Page 100 of Court of Evil

“Yes, mistress,” Tem replies happily.

I nod while the others offer their agreement, and then the fae summons the portal. It glows and swirls before us, displaying a muted, wobbly vision of Stalkers’ Rest bracketed by the rising sun on the other side. She stares at it for a moment before stepping through, and we follow her.

Our feet hit the path leading up to the closed gate of Stalkers’ Rest. I know the moment they spot us. A shout goes up, andguns are aimed at us. Tate rolls her eyes at the guards. “Tell Commander Vilaran that Tate Havelock is back.”

There’s muttering, and then we wait. She doesn’t move, so neither do we, and five minutes later, the gate slowly opens.

She walks inside like she has no fear, even as guards swarm us, their guns aimed at us. She waits as those training inside all turn, drawn by the commotion.

A crowd begins to form, and whispers spread like wildfire as they jostle to see better. They glance from Tate to the monsters surrounding her.

“What is this, Havelock?” someone yells. “Have you betrayed us?”

“Are you a fucking monster lover now?”

“Kill them and her!”

The crowd starts to scream for blood, and weapons are drawn. She stands tall before it all, one eyebrow arched. “Any man who takes a step towards me before I have spoken to the commander will meet the same fate as those who dared to betray us. Choose your actions and words carefully,” she calls out.

It’s enough to make them hesitate. Everyone knows Tate means what she says. Black might have been the elite’s leader, but Tate? Everyone knew she was his right-hand man—er, woman, and his greatest weapon. She has defeated every hunter here at least once in training. She wouldn’t be able to take them all when they are together like this, not alone, but her confidence is enough to make them waver.

The crowd parts, and Shamus barges through until he stands at the front. For a moment, I see his eyes soften in relief before he masks it. He was so worried when I appeared and demanded to know how to kill ghouls, but as soon as I mentioned Tate was in trouble, he moved. He made a deal with an old foe to get her that blade and paid the price dearly, even as he swore me to secrecy.

Does she know just what Shamus is willing to do for her?

She still thinks of him as an enemy, but he has always been on her side. There is no one here he would betray his cause and his people for bar her. His hands move to his weapons ever so gently, making it look casual, but I know differently. He’s preparing in case he needs to defend her.

“Angel,” he calls, and the crowd falls silent, all waiting with bated breath. “You’re back. I take it your mission was a success?”

Clever Shamus. With one sentence, he’s letting them all know she’s still on their side and that he sent her. The fact that he’s not reacting to those behind her seems to unsettle and confuse the hunters, but none are brazen enough to question the commander—not in his own nest.

“You could say that.” Her voice carries, and I sense a bit of magical intervention. When I glance back, I see Jarek’s fingers moving at his sides before he winks at me. It’s not only Shamus who has her back.

A whole army stands before her, but there’s an unstoppable force right behind her that could wipe them out without even breaking a sweat if they so much as blinked at her wrong. Does she understand the level of devotion she inspires?

All my life, I’ve followed Shamus, but we both know if he asked me to choose now, I’d choose her.

I’d remain at her side until she could join me in this form.

She lifts the heads in her hands, and gasps ring out. Smirking, she tosses them at Shamus’s feet, and everyone watches as they roll with a sickening sucking sound before stopping. The faces of her team are evident, their eyes still black and skin covered in inky veins.

She eyes the hunters like she’s preparing for war, and they eye her like she’s now the enemy.

This could get bad very quickly.

“My mission was a success. Major Black and his team have been cleansed from this world for their crimes.” A roar of anger begins, and she waits for it to quieten, not the least bit intimidated. “Look at what your great major has turned into and look closely. He is not a human. He is a monster.” She narrows her gaze on the crowd.

“We all know of his deeds, though few speak of them, but the time is now. There will be no more secrets, hidden hunts, or killing innocents. Let their deaths be a warning to you all. Everything will be done by the rules now. We hunt monsters, not innocents!” she roars, and I see their nervous expressions. “We do not hunt innocents of any race,” she carries on, tilting her head back. “And to ensure it stays that way, I will hunt down any man or woman who has ever or will ever touch an innocent. Your secrets are not safe from me. I will find them, and you will pay. This is your only warning.” She looks to Shamus. “This is your house, Commander Vilaran, and your people, but I will not let it happen anymore. You wanted me to do this, but I’m doing this my way. I will cleanse the hunters of those who give us a bad name. I will remake us into what we once were. I swear that on my soul, and anyone who gets in my way will face my wrath.”

There’s a moment of silence before all hell breaks loose. “Commander!”

“Commander!”

“What does this mean?”

“Commander, what are your orders?”

Everyone looks to Shamus for answers, and Tate waits, her eyes daring Shamus to betray her and say she speaks alone.

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