Marcus studied me for a long moment, suspicion flickering behind his eyes. Then, slowly, he grinned. “Sure. Why not? We’re all friends here.”
He punched my arm, harder than necessary. I made myself laugh, even though every muscle in my body screamed to run.
“How about we head back to HQ first?” I said quickly. “Grab some proper gear. No point going in unprepared.”
Marcus snorted.
“Nah. Got everything I need in the van.” He jerked his thumb toward the door. “Come on. We’ll make a night of it.”
I forced a grin, even as my stomach twisted. “Yeah. Sounds great.”
As we stepped out of the bar, the cool night air hit my face like a slap.
My pulse was a steady roar in my ears. Marcus’s van was parked near the edge of the lot, the back door hanging open to reveal exactly what I feared. An arsenal.
Stakes, crossbows, UV grenades, even a couple of silver knives. Overkill for a fledgling. They were laughing, joking, as they piled in.
I climbed in last, wedging myself in the corner seat, hands shaking as I pulled out my phone under the guise of checking messages.
Kit: Hunters are headed your way. They think there’s a fledgling at the house. Hide. Don’t light anything. Don’t move.
I hit send and stared at the screen. No reply. My throat went dry. Simon always replied. Even if it was just a quick message, even if it took him a few minutes. He’d never ignored me completely.
I tried again.
Kit: Simon. Please answer.
Still nothing. I chewed my lip, tasting copper. He’d mentioned wanting to clear out the weeds in the backyard earlier this week.
Maybe he was outside, phone somewhere inside the house. Or maybe?—
No. I forced the thought down. He was fine. He had to be fine.
“Yo, Kit,” Marcus called from the driver’s seat. “You look pale. You sure you’re up for this?”
“Fine,” I said shortly.
He grinned. “Good. Don’t want you fainting before we get there.”
They roared with laughter. I stared out the window, fists clenched tight in my lap. The van rattled down the cracked asphalt, headlights cutting through the dark like spears.
The ride felt endless. My phone stayed silent.
By the time we turned onto the overgrown road leading to the Ashford estate, my pulse was a steady, sick drumbeat in my ears.
The house came into view, half-hidden behind wild trees and creeping vines. The same house where I’d spent quiet nights by the fire, Simon tucked next to me.
The same house where Simon had laughed for the first time in a months. Now, these idiots were going to storm in and destroy it.
Marcus killed the engine and hopped out, tossing stakes to his friends like party favors.
“Rules are simple,” he said with a grin. “Whoever kills it first wins. Try not to stab each other.”
His friends laughed. My vision went red for a second. I wanted to tear that grin off his face.
“Maybe I should go first,” I said quickly. “I’ve been here before. I know the layout.”
Marcus waved me off. “Relax, it’s just one fledgling. Won’t last two minutes. Go when I say.”
