Cold Blooded

I can’t get out of this car yet, I told him. The car had done its job well so far. We’ll pull over and park while you shift. Up ahead looks pretty dense with good cover.

Nobody is going to see me. I’ve been doing this wolf thing for a long time. If I make contact with Dad, I’ll let you know. We were both worried. It had been too long since we’d heard from him. This wasn’t normal. We were always in touch with him.

Wait, I’m having second thoughts. Have Danny shift with you, I told him. We’d just decided Tyler was going to shift alone. It’s better if you stay together. I want you to have backup if anything goes wrong.

The circles had continued to pop up all night, but they were almost always near a populated town. So we had simply steered clear of towns. If the demons really were working with the sorcerers, it was a massive collaboration. They must have gathered sorcerers from all around the country to act together, which was no small undertaking. Naomi and Ray had taken turns keeping an eye on the magic and directing us away from any activity.

The Porsche had kept me cloaked, which was a very good thing. Every supe had their own signature, kind of like a magical DNA, and the Demon Lord who’d come to pick up Selene and tried to trick me into accompanying it to the Underworld had told me they’d gotten a sample of my signature off an imp I’d fought. So if the car wasn’t spelled, they would be able to find me eventually.

Jess, it’s easier if I go alone, Tyler said. I can catch up with you faster once I’m done. Tyler’s special gift was the ability to run faster than any other wolf.

No, take Danny, and don’t argue with me on this. There’s a town nearby. It makes the most sense to have full backup.

Fine. Pull over up ahead. I see a bunch of trees after that road sign.

“Rourke, pull over right there.” I pointed to the break in the trees. As we cruised up to it, I could see it was an old logging road. “Follow it in. Tyler and Danny are going to shift. Tyler’s going to try and connect with our father one more time before we reach New Orleans.”

Rourke turned down the road, the Suburban right behind us. He drove fifty yards along the bumpy dirt road and parked. Tyler and Danny jumped out of their vehicle immediately.

Before they could get to my car, Naomi and Ray landed in front of us.

“Tyler and Danny are shifting,” I told the vamps through the window. “They’re going to try and communicate with my dad. Any more issues from the sky?”

Since Ray had arrived back, he’d been civil and fairly cooperative. Our connection felt stronger each time we interacted. I knew he felt it, too, but he wasn’t acknowledging it, in true Ray fashion. I wasn’t going to push because I had no idea if having us tied together was a good thing yet or not. “There was one a few minutes ago about fifty miles from here,” Ray answered. “We shouldn’t hang around any longer than necessary. Every time one flares close by, I feel like gagging.” Ray carried himself like a police officer even as a vampire. Maybe it wasn’t such a bad combination. I doubted Ray would ever stop being a cop, so maybe that would make him an extra diligent vampire.

Naomi nodded. “Yes. The magic tastes very bitter. We must not linger.”

“How can they possibly keep coming so often?” I said. “They haven’t let up all night, and I’m guessing they’re doing this all around the country trying to find me.”

“I do not understand it myself,” Naomi confessed. “I had not thought it possible for them to come so often. There must be an army of demons, each paired with a sorcerer or witch of some kind. A spell caster must be present to do the summoning, which is why they cannot pop up in the middle of the forest, because no one lives here.”

“Jess,” Tyler called over his shoulder as he and Danny headed into the trees. “You should take off. No sense lingering. We’ll follow you on foot. I’ll let you know when you need to stop and pick us up.” Nick followed them in, likely to pick up their clothes.

Before I could answer, a rumble came from inside the Porsche.

“Something’s vibrating,” Ray said from his position against the car. “Do you feel that?” He placed an open palm on the hood of the car.

“It has to be the spell,” Rourke said. “This is not good.”

Inside, the car began to buzz and shake. It was like old-time TV interference, and we just happened to be inside the TV.

“Damn,” I said as a quiver of energy blinked through me. “Didn’t Angie tell us the smaller the vehicle, the more it held the spell? The bigger the vehicle the quicker it dissipated?”

“This car wasn’t meant to hold a spell for very long,” Rourke finished.

“Tally never thought we’d take it to New Orleans.” Damn, damn, damn. “How long has it been since we left the Coven?”

“It’s coming up on the third day.”

Naomi stepped back from the car. “Go now, while you can. Get to the city. You can find cover there,” she urged. “We will follow you closely. If there’s trouble—”

A loud popping noise rent the air, like a giant piece of bubble wrap, and the car shuddered for the last time.

Then everything stilled.

I yanked open the glove box.

It was empty. No money, no passports. The spell was gone.

Ray turned in a slow circle outside, his eyes flashing sliver. His concern and anger zinged through our blood connection, much stronger this time. Seconds later, a pulse of energy shot through the entire area, ending with an eardrum-sucking pop.

Either the sorcerers were incredibly lucky, or they had the best tracking system in the world. They’d managed to find me. And it had taken only seven seconds.

Rourke jammed the car in reverse. “Hold on!”

“Go to the Vampire Queen’s immediately!” I shouted to Naomi and Ray as we peeled out. “It’s the only place I can think of with enough protection. Naomi, act like you just arrived back from our journey, but don’t tell her anything else. I will find you.”

Eudoxia may be only one of a handful of supes who might be strong enough to ward off an attack from the Underworld. It didn’t matter in the end, because I didn’t know any other supes in New Orleans anyway.

We had only one choice.

Naomi appeared horrified. “She will know our bond is broken. I will be punished!”

I grabbed on to Rourke’s arm to stop him as he wrenched the car around. I rolled down the window and craned my neck out. “No, she wants me too badly to risk harming you. Naomi, you have to go. I promise, we will be right behind you. It’s the only safe place that can shelter all of us. Ray will be the perfect distraction. Introduce him as your—”