Page 42 of V for Vindictive

Lux shrugged, grinning a little to himself, acting like this were a meeting between colleagues and not the moment before a fight. “He was already after you, but I may have given him a little extra…hmm, direction and equipment.”

“Thought so. I doubt the other leaders sanctioned the use of a notorious Dark Fae to hunt down some of your best Hunters to recover an asset. Must’ve paid a hefty fee out of the Organization’s coffers—or your own,” Phillip went on conversationally.

Lux chuckled and crossed his arms, his strong jaw clenching and unclenching.

My Hunter training picked up on the growing agitation across our enemy’s body. The bastard might put on a good show, but the nervous ticks, the stress in his jaw and shoulders, the way his pupils thinned and muscles bulged suggested he was being riled up by the things Phil said. The calculating Austrian was getting to this dude, and bad.

“Not at all. His only wish was to see you dead and those around you.”

“You miscalculated, old friend. Eros won’t stop with kidnapping anymore, not after what she did to him on our last encounter.” Phillip didn’t elaborate, probably in hopes of leaving Lux frustrated by the mystery, and I counted on that being the aim. “He’ll come after her knowing that I care for her, and then you’ll lose your prized goose,” Phillip stated confidently, surprising me stupid for a second.

Did he just say he cared about me?

But it was clear by the way Lux reacted that he hadn’t realized Eros might want me dead, and his silver-eyes shifted uncomfortably before his jaw tautened.

My companion knew what buttons to press with this one, and it was painfully obvious how capable Phillip was when it came to undermining someone’s confidence. I’d never admit out loud how hot it made me, but if I hadn’t already been so into the arrogant Hunter, then this would’ve been the thing to do it.

I paused for a second, some of what Phillip said before finally registering, and I opened my mouth, brow knitting together.

Wait a fucking second. Did he just say I’m a goose? What a fucking asshole…

One look at Phillip’s amused smile and sparkly blue eyes, and I was sure he’d done it to fuck with me. Only he would be up against a final level boss with all of his lackeys and find the time to taunt me. I mouthed “asshole” at him, making the Austrian snicker cutely to himself.

God, I’m doomed. Why’s he so damn cute when he looks like he’s out committing crimes for a living?

Sloan at least had the good sense not to smile. He was closer than before, his eyes tracking from left to right, figuring out the best way to overcome the odds. It was then that I noticed the thing in Phil’s other hand. A simple recording device.Clever.But I’d expect nothing less of the other Hunter, and by the look on Sloan’s face, he’d already figured out the best way to proceed.

Presently, we were up against a group of ten Hunters with powers unknown to us, not counting Lux. I sensed Lux wasn’t human like I expected the higher ups to be. He was clearly something altered, same as us, so it’d be dangerous to underestimate what he could do. Or any of these Hunters after finding out what was in my blood. And because we couldn’t openly talk or use our usual code since the other Hunters would understand it,we were forced to quietly and separately calculate a plan of attack on our own.

“I’m afraid I don’t have time to chit chat. The little lady and I have an appointment we can’t miss.” Lux snapped his fingers and the Hunters around him pulled out their respective weapons.

But what surprised me more was the sudden electricity in the air as several summoned magic and the space was suddenly charged with it. The reason Phillip held what he did finally clicked. He was already aware these were magic-users.

Throwing the device into the air, it crackled and sparked, shutting down their magical attacks before they could reach us. Then Phillip was instantly taking down three Hunters simultaneously all by himself. Just as quickly, Sloan joined him, subduing one while slashing another.

As more rushed in from several corridors behind us and in front of us, I moved into action. I promised my two Hunters I’d never be far from them, and the closer I was, the easier it was to work as a team. Swinging out at several Hunters who came running forward, I stabbed, dodged, kicked, and slammed my way through a line of them.

The corridor wasn’t very wide, but several corridors were connected to it, so I used them to my advantage. Kicking off walls, I landed, tumbled, and cut into several Hunter’s legs on the way to the other side. I blocked an attack to my chest, countering it with my fist, and the other Hunter grunted and hit the wall.

Then I pivoted, evading someone’s arm, and kicked their knees the direction they weren’t meant to go. The telling crack hit my ears before the masked Hunter collapsed onto the floor. Stabbing down, my blade impaled their chest and blood gushed like a lake from the wound. Handstook hold of my sword before I withdrew it, and the dying Hunter curled in on themselves, watery cries haunting me in an instant.

It wasn’t like killing a creature. This was human to some degree, and they were clearly suffering.

Staring down, it hit me a second later that by their shape, it was a woman, and reality was a real bitch. It was staggering to think I’d have to kill one of my own. It was the first time I fought my own kind like this, and my heart wasn’t okay. But I didn’t have any other choice. It was kill or be killed. If I didn’t get them first, they wouldn’t hesitate to get me.

Shaking off the uncomfortable reality of what I fought, I evaded another attack a new enemy aimed at me. Staggering my stance and cranking my arm back, I landed a blow on their stomach so hard it sent them lofting into the air. Then the attacking Hunter hit a window and crashed through glass.

Luckily, my close contact fighting skills were especially good, and with my superior speed, I easily navigated every Hunter around me. It was like watching a movie in slow motion. No Hunter who came swinging at me stood a chance.

Another crack echoed in the hall, subduing the magic users once more before the effects of the first wore off. Thank Buddha Phillip was a scientific genius.

As I defeated one after another, my confidence grew. I started to hope. But then something pierced my skin when I turned and suddenly found a pair of silver eyes in front of me. My neck burned, and I quickly slapped a hand over the place I’d been stabbed with a syringe.

A rush of sensation took hold of my body, sweeping out and numbing every limb with deadly quickness. I watched Lux toss the syringe to theground with a lift to one side of his mouth. Lazily, I looked back to where my companions were still fighting. Phillip and Sloan were surrounded by so many Hunters I could barely see them.

“Fu…ck,” I slurred, a dizzying sensation striking my head as I teetered. The world blurred and wobbled. My vision swayed, making it difficult to stay upright. And then there were silver eyes again, staring down at me from where I’d collapsed on the floor. The world was warped and distorted, but I distinctly felt someone lifting me before my vision tunneled.

“That’s a good girl,” a faraway voice said before darkness closed in on me and stole my consciousness.

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