Free Sacrifice by Jennifer Quintenz Page B

arm. The second Lilitu was just steps away from me, her claws extended. Gretchen whipped her arm and I saw something flash in the streetlights. The dull thud of impact stopped the Lilitu cold. She fell, face forward, one of Gretchen’s daggers buried to the hilt in the base of her neck.
    I spun back for Elyia. She stared at her fallen peer, and when she dragged her gaze up I saw hatred burning in her eyes.
    Before I could reach her, Elyia had sprung. She caught Amber by the hair, dragging her away from the wall.
    Amber gave a full-throated scream. Elyia backhanded her, sending Amber whimpering to her knees.
    “Enough!” I charged. Elyia spun to face me, her human aspect falling away. Dark eyes seemed to draw light in. Her sneer revealed a mouth full of pointed teeth, gleaming weirdly with an almost metallic sheen.
    We connected. Elyia’s clawed hands fastened around my wrists. I dropped one of my daggers, grabbing Elyia by the collar and trying to pull her closer, trying to leverage my other hand out of her grip.
    Another horrible shriek sounded behind us. Elyia’s eyes darted over my shoulder. Whatever she saw seemed to stop her cold.
    “Another time, sister,” she whispered into my ear. And then she kicked me off of her. As I slid into the alley wall, I saw Gretchen racing toward us. The last of the Lilitu had turned tail and fled.
    Behind me, Elyia grabbed Amber by the scruff of her jacket and shoved her at Gretchen. Gretchen reached out to catch Amber before she slammed into the alley wall. I rolled to my feet, scrambling to collect my daggers, but by the time I stood, Elyia was gone.
    Gretchen examined the shaking Amber quickly. “Are you hurt? Did she claw you anywhere?”
    “She’s fine,” I said, sheathing my daggers.
    Amber turned at the sound of my voice. “Why?” Her voice trembled. “You’re one of them. Why did they attack you?”
    I grimaced. “Because I’m their enemy, Amber.”
    Amber’s eyes were round pools of fear. “What’s the Guard?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
    I glanced at Gretchen, but any hope I’d had of Gretchen’s keeping the Guard’s secret faded when I saw her face. Gretchen was eyeing Amber with that same protective attention I’d seen her show Lucas when he was hurt or troubled.
    “Don’t worry.” Gretchen bent to retrieve her dagger from the back of the dead Lilitu’s neck. “You’re about to find out.”
     

     

    A small fire crackled in the fireplace of the Guard’s living room. I huddled next to it, perched glumly on the stone hearth, watching the Guard surround Amber. She sat on the couch, clutching her sweater around herself. Gretchen regarded her, excitement virtually bubbling out of her. Matt hadn’t been more than a step away from Gretchen since we’d returned. He watched her closely, smiling at her evident joy.
    “She’s a spotter.” Gretchen’s words sent another wave of dread through me. “Can you believe it? Another spotter right here in town and we didn’t even know it.” Matt gave her shoulder a squeeze. She beamed at him.
    Hale and Dad eyed Amber with interest. Recognition flickered across Dad’s face. “You go to Coronado Prep.”
    Amber looked up at him, still shell-shocked from our encounter with the Lilitu. “What?”
    “Give her some space, Murphy. We had a rough night.” Gretchen sat on the couch beside Amber.
    “What happened at the meeting?” Hale lowered himself into one of the armchairs on either side of the couch.
    “We might have a bigger problem than we—” but Gretchen stopped as the back door opened.
    Lucas and Cassie entered, carrying armfuls of freshly chopped wood for the fire. Lucas froze when he saw Amber, then his eyes sought me out.
    “You told them?”
    “What?” Gretchen turned to face Lucas, but an instant later she spun on me. Spots of rosy anger colored her cheeks. “You knew? You knew she was a spotter and you didn’t tell us?”
    “She tried to have Lucas killed,” I