The hunter standing over it halted, wearing the same great caped hood and cloak as last time.
‘Please, you have to help me—’
‘The Hunt does not diverge from its mission,’ came the vague voice, the hunter returning attention to their quarry. ‘Run along, little Seer.’
Bells ran closer instead. ‘I know, but the Wake have kidnapped my sister and they’re coming after the Hunt next. They want to unleash it somehow and use all the dead creatures inside—’
The hunter’s pale hand hesitated while making a scooping action, as if cupping around an invisible candle flame. Then they shook themselves and moved back towards the Hunt’s dark, glittering cloud.
‘Wait! Please!’ Bells threw herself in their path. ‘I don’t know how they’re planning it, but I promise it’s true. You have to help me. She’s in there alone and I don’t know what they’ll do—’
‘I can’t do anything,’ they said, sweeping what must have been the soul from the deceased creature into the awaiting swarm behind Bells. ‘I’m bound to the Hunt.’
‘You can speak to the other hunters in there or something, please—’
‘I’m sorry,’ they said after half a second of hesitation. Striding past, their black cloak fluttered back to reveal a toned pair of legs clad in old-looking leather trousers.
This couldn’t be it. She had to be able to achievesomethingwith these visions.
‘Stop!’ Bells reached out to grab the hunter’s cloak, but didn’t even grasp the fabric. She blinked to find her wrist locked in the stranger’s grip. They’d spun so quickly their hood had pulled back just enough to unveil the semi-shadowed features beneath, revealing—
‘You,’ Bells breathed.
CHAPTER SEVENTY-FIVE
Dylan
THE WAKE WEREN’T GOING TO AGREE TO ANYTHING NICOLEmight offer them. Dylan knew that as deeply as he knew his own name. That had been what they’d once suspected their mother’s clues led to: information that would keep them safe from the Wake forever. Information to use to barter for their freedom.
But Dylan had never been convinced, and knowing how vicious the Wake could be … they wanted threats neutralised every time.
And his family was probably the biggest.
Part of him thought it was better that they’d all been taken. At least it meant they’d be together and they’d know if Nicole was all right.
But, if they were out, they could find Callum and stage a rescue. He’d know what to do.
The fact that something crucial and desperate inside Dylan veered towards Callum at a time like this was something he didn’t want to interrogate. But to even attempt to contact the other Empyreal they needed their goddamn phones, and those had been the first things to get confiscated.
Images of his mother’s death flashed through his mind.
He knew it was panic that clawed up his throat; knew he should try to clear his mind andthink, but he couldn’t.
The drive was taking hours. Bells was still sitting with her eyes closed, but he knew they would be bloodied, seeking visions of death, seeking answers. He’d received a hard smack around the head forInfluencing Bells, but it had been worth it. Since she was put to sleep it kept the Empyreal’s attention off her.
Still, sweat was gathering on his palms and his heart was beating so loudly he couldn’t hear anything else.
His dad glanced at him a few times.It’s okay, that look said.We’re going to be okay.
They weren’t. He knew theyweren’t.
‘Just breathe,’ their dad said aloud, like he could feel the clawed spiral dragging Dylan deeper.
But if they went into the Wake’s headquarters, they weren’t going to make it out.
Dylan moved before he thought it through. In the next second, he had slammed his elbow in the Empyreal’s temple, stunning him.
The car swerved as their father saw and fought the Empyreal in the front.
