I grabbed Mei-Ling’s arm as I turned, shoving her behind me. “I could say the same about you. ”
I needed to protect my roommate, and not because Alcántara had ordered it. I’d guard her because it was what I wanted to do.
“I’ve been looking for you. ” She prowled toward us. “Hunting for you. ”
How to play it? With bluster? Humor? Aggression? I opted for some mix of the three. I plucked the stars from my boot. “Did you miss me?”
“Nobody will miss you. This time, you’re not going back. ”
“Wow, so you’re really going to kill me? Because, you know, you’ve tried before. ” My expression was calm, but my mind raced, assessing. Masha was with two girls, both Guidons. I spotted a butterfly knife and one throwing knife. I didn’t see her whip, but I knew it was there, waiting for me.
“I won’t fail again. ” She strolled closer, eyeing us with a wicked smile on her face. “I think it’s time to dispense with all the hos on this island. ”
I had to laugh. “So dire, Masha. And yet so predictable. ”
Mei tried to push out from behind me. “Can’t you come up with some new material?”
I dug my fingers into her arm, holding her in place, hissing, “Easy. ” I adored her spunk, but was painfully aware that all she had were a few homemade stakes plus a flute in her pocket—and a fat lot of help that would be. The vampires saw it as a weapon, but it was one of magnificent subtlety, an instrument to dull and control the masses. Unless she used it to jab at an eye or two, it wouldn’t do us any good in a brawl. And if my roommate got close enough to be jabbing at these girls with a flute, it’d be the last thing she ever did.
I took a step back. A rock wall on one side and the sea on the other—not a great place for a fight. “Yeah, Masha, how about some new slurs to add to the mix?”
“I believe I am done talking,” she said, and unfurled that whip.
“There it is,” I said. “I was beginning to think maybe Alcántara had confiscated your weapon again. ”
“Oh no. And I have better news. Hugo said I might kill you now. ” She laughed at what must’ve been my goggle-eyed expression. “Do I surprise you?”
I gathered my wits, and quick. “Not at all,” I told her with what I thought was admirable calm. But I was surprised. Alcántara had sanctioned my death, which meant he hadn’t been fooled by my act. He knew there was something between me and Carden—I was sure of it now. “He told you to kill me?”
“Not precisely. ” She waved her hand as though annoyed with such minor details. “He told me he wouldn’t stop me. Same thing. ”
I hoped it wasn’t the same thing. If I survived, I didn’t want to return to campus only to be butchered by Alcántara himself.
But I couldn’t think about that now. I had more pressing issues, namely Masha and her pals. She looked eager to knock me off for good. If she was playing for keeps, it meant only one of us would be getting out of this alive.
I had more than just weaponry at my disposal—she might’ve had a whip, but my tongue could get in some pretty savage lashes—and if I wanted to survive this, I’d need to bring every last skill. I gave a dramatic shrug. “I guess he didn’t like our kiss any more than I did,” I said, aiming straight for her jealous little heart.
Masha’s face turned ugly with fury. Bull’s-eye.
I gave her an innocent smile. “Oh, you didn’t know we kissed?”
“Hugo kisses many girls. But he keeps few. You, he is done with. ” Her arm flew out before I had a chance to react. Her whip snapped, and leather kissed my jaw, the pain instant and hot. She smiled. “I’ve been waiting for this day. ”
“Oh—me, too. ” Ignoring the trickle of blood tickling down my neck, I opened my senses to the periphery, trying to guess everyone’s next moves.
Mei-Ling was doing something at my back. Pulling out her stakes, I guessed. But I couldn’t let her get in the fray. She didn’t have enough experience—not against trained killers like these Guidons. Chances were, if she pulled a weapon on them, it would only get turned and used on her.
“I only wish we had an audience,” I said as I backed into the rock wall. It’d stop Mei from doing something brave and stupid, plus it’d protect both our backs. “Everyone could watch as we take you and your gal pals down. ”
“We?” One of the Guidons laughed. “We? Seems like your ho friend here is useless. ”
The other girl stepped forward, closing in. “Good luck with that. ”
Masha cut in front of them, pacing a half circle before me, poised like a boxer. “We don’t need an audience. When I kill you, everyone will hear about it. Everyone will finally know what trash you are. ”
The other Guidons pulled out their weapons. I heard that butterfly knife flicking open and shut, click-click. Click-click.
Three against one, not counting my roommate, whom I needed to get out of there. I’d concealed Mei-Ling’s gift from Alcántara, and now it was my fault that her life was forfeit. I’d do everything in my power to continue protecting her and her secret.