’ve been hunting down morons on my own since I can remember.” She looks up and I know Zoltan is making his way toward us without seeing him. “I work best alone.”
