CHAPTER TWO

Wendy

Ice floods my veins, and my legs feel like lead. It's impossible to move them. One of the Silver Hunters whistles, and there's a responding whistle in another part of the woods.

"You thought you could get away, hm?" A Silver Hunter approaches, and though they all look the same under the helmets, I recognize the voice. He was one of the hunters who tried to stop me in the wishing well.

Did they get the Golden Coin?

My heart squeezes.

If the coin is as powerful as Alec says, if it has the ability to grant immense power and wishes to whomever holds it, would the Silver Hunters even be out here looking for us? Wouldn't they be back at Hawthorn, making plans to fry bigger fish?

I lick my lips and take a step back. Alec presses against my shoulder. "Stay back," he growls.

The Silver Hunter looks at one of his buddies and chuckles. The hounds are straining at their leashes, several of the hunters using all their strength to hold them back.

"What are you going to do, boy?" The Silver Hunter steps closer, and I can see the glint of his sword.

There's nothing we can do. Alec and I are both injured and drained. Even though he's not bleeding, whatever magic is in those swords damaged him big time.

The head Silver Hunter advances on us. Alec charges forward, meeting him head on, but the man knocks him to the ground and grabs him by the hair.

"Leave him alone!" I shriek.

The Silver Hunter chuckles. "This is your chance to surrender."

My hands curl into fists. "Why? So that you can torture us?"

"Wendy." Alec's chest heaves. "Get out of here."

And leave him with this spawn of Satan? Not a chance.

Weak and injured as I am, I can feel the energy building. The rage collects and swirls in my core.

The Silver Hunter knows it's happening too. His eyes widen, and he opens his mouth, probably about to warn the others. It's too late, though.

The strength of a hundred men powers through me, and I move without thinking. I barrel into the Silver Hunter, knocking him backwards so that he releases Alec.

My friend grunts and leaps to his feet. The Silver Hunter rights himself and then reaches for his sword.

Without thinking, I grab it.

It's probably super heavy, but when I'm in this state, I can't tell. I swing it above my head, releasing an incoherent battle cry.

The dogs must know they're in the presence of something terrifying. They bark and lunge forward, but the Silver Hunters can't control them. They slip off their leashes and take off into the woods.

I swing the sword at the leader, going right for the kill, but he blocks it with his forearm. Metal glints there, his armor having stopped the blow.

The other Silver Hunters are in shock, but they quickly recover and draw their weapons. My vision is blurring, my limbs moving with next to no thought.

They come at me in threes and fours, but I whirl and strike. Twist and throw.

Their cries fill the air, and they land on the ground around me, moaning and crawling in an attempt to get away. A few of them back off, disappearing into the trees like the dogs did.

"Wendy!" Alec yells. "We have to go! There are more coming!"

He's right. Lights bob in the trees. A new wave of Silver Hunters will be here any moment.

The fury inside me is still boiling, and I feel sure that I can take them. But I look into Alec's eyes, and I know he's right. We can't take on a whole army of Silver Hunters.

I test the sword in my hand, half tempted to keep it.

And then, remembering what it's probably done and what it stands for, my stomach turns in disgust. I would rather be unarmed than wield something so horrific.

Dropping the sword, I turn and run, Alec right beside me.

"I know a place," he pants. "Get to the river. Come on."

I follow him around trees and down a hill. The gentle roaring of the river calls to us, and Alec plunges into it without a second thought.

I hesitate for a second, remembering how deep and fast the river is around Hawthorn. I'm a great swimmer, but even the best need to be smart about what water they dive into.

"It's shallow." He goes ahead, splashing through water that comes up to his knees.

I follow, hoping that our crossing the river will throw the hounds off our trail. That is, if the Silver Hunters can even find their dogs after they ran off.

I don't want to take any chances. I just want to put as much space between us and them, and I want to do it as quickly as possible.

The water is freezing, and I tense as it pools around my legs. Fear is powerful, though, and I keep moving, keep following Alec.

Instead of crossing the river, though, he walks straight up the middle of it, which is crazy. We can't stay in this cold water all night.

Barks echo through the woods. The Silver Hunters must have found their dogs.

"Come on." Alec waits for me and grabs my hand.

