Page 52 of This Coven Won't Break
“No, Hannah, I’m not.” He crosses the room and kneels so we’re eye-to-eye. “I know what happened at the hotel was awful, but if Riley hadn’t followed you and Morgan there, we wouldn’t know about their plans for an airborne drug. Alice might not have agreed to help us without that.”
“But Eisha—”
“Eisha Marchelle contacted Alice earlier tonight. Her supervisors approved the magic show for Monday. We’re in, Hannah. We’re going to destroy the drug. We’re going to strike our first major blow against the Hunters.”
A tiny, withered stem of hope tries to break the surface, but it’s been beaten down so many times, I don’t think it’ll ever fully rise again.
“And Elder Keating reached out to the Casters you told us about. They’ll be here tomorrow. They’re going to help us.” Archer rises to his full height and reaches out a hand, helping me to my feet, too. “You did that, Hannah.You.Don’t discount the impact you’ve made. Don’t let the Hunters turn you into someone you’re not.”
“I don’t—”
“The Hannah I know wouldn’t threaten to murder someone or throw random potions into their cell. You’re better than that.”
“But are we really?” I feel it again, the desperation that sent me into the basement in the first place, the realization that I have no fucking clue how to stop the Hunters without turning their own methods against them. “The Council is planning to kill them. How does that make us any better?”
“It doesn’t,” Archer says, which surprises me. I can’t read his expression. “I don’t like the Elders’ plan, because you’re right. Killing them would make us just as bad as they are. I hope it won’tcome to that.” He knits his brows and tilts his head to one side. “How did you even know about that part of David’s research?”
“Umm...” I don’t want to lie, but I don’t want to get Cal in trouble, either.
The detective sighs and shakes his head. “Cal. Of course.”
“He didn’t—”
“Cal and I are the only ones who know besides the Elders. He also told me that he’s working on alternative plans, so I’m not surprised he shared his thoughts with you. I know you two are close.” Archer turns and leans against the windowsill, staring out at the backyard. “I also know you decided to drop out of the raid.”
“Are you mad?”
“No.” He glances over his shoulder. “Even with Alice getting us in, it’s still a risky operation. You’ve dealt with enough danger to last a lifetime. I’m glad you’ll be here.”
“Then why do I feel like I’m letting everyone down?” Even though the raid will probably go better without me there to screw it up, I can’t stop the guilt that whispers in my ear, telling me that I’m letting the Hunters win by taking myself out of the fight.
Archer’s right, though. We can’t let them corrupt who we are, even if I have no idea how to do that without leaving the front lines.
“You’re not, Hannah. I promise.” Archer crosses the room to the computer. “I do have a little good news, though, if that helps. It took some creative wording, but we got more answers out of the Hunters.” He taps on the keyboard and inputs a password. “According to Wes, there are roughly a hundred Hunters across the US.”
“Only a hundred?” That doesn’t seem possible.
He nods and pulls up a map. “Hall Pharmaceuticals is theirbase of operations, but they have families stationed across the country. They’re obscenely well-funded, so they have easy access to travel and can relocate entire families within a week.”
“Do you know their names? Where they are?” I can’t believe there are so few of them. How can such a small group inflict so much damage?
Because they train for it. Because they’re fed on hate.
They’ve spent generations on this quest, keeping their network small and contained, raising everyone with perfect devotion to the cause. Benton’s entire family is in the medical field. He was heading down the same path. He’d been trained to fight since he could walk.
And with enough money, they could hire whoever they needed to fill in the gaps.
“The Hunters we’ve captured only know a few families each. It will take time to get a full picture of who they are. They move frequently, which makes things more challenging.” Archer closes the computer and swivels to face me. “I need to get back to my meeting. You should go home.”
“You’re not taking me to Elder Keating?”
Archer raises one eyebrow. “Do you want me to?”
“No. No, I’m good.” I follow him out into the hall. “Wait. How did you even know I was in the basement?”
“Our potions are an extension of ourselves.” When we reach the front door, the detective holds it open for me. “We know if they’re being mishandled.”
“Oh.” My cheeks burn hot. “Sorry.”
