Page 53 of Ruthless Fae
I kept going, making my way back toward the shore. Soon. I reached land and set my course back toward the caves. I needed to take a small detour before I headed toward the dome.
* * *
After a quick tripby the caves, I approached the dome by way of the bridge. The screwdriver was secured behind my back, tucked at my pants’ waistband, and wrapped into a sheath I’d fashioned out of a wide leaf.
As I landed and scanned the area, I found no signs of a mutant army or anyone roaming the perimeter, which showed how confident the Habermanns felt about their hold.
My heart thundered out of control, so loud I heard it in my ears. The night was clear and moonlit and, despite the feeling of doom that enveloped me, I felt relieved to know that my friends and Vaughn were on their way to safety.
This could all go horribly if my assumptions about Karen were wrong, but I felt fairly certain about them.
No turning back now, Tally.
Taking a deep breath, I dropped my glamour, became visible, and took a step forward, leering at the building past the shimmering barrier. Standing there fully visible, I waited for the large garage door to scroll open, but nothing happened.
Why? Were they not watching? I highly doubted that.
With another deep breath, I called on my enemy. “KAREN!”
My voice came out raw and scratchy. I cleared my throat and called again. “KAREN! Come out and face me.”
I called five times before the garage door finally opened. My heart sank when an army of mutant Supernaturals marched out of the building in perfect rows and measured synchronicity. Their unrest from earlier in the day had disappeared and been replaced by a cold impassiveness that chilled me to the bone.
Anger flared in my gut. “Karen, you coward. It’s just me. You don’t need an army. Fight me. I know you’d love nothing more than to kill me, so take your chance. Don’t hide behind the Habermanns monstrous designs.”
The horde of mutants kept marching forward, their horrific faces slack, their eyes empty.
Gods, it seemed I’d made a huge mistake. I’d misjudged Karen and her hatred for me. I glanced sideways, toward the hill that would lead me back to the dock. If I flew as fast as my wings would allow, could I reach my friends? No, they would be far away by now. Safe.
No turning back.
I faced the horde again. I could not survive them, not even one of them, but they would have to catch me first and, under the cloak of my invisibility, it wouldn’t be easy. By now, I knew the island well, so I might be able to hide and survive another day like Karl had said.
Just as I was about to fly away, the horde parted, and Karen ambled out, wearing the controlling helmet along with a crooked smile.
“Always the martyr,” Karen said, looking me up and down with disdain.
“At least I’m not a coward like you, hiding behind a borrowed army.”
Karen’s smile fell, and her jaw clenched. It was my turn to smile, a thin, scornful twist of my lips that I hoped would infuriate her.
“I came here to fightyou,” I said, stretching my arms out, palms up. “You took me from my home. You’ve helped torture my friends. You fight for the vilest people I’ve ever known.” I gestured toward the dome. “How can you live with yourself while those two humans experiment on other Supernaturals like you?”
“Spare me your simpering views,” Karen said, regaining her cool demeanor.
I pressed my lips together, realizing that trying to appeal to the morals she didn’t possess was a waste of time. I needed her angry, burning to fight, and kill me.
I threw my head back and laughed. “I guess you already know the outcome of a fight between you and me. Is that why you’re hiding behind a barrier, wearing that stupid thing on your head?”
Anger returned to Karen’s features. I kept pushing.
“How did you like aFae Bitchstuffing you inside a Jeep?” I continued. “I could have killed you then, but I took pity on your pathetic ass.”
“You don’t fight fair, fae,” Karen growled. “I bet you love being able to turn invisible. All the harm you can do now without anyone being able to see you.”
“Let’s fight fair then. No invisibility. No magic. Just you and me. But I warn you, a Fae Warrior will always be better than a pitiful excuse for a human soldier, which is what you are.”
With a jerk of her hand, Karen lifted a hand toward her helmet. My heart stopped. No. I hadn’t fooled her. She would release her horde on me, and they would be my end.
