Hunter's Fall by Shiloh Walker Page B

shrugged. “I don’t know what’s going on and Rafe wasn’t able to tell me much . . . probably because you weren’t telling him much. But it seems his main concern is you—because you think you might be losing your mind. He says you aren’t. I agree with him. So does that make you feel better?”
    Dominic scowled. “You don’t even know the kind of shit going on inside my head. There’s no way you can know.”
    “You haven’t been around witches much.” She sighed. “That’s fine. But yes, Dom, I can tell. All I had to do was look at you when you got off the plane. I’m a witch and I’ve got healer tendencies. I know madness, I know insanity. Whether it’s organic, or induced by magic or trauma, I know it. You’re not losing your mind. Which is good, because I really don’t need another tetched Hunter running around.”
    “Another?”
    She scowled and arrowed the car into a parking space, slamming on the brakes just in time to avoid hitting the curb. The serene smile on her face was gone, replaced by a tight, cold mask. “We’re here.”
    “You’ve got another crazy Hunter running around?”
    With a withering look, she said, “No, I don’t have another crazy Hunter. You’re not crazy. Anything other than that isn’t your concern.”
    He might have pointed out that she had been the one to toss it out there, but he saw the sharp glint in her eyes. He might have some smart-ass tendencies of his own, but he wasn’t about to give this woman grief. Whatever else was going on, it was hurting her. He saw it in her eyes before she managed to hide it.
    Silently, he climbed out of the car and grabbed his bag from the miniscule trunk. Then he moved to join her on the sidewalk, glancing around.
    Excelsior looked the same. It had been a couple of years since he’d been here—the last time had been at Rafe’s insistence as well. Dominic was apparently showing Master traits but he seemed too young for it. He had been sent to the school for a second opinion. Which added up to a waste of time in his opinion.
    Yes, he was showing Master traits. Yes, he was young. Then he was shipped back to Memphis after spending just a few days at the school. He wasn’t ready to go off on his own, there weren’t any problems developing, so right now there wasn’t any need for concern, big fucking deal.
    The school was quieter at night, although he could hear the sounds of training coming from the gym. Nightwalkers like himself getting their training in like good little Hunters, well before the sunrise.
    Rubbing the back of his neck, he glanced around and sighed. “Where do you want me?”
    “You can take a dorm room or one of the empty houses. Up to you.” She smiled at him and said, “I’m not locking you up in a holding cell.”
    His eyes closed, he managed, just barely, not to blow out a sigh of relief.
    She really, honestly believed he wasn’t losing it. And she should know, right?
    “You really don’t think I’m going crazy.”
    Kelsey chuckled. “Honey, I know you’re not. Relax, okay?”
    “Relax.” Dominic snorted. “Hell, that’s so much easier said than done.”
    He hadn’t been able to relax, really relax in forever. He closed his eyes and took one slow, deep breath. Held it as his senses processed the stimuli. Lavender . . .
    Something familiar . . .
    Her.
    He caught the echo of it on the breeze that drifted by in the next second.
    Every muscle in his body went rigid.
    Kelsey said something, but he didn’t hear her. Didn’t notice he was moving, didn’t even notice she was trailing along behind him.
    That scent. He sniffed the air again, flooded his senses with it. Would have wrapped his body in it, if he could have. It was stronger now, but still so faint.
    He found himself standing on the small stoop of one of the cabins. They were reserved for the teachers who preferred not to live in the dorms, or guests. Resting a hand on the door, he breathed the scent in again. Blood filled his mouth for