Page 207 of Pixie Problems

But the hunter merely grinned. He didn't say a word, but he looked like I'd just given him everything he'd ever wanted.

And from behind him, I heard, "Ride with me."

Chapter Sixty-One

RAIN

The hunter before me stepped aside to reveal the Huntsman storming at me. On his face was a smirk, almost like he was glad to see me, but the heavy sword hanging from his hand made it clear he was ready to rumble.

Keir still took a shot at the hunter he could reach. Hawke shifted around, checking behind us. Me? I braced for impact, because this fucker would not get his hands on someone I cared about again.

"Bring it, bitch," I breathed, deciding I was going to embrace Jack's terminology.

The Huntsman's smile grew. "You took what is mine."

"Nope, she's mine," I told him. "You also didn't really like what I offered in return."

But in the pit of my belly, my guts were trying to double-tie themselves. I could feel my asshole clenching because I was so scared. I simply refused to show it. Right about now, I had no choice but to deal with the mess I'd gotten myself into - and hope like fuck I could get my friends out of it.

"Hawke? Keir?" I asked. "How far to the school?"

"Too far," the Huntsman said, lifting his blade.

"Do not touch her!" Keir snarled.

The Huntsman looked at him, then back to me. Two more steps, and he would be on us, but the other hunters had backed away. Unfortunately, they were all shifting, grabbing their weapons a little tighter, and moving to stand shoulder to shoulder. Preparing.

I counted six of them. No, not a lot, but I knew there were a few more out here somewhere. Probably behind me. Likely going to fuck me up when I least expected it. Still, the breather the Huntsman was giving us as he casually strolled towards me meant I'd almost caught my breath.

And then someone screamed. No, not the panicked kind. This was a roar. Another voice joined it, and one more after that. I dared to glance back in time to see Bracken charging at me. Ms. Rhodes was beside him, wearing her full armor. And chasing after them? Torian and Aspen, along with the rest of the sentinels.

"Oh, you're fucked now," Keir said.

The Huntsman swung without warning, his blade aiming for Keir's head.

I yelped. Shadows poured from me, released with no thought or plan. Hawke lunged, shoving himself in the narrow gap between me and Keir, all but shouldering Keir to the ground. And in the split second it took for all of that to happen, my shadows found their purpose.

Darkness split, coalesced, and slammed against all three of us. Immediately, it was solid, so when the Huntsman's blade crashed into Hawke's raised arms, it clanged loudly, like it had just hit concrete. Confusion took over the grey man's face, followed a moment after by rage.

"I do not want you!" he roared, backhanding Hawke so hard the guy flew six feet to the side.

But I was there to take his place. "Keir, get up!" I begged.

I could hear him moving, yet the Huntsman swung again. I blocked, and shadows coated my other hand, spread, and became a shield. Yeah, I could work with this. Pulling the circle of darkness before me, I crouched, just like my zez had taught me, then pushed, refusing to even blink as I hacked at anything the Huntsman moved.

Warmth hit me again, then cold, then something else. Not heat, but dry. Like wafts of air, they didn't do more than make me aware of the sensations, and yet I could feel my power levels rising back up just as my father pushed in by my side, his sword moving so much faster than mine ever could.

"Do." He swung. "Not." He blocked. "Touchmy daughter!"

"Rain, pull back!" Ms. Rhodes ordered. "You need to send them away. We cannot kill the Hunt. We can only push them back into the storm!"

The Huntsman's head snapped over to the sound of her voice, shifted abit, and then his eyes widened. Without a word, the man shoved my father out of his way and tried to walk right over me. I pushed. I hacked, but my blade skipped off what must be his armor.

"Aspen, go!" Torian yelled. "Wilder, wall off something!"

"Rain's over there!"

"Hawke!" I screamed, knowing he was even further away.