~ELARA’s POV~
The silver tip of the crossbow bolt shone bright under the moon and it just hung there, locked on my chest like it already knew where it was going.
“Don’t move, Elara,” Lila said. Her voice came out flat, almost bored, but it didn’t carry that sharp, practiced meanness the other hunters had.
Kael moved beside me, slowly at first. Then every muscle locked up tight. That low growl started somewhere deep in his chest and his claws came out like metal sliding on metal. My stomach flipped.
“Step aside, kid,” he told her, so quiet it almost sounded gentle. “Unless you want your blood all over these pines.”
“Kael, stop, wait!” I flung my arm out, palm flat against his chest like that would actually hold him back.
I actually looked at Lila then. Really looked. She wasn’t stand
