Page 83 of Blood of a Huntsman

Levi's arm barred the way as Bash tried to advance. He shook his head once.

"So that was your plan. Make the girl invite you in. Not the worst idea," he admitted, his tone still light. "And then what? Who among you proposes to get past me?"

Bash looked down. His feet felt wet suddenly, and no wonder. He was standing in a puddle. And it was rising fast. One inch, then two, then five. He looked back past the borders and now understood why Levi had played for time.

The lake. All of the lake’s water was traveling through Oldcrest, crawling toward them.

The slayers weren't unsettled at all, and Bash guessed that was for two reasons: first, Chloe's plan had worked, and they were underestimating their forces. But mostly because they hadn't shown their cards yet. The Beauforts and Stormhales had more in store, even more than the frightening mage holding on to Catherine.

"Many of us will die, that's true. But we are sworn to protect our house. When one of our masters is unjustly held captive, there can be no rest for us. Sir?" Antoine prompted, looking back at Seth.

The man smiled, his hand tightening over Catherine's throat.

"Come on, little sister. You know it's inevitable."

"No."

He lifted his hand to her face, a bright ball of silver-blue energy playing in his grasp.

"A thousand volts. While other Stormhales' magic may not do much to you, mine would be deliciously excruciating. I don't want to hurt you, but I will, sweetling."

Bash leaped forward. He reached Antoine and punched the smug fuck right in the face before Luke and Ruby held him back.

The Beaufort slayer smiled.

"You'll be the first person I kill."

Bash didn't care about him. He didn't care about anyone or anything, other than getting to Catherine and punching the hell out of her disdainful brother.

"I will not let you through."

Seth sighed and pushed his left hand against her chest. She screamed, high-pitched and heart-wrenching.

And fake.

So fucking fake.

No one else got that. Not Levi, not the slayers. But right then, watching her artfully contorted face writhe in mock pain, Bash was certain. She was acting.

He kept thrashing against Luke and Ruby, not daring to give anything away. But he could have laughed.

Catherine was playing them all. Somehow.

Seth let go of Catherine, and she fell forward onto her knees.

"Is that all you got?" she asked.

"Yes, dear. Is that all you could do, really?"

The voice spoke seconds before she appeared, a woman similar to Catherine, although her hair was dark as night and her skin golden-brown and sun-kissed, like so many from the islands around the Mediterranean Sea.

Exquisite. And dangerous.

Along with her, in a smoky mist, twelve other elders appeared. A short man with the eyes and tongue of a snake, and a greenish complexion. A tall one, so frail he looked like a strong wind might knock him onto his ass, but his black eyes told another story. Each one of them possessed an aura just as gargantuan as Levi's.

No wonder the slayers hadn't been impressed.

Shit.

Did they have enough people to defend Oldcrest against all those ancients?

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