In a blink, I was with Scorpion, Maddox, and Birdie, slinking through the alleys. I could see the HDF troops scrambling, trying to react to this new threat, coming at them from the side. More of Sarkis’s army approached from all angles toward HDF, coming to help us.
Tears filled my eyes with gratitude.
“Thank you,”I muttered to Scorpion.
He walked right by my spirit with a wink, murmuring so only I could hear. “Had nothing better to do anyway.”
“They’re here.” Back with Warwick and Ash, my chest heaved with relief. “Scorpion’s here.”
“Who the hell is Scorpion?” Ash questioned.
“Her other,otherboyfriend,” Warwick muttered, aiming at our enemy, waiting for one to get close enough. We were all running low on bullets. I was down to one; Ash also had just one round left.
“While they are distracted, you two run for the alley.” Warwick’s tone was an order.
“I’m not leaving you,” I snarled, looking up at the tower. It appeared empty, though I knew he was somewhere in the shadows. Waiting. “And what about them?” I motioned over to the rest of our group.
“It’s too late for them,” Warwick replied.
“You don’t know that!” The thought of leaving Kek or Luk was painful. My brain couldn’t even contemplate the fact shecoulddie. Not like this.
“Ash,” Warwick said his name poignantly.
Ash nodded like they could communicate with only a different tone of voice.
“What are you doing?” I looked between the two men, fear rushing in my veins, slamming my heart against my ribs.
Warwick pointed his gun at the troops moving closer. “Go!”
Ash’s hand grabbed my arm, yanking me out from our hiding spot. Warwick covered us as we darted across the lanes. Blasts rang in my ears, skating over my skin, the iron discharge burning the inside of my nose, the fear of knowing any moment this might be my last.
A bullet hit Ash’s shoulder as we dove behind the old crumbling church, the one Kalaraja was shooting from. He was close... hunting me in the dark.
“Faszom!” Pain seethed through Ash’s teeth as we dove behind the wall. Sweat beaded his brow, his expression twisting in anguish. “Fuck, fae bullets hurt.”
Before our time, I guess bullets were mainly made from lead, but since the fae had become known to live among us, humans switched to iron bullets. Iron was a poison to pure fairies like Killian, and to all other fae, iron still caused a severe amount of damage and pain.
He sucked in, cringing through the discomfort as he pointed his gun back toward the army, covering Warwick.
A noise came from down the alley, icing my veins. I twisted, not seeing anything through the murkiness. There might be a chance it was a rat or stray cat, but my gut screamed with warning.
Kalaraja.
Aiming my gun, a single bullet left in the chamber, my feet slowly inched down the path, worried about the murderer sneaking up behind. Kalaraja would kill everyone I cared about for the sole delight of hurting me. He was a fuckin’ sociopath.
As Ash was distracted by the battle in the opposite direction, I crept away, my weapon aimed and ready to kill. A sound came from an adjacent path, twisting me down it. My pulse thumped in my ears, my boots padding silently, feeling like prey stepping into a trap. But I wasn’t the fragile girl he thought I was. His ego was his weakness, thinking no one was better than he was.
Out of a doorway, a leg kicked out, a boot cracking at my arm. My gun flew from my grip, scattering across the cobble. The figure lurched for me.
There was a moment of shock, realizing the person wasn’t the hired killer I had expected, but someone I used to call my friend. The slight hesitation allowed her a chance to slam her fist into my cheek, causing me to stumble away from her.
“Hanna,” I breathed out her name.
“Don’t say my name, traitor!” Blonde hair whipped around as she swung to me, her foot ramming into my stomach, doubling me over. “You are on their side now! How could you? Youfae lover.”
In our world, it was a slur, an insult worse than any other. Now I realized how brainwashed they had us. I would wear the title with honor now.
Ire shot up my back, spreading my shoulders. Snarling, I lurched for her, ramming into her like a train, causing her to slip. My knuckles slammed into her temple, almost dropping her to the stone. She regained her ground, her lip rising as she bounced back for me. My hand cracked across her cheek, pain zinging up my arm as it crushed over the bone.
