Page 75 of Pixie Problems

The botany class must've gone the same way Aspen did to pick mistletoe. Maybe there was something out here she used for her flowers? I didn't know, but it was where Harper and the jester girls had seared her with iron keychains.

Frozen grass crackled under my feet. Across the grounds, I could see groups of people battling with the desiccated, grey men who had to be hunters. What bothered me most was that I didn't see the leader of this group. I couldn't find the Huntsman.

Then a scream broke through the air, and it was a voice I'd recognize anywhere. Aspen wasn't supposed to sound like that. She was supposed to be pissed, or giddy, but never terrified. Neverhurting!

Without thinking, I chased her cry, not even caring if I went on my own. She wasn't in the same place, but I saw her, and all my worst fears were realized. There, with one hand tangled in her hair was the Huntsman, and he was walking towards the back side of the property, dragging her with him.

"Aspen!" I screamed.

The Huntsman paused, looking back, and his face cracked with something like a smile.

"Ride with me," he called.

"Fuck you, asshole!" I yelled back, never slowing my feet.

"Rain!" Keir begged.

"Fuck this," Hawke said, and the sound of feet behind me got louder. "Call him, Aspen!Call him!"

"TORIAN!" Aspen screamed, putting everything she had into it.

"More," I breathed, pulling at the terror inside me. "I fucking need more."

And the shadows obeyed. Darkness filled the footsteps I left behind. Shadows under the trees began to grow. With the sky now clear of freezing rain, crows leaped up from the trees, filling it. Caws, screams, and my own war cry rang out.

The Huntsman just waited. "Ride with me," he said again, his voice soft and eerie, but cutting through the cacophony around us. "Come, little girl. Show me the power you've found."

So I directed all my shadows at him. Just him, the man with a handful of Aspen's short hair, pulling her across the ground just enough to keep her from getting her feet under her.

Beneath me, my shadow stretched, grabbing the Huntsman's and pulling, but the Huntsman kicked it away. "Your magic is nothing!"

"It's everything!" Hawke shot back.

The man smiled, a cold, cruel look. "Fae!" He sounded like someone had offered him a meal.

I reached for more darkness, slinging it out with my hands. Then I tried to push it from my body. On New Year's Eve it had poured from me, so I tried to make it do that again, but there didn't seem to be enough. Just as I thought I was doing something right, the Huntsman slashed at the darkness with his blade, cleaving it much too easily.

"The Crown must be respected!" he nearly spat at me.

And that was when I slammed into him, steel first, but theeltamwas right behind. He batted my swords aside easily, and screamed, "Hunters!"

In the distance, bodies moved. Behind me, the guys were trying to flank. Next to him, Aspen whimpered, doing her best to pry his fingers out of her hair, but it didn't seem to be working. Worse, his hand looked better, fuller almost. Like he was pulling something from her to revive himself.

"Let. Her. Go!" I ordered.

He scoffed. "You are not the Morrigan."

"Morrigan!" Jack crowed, diving right into the man's face.

The overly-large bird slammed into him, knocking the Huntsman back. That was enough to break his hold on Aspen, and she scampered on her hands and knees toward us. Unfortunately, the Huntsman didn't retreat. Instead, he charged.

Thrusting out my hand, I pushed more shadows. A trickle came. It wasn't enough! It was not working.

"Rain!" Aspen yelled, true fear filling her voice.

It startled me enough I took my eyes off my opponentfor a split-second, but the Huntsman hadn't slowed. He swung that thick sword of his with all he had, and there was no way I'd be able to block it in time.

Yet just when I was sure I was dead, my own shadow stood, thrusting out a hand. On its face, those hollow eyes were now paired with a curved semi-circle that looked too much like a smile.