Page 16 of An Avalanche Hero Christmas

“Step aside now if you want to live,” he said. “Leave her for me.”

Mallory had never heard him speak before. His voice was surprisingly gentle, like on a TED Talk or a radio show. She’dexpected it to be deep and menacing, but it was the calmness of his tone that gave it an even more deadly edge. This wasn’t just some wild, bloodthirsty killer. The Fae Hunter was meticulous, the type of person who calculated every possibility.

Aside from death, there was one other thing she saw in his eyes. It was cold intelligence. What was it that Lance had told her about Boris earlier?

He won’t stop until you’re dead.

No wonder. The Fae Hunter was persistent, too. Intelligent, persistent, and dangerous. The type of man who was disciplined but beyond morality. The type of man who didn’t care how much blood was shed as long as the job was done.

It was probably too early to profile the hunter after two interactions and a single statement, but Mallory remembered reading books and watching documentaries about serial killers to—ironically enough—kill time in her apartment when she wasn’t working at the Living Grace Hospital. She’d learned enough to establish a pattern among them. This man was likely the same.

Even now, she felt nauseated at the thought of all the other fae who must have died at his hands, all those innocents whose last view had been the cold, green eyes of the man who had hunted them down and driven his blade into their chests. Her knees began to tremble, and she fought the urge to turn and run but decided that her safest option was to remain with Lance.

He would protect her…wouldn’t he?

“I watched you pull her out of the snow,” the Hunter said to Lance. “You are not fae. I have no business with you, but if you continue to interfere, I will have no choice…”

He reached into his coat, and Mallory held her breath as Boris withdrew a blade identical to the one embedded in the tree. It gleamed in the sunlight, promising pain and death.

“I won’t ask again,” Boris said. “Step aside.”

For a second, Mallory felt Lance stiffen, and she knew that he was contemplating his options. If he left her at the mercy of this obsessed murderer, he could walk free and head back to his cabin without any hassle. After all, wasn’t she the only reason he’d gone through all this trouble instead of heading straight home? If he stayed and tried to protect her, he’d be putting himself in danger.

She sucked in a breath. This was the end, after all. It was obvious which option he would pick. She might as well start saying her last prayers because—

“No.” Lance’s voice sliced through her thoughts.

Mallory blinked. “Lance, what are you—?”

He gave her a gentle shove that sent her stumbling back a couple of feet. She regained her balance just in time to see a gleam enter Boris’s eyes.

“Have it your way, then,” the Fae Hunter said.

He struck!

For a man so large, Boris was unusually quick. All Mallory registered was a dark blur and a flash of silver as the man lunged at Lance. Lance dodged the blade, but Boris’s fist connected with his jaw, sending him sprawling onto the snow.

The Hunter turned to her then, his eyes narrowing, but he had only taken a step toward her when Lance’s hand shot up and grabbed his leg. With a growl, Boris struck at him again, but Lance was quicker this time. He rolled to his feet, sweeping a handful of snow in Boris’ face.

It was a crude attempt, but it worked. Boris lifted an arm to shield his eyes, and Lance ran at him. The Hunter swiped at him with his blade, but it didn’t stop Lance. With a yell, he slammed into Boris, knocking the other man into the nearest tree, which groaned and snapped with the impact, landing on the forest floor with a deep thud.

I need to do something,Mallory thought.

Reluctantly, she tore her gaze from the struggling men in the snow to the second blade still lodged in the other tree. If she grabbed it, maybe she could make this a fairer fight for Lance. Or she could stab Boris while he was distracted. Mallory didn’t know much about combat, but she certainly knew how to locate an artery.

She’d taken a couple of steps toward the tree when she realized she might not be able to pull the knife free. Then she had another idea, and she frantically reached into her MediPack, pulling out the scissors. She looked back at the two men struggling. If they could stop writhing just long enough for her to sink the scissors into his—

With an inhuman roar, Lance flung Boris off him. The Fae Hunter sailed a few feet and slammed into a tree, and Mallory saw her chance. Or so she thought. Ignoring the terror that gripped her and threatened to cripple her, she charged at Boris but only made it a couple of feet before a hand grabbed her arm.

“Let’s go!” Lance screamed in her ear, pulling her away.

Boris was climbing to his feet.

“Come!” Lance said tersely. “This way!”

Mallory could barely see where they were heading. She glanced over her shoulder just in time to see Boris retrieve his weapons and give chase, speeding toward them like a whirlwind.

That was all she needed to see. Epinephrine surged through her veins like water through a broken dam, and she picked up speed, running alongside Lance through the woods, through the snow. Where they were headed was a mystery, but they had to get out of there before Boris caught up with them.

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