Chapter 31
Thirty-One
IZZY
Half an hour later, Jake and I park downtown and begin the trek towards the coffee shop a few blocks away.
The sun is high in the sky, but the wind is cool, a startling contrast that batters at my skin.
I feel cold all over, but I’m unsure if it’s because of the weather or my turbulent thoughts.
In just a little bit, I’ll be meeting my bio dads. Officially, that is.
Fuck.
Why are the butterflies in my stomach acting like such demented twits? They shouldn’t be flapping around when I’m fucking furious at the assholes for lying to me.
“So I heard back from Tall, Dark, and Growly,” Jake says conversationally from beside me.
“Which one is Tall, Dark, and Growly?”
“Reid, obviously.” Jake rolls his eyes like I’m being purposely obtuse. “Anyway, he wants to know where you’re meeting the bio dads. Do you want me to tell him the truth or…?”
“The truth,” I blurt instinctively.
I want my mates with me. Yes, I’m confused about where I stand with all of them, but I’m almost desperate for them to hold me and tell me everything will be all right.
I’ve missed them. A lot. Way more than I expected, and probably more than I should’ve. It feels as if they’ve been a part of my life a lot longer than a few months. I feel their absence like a physical ache, an incessant throbbing that refuses to alleviate, no matter where I go or who I’m with.
“He’s with Ethan and Emery,” Jake continues, obviously reading from a text on his phone.
“Yes, send them here. I… I need them.” I almost hate admitting that out loud, as if that will somehow make me weak, but once those words leave my lips, I find I have no regrets.
It’s not weak to rely on other people. Trusting people and allowing them to breach your defenses, especially after enduring a childhood of pain and loss… That’s strength.
I’m just pissed it took me this long to realize it.
“So how’s it going with them?” Jake shoots off a final text and then shoves his phone back into his pocket. “Don’t think I missed that blush when I asked about them earlier.”
“I don’t blush,” I scoff, even as my cheeks heat.
Fuck.
Jake laughs. “Yeah, yeah. Whatever you say.” There’s a beat of silence, then, “You fucked them, didn’t you?”
“Jake!” I slap at his arm halfheartedly.
“What? Is a brother not allowed to inquire about his sister’s sex life?” Jake asks with feigned innocence, blinking at me.
“Ew, ew, ew. Don’t ever say that out loud. Ever.”
“What?” He playfully nudges my ribs. “I’m just…”
Jake tenses abruptly, his hand just barely grazing mine before grabbing it and pulling me to an abrupt halt. The hair on the back of my neck stands straight up.
“You feel that?” I whisper.
Jake doesn’t respond, scanning our surroundings, his jaw set tight. Since it’s the middle of a work and school day, the downtown streets are basically empty, with only a few couples and families milling around. None of them is the cause of this innate sense of unease stirring in my chest.
“Come on,” Jake murmurs, tugging me in the direction we came from.
Only to pause when we come face-to-face with an unfamiliar man.
His long brown hair is tied away from his face in a loose bun, and he wears a flannel shirt and ripped blue jeans. Everything about him screams, “NORMAL,” but the knot in my chest only tightens.
“Going somewhere, little witch?” The man takes a step closer to me, and every alarm bell in my head goes off simultaneously.
Danger! Danger! Danger!
Jake tightens his grip on my hand and slowly backs us up—only stopping when we slam into someone’s chest.
Fuck.
Two more men materialize to the left of us, and three appear in the alley to the right.
We’re surrounded.
“Who are you?” Jake demands, tension thrumming through him.
The man standing before us smiles and slowly lifts his shirt, revealing a blade nestled in the waistband of his pants.
On the hilt is the Hunters’ symbol.
Fucking hell.
I don’t think, only act.
The moment the first hand reaches for me, I move. My senses explode with heightened awareness, as they always do when I’m fighting, and every sound and movement becomes crystal clear.
I’m on the man before he can even blink, a snarl ripping from my throat as I slam my fist into his chest.
