they’d caught him so easily. It hit her so fiercely that she almost grabbed Hunter’s arm to drag him off the boy.
She knew better. She’d learned about that the hard way.
“Let me go,” the kid cried. “Let me go. They’ll know you did this. They know—”
“Stop!” said Hunter. “I just want to talk to you—”
The boy spit in his face.
Hunter swore and ducked his head to wipe his cheek on his shoulder. “Seriously?”
“You can’t stop us. There are too many, and we know where to hide.”
“Don’t be stupid,” said Hunter. “You know what happened to Calla.”
“I know Calla is going to destroy you.”
Hunter froze. His shock was almost palpable. “What did you just say?”
The boy spit at him again. “Calla is going to kill you all.”
“Calla’s alive?” Kate couldn’t figure out the emotion in Hunter’s voice, as if relief and dismay were fighting to come out on top.
She knew one thing for sure: Silver was going to shit a brick. And he was probably going to blame her.
The boy was shaking, but his eyes were full of fury. “Do it. Kill me. If I disappear, you’ll just make it worse for everyone.”
“What does that mean?” said Hunter.
“The carnival was nothing. You wait. We’ll show the Guides what we can really do.”
“How many of you are there?” said Kate.
“Where’s Calla?” demanded Hunter.
“Like I’d tell you. What’s the worst you can do—kill me?”
“Break his arm,” she said to Hunter.
She meant it as a threat, as something to throw a little fear into the boy. But Hunter made a movement with his wrist, sharp and quick, and then there was a snap and the kid was screaming bloody murder.
Holy crap.
Kate couldn’t breathe. She must have lost time from the shock of it all, because now the kid was quiet. He’d passed out.
She wouldn’t mind doing the same thing. Hunter had—he’d—it was—
Then people were yelling, just there, coming across the soccer field.
A teacher was grabbing Hunter’s arm and dragging him away from the boy on the ground.
And another one grabbed her, too.
CHAPTER 22
Kate glared at the edge of the guidance counselor’s desk and wondered if she’d get in more trouble if she just pulled the knife out of her boot and stabbed Hunter right now. What a jerk.
He was glaring at Ms. Vickers, his expression somewhat exasperated. “I didn’t even hurt him.”
Ms. Vickers was glaring back at him. “He said he thought you were trying to break his arm.”
Hunter snorted. “It was a joke. I popped the joint. He passed out.” His tone clearly said, wuss.
Kate couldn’t blame the kid. She’d almost passed out herself.
Wuss.
The guidance counselor was still studying Hunter. “He said it was a joke, too.”
“Good. So I can go?”
“Not so fast.” The woman turned toward Kate. “Where do you come into play?”
Kate wasn’t sure what to say—this hadn’t exactly been part of the plan. She had a phone number in her file, but it was Silver’s cell phone number, and what if they asked him to come in and pick her up?
Before she could say anything, Hunter said, “She didn’t have anything to do with it. She didn’t realize we were just goofing off. She was trying to stop me.”
His voice was lazy, almost blasé. Kate shut her mouth and tried to look innocent.
Ms. Vickers glared at Hunter across the desk. “Hunter, we’ve had a discussion about physical altercations twice now. If this continues, I’m going to be forced to suspend you—”
“Great.” He stood and turned for the door.
“We aren’t finished here.”
Hunter paused. “He said it was a joke, right? So I’m not in trouble?”
Ms. Vickers’s mouth tightened into a line. “Don’t think I won’t be watching you more carefully regarding this young man, Hunter. I’m not entirely convinced of this joke.”
“Good for you.” Then he was through the door.
Ms. Vickers swung her head around to look at Kate. “Your transcript from St. Mary’s is impeccable. Were you genuinely trying to help the young man?”
Kate was sure her forged transcript read like a bestseller. She tried to get it together. “I—yes—I saw Hunter run after—”
“Fine. Go.” Ms. Vickers flicked a finger toward the door. She was already dialing a phone with the other hand.
Hunter had made it to the parking lot by the time Kate caught up to him. The sun had burned off the clouds, and she felt heat prick at her neck. She grabbed Hunter by the arm.
“Are you insane?” she hissed. “I thought you really broke that kid’s arm. What was the point of all—”