Page 51 of The Hunt of Night

Hands clamp on my arms, restricting my movement before I’m dragged back a step. My hold falls slack and I drop my grip on the heinous bitch.

“Adrianna, we would never allow you to get your hands dirty when we’re right here,” Raiden murmurs against my ear, a hint of delight and humor in his voice as I watch Vallie shrink under his unspoken threat.

“You’re all ridiculous,” I mutter, shaking out of his grip. Tightening my cloak around my body, I dart for Flora, who falls into step beside me, Arlo right beside her, as we head toward the bottom of the mountain range that peaks into the clifftop.

The quicker we get off this damn thin ice, the better.

Wordlessly, the others follow us, and after a few minutes, I heave a sigh of relief when the snow thickens beneath my feet. Looking up at the top of the cliff, I shiver, the chill in the air growing harsher as I start up the slight incline.

Flora rubs her hands together, blowing warm air against her reddening fingertips.

Was it this cold yesterday?

Damn.

Pressing my lips together, I continue forward, refusing to be defeated by the cold weather, but it doesn’t stop my teeth from chattering and my ears from aching.

“Hey, are you cold?” Cassian asks, drawing my attention to where he walks a step behind me.

I open my mouth, ready to deny any such thing, but before I can stop my teeth from rattling together, Kryll is at my side, pulling me in close against him. His warmth envelops me, easing the building tension in my muscles just enough for me to exhale a short, steamy breath.

“I’m hot-blooded. Stay close,” he breathes, his voice completely unfazed by the temperature. Maybe this is what Tora meant by staying close to him.

Glancing around the entire group, I notice the fae, mages, and humans shivering just like me. My gaze lands on Cassian, who must see the realization in my eyes.

“All wolves and shifters, share your warmth with those beside you. Fae, mages, and humans,” he grunts, barking out his command.

“No thanks,” Grant grunts, continuing to make an issue out of every little thing, even as his lips turn blue.

“We make it there as a team, or we don’t make it at all. Get over yourself,” Cassian retorts, not even bothering to glance in his direction.

The students gathered from our three groups follow Cassian’s command as he wraps his arm cautiously around Flora while a wolf girl does the same to Arlo.

“Does anyone have a good sense of direction?” I ask, nestling deeper against Kryll’s chest, soaking in his heat enough to be able to bear the icy climate.

“Sense of direction? All we have to do is get to the top of the cliff. It looks pretty straightforward to me,” Brody states, offering me a confused smile, and my eyebrows furrow.

“What do you mean? There are trees everywhere.” I look toward the steep incline, reconfirming the snow-topped pine trees.

“What are you talking about? It’s a clear path,” Kryll murmurs against my hair, and this time when I shiver, it’s not from the cold.

Frowning, I start to question whether crazy is something else to add to my personality list until Flora clears her throat.

“I see the trees,” she breathes, but it doesn’t offer much comfort when I see others gaping at us in confusion.

“I see them too,” Grant murmurs, lips pursed as he nods toward the incline.

“Me too,” rings out from surrounding fae and human members of our group.

“Are you sure? There’s nothing here at all,” Raiden states, taking a few steps ahead of everyone.

“Wait,” I holler, waving my hand. “There’s one right there.”

I’ve never seen someone roll their eyes as dramatically as he does before he continues on his path like I didn’t just warn him. Two seconds pass, and right on time, he slams straight into the tree I told him to pause for, stumbling backward as he grasps his nose.

“What the fuck?” he grunts, glaring at the offending tree, but I get the feeling he still can’t see it.

“Okay then. Fae and humans lead the way, but the shifters, wolves, and vampires need to stay close to keep them warm; otherwise, we’re never going to make it through this invisible fortress,” I declare, heading for the treeline before anyone can decline my order.

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