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“I don’t think luck has anything to do with it. Put the gun away.”
Hunter didn’t move, and the man raised an eyebrow. “You were the proverbial sitting duck a few moments ago. Surely you realize I would have already killed you if I meant you harm.”
Hunter rolled that around in his head for a moment. He couldn’t sit here all day holding a gun, either. His father used to say, “Pointing a gun means nothing if you’re not willing to fire it.”
Could he shoot this guy?
No. He couldn’t.
He slid the gun into the holster. “Where’s Kate?”
“I had doubts about her ability to evaluate whether you were a threat.”
Hunter rubbed at his throat. Again, he was reminded of Gabriel’s comment that first night. Keep your enemies closer. Or the old saying, The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Silver had shot him, had just about kicked his ass right here in the school courtyard, but Hunter didn’t get the impression that the guy was really here to fight with him.
“If you’re here to stop the Elementals who are starting fires, I want the same thing,” said Hunter. “I’m no threat to you.”
A smile. “I’m not worried about you being a threat to me.”
God, this guy was cocky. Hunter bristled. “I told Kate I would help her figure out who the others are.”
“I’m curious—why would you agree to turn in some, but not all?”
He had to be talking about the Merricks. “I don’t have to turn in anyone. You know who the Merricks are. It doesn’t matter anyway. They aren’t the ones causing trouble.”
A frown. “You know what your father was, do you not?”
Hunter frowned back at him. He wasn’t sure where this conversation was going. “Yes.”
“And you have no problem with the Merricks’ continued existence?”
“I told you—they’re not hurting anyone.”
Silver leaned against the picnic table. “Did Kate tell you about her mother?”
“She told me she was killed by a Water Elemental.”
The man nodded. “Did Kate mention that she went after the same Water Elemental to finish the job?”
They’d talked about vengeance, but they’d never talked about killing anyone.
Then again, he hadn’t known what Kate was. Not then. “No,” he said. “She didn’t.”
“You see, Hunter Garrity, son of John Garrity, your father was a great man. He did what needed to be done, for the good of all. I wasn’t aware he had a son, so you’re a bit of a mystery. I worry that you have missed the mark somewhere.”
Hunter felt fury well up inside, but not at Silver. At himself. He worried about the exact same thing. “I told Kate that I would find the other Elementals.”
“You talk about Elementals as if there are shades of gray. There are not. There are full Elementals, and there are Guides.”
Hunter didn’t say anything.
Silver studied him. “When I finish the job I’ve come here to do, which side will you stand on?”
“What difference does it make?” Hunter snapped.
“It makes a great deal of difference if the five of you can form a full circle. Do you understand what I’m saying to you?”
“Yeah.” Silver was saying he wouldn’t take the chance of Hunter helping the Merricks to fight back.
