A Crown Of Shadows And Secrets - Sloane Murphy Page 0,117

it, but I’m also just learning to live with it. They love me, they want me safe. This keeps them happy, so I can deal.

Levi leads us higher, having studied the maps with Caleb for hours last night, and again this morning before we left, and he signals for us to stop. That’s when I see it. The opening in the mountain about a hundred feet from us.

We move slower, everyone on high alert to make sure we’ve not been betrayed by Deacon, but his head pops out of the cave just as we arrive.

“Took you long enough,” he says, his eyes darting around, making sure we’ve not been followed.

“We weren’t expecting quite this much snow,” Creek huffs and I smile. He likes the snow about as much as I like extreme heat.

No thanks.

“We’re here now, is everything ready?” Levi asks sharply and Deacon nods.

“Yes, the ‘trap’ is set. You guys just need to fall into it. I called Archer this morning, when I told him I’d heard you were moving through the mountains, looking for your friend. He’s expecting you,” Deacon tells us, and a lead weight settles in my stomach, I don’t like the sound of that.

“Okay, thanks. I guess we better head inside,” I tell him softly with a small smile. He’s risking a lot by helping us too, even if he does stand to gain a lot if everything goes as we hope. Caleb said he was telling the truth, one of his skills apparently, so for now, I’ll trust Caleb’s trust in him.

Deacon pops out of sight, and I let out a small sigh before trudging into the cave after Levi and Creek. Everyone is quiet, I can feel how on edge they all are, and it makes my heart race. We move deeper into the cave and it widens, the top of the cave reaching upwards, before it curves to the right.

I stumble and the sound of rocks cluttering across the ground, followed by my own squeak, feels so loud I can’t help but cringe. “Sorry!” I hiss, while Creek tries not to laugh as he shakes his head.

Levi signals I move to the front, knowing that this is the plan. That I enter the cave first, and find Deacon waiting for me. I take a deep breath and move forward.

Ready or not, here I come.

I enter the room in the cave alone, and I hear Deacon’s laugh. It’s low and gravely. “You made it so easy,” he says, a twisted grin on his face. He cuts his hand and places it on the wall of Angel glass, which is enough to make me double take on its own, but when the glass ripples, my gasp of shock isn’t fake.

That’s when I hear Archer’s low voice as Deacon pounces on me, gripping my arms behind my back.

“What the fuck!” I hiss.

“Poor little Shadow Walker. You thought you'd be able to save them all didn't you?” The black glass on the wall shimmers in front of me, Archer’s manic smile takes over his whole face as he starts to laugh. “You thought you could betray me, and there wouldn't be consequences for that?”

“I will be able to save them all you bag of dicks,” I snarl, hoping to keep him distracted enough that he doesn’t think about the fact that the others aren’t with me.

“You know, this was never my plan. I didn't even share everything with that darling brother of yours. I knew his heart would be too easily swayed when it came to his precious sister. I knew that when it came down to it, that no matter how much he loved me, he loved you more.”

“Is that what all of this is about, Archer? You're jealous because my brother doesn't love you enough? Are you fucking kidding me?” I make a show of struggling in Deacon’s arms, but he holds me firm.

“Oh no, Remy. This is about much more than that. It is about power, and the rightful place of Hunters in our world. For too long the balance has been off. Your grandfather started on the right path, changing the ways of the factions, teaching those beasts their rightful place. But you just couldn't accept it could you. Your weak heart will be your downfall.”

“You don't know anything about me, or my heart!” I shout.

“Oh I know more than you think. I have a friend I'd like you meet,” he says, his glee dancing in his eyes as he steps back