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‘I brought you here to keep you safe. The danger has not passed. No one is controlling the Púca. They will fight until they die. Or until there is no one left to fight.’ He gets to his feet and shrugs off his coat. ‘You must remain hidden until I have the Púca under control.’
‘What? You’re going out there?’
‘I must. There is a chance I can control them. I have more in common with them than I would like to admit. Please promise me you will remain in safety until I call for you?’
Scarlett looks over to Nick. He’s flagging, his sword hitting the ground between strikes. ‘I promise. He can’t last much longer, Talen.’
‘Trust me.’
He smiles then turns and steps out of the trees. It takes a few seconds for the team to notice him. Cobh kills a Púca which brings him face to face with Talen. Scarlett stands when Cobh attacks. Then she remembers her promise and ducks down again. Within a few seconds, the Púca are attacking Talen, while Cobh does the same.
When Nick notices Talen, he seems to find a hidden energy reserve. His posture straightens, the sword firmly in his hand as he makes his way towards Talen. Cobh is thrown aside by Talen, landing in a pile of snow near Scarlett. She is about to call out to him when a Púca notices her. It snarls, moving towards her. Focused on Talen, Cobh doesn’t see it, or her.
With no choice, Scarlett pushes to her feet and races through the trees around the edge of the clearing. She needs to get away from it, but not from the team.
Behind her, she can hear Talen shouting something in a language she doesn't understand. He keeps speaking loudly, his voice carrying around the clearing.
Then there’s silence.
She glances over her shoulder, but the Púca isn’t chasing her anymore. The creature is standing a few feet from her, staring ahead blankly.
Scarlett looks through the trees. It’s the same in the clearing. Every Púca still alive, is frozen to the spot.
Talen did it. He’s controlling the Púca. Then she realises the team are heading in his direction, Nick at the front, sword poised ready to strike.
‘Stop!’
Her scream reaches him just in time. He stops with his sword against Talen’s neck. She hurries through the trees weaving between the frozen Púca, until she’s in Nick’s arms.
‘You’re okay!’
She nods against his neck, then pushes away from him. ‘I’m fine. Talen saved my life. Don't hurt him, Nick. Please!’
Nick looks at Talen, his face not giving anything away. ‘He saved you? How?’
‘The Púca took me from the cottage, but Talen rescued me. He took me back to his home and looked after me.’
‘Why?’
Scarlett knew Nick wouldn't be overly keen on thanking Talen, but she didn't think he’d react like this. ‘Because, putting it simply, he’s not a bad guy. Is that reason enough?’
Nick frowns at her for a long time, and no one interrupts. It’s a good few minutes before he looks back at Talen and lifts his sword again. ‘Talk. Now.’
Talen clears his throat. ‘My magic is still linked to yours. I felt when you were injured in the crash. Scarlett had helped you by the time I got there, but I stayed, watching over you.’
Nick doesn’t appreciate the gesture. His eyes whiten and his sword moves closer to Talen.
‘Nick, please,’ she says, trying to diffuse some of the tension. ‘Let him speak.’
‘No one’s stopping him.’
‘I saw the Púca arrive to take Scarlett. Reve went inside the cottage, but some Púca followed. Then they left, with no sign of Reve. But they had Scarlett. So I made sure they didn’t get far with her. I brought her back to my house to keep her safe. I knew one of your team must be trying to kill you, but I didn’t know who. I thought it would be safest to look after her until you returned.’
‘You see!’ Scarlett says, moving between Nick and Talen. ‘I swear he did nothing to hurt me.’
‘I never thought I’d agree that Krampus is on the level, but she’s right.’ Damon materialises next to Nick and crosses his arms. ‘I didn’t kill Reve, but we might have had a bit of a heart to heart. He saw Talen here take Scarlett from the Púca. Which he was controlling, by the way. He thought Talen would be the perfect scapegoat. No offence intended by the goat remark. Fuck that! Be offended. I don’t actually care.’
Nick lowers his sword and takes a step closer to Talen. ‘You’ve got control of Krampus?’
