Book excerpt: In New York Times bestselling author Mercedes Lackey's action-packed sequel to Hunter, a storm is headed to Apex City, and unless Joy and the Hunters put up the fight of their lives, it might just sweep them all away. Joy knows she'll be facing more dangerous Othersiders than ever before as a new member of the Elite Hunter unit, but if anyone is up to the challenge it's her. Then the rules change. The leaders of Apex must come together to protect the city, but tensions have never been higher between the Hunters and the powerful PsiCorps, with each group competing to be the primary protector of the city. Chaos erupts when Ace, the murderous Hunter who tried to kill Joy at her Elite trials, escapes from the Army's captivity and defects to the Othersiders. Joy has no idea what Ace might be capable of with the help of the cunning Folk, but she may be about to find out as Othersider forces are gaining strength and momentum just beyond the barriers.