On the contrary, he interrupted. I can.
Fear slithered through me. I was playing into his hands, I knew that, but he was far too watchful for me to release the one ace I held up my sleeve. Or on my arm, as was the case with the Dušan.
No one has that much power, Taylor. Not even someone like you.
His amusement swam around me, taunting and stinging. Do you remember Dorothy?
Yes. I continued to swing Amaya back and forth, watching him warily. The Dušan had settled into my right forearm, her glow fading but not her readiness. She felt like a coiled spring, ready to explode from my flesh the minute I gave the word.
She was screaming, unraveling, and yet she did not return to her flesh. I prevented that, as I will prevent you.
That’s what you were doing when you touched her forehead, I replied, suddenly realizing what had happened.
He nodded. By touching her, I not only marked her with what she was, but I pinned her in place while I drained her, both in real life and on the plane.
Well, he wasn’t going to be touching me, that was for fucking sure. So basically, you’re a coward.
Anger snapped around me, thick and fast. I am no coward, huntress. As you can see. He made a motion with his hand. Silver spun out of the darkness, slashing toward my torso. I raised Amaya and steel clashed with steel.
Coward, I spat. Everything you do is from a distance, Taylor. Why? Do you fear getting close to someone who can actually defend herself?
More steel came out of the shadows. I slashed and parried and battered it away, calling him a coward at every blow. His anger grew, and the attacks became more furious, until all I could see was silver and all I could feel was blood and pain.
Now, I said to the Dušan. Do it now.
She ripped free with a scream that seemed to echo all the pain and fury that filled me, and formed shape, growing and expanding as she hurtled toward Taylor.
I felt his shock as strongly as if it were my own; then the steel assault stopped and he began to fade—but nowhere near quickly enough to escape. The Dušan whipped across the shadows and wrapped around him, coiling so tightly she would have snapped bones if he’d actually been wearing flesh.
He screamed then, and began to struggle, but to little avail. The hunter had finally been snared.
I blew out a relieved breath, and lowered Amaya as I walked toward him. Fury battered me, but it was tinged now with fear. His fear, not mine.
It felt good.
There’s one thing you don’t know about me, Taylor, I said softly. I’m not human.
His fear increased. God, it was so sweet. No, you’re not. You’re a werewolf.
Oh, I’m much more than that, I’m afraid. I’m what the reapers are—a being of energy rather than just flesh and blood. Remember mentioning that my control was greater than most on this realm? Well, that’s because this place is far more mine than it will ever be yours.
If he’d had a face, I think his eyes would have been wide and staring. I stepped closer to him and stopped.
This is for Dorothy, I said. As well as Vonda and Dani Belmore, and all the other countless women you’ve killed over your many years of hunting.
He snarled and spat at me. I sidestepped, and the globule landed near Amaya’s point, hissing like acid.
Do your worst, he snapped. I will be reborn, and I will remember. Fear for the future, huntress, because I will be back.
I snorted. I may fear for my future, Taylor, but it won’t be because of anything you might or might not do—because you won’t be doing anything. We’re in the umbra, remember. Death here is final.
He screamed then. Screamed long and loud and fearfully.
I raised Amaya and killed him.
Chapter 15
I rose through the levels of consciousness slowly, gradually becoming aware of the sounds and scents that surrounded me.