Page 93 of Beneath the Starlight and Storms

“I’m sorry.”

I glance down at the girl as she drops my hand and takes a step back. “Sorry for wh—?”

“Good job.”

I freeze at the male voice before spinning around. Only to find four Hunters staring back at me. All of them are wearing black with the strange silver crest on it but this time I can make out their faces.

Two of them are identical twins with brown hair and dull blue eyes, the only difference is the myriad of scars each has on the opposite cheek.

The Hunter standing closest to them is taller than them both, with ashy blond hair and violet eyes but it’s the shorter dark-haired Hunter standing in front of them all, the one staring at me with nothing but violence in his eyes, that has my stomach dropping and throat feeling like it’s about to close up.

Before I get the chance to panic, a gasp sounds out around the silent room drawing my attention to the group of people behind the Hunters.

Two couples are huddled close together. The oldest looking male with dark hair openly glares at the Hunters, while the two females and younger male all keep their sad eyes on the young girl beside me, looking at her like she’ll disappear any moment.

And all seem to be Fae.

“You have her now. Please let my daughter go.” A young woman who looks to be a few years older than me reaches a hand out to the girl.

“Please.” A tear falls down her face making my heart clench.

Guilt floods me as I realize this is all my fault. The Hunters wanted me and hurt these people to get to me.

The dark-haired Hunter in front of me looks to be the leader of the group with the other three all deferring back to him. He ignores the mother’s pleas as his eyes flash ominously at me.

“You didn’t really think we’d just let you go.” A dark smile slides across his face as the group of Fae freeze.

“You Fae are far more gullible than we thought.” He shakes his head in disgust before nodding to the Hunter with the violet eyes.

I needed to get them out of here, but how? I wasn’t exactly in the best position myself.

My hands slide against the daggers hidden at my sides and I try to think back to the short lesson Cash gave me.

But any thought of a plan is taken out of my hands when the two male Fae rush toward the twin Hunters, attacking them.

With them distracted, the young girl rushes toward the younger female Fae.

“Mom,” she cries.

Her mother envelops her in a hug, holding her tight while the older female places kisses on her face and rubs soothing circles on her back.

A glint of steel catches my eye and I turn to catch the leader of the group of Hunters making a move toward the females.

Acting on instinct, I pull out one of the daggers from my waist. Pinching the blade between my fingers and palm, I aim and throw it just like Cash taught me.

With some stroke of luck, the blade hits close to my target. And by target, I mean the Hunter. He grunts and looks down at the blade sticking out of the back of his leg before glaring up at me.

I was aiming for his upper back but after one lesson with Cash, it’s better than nothing. The women rush over to me with grateful looks before glancing over at the other Fae.

“I’m sorry I tricked you.” The girl huddles closer to her mother with a sad look.

“It’s okay. It’s not your fault.” I give her a small smile as I try to think of how I was going to get us all out of here now.

“Get them.” The leader grits out to the other Hunters. But the Fae men are still keeping the twins busy, using random metal sharp objects around them as weapons.

The Hunter with the violet eyes breaks off and heads straight for us. But I notice his eyes are set on me and not the women. If they really are here just for me, maybe I can draw them away from the girl and her family long enough for them to get out of here.

Taking a step back, I watch the leader narrow his eyes on me as I quickly glance around for a way out.

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