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Ree felt, more than actually heard, the crack of thunder As the boat pulled away froid, and Hecate watched Their eyes tense and serious Brigid held a bow at her side while both Hecate and Athena clasped their hands in front of theoddesses couldn’t help them now It was up to Ree to do what needed to be done

The ride to the coast was long and cold The winds whipped the surf against their hull and sprayed them all with fineto keep her centered and not get lost in her thoughts No one said a word as the sky turned froe to purple When the coast cahts glittering like fireflies in the distance

Ree could sense the darklings that lined the nearby docks and had gathered in places she and her friends had used to dock in the past, but Roland never stopped The closer they got to the city, the , Roland pushed on until Ree could feel the Niall, Met, and the other Guardians sped up and took the lead Ree looked at Paden and Roland, wondering if this had been discussed at some point, but neither made an indication either way

When Roland slowed the boat, Ree frowned at the dock There was one darkling, sitting on the edge His les legs swinging back and forth above the water as if he didn’t have a care in the world It didn’t take Ree long to understand why he sees from the shadows In less ti, she had erected shields over boats

Arrows bounced off of her green energy and fell into the water The darklings weren’t very organized in their attack, despite having a lookout Met’s cal her attention She had a bow at the ready, arrow knocked and ready to fly

"On my mark, Ree!" The Guardian stood at the front of her boat, her feet in a steady stance As the darklings’ arrows fell harmlessly away, an amused snort reached Ree’s ears "Now!"

Ree dropped her shield i bolts to strike their targets There wasn’t ti was so they had chosen or been forced into At this point, the only thing she and the other Guardians could do was focus on surviving and helping those that couldn’t on their own

In a s had been dispatched Roland slid the boat next to the dock, and Weylin quickly tied it down and ran down the dock toward the trees Ree and Paden were next, the others following close behind The sound of sirens and the set to the school as quickly as possible and with as little attention as possible" Ree looked at Paden and Roland, but it was Magda who spoke up

"A distraction would be good I looked at the ether as she mentally went over the details "What if we hit the houses around one of the nightclubs? Let the place"

"Could work" Roland nodded his head

"Okay Hit the ones closest to the boats, but let us get a head start" Ree started to head down the road

"What about people that are being attacked? Do you want us to split up and try to corral soh hair that hid his eyes

"Sounds good" Ree looked at everyone "You guys are on your own Draw their attention away fro backward down the street "Take care of each other"

The streets were eerily quiet Only the sound of the occasional siren or fire alarroup had fallen into their running pattern without thought It felt natural and easy, h the shadows and through people’s backyards Ree concentrated on the darklings that seeroup away from any that could be avoided When it wasn’t possible to s, someone would make quick work of the proble with each kill None of thes, but accepted that there wasn’t another solution Ree refused to use the power until she had no other options When they neared the school center, Ree noticed the flyers for the special effects convention lying on the ground or taped to the old-tiht poles When a cop car turned the corner onto the square they were surveying, the group ducked into an e open and several of the s had been broken, obviously a casualty of the looting that had taken place through the city

Everyone kept quiet as the police cruiser slowlyto the next block Ree knelt behind an overturned table, her fingers rubbing the hilt of her sword Paden crouched next to her, his green eyes sliding around the empty room

"It will be dark soon" Roland’s quiet voice ruh the room

"What’s the plan, Keet in…" Ree trailed off and looked out theThe silver glow frolass on the floor "We have co down the road, the leader sniffing the air as he followed their trail She wasn’t sure if he kneho he was following or if he was just looking for trouble, but there was nothat he was after Ree and her friends

Ree pulled her power in and concentrated on getting rid of her glowing eyes There was no reason to announce the Alastriana was in town The darkling smiled when he stopped outside of the coffee shop, and his pasty skin and black eyes ; Ree could s froht of his soul, weak and flickering

"Cos behind the sickly-thin man chuckled One of them picked up a rock frolass shattered, crashing to the ground in a sound that seemed much louder in the silence of the city

Roland stood up fros and hissed "Leave, unless you want to replaceoff and ca While his hand was blocked froers at the other darklings in a signal to run

Before anyone else could move, Ree stood from her spot and threw the knives she had in reach There was a sickening thunk as the blades found theirfros Ree couldn’t see

The ringleader didn’t waste tirabbing the darkling by the back of his shirt and spinning hi, the darkling scrarip

"Ree?" Bryce looked at her and nodded to the darkling