Page 26 of Hunted

“Deklan, why would Sebastos Varco want you dead?”

Dek startled—confused, not scared. But then the lights turned on in his brain, and he grinned. “Probably because I almost let our little Sinclair shoot him today.”

Our.

I sighed, tipping my head back to stare at the dull, beige ceiling. I couldn’t wait to get out of this place.

“You’d better explain,” I muttered, worn down by every extra moment spent within Academy walls. Just six months to go, then we’d receive new assignments and be gone.

Dek shrugged nonchalantly in my periphery. “He had it coming. Had the lack of forethought to insult her while she was holding a handgun, which she immediately swung round and aimed at his face. Perfect form too.” He kissed his fingers like an Italian chef and Van barked a sharp laugh.

“That tracks. He insinuated that she was fucking her way up the ranks and that she ought to die for it.” I stared hard at him as I spoke, taking note of his reaction.

“I mean, I wouldn’t be opposed to that idea, but no. I swear it, bro. She’s up there ‘cause she’s earned it, not because she paid with her body to get there.”

I’d known Dek long enough to know that he cracked his knuckles without conscious thought whenever he was lying. And right now, his hands didn’t so much as twitch.

“Right. Well, maybe keep your favouritism to a minimum, at least for a little while.” I sighed, standing. “That goes for both of you. I’m going to bed. Try not to be too loud while you’re murdering prepubescent videogame addicts.”

Dek snorted, reaching for his headset and dropping it over his ears. “What’s that? I didn’t hear you over the sound of my shooting prowess.”

Van chuckled, his attention firmly on the device back in his hand. “Night, boss.”

“I’m not your boss. Not in here, anyway,” I grumbled, making my way across the kitchen and into my moonlit bedroom.

I stripped, folded my clothes in a neat pile and placed them atop the dresser, then climbed beneath the covers, with thoughts of a tiny, bloodied blonde trawling through my mind.

When I fell asleep that night, I had no idea that everything would change by morning.

I ought to have known—ought to have prevented it—but I underestimated Varco.

I’d underestimated his willingness to act upon his vendettas. But I’d never make that mistake again. Only death greeted those who made the same mistake twice.

[ 9 ]

ADDIE

BEETHOVEN – MOONLIGHT SONATA

I was no stranger to death—no stranger to dying—but it was something entirely different when someone died for you.

In place of you.

Through no fault of their own.

I knew Blackwing was deadly—everyone did. I’d known it since the moment that white van pulled into its fluorescent-lit basement. But this was another, crueler layer I should have seen coming. It’s why I was so reluctant to have allies, much less friends, within these walls. It’s why I had so convincingly constructed walls around my own heart. To keep them out. To keep grief out.

At least, I thought I had.

But Fleur—gods. Fleur had seen right through it. She catwalked right through my flimsy cardboard barricade parading as a fortress and lodged herself so deeply within my soul that I didn’t know who I was within these walls without her.

Somehow, I had to learn how to be Addie again.

Not Addie-and-Fleur.

Not Addie-and-Fleur-and-Ethan.

Just Addie.