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‘I was wrong,’ he says, moving over to the window and peering out. More movement. There’s more than one visitor.
‘What is it?’
‘We’ve got company.’
She freezes with her head stuck in the neck of her jumper. ‘What!’
‘They know.’
She shoves on her boots then goes over to the window, but he holds her back behind him. ‘Who knows what?’
‘Whoever blew up the sleigh. They’re either outside or sent some mates. They want to keep me here.’ Or kill him. Blowing up the sleigh isn’t exactly a friendly gesture. More of the shadows come closer to the house and he curses. ‘Púca.’
‘You what? As in shape-shifting fairy tale Púca? Are you freaking serious?’
‘We’re surrounded by black horses. I’ve come across them before. They’re not here to talk.’
She shouts when a loud thump sounds from downstairs. ‘What was that?’
‘We’ve got to move! They’re going to break in.’
‘In here? What will they do if they get us?’
He doesn’t tell her the Púca would tear them to pieces if they got them, but the look he gives her convinces her to dress faster.
Nick doubles over when his gut twists. ‘Fuck. I’m running out of time. I need to get home.’
‘But how can we get through them?’
He straightens, then takes her hand to lead her downstairs. ‘By force.’
Scarlett stares at him like he’s lost his mind, as he passes her a coat, before slipping on his own one. ‘But how?’
‘You’ll need to drive and I’ll take care of them.’ He grabs the poker from beside the fire, then goes into the kitchen and stuffs his pockets with a few of her sharpest knives.
‘Take care of them how? Hang on. Are you going to kill them?’
He tests the poker, twirling it in his hand. It’s not great but it should take down a few of them.
‘Nick?’
‘Yes, Scarlett. I wasn’t going to get into this with you, but they’re not here to make friends with us. They’re here to make sure I don’t make it home. I’m going to do what I have to, in order to stop them.’
‘Fight them?’
‘Kill them.’ He takes the keys for her truck from the drawer, and holds out his hand. ‘Ready?’
‘What? Now?’
‘My magic will peak soon. It needs to be now. That’s why they’re here.’ She looks at the door, the fear of what they’re about to do written all over her face. She shouldn’t be in this situation. It’s his fight — not hers. But she’s part of it now, and he’ll protect her. If he has to kill every single one of them, he will, to keep her safe. ‘I won’t let anything happen to you. I swear.’
She hesitates briefly, then takes his hand in hers. ‘Ready.’
Nick kisses her, crushing his lips to hers like they’re not about to go up against demon shape-shifters. ‘Now run for the truck and don’t stop, no matter what happens. Got it?’
She nods, so he opens the door and steps outside.
Scarlett has been toso many Halloween events over the years. She’s seen interpretations of the various Irish spirits and read their stories. But what she sees when they go outside her cottage, is a whole different world.
