Page 144 of Eat Your Heart Out

But these people were my people. I’d known Thea since I was a little girl. I’d met Stryker when I was about ten years old. There was no tell-tale pale skin to be seen. No fangs. They were as human as you and I.

The enemy can be someone you know.

And then there was Becca, with poison flowing into her veins one steady drip at a time.

“She promised to make me stronger. And faster,” my sister replied in Thea’s stead. Eagerly she leaned forward as much as her restraints allowed, her eyes wide and wild. “I could go on hunts with you.”

“Becca, this is crazy,” I tried to reason. “You don’t have to do this. If you want to go on a hunt with me, then get off that table right now and let’s go.”

She scoffed. “Yeah, as if you’d let me. How often did I beg you to accompany you? But just because my powers aren’t as badass as yours—”

“Becca, your powers barely work at night, which is when vampires crawl about—”

“See, there you go again. I know my powers aren’t much help. That’s why I’m doing this.”

I pressed my lips together, ignoring the tear that threatened to slide down my cheek. It pained me to see my sister like this. This was my fault. I’d pushed her away. Locked her away for her own safety. Suffocated her.

But I couldn’t let her do this.

“I saw the bodies. Whatever they promised you, Becca, it’s not going to work.”

“It’s the Winter Solstice, Quinn. Magic is stronger tonight. That’s what’s been missing. The missing ingredient. I know it’s going to work.”

She was so eager. So desperate to help.

I trained my real gun on Agent White. “I can’t let you do this.”

She’s been watching the exchange with a creepy little smile on her face. I’d never realized just how cold her dark brown eyes looked. Dead.

“I know you’re a skilled huntress, Quinn. Your record is impressive.” Agent White’s smile broadened. “But do you really think you can take us all? Alone?”

I forced my lips into the same chilling smile as hers, despite feeling as if I were on the verge of vomiting. “Who says I’m alone?”

Chapter Six

You’d think Redmond wouldn’t be able to pass a chance for a spectacular entrance. But there was neither hide nor hair of a certain pale, self-important prick when I’d uttered those words. I actually glanced behind me to see where he’d gone.

“You were saying?” Agent White asked, sarcasm dripping off her every word.

“It’s a funny story, actually,” I started. “My back-up just vamoosed. And now I can’t choose if I should drop a quip about how a girl can never trust a guy or something about only trusting the living. But then again, you guys are very much alive and look how that turned out. Wow, creating these awesome one-liners is exhausting.”

Dr. Stryker looked perplexed, but White caught herself rather quickly. “Apprehend her. We could use her if this one fails,” she said to the two other hunters with a jerk of her head towards Becca.

For once in my life, I was left speechless at the coldness in her tone as she dismissively spoke of my sister’s possible demise.

“You bitch,” I snarled. Uncontrolled, shadows shot straight at her. Easily she sidestepped them.

“Still having trouble with your temper, Agent?” she mocked. “I thought I’d taught you better.”

A muffled gasp made my head snap toward Becca and Stryker. ‘Focus!’ I told myself. ‘Becca has priority. Then White and Stryker. Then the rest.’

My body was tense, coiled to strike as I tried to keep my eyes on everything and everyone. I was hopelessly outnumbered.

I grinned, which was more of a baring of teeth. Just the way I liked it.

I sent another burst of shadows in the direction of White, ignoring the two other hunters stalking heading for me and squeezing off a shot towards Stryker. I missed him, but he did stagger backwards and scrambled for cover. Away from Becca. Reloading, I didn’t hesitate and fired in his direction again, striking him in the thigh. A high-pitched scream was my reward, then his body thudded to the ground as the tranquilizer started to work. I quickly reloaded.

“This is ridiculous,” one of the other agents, the guy, muttered, charging forward. Fire burst from his fingertips, arching towards my face. Only my reflexes born from years of training saved me from getting my face scorched off.

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