My teeth chatter. We're walking against the current, our feet slipping on the river rocks. "We won't be … we won't be fast enough in the water."

"We don't have to be." He guides me around a bend in the river and points at a small waterfall. "We're going behind there."

"What?"

He doesn't stop to answer. He's scrambling over some rocks. The next thing I know, he ducks behind the waterfall.

I take a quick glance over my shoulder. Morning light is creeping across the river, the woods turning gray. We need to hide ASAP. We'll be too easy to find, running around in the morning light.

The water is like a thousand pinpricks, but I rush over the rocks and through it. And then, suddenly, it's gone.

Alec stands in a small cave, his chest heaving and his face pale. The space isn't much more than a yard deep, and the top of his head nearly grazes the rock above.

It's the perfect hiding spot. You'd never know this place is here.

My jaw drops in amazement. "How did you know about this?"

"I like exploring the woods." He puts a finger to his lips. "Shh."

I freeze, trying to tune in to whatever his advanced hearing is picking up.

Seconds pass and then I hear it. The distant sound of men shouting and dogs barking.

Alec takes my hand and leads me deeper into the cave. We scoot as far back as possible, and he pulls me close.

"We just have to wait it out," he whispers.

I nod, although if I'm being honest, I'm not sure how long I can stay in this tiny cave with Alec. I feel like I need to keep moving.

But then I notice his heart pounding against my shoulder, and the warmth of his body radiates through me.

I can't help but feel a flutter of excitement despite the situation we're in. Maybe it's the adrenaline, maybe it's the fact that we've just narrowly escaped death, but I'm drawn to him in a way that I can't explain.

Alec's arm tightens around me, as if he's sensing my thoughts.

"We'll be okay," he murmurs, his breath warm against my ear.

We settle in, and I close my eyes, trying to forget the danger that awaits us.

But the thoughts keep coming, and I can't help but wonder:

Will we ever be safe again?

The barks grow softer. The dogs and hunters are gone.

Sighing, I let my head drop forward onto my knees. My pants are wet, though, and I'm shivering. The only warm thing in this cave is Alec's chest.

"Here." He takes off his coat and wraps it around me.

I snuggle into it, the fabric still warm from his body heat.

"What about you?" I ask.

"I run warm."

"Do all vampires?" It feels like such a crazy question to ask. Just yesterday, I was still doubting that the boarding school my dad had shipped me off to as his dying wish was anything other than normal.

"Mostly."

We stay there, cuddled in the darkness, as the light on the other side of the waterfall brightens. We don't talk. We don't even move. We just wait and listen as the forest slowly wakes up around us.

After what feels like forever, Alec speaks, "We did the best we could do."

I look down, tears spilling from my eyes. "What now?"

"I ... I don't know."

I nibble on my bottom lip. I feel like such a coward fleeing Hawthorn, but I failed to retrieve the Golden Coin. Without it, we don't stand a chance.

"We should find the teachers," I say, lifting my chin. "We need to figure out what to do next."

Alec is quiet for a moment. "I don't know if we'll be able to do that, Wendy."

"Isn't there anyone we can find to help us?" I ask. "The teachers were at some sort of event. We can find them."

"Unless the Silver Hunters ambushed them there."

My chest lurches. Of course, that's what happened. After all, I'm pretty sure the Silver Hunters set up last night's event in order to draw the majority of the teachers away from the school.

Where's Professor Trowles? Headmaster Stroud? Any of them?

"We're on our own for now," Alec says.

I swallow hard, knowing he's right. We are on our own.

But even so, I'm determined not to give up. I won't let the Silver Hunters win.

"We'll find a way," I say, squeezing Alec's hand. "We'll find a way to get the Golden Coin and save Hawthorn."

Even though I'm the one saying it, I know it might be pointless. Based on what I saw, the wishing well is insanely protected. Plus, there are Silver Hunters swarming all around it.

Alec nods, but it's hollow. We both know our troubles aren't over yet.

But at least we have each other.

"We'll get through this," he says.

He pulls me to him, and I let myself sink into his embrace, feeling the warmth of his body and the steady thump of his heart.

We've escaped death tonight, but who knows what tomorrow will bring? All I know is that I won't be letting go of Alec's hand.