all the girls he'd kidnapped and hunted and lured. It was to keep girls like them safe for the future.
"You're a hunter," Rashel said softly, trying for steadiness. "So am I. We both understand. This is the
way it goes. It's kill or be killed. It all comes down to that in the end." She paused to breathe.
"Do you understand?"
"Yes."
"If I don't stop you, you'll be a danger forever.
And I can't let that happen. I can't let you hurt anyone else." She was aware that she was shaking her
head slightly in her attempt to explain to him. Her lungs ached and there were tears in her eyes. "I can't."
Quinn didn't speak. His eyes were black and bottomless. His hair was slightly mussed on his forehead,
but he didn't show any other sign of just having been in a fight.
He's not going to struggle, Rashel realized.
Then make it quick and merciful. No need for him to feel the pain of wood through his throat. She
switched her grip on the knife, raising it over his chest. Holding it with both hands, poised above his
heart. One swift downward stroke and it would be over.
For the first time since she had killed a Night Person, she didn't say what she always said. She wasn't the
Cat right now; this wasn't revenge for her. It was necessity.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, and shut her eyes.
He whispered, "This kitten has claws."
Rashel's muscles locked.
Her eyes opened.
"Go on," Quinn said. "Do it. You should have done it the first time." His gaze was as steady as Fayth's.
She could see moonlight in his eyes.
He didn't look wild, or bitter, or mocking. He only looked serious and a little tired.
"I should have realized it before-that you were the one in the cellar. I knew there was something
about you. I just couldn't figure out what. At least now I've seen your face."
Rashel's arms wouldn't come down.
What was wrong with her? Her resolve was draining away. Her whole body was weak. She felt herself
begin to tremble, and realized to her horror she couldn't stop it.
"Everything you said was true," he said. "This is how it has to end."
"Yes." Something had swollen in Rashel's throat and it hurt.
"The only other possibility is that I kill you. Better this way than that." He looked exhausted suddenly-or
sick. He turned his head and shut his eyes.
"Yes," Rashel said numbly. He believed that?
"Besides, now that I have seen your face, I can't stand the sight of myself in your eyes. I know what you
think of me."
Rashel's arms dropped.
But limply. The blade pointed upward, between her own wrists. She sat there with her knuckles on his
chest and stared at a scraggly wild raspberry bush growing out of the cliff.
She had failed Nyala, and Nyala's sister, and countless other people. Other humans. When it really
counted, she was letting them all down.
"I can't kill you," she whispered. "God help me, I can't."
He shook his head once, eyes still shut. She was open to attack, but he didn't do anything.
Then he looked at her. "I told you before. You're an idiot."
Rashel hit him under the jaw the way she'd hit the guard. The hilt of her dagger caught him squarely. He
didn't move to avoid the blow.
It knocked him out cold.
Rashel wiped her cheeks and got up, looking around for something to tie him with. Her whole life was
torn to pieces, falling around her. She didn't understand anything. All she could do was try to finish what
she'd come here for.
Action, that was what she needed. Thought could wait. It would have to wait.
Then she glanced at the wharf.
She couldn't believe it. It seemed as if at least a week had passed since she yelled at Daphne, and they
were all still here.
The boats were here, the girls were here, and Daphne was running toward her.
Rashel strode to meet her. She grabbed Daphne by the shoulders and shook hard.
"Get-out-of-here! Do you understand? What do I have to do, throw you in the water?"
Daphne's eyes were huge and blue. Her blond hair flew like thistledown with the shaking. When Rashel
stopped, she gasped, "But you can come with us now!"
"No, I can't! I still have things to do."
"Like what?" Then Daphne's eyes darted to the cliff. She stared at Rashel. "You're going after them?
You're crazy!" Looking frightened, she grabbed Rashel's hands on her shoulders. "Rashel, there are
supposed to be eight of them, right? Plus Lily and Ivan and who knows what else! You really think you
can kill them all? What, are they all just going to line up?"
"No. I don't know. But I don't need to kill them all. If I can get the guy who set this up, the client, it will
be worth it."
Daphne was shaking her head, in tears. "It won't be worth it! Not if they kill you-which they will. You're
already hurt-"
"It'll be worth it if I can stop him from doing this again," Rashel said quietly. She couldn't yell anymore.
She didn't have the strength. Her voice was quenched, but she held Daphne's eyes. "Now get somebody
to throw me some rope or something to tie these guys with. And then leave. No, give me five minutes to
get to the top of the cliff. Six minutes. That way maybe I can surprise them before they realize you're
gone."
Daphne was crying steadily now. Before she could say anything, Rashel went on. "Daphne, any minute
now they could realize that. Someone's bound to check the cellar before midnight. Every second we