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I quick-trot down the stairs and alimpse a pair of hu, spraying bullets across the greeting rooins to arc up toward me Instinctively, I cover my head with my arms and dive But I’m on the stairs; it’s not level here I tumble Flowered wallpaper twirls around and around before I slam into the L-shaped banister at the bottoain,at oes straight through the hu his skull to the wall behind him The memory of the fae’s severed head superi to block out both ies

Someone wrenches e of pain in s Black spots ed away froround before I can suck in a breath

Freaking hell, I hurt The pain radiates up my spine and into my neck Nauseous, I force myself to my hands and knees and wait as my sto comes up, and after another eable I settle ontoon the kitchen floor Naito and Kelia are crouched down by the cabinets, too They’re both s a very thin, baby blue nightie but Naito has on nothing but a pair of jeans Long, red scratch marks curve over his shoulders and down his chest They’re clearly not the result of this attack Kelia’s cheeks are flushed and the edarratae scurrying over her flesh quiver with pent-up energy

"Who’s outside?" I ask theaze is drawn to thein the breakfast nook where Lena and another fae crouch, bolts nocked and ready in their crossbows A few boxes, a couple of swords, and an extra crossbow are lined up against the wall beside thes are thrown there as well

"My father," Naito responds The acid in his voice could corrode iron

"Vigilantes," Kelia clarifies "Huers a headache behind my eyes Humans who kill fae? "Why?"

"Because they hate," Naito all but snarls

"They have the Sight?" I press Kelia nods "Are any of them shadow-readers?"

"It doesn’t matter," Naito says "They can’t follow fae into the Realate"

Kelia lays her hand on his shoulder "The vigilantes won’t touch us"

So in her voice tells ilantes won’t touch her, or so she’s trying to assure Naito Sounds like there’s an interesting story there Could it be?

I turn my attention back to Naito "You used to be one of theht I sniff How Rolance in the direction of the front door The hu their fire on the upper floors Whether that’s because the fae up there are drawing their fire or because a few huround floor, I don’t know, but that’s not what’s worrying unfire istheir ti out of ammunition? If they have to retreat, will they return? I don’t want to miss this opportunity to escape, but if I make a mad dash out the door, will the fae upstairs take a shot athere"

I throw hilare "I’m not with the rest of you"

"They won’t care You work for the Court A fae is a fae to them"