Hunted

energy is off the charts. I can take care of the headache if you like.”

Doing it once was enough. “No, I’ll be fine. The writings appeared on my hand when I touched that boy’s knife.”

He checked my hands to see if they were back. “So that’s why it caught fire. Master Haziel was right.”

I made a face. “It’s kind of scary not knowing what they can do.”

Bran gripped them and pressed them against his lips. “We’ll deal with them as they come,” he whispered. “Come on, I’ll escort you to the others.”

We walked down a broad hallway toward double doors. Before we reached them, they swung open and Kieran walked out. He was alone.

“You are at your usual table,” he said. “Cook has his orders, so the food should be there soon.”

Bran stopped. “Are you very busy?”

Keiran gave him a lopsided grin. “That depends on what you want, Llyr. I’m on level eighty-two of a new game.”

You bragged it was faster than the humans’ best system and that you have programs that can get you in and out of places undetected.”

Keiran chuckled. “What I have are mad skills, Llyr. And yes, it will take humans a decade to catch up. What do you want help with?”

“I’ll explain when I come back. Right now, I need to show Lil where the others are seated.” He pushed the double doors but Kieran spoke.

“Just one second.” I thought Keiran would ask why I needed to be shown to our regular table, but all he said was, “Tell your friends to stop hitting on my girls. I’m tired of mediating fights every few weeks because they keep flirting with them.”

Bran laughed. “Sure, but do you really want to get between them and women?”

Keiran’s expression became thoughtful then he made a face. “I guess not. Who am I to kill some girl’s dream of mating with a Guardian? Not that you guys have anything we don’t have.”

“Uh, we travel in style,” Bran said. “We have a license to kill and we make black look good.” Bran stared pointedly at Keiran’s pants, matching shirt, and studded boots.

Keiran rolled his eyes. “I was rocking this look way before you were born, Llyr, so don’t even go there. Your favorite dish is coming up, Lil. Extra cheese?” He touched his brow in a salute and turned.

“Yes. Thanks, Keiran,” I said. Bran groaned. What?

Do you even know what he’s talking about? he asked as we cut through the busy kitchen.

No. What is my favorite dish?

He laughed. You’ll find out soon enough.

“So? What do you want with his computer? You once told me you had no need for modern technology because you keep everything in here.” I tapped his head.

“You don’t remember our pactus, but you do the day I was being a jackass.”

“I know I said I didn’t want to mind-blend, but that’s one memory I want back.”

“We can mind-blend when we get home. As for Kieran’s computer, I want to track down Gavyn and to do that I have to find Mount Hermon.”

We entered the main floor of the restaurant, which was L-shaped, and wove our way past booths and couples lost in their little worlds. With the menu from clairvoyant crystals, floating drinks and beautiful decor, it looked like Gavyn’s restaurant, except it was spacious and hatred-free.

Bran led me past a set of doors and onto the balcony. The view of downtown L.A. was spectacular, but my eyes were drawn to Kim, Izzy, Sykes, and Remy. They were having a heated discussion at a corner table. Six glasses of water with bobbing chunks of ice sat untouched before them.

“No, no, the senior Cardinals must know what’s going on because the Tribe has been going after Damned Humans since last week,” Kim said as we got closer.

“You can’t know that,” Izzy protested. “You think the worst of them all the time.”

“Are you listening to yourself? Fact, ever since we started hunting, they’ve hidden things from us. Case in point,” she jerked her head toward me, “they knew about Valafar’s existence and never told Lil. When Bran’s feathers started to fall, they never told us. They’ve known about the Tribe since last week, maybe even longer, but once again, they…never…told us. They keep treating us like children,” Kim added through gritted teeth. “We face demons every day, just like them. We should demand equal access to information.”

“On with the revolution,” Sykes said, waving an imaginary flag. “Downtrodden junior Cardinals demand equal access to intel and a pay raise.”

“Pay raise?” Izzy asked.

Sykes shrugged. “I need a new car, preferably a new model of—”

“The Mustang you totaled last year,” Izzy cut him off and shook her head. “We know. You’ve been singing about it the entire summer. Your obsession with fast cars is senseless. Now if you don’t have anything to contribute to the discussion…”

“Lil made a demonic weapon catch fire and spooked an entire restaurant of demons,” Sykes said then spread his arms to indicate the table. “Discuss.”

All eyes turned in my direction. I kicked him under the table.

“Ouch!” He glared at me, then spoiled it by smirking.

“I’ll be in Keiran’s office,” Bran said and squeezed my shoulder.

“Why?” Remy asked before Bran could leave.

“Keiran is going to help me find Mount Hermon, which could lead us to Gavyn and the Summoners. I’ll fill you in when I get back.” Another gentle squeeze of my shoulder and he added telepathically, if that headache is still bothering you when I come back, I’ll take care of it.

“You still have the headache,” Remy asked after Bran left.

“It’s nothing,” I mumbled, picked up a glass of water, took a sip, and pressed the cool glass against my throbbing temple.

Remy frowned. “How bad is it?”

I shrugged, hating that everyone’s attention was on me and that I could once again hear their thoughts. “It comes and goes, and ‘going home so I can rest’, as some of you are thinking, will not make it go away.”

“Are your powers on and off, too? Is that why you didn’t stop the knife when that child tried to kill you?” Izzy asked.

“See? I knew we’d come back to the knife,” Sykes said, smirking. “Glare at me all you want, Lil, but something is happening to you. You’ve held demonic weapons before and never destroyed them. And your eyes glowed like they did when you fainted on the island. And you healed the cut on Bran’s brow with just a touch.”

“She did?” Izzy asked.

Did he spend time watching my every movement? “What else can you do?” he added and leaned forward. The others leaned forward, too.

I sighed and put my glass down. “I don’t know. My powers and new abilities come and go.” I covered Sykes’ hand with one of mine and waited. When I lifted my hand, the red bruises on his knuckles were still there. “See? I can’t do it now. The writings from the Kris appeared on my hand just before the knife went poof. I healed Bran afterwards, but there were no ancient writings on my skin then. They must come out when I’m in danger.”

“Should we test that theory?” Kim pulled out a dagger from inside her boot.

“I think she meant danger from a demon.” Remy glanced at the Brotherhood men and women at the nearby tables, then added, “Let’s talk about something else.”

“Like what?” Izzy asked but her gaze was on my hands, as if staring at them would force the markings to appear. “This is much more interesting. It’s like having a human Kris Dagger.”

“Lil the lethal weapon,” Sykes added.

I winced at the word “weapon”. My gaze connected with Remy’s. He was scowling.

“Seriously, guys,” he warned sharply. “Change the subject.”

The others didn’t mask their surprise at his sharpness.

“Okay, let’s talk about Bran’s brother,” Kim said, “And how I’d like to send him to Tartarus piece by