They continued to walk at the edge of the water, utterly ignorant of the tiny ripples that had begun to spread from the center of the pond.
I stepped back and crossed my arms over my chest, content to watch the Hunters at work.
My presence was only required because Davenport didn’t want me alone without Team P around to keep me in line. Heaven forbid that I TP his admin building—not that I had been tempted.
Davenport stepped towards the reeds, and my body moved so quickly that it shocked even me. One second I stood fifteen feet away; the next, I held the collar of a 6’1 man. Like I was a mother dog, and he was a naughty puppy.
Davenport stepped away from the edge and flashed his light into my eyes. “What are you doing?”
I jabbed my finger in the direction behind him. Not needing to say a word. Two shimmering pearlescent eyes glowed in the dark. The sleek equine shape of an almost blue horse, so dark that the creature melted into the night. It crept forward like the water was solid ground before the horse gathered speed as it cantered towards us. It made no sound as it moved.
“What is that?” Jae whispered in awe as he reached for the gun on the holster on his side. He did not take his eyes off the beast as he flicked off the safety and aimed.
“Kelpie.” Warren and I answered in synch. “Jinx!” I blurted out. Davenport did not dignify my declaration with a reply.
“A Kelpie is a Fae water horse that drags people to their watery deaths, right?” Jae said, his gun was trained on the approaching creature.
“You guys have a lot of problems with the Fae, huh?” I tapped my chin. “Maybe it's time for a rebrand.”
“Do you know anything about Kelpies?” Davenport asked, shining his flashlight at the ground. I shrugged. It was his show, not mine.
“Kelpie!” Davenport boomed, his voice echoed across the water, full of command. “You are in violation of ‘section 2, subsection D' of the Fae-Human Realities treaty. Killing without the need for sustenance. You have been ordered back to Tír na nÓg to stand trial in the Summer Court.”
The Kelpie tossed it’s head back, but did not make a sound. The water at its feet began to shift and lap at its hooves.
“Kelpie—do you have the ability to create a portal, or would you like us to assist with your transport?” Davenport sounded like a very patient store manager. I bit back a childish laugh.
The Kelpie's eyes burned, and it began to shift on its feet. The water grew more tumultuous. I stepped back.
“He's not listening,” Jae said. “He’s scared and alone.” The Nephilim would know, being an empath and all.
“He doesn’t speak English,” I said, waving my hand to the spooked water horse. “Most Fae speak Gaelic. All of them speak Fae.”
“Do you speak Gaelic or Fae?” Davenport looked like he was about to blow a gasket.
“What do you think I am? The Duolingo owl?” I snorted.
Davenport's hand twitched, and he was either resisting the urge to press his fingers against his temple, or suppressing the desire to spank me. I couldn’t tell which.
Jae's finger hovered over the trigger like a doomsday button.
“Okay!” I held my hands out, disarmingly, as the water from the pond began to recede. Mr. Kelpie was preparing for a mini-tsunami. Not good.
Both Hunters watched with interest as I reached up and unlocked my silver collar without a word. I threw it to Davenport.
“You could take it off at any time?” He growled.
“Shh.” I hissed, closing my eyes. “I have to concentrate.”
It had been so long since I had accessed my other form that the transition was laborious, like swimming through syrup. Frankie's body dropped to the floor as I trotted forward on four legs, shaking the shadows of my mane.
“Is she a horse?” Jae said, trying not to laugh. Davenport did not say a word, but I felt his dark eyes as they followed my slow approach to the Kelpie.
My night Mare form was different than my true form, but was still a part of me.
I lowered my long snout and locked eyes with the scared water horse.
<You have killed> I said directly into his mind.
The Kelpie hung his head. <Two children threw stones at my home. I defended myself.>
I rolled my lips back, exposing my horsey teeth. <You have been called back to Court for trial>
The Kelpie threw his head back and let out a whinny. <I did nothing wrong>
<Above my pay grade.> I gave the horse equivalent of a shrug. <If you don't go back to Tír na nÓg, those two Hunters will kill you.>
The Kelpie reared up on two legs, and the water under his feet began to sink to form a swirling whirlpool. The Kelpie slammed back onto its front hooves, splashing.. <May your rivers be clear and your tides strong.> His words echoed on the air as he melted away.
I turned and trotted back to the edge of the water, sweeping back into Frankie's body like a rolling fog. I stood up and brushed the mud from my ass.
Everything was still. I'd taken care of the problem, and no one had gotten hurt. I spread my arms wide. “I accept praise in form of chocolate or tequila,” I informed a shocked Davenport.
“Careful, War.” Jae teased. “Don’t get to close. She might not be stable.”
Davenport broke out of his frozen state to groan at the terrible pun.
“Get it. Stable?” Jae threw his head back and cackled. “Because she's a horse.”
I turned away and followed Davenport as he led us through the park and back towards the SUV.
I spotted Hart and Hugo by the drinking fountains. They jogged over when they saw us. Moving quickly and quietly for such large men.
“Mara's a horse.” Jae blurted out with glee.
“I will rip out all of your feathers and use them to make a racially insensitive headdress.” I bit out. The abstract nature of the threat made Jae laugh even harder as Davenport explained what had happened at the duck pond. All eyes shifted to me.
“I’m a nightmare.” I reminded them, emphasizing the last syllable.
“Yes, you are.” An amused voice floated from behind us. Every Hunter shifted, and soon four weapons were drawn and pointed at the stranger's face.
“Ryn Cole.” Hugo stepped forward, dipping his head. When everyone saw Hugo’s lack of reaction, their trigger fingers relaxed.
“Hello, Mara.” The Fae had his hands in his pockets. The picture of innocence, out for an evening stroll. Ryn's eyes did not stray from mine, none of the Hunters existed for him. His gaze unnerved me. There was no attraction there, just the same empty blankness that I often saw in higher Demons. Ryn Cole was the kind of man to start a fire just to see what would happen.
I would probably do the same, but I would try my best not to kill anyone. I got the feeling that Cole would not care.
Ryn Cole held a nondescript and water-damaged cardboard box in his hands. Small enough to be of note. He brushed the dirt from the top of the box before turning it over in his grip. “I found something interesting.” Ryn lifted the box and shook it near his ear. It rattled. I perked up, curious.
Davenport stepped forward, his significant presence forced me to move back as the commander put himself in the line of fire.
“What do you want, Cole?” Davenport crossed his arms over his chest, his eyes emitted a soft glow.
Ryn eyed Davenport like a rattlesnake. “I come bearing gifts.”
“At what cost?” Warren's voice was steel.
Ryn's eyes flicked to mine as I craned around Davenport's rigid frame. Davenport stepped forward, breaking his stare.