He searched for any sign of her. Her shout had echoed strangely, off the trees and the ravine, off the remnants of the buildings.<\/p>\n
She could be anywhere. Damnation.<\/em> His lips thinned and he squeezed Jacqueline\u2019s hand before letting go.<\/p>\n \u201cKeep your head down,\u201d he told her quietly. \u201cIf she remembers you, you\u2019ll be a target.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo you think she\u2019ll have forgotten?\u201d<\/p>\n Phelan\u2019s stomach bucked. \u201cNo,\u201d he said, swallowing bile. \u201cNo, I don\u2019t think she\u2019s forgotten.\u201d But there\u2019s part of me that hopes she\u2019s decided that she\u2019s got bigger fish to chase\u2014like Seamus and Leinth.<\/em><\/p>\n A chill crept down his spine and he hated himself a little for feeling that way, for hoping that perhaps his own flesh and blood would be the witch\u2019s focus and not him.<\/p>\n But you\u2019ve dealt with her threat for far longer and far more immediately than the others.<\/em><\/p>\n He caught sight of something in his peripheral vision and twisted, peering toward the sky, toward the shadow and motion he thought he\u2019d seen.<\/p>\n \u201cPhelan?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI thought I saw…\u201d his voice trailed away even as his throat tightened. If she was somewhere above them…<\/p>\n \u201cD\u00e9ithe agus arrachtaigh<\/em>,\u201d he breathed. \u201cJac, get back to the tents and get Marin. Get her now<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPhelan, what\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n He was already moving, already running toward the wards, toward the spot where Thom was closing in on Leinth, Seamus on his heels.<\/p>\n \u201cFall back,\u201d Phelan barked. \u201cWe have to fall back. She\u2019s above us.\u201d<\/p>\n Thom pivoted, blinking at him. \u201cShe\u2019s what?\u201d<\/p>\n Phelan stabbed a finger at the sky. \u201cShe\u2019s above us! How far up did we push the wards?\u201d<\/p>\n His friend went ashen. \u201cNot high enough,\u201d Thom said. \u201cI\u2019m sure of that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019ll go after them,\u201d Seamus said suddenly. \u201cShe\u2019ll go after Marin and Neve\u2014and Cameron. D\u00e9ithe agus arrachtaigh<\/em>, she\u2019ll go after the boy.\u201d<\/p>\n Seamus shouted something at the members of the Wild Hunt on the field and then sprinted back toward the tents. Thom stared at Phelan, looking sick.<\/p>\n \u201cIs he right?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPray he\u2019s not,\u201d Phelan said.<\/p>\n The Hunt\u2019s horn sounded and those present at the warding line charged down into the ravine to meet an enemy the rest of them couldn\u2019t see, but maybe, just maybe, the men and women of the Wild Hunt could.<\/p>\n The Hecate\u2019s mocking laughter filled their ears as Phelan and Thom stood at the edge of the ravine, staring at each other with horror etched into every line of their faces.<\/p>\n Gods and monsters.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cGet Leinth,\u201d Thom said, his voice choked. \u201cThen follow me.\u201d<\/p>\n Phelan nodded mutely and moved toward the pale-faced, dagger-wielding woman even as Thom turned and ran toward the tents in the direction where his wife and Cameron had disappeared.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" He searched for any sign of her. Her shout had echoed strangely, off the trees and the ravine, off the remnants of the buildings. She could be anywhere. Damnation. His lips thinned and he squeezed Jacqueline\u2019s hand before letting go. … Continue reading