Page 21 of After Darkness Falls

The guy with the knife chuckled. “That's one way to put it. I've seen water witches call a bit of rain, but that much snow? I think all of Oldcrest is covered.”

It was impossible to tell considering her complexion, but Chloe would have sworn Gwen blushed.

“Yeah, well. Miss Paxton asked me to show her my limits.”

“And did you reach your limits, Gwen?” the teacher, who must have been Miss Paxton, asked.

The witch shook her head. “I don't think so? Not sure.”

Miss Paxton smiled kindly. “Well, we'll certainly establish that in the next few years. Read, your turn.”

“I'm Easton Read, huntsman. I graduated ten years ago, and I'm back here for my master’s.”

Short and sweet. Everyone seemed suitably impressed. Chloe cleared her throat and lifted a hand. “Sorry. Huntsman?”

All eyes turned to her.

“Ah, yes. Miss Miller is a regular,” said Miss Paxton.

The expressions ranged from surprise to indifference, but the young boy seemed downright angry.

“Huntsmen are an authority with a worldwide reach. When a rogue supernatural creature steps out of line and becomes a danger to those around them—human or regular—the huntsmen intervene. I understand the United States attempted to create their own institution.”

“The PIA,” said Chloe, nodding.

The Paranormal Investigation Agency was well known, particularly since their head office blew up a couple of years back. They pretended everything was fine, but rumor was they'd lost most of their power.

“Yes, that's it. Well, your agency was built specifically to protect regulars. The huntsmen act for the good of all.”

Now Chloe was rather impressed with Easton Read, too.

“Speaking of.”

“Jack, if you please.”

The man approached Miss Paxton and bent down to drop a kiss on her left cheek.

“Mimi. Beautiful as always.”

“Oh, you devil.” She chuckled before returning her attention to them. “Mr. Hunter is a legacy here. His family has trained among us since we began admitting huntsmen among our fold. While he is officially a student like any of you, he was raised in these walls. If your mentor isn't available, I recommend you seek his help.”

Jack's cold eyes glinted, showing exactly what would occur to anyone who dared seek his help. The man certainly had a presence.

To her surprise, he walked right up to her. This close, he towered over her, although at five foot five, Chloe wasn't particularly small. The man topped her by two heads; he might even have been taller than Levi.

“You're fast,” he stated.

Oh. Chloe shrugged. “I used to run track. I'm not as fast as I was, though.”

Spending years working on her feet had made her quite reluctant to exercise in her spare time.

“Mh. What'cha doing tonight, Cheetah?”

She blinked. Was he hitting on her, now, here? In front of the professor and all?

“We're having a race in the Wolvswoods. Winner wins five hundred pounds, loser buys beer. You in?”

Not hitting on her, then. He was very handsome, so there was exactly zero reason why she should feel relieved. But she did anyway.

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