He staggers back, but I don’t give him time to recover. I grab his wrist, twisting it until I hear the satisfying snap of bone, and then I throw him into the nearest wall.
Another Hunter lunges at Jake, but my foster brother’s already in motion. With an almost blistering speed, Jake’s hand wraps around the man’s throat, lifting him off the ground like he weighs nothing. The man’s face turns a sickly shade of red, but Jake’s grip doesn’t loosen.
I don’t take my eyes off the other five.
They’re closing in, circling us like vultures, but I’m ready for them. I’m nothing but restless energy, rage, and a growing need for vengeance.
The next Hunter comes for me with a right hook aimed at my face.
I twist my body to the side, ducking under the punch, and in the same motion, grab his arm and twist. His scream is muffled as I force his wrist behind his back and slam him against the nearest car.
His body crumples to the ground with a thud.
Before I can catch my breath, another one’s charging me, a dagger in his hand. I don’t have time to think, just react.
The blade swings down towards me, but I step to the side, dodging it just barely, and land a kick to his ribs.
The air explodes out of him with a grunt, and he stumbles back.
I don’t give him time to recover. I’m already on him, grabbing the blade and yanking it from his hands, sending it flying across the street.
As he stands there, dumbfounded, I pull my arm back and punch him straight in the face. Bones crack, and he falls to the ground with a cry.
Enough of this.
Did they really think they could come for me and Jake?
Fuck that.
Fuck them.
The power in me crackles, and I allow it to marinate inside of me, growing and growing and growing and growing. Back at the covenstead, I was terrified of using my powers and hurting the people I care about.
Now? I want them all to die.
How dare they try to harm me and Jake? How fucking dare they?
I close my eyes and feel the wind stir my hair.
I’m keenly aware of the ground beneath my feet, the birds in the sky, the mildew on the nearby bench, the flames of a fire miles and miles away.
Every element calls to me, speaking to me in their own language, and I listen to the cacophony of voices as they blend together.
Allowing my eyes to shoot open, I focus on the Hunter lunging at Jake.
With a snap of my fingers, the ground beneath him gives way, opening up like a mouth to swallow him whole.
He yells, scrambling, but I don’t allow him to escape.
As soon as he falls into the pit I created, I will the earth to close over him, trapping him in an impenetrable coffin for the rest of his days.
The remaining Hunters hesitate, their eyes flickering between me and Jake. They know this fight is over, that they’re outmatched.
One of them pulls a knife, flicking his wrist like he’s going to throw it at me. I don't give him a chance.
I lift my hand and send him flying against the side of the nearest building. The knife skitters out of his grip as my magic keeps him pinned against the brick wall, his face beet red and panic welling in his eyes.
“Who sent you?” I demand, my voice low and threatening. The power in me surges, and the air thickens with magic. “How did you know we’d be here?”
The other Hunter, believing me distracted, lunges at me with a battle roar from the side. Before he can reach me, Jake tackles him to the ground, grabbing his arm and twisting it until he cries out, dropping his weapon with a thud.
They’re finished
“Are you going to answer me?” I ask the Hunter I have suspended in the air. “We can do this either the easy way or the hard— HOLY SHIT!”
I take an automatic step backwards when I see the strange pill between the Hunter’s teeth. He bites down, and almost immediately, he begins to seize, foam erupting from his mouth.
“Umm…I don’t think this was supposed to happen,” Jake deadpans, and I turn to see the second Hunter also seizing, his eyes wide and unseeing.
“Did they seriously just ingest cyanide?” I ask, incredulous.
“It appears so.” Jake frowns at the body at his feet—before turning towards the other five surrounding us. “Any ideas of what we’re going to do about this?”
He tries to sound nonchalant, but panic sparks in his eyes, and his hands begin to shake.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
“Call Silas. Tell him there’s a change in plans. We need to hide some bodies.”
Seven of them, to be exact. Well, six, since one of them has been buried alive.
Motherfucker.