So, they were a hunter.
Which meant two things:
One, Amy would only piss them off since hunters could not hurt each other with our weapons.
And, Byrd was in deep shit.
Fuck me.
I reached out for Byrd, hoping the hit to the assailant would be enough of a distraction, even for just a moment, for me to take advantage.
My fingers grazed Byrd’s nails and fingertips.
Come on, come on! Just a little closer?—!
But then, I heard the loud snap of someone’s fingers.
Before I could take hold of Byrd’s hand, a swirl of dark burgundy vapors completely enveloped her. I saw her eyes, the beautiful topaz gems I loved, begging for me to do something, anything, to change the inevitable. They were the last things I saw of my girl before she was swallowed into the red void.
Then, she was gone.
“BYRD!” I called out as I dove forward and rolled a few times before righting myself. I looked out all around me at the wintry terrain and woodlands. I scanned the trees and the path ground into the snow by my footsteps and Byrd’s efforts to not be captured. I wasn’t sure what I was searching for, but my shoulders slumped when I came up with nothing.
There was nothing.
The only thing left now was Byrd’s blood shimmering still on top of the snow and my rage boiling under my skin.
Gunshot
QUINN
Ididn’t realize my fist was flying until the tree splintered.
Deep, raw, and echoing like a gunshot through the other trees, the bark of the Douglas Fir gave a sickeningcrackbeneath my knuckles. My scream of anguish was louder. The impact created jagged seams in multiple parts of the tree, splitting it all the way through and making the snow from the branches rain down onto me. I couldn’t give less of a fuck about getting snowed on. If anything, I welcomed the icy weight and the melting cold. The wood of the tree moaned and groaned. Then, it gave in with a deafening series of snaps as it started to fall. The whole thing tilted slowly at first, almost like it was reluctant to go. But then, it finally did, snapping branches of other nearby trees as it crashed down into the snow with a thunderous boom that shook the rest of the trees around, sending a flurry of white around the landing spot. I heard birds scatter from nearby trees deep into the night, their wings flapping in a panic.
But, I was far from done.
I should have done more…
My other hand still held Tina tight within it, but I didn’t care. My fist just tightened around the hilt of the blade as I felt the distinct absence of my other dagger.
That’s two things you had allowed to get taken today.
That’s two things you lost today.
When I struck the next tree, the force was enough to cave the trunk inward and send shockwaves reverberating through my entire arm. This tree didn’t fall right away. Instead, it sagged a little, leaned, groaned in grief, and then collapsed sideways in a tangle of limbs and bark with its other sisters.
I kept going.
Your dad was right. You are such a fucking disappointment. How could you have let this happen?
My muscles burned. My bones shook within my skeleton. My fists were raw. My breath was fire in my throat, coming out as heavy clouds of smoke into the cold air. With my tears and sweat coming in rivers down my face, blood dripped warm down my wrists, knuckles, and onto the snow below. It wasn’t far from Byrd’s blood. I didn’t have to look over at it to see hers still shimmering as it crystallized into ice and frost. That only pushed me further. I welcomed the sting. Every punch was a curse, a cry, a failure I couldn’t outrun.
A failure. Yeah, that’s right, and that fits you perfectly. You can’t lead this family. You can’t save your girlfriend. You are every bit the loser your father said you were.
I needed to feel something collapse under my strength because I hadn’t been strong enough when it mattered the fucking most.
No matter how hard you try?—
