Feudlings in Sight (8 page)

He didn’t respond, too focused on the scene in front of him while he reached backward to snap the portal shut. She had one chance and she grabbed it. Hefting her heavy skirts, she dove through the portal as it shut behind her.

“Charity! What are you doing?” Shane whirled, snarling at her, but he couldn’t yell without giving them away.

“I’m not letting you go alone. I’m not letting him face this alone! Now move it, Cousin.”

Shane’s mouth opened and shut like a deranged, very confused sea creature. “Okay,” he said finally, and spun toward the woman standing next to the spark of the portal. Charity knotted her skirts in her hand and climbed the small rise, staring in hopelessness at the battle before her. There were dozens and dozens of warriors, and the smoke was already so thick it threatened to choke her. “How are we going to find him, Shane?”

“Your vision. Tell me what you saw. Look for landmarks.
Think
, Charity.” Shane sounded strangled, his eyes wild with panic. He wasn’t afraid for himself — she knew him better than that. He loved Hunter like a brother, and right now his brother was somewhere out there, in the fire and ash and screaming and blood, waiting for the Edren monster.

Chapter Seven

It wasn’t that Hunter had a death wish. He was fairly positive, in fact, that he wouldn’t die but would gain valuable combat experience while having someone to take his frustrations out on. And while he’d been at school, fighting the Edren Prodigy had seemed like a good idea. But now that he was faced with the possibility of actually running into their demon, he wasn’t entirely positive this had been such a great idea.

Hunter, as the Carules Prodigy Guard, was more powerful than everyone else in the world, except the Prodigies themselves. And maybe the Edren’s Guard, although their monster Prodigy never had help. Probably no one trusted him enough to fight for him — or alongside him. Hunter leaned against a boulder that scalded his skin even through his t-shirt, and watched the battle. He really wanted to fight. A lot. The flames in his blood begged to be set free.

But he also didn’t want to die. A lot. And he could see that the warriors in this battle had more training than just their seer friend reading spells to them out of an ancient book. He almost called Shane to do a
saldepement
spell so he could go home. He pulled his phone out and hit the button, but then he remembered the dance. And Conner. And Charity, looking like an angel in someone else’s arms. He swore and shoved his phone back in his pocket. Pushing away from the boulder, he stormed across the desert sand, kicking viciously at a cactus. The whoosh of red flames blew past his face before he realized he had company. Cursing, he dove to the side as another spell flew over his head.

He hit the ground and rolled, ending in a crouch. There were three of them, Edrens. They looked just like any Carules except for the red flames licking their fingertips. He stood slowly, feeling sparks blaze from his hands. He burned the spell into the air, just about to push it at them, when there was an explosion behind him.

The Edrens in front of him stumbled backward and ran, fear shadowed in their faces. He spun, thinking it had to be Shane — those Edrens wouldn’t run from their own Prodigy, would they? But they were brilliant
red
flames coming from the hooded figure standing in the center of the battlefield, surrounded by burning bodies and bloody ash. The Edren Prodigy moved so fast, Hunter’s eyes blurred. His bright scarlet spells spun through the air before Hunter could even
think
of diving for cover.

For the first time in his life, Hunter knew true terror. He was going to die. He was going to die without ever telling Charity…

But the Edren Prodigy hadn’t seen him yet. He was too busy attacking the Carules who were stupid enough to fight instead of run. Slowly, so slowly, Hunter backed away, blending into the darkness. He stood motionless next to his boulder, watching the Prodigy move. He wasn’t human. There was no way that anyone, even a sorcerer, could move like that.

Hunter realized something as his terror abated enough to let coherent thought enter his poor brain. The monster didn’t chase those that fled. Instead, he slowed, hands dropping to his side. The hooded, shrouded figure’s head dropped to its chest as if suddenly overwhelmed by exhaustion. “I won’t hurt you,” he said to the Edrens cowering nearby. Without another word, he turned and dissolved into the night.

“Hunter?” Shane launched himself out of the shadows, nearly tackling Hunter in a bear hug. His tux was dirty and had burned patches, and his face was covered in ash.

“What are you doing here? Do you know how dangerous this is? The Edren Prodigy was
right there
.” Hunter jabbed the air furiously, trying to yell and whisper all at the same time.

“I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t looking for you, you idiot,” Shane snarled back. “What were you thinking? And you call
me
stupid.”

Shane’s words died in his throat. His metallic eyes, glinting in the darkness, widened in fear. He wasn’t a war-hardened soldier, like the others.
But the battle is over, isn’t it?

No. It wasn’t.

Hunter saw the shadows dancing on Shane’s face and turned slowly. The Edren Prodigy materialized like a wraith and stood mere feet away, fire dancing in his palms. “Go home.” The voice was disconnected and cold. Hunter’s blood roiled and screamed. He was meant to fight this demon. He was meant to protect Shane, and without thinking, he moved in front of his best friend.

The Edren Prodigy sighed, slowly tracing the
lirik
into the night air. Neither Hunter or Shane even knew how to
do
a
lirik
yet. “Go home and you don’t have to die tonight. You’re just stupid kids. This isn’t your fight.”

Hunter pushed Shane backward, keeping his eyes on the monster in front of them. The spell burned bright, but hadn’t been pushed yet.
What is
he
waiting for?

An inhuman scream shattered the scalded air as a creature rocketed off the gigantic boulder Hunter had been leaning against. It landed hard on the Edren Prodigy, knocking him to the ground. “Go! Run! Go go!” Charity screamed, rolling over and over, a tangle of ancient cloak and gauzy silk skirts.

