Page 13 of Tracking Snow

Dirt-Face hasn’t clocked either of us yet. "We don’t want any dirty little mages in our city. You need to be taught a lesson about how to act."

"I got this," I yell to Hoodie, determined to prove myself this time.

Dirt-Face and Devi both jerk in surprise, their gazes swinging back and forth between me and Hoodie.

"Aw fuck," the HAM asshole mutters even as I dart forward before jumping onto a nearby crate and leveraging it to go flying in the air at Dirt-face.

His grip on Devi loosens just enough that when I pounce, he lets go entirely. Devi stumbles free as Dirt-Face’s back slams into the ground with a painful oomph. The astringent stink of spearmint and stale cigarette smoke explodes in my face, wrinkling my nose.

"I thought you learned your lesson last night," I ask with deliberate sass, one of my daggers at his throat.

Admittedly, I’m putting on a bit of a show for Hoodie.

He was just about to intervene when I beat him to it. He totally has the same vigilante hobby as me, and I can’t help the deep sense of excitement and satisfaction that dances in my chest at that.

I may not have magical powers, but that doesn’t mean I’m totally useless. I helped him last night, just like I’m helping now, and he won’t be able to say I didn’t this time.

Throwing Hoodie a cocky grin, I find I’m not meeting the familiar pale white orbs of last night.

Instead, his eyes are the color of amethyst. Even the expression on his face seems different, less tense, more relaxed, as if enjoying the show.

For a moment, I don’t recognize him, and it’s more than his expression or eye color. It’s almost like seeing a totally different person.

"Get off me, bitch," Dirt-Face snarls.

Oh right, I’m showing how capable and kickass I am. Back to that.

I press the blade tighter to his jugular, forcing his chin up. He stills under me.

I check on Devi. "You okay, kid?" He’s probably only a couple years younger than me, but the lingo feels right.

Though visibly shaken, he doesn’t appear hurt. Devi gives me a jerky nod, eyes wide as saucers.

"Grab your stuff and get home," I tell him a little softer this time. "He won’t bother you anymore."

Doubt flickers in Devi’s face, but relief wins out as he grabs his backpack and takes off.

I catch Hoodie still watching me. His eyes are lidded with a nonchalance while his lips curl up. There’s a hardness underneath his amusement.

"What?"

"How are you going to guarantee that?" Hoodie lifts an eyebrow, asking the question while still seeming bored somehow. "Are you going to kill him?" He nods at my captive.

Dirt-Face stiffens underneath me.

"What? No." Not that I haven’t taken a life before, but that had been against vampires trying to kill a bunch of innocent people. It was kill or be killed.

I’m completely satisfied with simply kicking some ass, in the name of safety.

Is that an oxymoron? I wonder briefly then shake it away.

"Why not?" Hoodie asks, stuffing his hands in the pockets of his jeans, sauntering forward. "Then you won’t have to worry about him coming after you later if you just do it now."

Unlike the tense, tightly strung guy I met yesterday, today Hoodie seems almost bored, even as he stirs the pot. A trait I’ve commonly indulged in.

"You seem different today." I cock my head to the side. "Forget to take your meds?"

He barks out a hard laugh.