“I said”—I elbowed her in the nose, hearing bone snap—“get”—I used the side of my hand to chop at her wrist—“off!” And then I dropped, pulling her off balance so that she stumbled. I used the momentum of a roll to toss her over. I managed to stretch just enough to reach the stake. I blocked Belinda’s second attack, mostly by happy accident. I twisted the stake and shoved it as hard as I could. She went to ash and drifted over the dirty pavement.

Matthew howled. He reared up furiously, slashing at Quinn with a penknife. I threw a rock at his head and kicked back to trip Paul before he could make a grab for me. Quinn leaned so far back his hair brushed the ground. He went into the turn completely and landed beside me.

“Back-to-back,” he ordered, but I was already pressing my shoulder blades against his. Standard hand-to-hand combat stance.

He was grinning.

I rolled my eyes. “How is this fun for you?”

He shrugged one shoulder. “Not ash yet.”

“I can fix that,” Matthew hissed.

“You’re right,” Quinn said conversationally to me, as if we weren’t currently outnumbered and fighting for our lives. “This one just won’t shut up.” Quinn’s punch was so fast I heard the crack of one of Matthew’s fangs against Quinn’s knuckle. I didn’t see it but the sound was unique. “Let me help you with that.”

“You broke my tooth!” Matthew spat blood, the whites of his eyes going red with rage. It was just distracting enough that I missed Paul’s fist, until it caught my cheekbone. Pain bloomed over my face. I’d have a wicked bruise by morning. I stumbled back, bumping Quinn’s arm. He flicked a glance over his shoulder.

“Shit,” he said.”Your face.”

“Ow.” I agreed.

“Where the hell are your friends?”

“I don’t know.” But at least all the vampires were attacking us, not Chloe. Right now I wanted to kill her myself. I fumbled for the silver whistle around my neck, hanging next to the Drake coronation medallion. I only wore it on bait-nights. It looked like a little silver pendant but it was much more useful. I blew into it and the shrill whistle pierced the night.

“I don’t even want to know,” Quinn muttered, moving so fast he was a dark shadowy blur like ink spilled in the shape of a man. He was fighting off all three vampires as best he could, circling me protectively like dark fog.

“Let me help,” I shouted.

“You’re hurt.”

“I’m fine.” I insisted. The day one little punch, vampiric or not, took me out of an entire fight was the night I was no longer a Wild. “Let me in,” I adjusted the hold on my stake, slippery with Matthew’s blood. My throat hurt from being strangled, my face hurt from being punched, and we were surrounded.

And I was kind of having fun.

Probably not a good sign.

Chapter 14

Hunter

“On your right,” Quinn barked, materializing on my other side. I jabbed the stake to my right and caught flesh and bone, but not heart. Still, Paul stumbled and slowed down enough that I could see him clearly now, even in the dim light of a single faded streetlight. I jabbed again, hit closer to the heart.

And then everyone else was there in answer to my whistle. Jenna’s wicked aim took out Sam with a crossbow arrow. Jason stood back, holding Chloe, who clutched her side. I saw Spencer pop his vial of Hypnos and knew what he was about to do.

I took a deep breath, whirled, and grabbed Quinn, jerking him toward me. His eyes widened. My mouth closed over his just as Spencer tossed the Hypnos. It was everywhere, like confectioners’ sugar on a cupcake.

“Vampires stop!” he yelled.

I kissed Quinn harder, making sure he wasn’t inhaling any of the powder. He kissed me back, returning the favor.

His mouth was just as delicious as I’d imagined it would be. Not that I’d been thinking clearly about it. Not that I was capable of thinking right at that moment anyway.

His lips were cool, as if he’d been eating ice cream. His hands gripped my arms, holding me tight against his chest. His tongue touched mine, lightly, then deeper, until even my knees felt weak. I kissed him back. I wasn’t going to pull away and be the only one feeling soft as water. He made a sound in the back of his throat, like a groan or a purr.

It made me feel stronger than if I’d been fully armed.

His eyes opened, the pupils wide and very black. It was a long hot moment before I realized the sounds of battle had faded altogether, and not just because of the kiss. I pulled away, taking a deep breath. I knew I was blushing, knew Quinn could feel the warmth of my blood rushing to the surface of my skin. I took another breath.

Everyone was staring at us.

“Dude,” Spencer said.

I cleared my throat, taking a big step away from Quinn. I couldn’t look at him. I didn’t want to know yet if he was smirking. Matthew and Paul, the only two remaining vampires were slumped at our feet, glaring at us with furious pale eyes. Jenna stood over them, crossbow at the ready.

“Hypnos is going to wear off soon,” she warned.

I pushed my hair off my face. “We need to tie them up.” My voice was only a little squeaky.

“What for?” Quinn asked. “Stake them.”

We all stared at him. “They’re prisoners of war,” I said.

“They’re vampires.”

“So are you.”

“So I know what I’m talking about.”