The glint of my sword announces me when I approach Anita and Hildi. We’re deep enough in the grove of trees that people on the street can’t see us. They haven’t come to blows but Hildi has her in a tight grip. I notice an odd coloring on the Valkyrie’s face and wonder if it’s a reaction to the sickness.
Anita isn’t a fighter and there’s a contrast between the warrior stance of Hildi and the white, crisp jeans on the woman before me.
“You finally figured it out?” she says.
“I figured out you’re a tool,” I reply.
She laughs. “And you’re not?”
I step closer and hold my sword at her midsection. “What did you do to Bunny?”
“Xavier taught me a little something about team management, from his work down on Wall Street. Never ignore the little person. Cultivate them the most. When a weakness shows they’ll be the first to betray you.”
“No one ignored Bunny.”
“Maybe not, but with that disfigurement he’s a liability. Or at least that’s what I told him.” I lunge for her with my hand, wrapping my fingers around her throat. Her bright blue eyes light up in fascination—not fear. “You gonna kiss me again?”
I release her and haul back and slap her across the face. “Fuck you.”
She laughs again. I want to kill her. Plunge this blade into her belly and watch her bleed. I brace myself. I’m not a murderer. Dylan told me to let her live—we’ll need her. I swallow back rage.
“So what’s your grand plan? You infect the whole city? Start another plague? To what? Build up the Morrigan’s strength so she can take over?” I ask.
“Well, yeah.” Her eyes narrow. “And don’t act like you don’t want it—at least a little. I’ve read your book. Bunny even showed me your latest writings.” She smiles at my reaction to that revelation. “You’re curious about the Otherside. The power it holds. You should be.”
Hildi tightens her grip and Anita winces before licking her lips.
“I’m a historian, Anita. Those writings are based on truth, not desire.”
She tilts her head. “Since when are truth and desire mutually exclusive?”
“Come on,” I tell Hildi. “We need to get her back to The Nead. Maybe once we rid of you of the Darkness you’ll come to your senses.”
Hildi moves her along and I glance over my shoulder at Dylan standing near the edge of the woods. He looks at me and then over to Anita.
“You realize he’s the only one you have left, right? First Bunny and then the others?”
“Shut up, Anita.”
Her footsteps crush the dried leaves on the ground. “Do you think the Morrigan would only want one? You know how she feels about being betrayed, particularly by men. Her men.”
The threat rings true but I refuse to show it. “What are you talking about?”
“He was here. I felt him open the gate. You did, too.” Her lips curve. “Where do you think he went when he realized you were here without the rest of the guardians? Three of her traitors?”
Dread fills my chest. She knows I need Bunny to complete my power. What happens if the others are gone too? “Dylan,” I call. “Go back to the house.”
“I’m not leaving,” he calls back, stepping into the wooded area.
“Don’t listen to her, Guardian,” Anita chimes in. “It’s too late anyway.”
“Dylan,” I turn to face him. “Go find the others and stop Bunny.”
I sense his conflict. He asks, “And what about her?”
Hildi and I share a look before I declare, “We’ll take care of The Third.”
Chapter Twenty-Four