Page 34 of Court of Evil

She’s already sitting up, her eyes narrowed. Her training and years of experience force her up, even though she knows she isn’t one of them anymore. Her boots are on, and her clothes are firmly in place.

The fae is at her side with his head cocked. He’s curious but not bothered about being surrounded by enemies.

“You hear that?” I ask.

“The alarm? No, not at all,” she scoffs, rolling her eyes. I’d punish her for her sass, but we don’t have time.

“I can only delay them so long while giving orders and dispatching the hunting teams. They all heard the alarm, but you must get there first,” I tell her, glancing around and finding Ronan on top of the dresser. “All of you, go.”

“Why?” She frowns. “I’m not a hunter anymore. Besides, I’m supposed to be dead.”

“Once a hunter, always a hunter, and because if I’m right and the alarm is sounding because of who I think it is, then he’s someone you will want on your side.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” she snaps as she crosses her arms and faces me.

“We don’t have time for this,” I hiss. “Go now. I’ll send you all the information. Head to the tunnel. Beat the other huntersthere. Be smart and be you. Earn his trust and collect him like you have us.” I turn away when I hear the buzzing of my system, letting me know they are waiting.

I glance back. “Angel, your weapons are under your bed. I had them brought here,” I tell her. “Come back alive.”

CHAPTER 16

When your commander orders you to go, you go.

I have no idea what he’s talking about, but I put my trust in him. He hasn’t betrayed me so far. Besides, I have never seen him so amped up or certain. We have to move fast and find whatever this is before the other hunters arrive.

It’s probably a rogue vamp or something he wants me to save, and after checking the phone with the coordinates, I shove it in the bag with my weapons and arm myself before glancing at the fae and Ronan. “Let’s hunt.”

We make our way back down and out of the tunnel. Once in the forest, I pull out the phone and check the coordinates once more. “It’s close. That’s why everyone was alerted. It will take some time for the teams to form and set out, so we have a good head start, and I know a shortcut.” I smirk as I glance at the fae. “Feel free to stay back if you want to.”

“And miss bloodshed and death?” The wicked glint in his eyes grows. “Never.”

“Fine, but stay out of my way,” I order as I lift my bag higher and take off into the trees at a sprint. Shamus is right. We need to move fast if we want to save whoever this is.

Ronan floats at my side, and the fae simply appears before me every few feet. I sprint as hard as I can through familiar trails and over fallen logs, moving deeper into the forest.

Thirty minutes later, I come to a stop and drop my bag. After double-checking the coordinates, I zip up the bag, throw it over my shoulder again, and withdraw two blades. I have no idea what is in the cave, but I can never be too careful.

The opening is small and innocuous, just a black cave, one of hundreds around here, but there was an alert for a reason.

There are no tracks or signs of life, and I cannot taste any magic or see any blood. Stopping at the entrance, I place my hand on the thick stone and close my eyes.

Nothing.

Nothing has touched this or been through here in a very long time.

“I can sense something,” the fae comments casually.

“What?” I ask as I open my eyes.

He shrugs, totally unbothered. “Something ancient and powerful.”

“Well, that’s helpful,” I mutter. Ancient? What could be hiding out so close to Stalkers’ Rest and be ancient? And why would Shamus send me here, so confident I needed to be here? It makes no sense, but there’s no point in dwelling on it. I turn on the torch attached to the strap on my shoulder and duck into the cave without another word.

There is only one way to find out what’s inside, and that’s to look.

I keep my back to the cave wall as we move farther into the darkness, so that nothing can jump out at me. Stones crunch under my feet, and when I shine my light down, I realise it’s not just stones, but bones as well. Whatever is here is a predator and a meat eater. I don’t think these animals wandered in recently because the bones look old.

I move softly and slowly, taking my time. The light from outside soon fades, and the only way I can see is by the glow of my torch. My feet start to tilt, and I realise we are heading down.

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