Page 95 of The Human’s Heart

I offered a wave and turned around. Hugo gave her a wave as well, then wrapped his arm around my back and kissed my shoulder as we walked back to the raiding party.

There. Now I was ready.

Chapter 31

Zaos

Uncle Basil cast some kind of spell on all of us to make us as invisible as possible. Then Granddad and Pops did their shield thing over the top of Kian, Hugo, and me, and we were off, racing across the street. Our shield easily traveled with us as long as all three of us were moving together.

Everyone else, even Kian, had weapons out and magic ready to blast those bastards out of the water. Or trees, as it was.

“Why do you have a sword out?” I whispered to Kian.

He shrugged. “Just in case.”

I rolled my eyes. There was no way in hell we were getting out of this shield. If even just one of them had cast a shield on us, we wouldn’t be escaping.

We were lucky they didn’t anchor the shield to the ground and trap us in my yard. If Kian pushed them too much, they might send us back.

Our entire group ended up in the backyard of the house that was for sale—the one I was hoping Kian would buy.

I didn’t see anyone there, but I sort of sensed a presence. No, more than one presence nearby.

Granddad yelled out, “Theroli, we just want to talk.” He waved his hand, and Uncle Bas lowered the shadow spell, revealing us.

Now we were in full view, but that didn’t mean everyone wasn’t fully protected. They all had shields around themselves too, which was a relief.

This time, it was Grandpa who spoke. “Listen, Theroli, we want to talk. I’m very sorry for all your troubles.” Ah… they were going for sympathy. No wonder Grandpa was speaking now. Granddad couldn’t pull that off in his dreams. “We can negotiate. You want a better life for your clan, I understand that. So let’s figure this out. We can find a park, one that’s protected, and find your clan a home.”

I noticed that he didn’t include Theroli in that little fantasy. No matter what, that guy was going to prison. He’d ordered the assassination, after all.

“As if I’ll ever believe anything you say, enchanter.” The way he said enchanter made it sound like he was calling him a giant asshole.

“We can—”

Before Grandpa could continue, Theroli let out a loud battle cry, and next thing I knew, a horde of nymphs were peeling themselves off of the trees and running right for us. Way more than the eleven Beatrix had claimed.

Grandpa yelled, “Try not to kill them. Only subdue them. Some of them might be able to be saved.”

Perhaps he was right. Maybe once they were living in nature again, they’d heal. But with the mean and cruel expressions on their faces right now, I wasn’t so sure.

Granddad and Pops both looked annoyed at Grandpa’s order, but I knew they’d follow directions.

Theroli ran straight at Grandpa. Hugo let out a strangled noise. I stepped back and put an arm around him as we watched the fight.

I’d been so focused on myself and my… revenge, I guessed, that I hadn’t considered what this would do to my viramore. While this hadn’t been a regular occurrence in my life or anything, I’d been around it throughout my life. Back before I was adopted, and then when I was being trained to fight and defend myself as an Ellwood.

But Hugo had never been accustomed to violence, at least not on this level—part of the reason he’d been resistant to becoming a vampire. It was a good thing, obviously, but right now, it was working against him.

I cringed and went to turn him into my chest so he didn’t have to watch, but Hugo pushed me back, keeping his eyes on the battle in front of us.

“You don’t have to—”

“I’m fine.” His eyes were glued to my grandpa.

I knew Grandpa could hold his own. I knew a horde of nymphs wasn’t a true threat to him or my other family members, but there was always a chance something might happen to them.

Hugo’s attention was drawn to the side where Uncle Toby knocked a nymph to the ground and began cuffing them.