Page 279 of Dirty Hit

“Was that really necessary?” Faythe said, following hot on her heel again.

“It wouldn’t have been if you stopped distracting me and stayed focused.”

“I’m following your every movement and trusting you. It’syouwho needs to become accustomed to teamwork,” Faythe complained.

“I’m not counting on thisteamworkhappening again. Besides, you give yourself too much credit. You’re deadweight to account for more than anything.”

When Zaiana picked up more voices over Faythe’s grumbling, she pushed a hand to Faythe’s chest, pressing them into the wall.

There was a trail of water under their feet. These mountains were always damp, with rainwater seeping through the cracks. Zaiana crouched, conjuring her lightning and dipping the tips of her metal finger guards into the stream. The electricity conducted through the water, gripping those approaching by the soles of their boots before exploding in currents thorough their bodies, sharp enough to drop them unconscious.

“Can I try that next time?” Faythe asked, peeking her head around to see the three fallen dark fae.

The reminder Faythe had stolen her ability roused her.

“Can you give my power back?”

“I didn’ttakeany of what’s yours. It’s more like the fabric of the ability I touch imprints itself in me. If I don’t learn to use it, those threads have no substance and fade away. I’ve learned I don’t keep them permanently unless I keep using them to some capacity.”

It was fascinating, she supposed.

“So you’ve kept using my lightning?”

“It’s one of my favorites. I might prefer fire though. I don’t have Waterwielding from Nerida anymore—it’s not typically at the forefront of my mind to use for attack or defense.”

“I’m not surprised. Though water is a deceptively lethal element, the flow and practice of it requires patience and calmness. Fire…that makes sense for you.”

“How do you know about the practice of Waterwielding?”

“It’s useful to learn about skills outside your own. It’s how we innovate, by borrowing from other practices and experimenting with techniques that can be useful in our own.”

Faythe hummed. “You’re more intelligent than I thought.”

Zaiana’s fist flexed. “I seem dim to you?”

“No. You’re terrifying. And hearing of the upbringing in this place…I suppose I was narrow-minded to believe you’d be solely focused on everything physical rather than books.”

“I might not have survived this place if it weren’t for books.”

Zaiana wanted to snatch those words back as though they hung in the air, mocking her for the pitiful confession.

“For what it’s worth, I admire you. Even when you were trying to kill me.”

Zaiana’s mouth quirked up of its own accord. “Who says I’ve stopped trying?”

The echoes of vicious snarling made the hairs on her nape stand on end. She knew what was down here, but Zaiana hadn’t visited this section deep under the mountain since the first day she’d stumbled upon it barely past her first century.

“This is going to be hard for you to see,” Zaiana warned.

When they emerged, they kept close to the wall, only peeking their heads around, as this part was patrolled by higher-up dark fae. The bodies that filled the cages stacked high had grown exponentially since she’d last seen it. So many Transitioned dark fae too savage to roam free. Even one of them loose could tear through a village of humans in a single night.

“Oh Gods,” Faythe breathed.

It was a barbaric and gruesome sight. These creatures were once ordinary fae, just like Faythe. Now they resembled beast more than person. Torn, decaying flesh; crooked wings; snapping, black-spotted teeth. The scent of death was so potent Zaiana stuffed her nose into her elbow, as did Faythe.

“If they unleashed these creatures on High Farrow, it would be carnage before any army was needed to break your defenses.”

Zaiana was thinking aloud, having forgotten this mass weapon lurking in the depths of these mountains. This had to be why they were never ordered killed. They’d been kept down here all this time, fed enough human blood to keep them alive but absolutely ravished, ready to unleash complete savagery on the enemy.

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