Hunter ran. He barreled toward them, scooping Charity up in a tearing of fabric. Holding her tight against his chest, he leaped over the Prodigy and raced after Shane, who had his phone to his ear and a
saldepement
already burning in front of him.

The doorway shimmered open and Hunter didn’t hesitate, diving through, tackling Shane as he went. He expected the
lirik
to hit him in the back and it was okay because Charity was in front of him, she was safe, but the doorway snapped shut and they were all alive.

They tumbled into the dark room, lying in a heap on soft carpet.

“You… you saved us,” Hunter said, his knuckle brushing against the bruise already forming on her pale cheek as they lay tangled on the floor.

“Of course she saved us. She always saves us. Get off me.” Shane pushed at Hunter but Charity only blinked at him, big silver eyes wide and terrified.

“You did it, Charity,” he whispered. “It’s okay. We’re okay now.”

“Not all of us. Get your heavy self
off
me, Hunter. So I can heal her.”

Heal her? Hunter’s heart stopped and he frantically searched her for injuries. No obvious broken bones, and Charity was still breathing. Was she bleeding?

“It’s just a few bruises, Shane. I’ll be fine,” she said quietly.

Hunter felt the presence in the room before he saw it, tensing as he rolled protectively in front of Charity. Michael stood silently in the doorway, watching them.

Shane acknowledged him the same time Hunter did. “We almost died tonight. Thanks for answering your phone, Michael.” He slithered out from under Hunter and Charity, giving them both a dirty look before he rose to his feet.

“Dad. I’m your dad, Shane. And I will always answer.”

****

Hunter and Charity sat on the leather couches, waiting while Shane and his father talked quietly in the kitchen. Soft music from the stereo across the room drowned out their voices. The conversation was long overdue and Charity was happy for Shane. After all, how many times had she wished she could have even one brief phone call with her mother? Just one?

It wouldn’t happen. And right now, she didn’t have the energy to care. She was exhausted and really just wanted to go home — back to the dorms. Being a superhero took a lot out of a girl.

“You missed your dance,” Hunter said suddenly, tracing a scalded pattern in his jeans.

Charity shrugged. “It’s okay. It’s all about the dress anyway,” she teased with what little energy she had left.

Hunter raised an eyebrow, looking at the dress but not at her. “Your dress is ruined.”

She glanced down. Yes, it was indeed ruined. The fabric was torn in more places than it was still intact, and the Prodigy’s flames had burned it pretty badly. “Eh. The Council can buy me a new one.”

Hunter met her eyes, finally. “Charity—” He flushed and looked away. The mighty Hunter looked embarrassed.
Well, this is a first.

“Will you dance with me?” His voice was soft as his fingers entwined with hers. She was tired and ached and had all sorts of injuries but right then, she felt better than she ever had before.

“I would love that, Hunter.”

He pulled her to her feet and led her around the coffee table. In the dim light from the kitchen, he pulled her close, wrapping his hands around her waist. Charity leaned her head against his chest and listened to his heart beat. Strong and steady. She might not remember the next day, or next week, or a year from now, but at this exact second, she knew.

Hunter’s heart beat for her.

About the Author

Wendy Knight
was born and raised in Utah by a wonderful family who spoiled her rotten because she was the baby. Now she spends her time driving her husband crazy with her many eccentricities (no water after five, terror when faced with a live phone call, etcetera, etcetera). She also enjoys chasing her three adorable kids, playing tennis, watching football, reading, and hiking. Camping is also big: her family is slowly working toward a goal of seeing all the National Parks in the U.S.

You can usually find her with at least one Pepsi nearby, wearing ridiculously high heels for whatever the occasion may be. And if everything works out just right, she will also be writing.

Another great read from Wendy Knight

Chapter One

Park City, Utah, Present Day

Arianna Delacour thunked her black duffle bag at the foot of her bed, wondering if she should even bother unpacking. This was her sixteenth boarding school. Sixteen in nine years, but there would have been more if she hadn’t been home schooled until third grade. That was when the Family started sending her out to hunt.

Wrong life
. She shoved the thought away, jumping to a safer one. She had to focus on this life now. She was about to start her senior year, and she wanted to graduate. So, quieting the flames running through her blood, she started unpacking.

“Who are you?” a high pitched voice demanded behind her.

Ari didn’t turn to investigate. “I’m Ari. Who are you?”

“This is my room,” the voice said.

Ari thought it over, decided there was nothing to respond to, and continued unpacking.

“I said, this is
my
room.” The voice grated on Ari’s ears and made her teeth ache. Sighing, Ari stood up, shoving her long black braid over her shoulder as she turned. A much shorter, somewhat round blonde girl stood in the doorway with her hand on her hip, green eyes glowering back at her.

“Apparently, it’s also my room. If that’s going to be a problem, you should take it up with the headmistress.” Ari’s dark brown eyes clashed with the girl’s green gaze. The girl’s lips tightened as she gave Ari a slow once over. Ari folded her arms and glared back. Finally, the blonde gave up, shaking her hair away from her face.

“I’m Brittany.” She dropped her hand from her hip and pushed her way into the room. She threw herself down on her unmade bed and scowled at Ari.

“Hey.” Ari turned back to her unpacking. Brittany stayed on her bed, filing her nails and watching, until it was obvious that Ari wasn’t going to attempt to socialize. With a huff, she got up and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind her. Ari smirked.

This school had uniforms, which was nice. They saved her the time and effort of trying to decide what to wear that would make her stand out the least. But she was five foot ten for one thing, when most girls her age were closer to five foot four, and for another thing, her long black hair had dark red streaks running through it — streaks that were natural yet looked anything but. Between the two, and the fact that she was always the new kid, fading into the background was impossible.