“True,” Balaam said. “But what do you plan to do with your gift, Savannah? Hide it? One of the most powerful supernaturals in the world, working as a receptionist? How does that feel?” He leaned closer. “They’ve made you think it’s a worthy calling. But you know it isn’t. You know you should be more.”

And I will be. Someday. When I’ve earned it.

“They really have brainwashed you, haven’t they? You have earned it, Savannah. By your very birthright, you’ve earned it. Now it’s time to seize it. You understand what I’m talking about, don’t you?”

I spoke aloud now. “This supernatural liberation movement. You want me to join it.”

“In a way. You’ll join and you’ll let these people do the work. But you’ll rise in the ranks, with Sierra and Severin at your back, and when the time comes, with my help and theirs, you will push past these lesser supernaturals and reap the benefits.”

“Which I’ll share with you.”

He eased back on his haunches. “Yes, I would benefit by having my offspring leading the charge. But I have children other than your mother, Savannah. And a dozen grandchildren. You’re the one I chose. The only one.”

“Because I also have witch and sorcerer blood. And I’m very, very well connected.”

He smiled. “And very, very perceptive. Which I expect. As I do not expect you to leap at my offer now. Stay with your friends. Think on what I’ve said. When the time is right—” His head snapped up. “I believe we’re about to be interrupted.”

Sierra squawked something, but Balaam ignored her and touched my cheek again. “Think of what I’ve said. You deserve better, my child. And whatever your answer, I will make sure you get your spells back. I promise it.”

Sierra stepped forward. “You said someone’s—”

Severin’s body collapsed. He let out an oomph as he hit the floor, then groaned and lifted his head, blinking. “Okay, next time? Some warning would be appreciated.”

As he pushed to his feet, the door handle clicked.

Sierra spun on her brother. “I thought you locked—”

“I did.”

He jumped to grab the door, but it swung open.

“Huh, this doesn’t look like luggage storage,” said a Southern drawl. In walked a guy with blond curls, broad shoulders, and blue eyes that didn’t glance my way.

“It’s not luggage storage,” Severin said as he and Sierra moved in to block me from view. “Now, if you would please leave—”

“What’s this?” He bent to examine the chalk circle. “This isn’t that devil worship stuff, is it? You kids really shouldn’t play around with that.”

Severin reached for the intruder’s arm. The guy grabbed his instead, and whipped him clear over his shoulder and into the wall.

“Hey, Clay,” I said. Clayton Danvers. Elena’s mate. The Alpha’s bodyguard. The Pack’s enforcer. If I had to be rescued by someone, Clay would top my list.

“Took you long enough,” I said.

“You’re welcome,” he said.

“The rescue operation, I presume?” Sierra moved over beside me and reached out, fingertips icing over. “I believe we have a standoff.”

“Nah,” Clay said.

He lunged and grabbed Sierra’s arm so fast she let out a yelp. He threw her across the room, where she landed beside her brother, who was struggling to his feet.

“This is a standoff,” Clay said.

He grabbed the rope on my hands and yanked, and it snapped like thread. I bounced up.

“And this is a fair fight,” he said.

Sierra snickered. “Um, no. Hate to break it to you, but your girl there is spell-free these days.”

“I know. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be fair at all.”

Severin flew at Clay, who caught him by the shirtfront and whipped him against the other wall. “My mistake,” Clay said as Severin slid to the floor. “Apparently, it’s still not fair.”

He tossed me the rope. “I take it you’re still able to tie knots?”

“Sure.” I knelt to bind Severin. As long as I kept out of the way of his hands, I was safe. Same for Clay, who went after Sierra. She’d wised up faster than her brother and stayed out of Clay’s reach, which left them dancing around each other, lunging, and missing as their opponent spun out of the way.

Sierra could have run. But she didn’t even look at the door. We had her brother, so she was staying. Finally, Clay tired of the game, and when she charged him, hands outstretched, he lifted his right arm to block. She grabbed it. Her fingers frosted. He didn’t even flinch, probably because an old zombie scratch had left the area insensitive to pain.

With his left hand, he grabbed her around the throat. One good squeeze and she let go of his arm and started kicking and punching and struggling. He carried her by the throat to me, and I used the last piece of rope to bind her hands.

“We want to negotiate,” Sierra said once I had her bound beside her brother. “We have answers you’ll want.”

“Then we’ll get them,” Clay said. “We’ll do it your way, though—the same way you got answers from that half-demon in Albuquerque. And if you have any idea who I am, then you know that compared to me, you’re amateurs.”

I got his attention and mouthed, “Keep them alive.”

“Course,” he said aloud. “Killing them is easy. Real technique is seeing how long you can keep them alive.”

He turned to the siblings. “Do you know why mutts don’t set foot on Pack territory?”

He told them. By the end of his story, Sierra looked like she was going to puke. Severin just sat there, his head down. Clay grabbed a handful of his hair and yanked his face up.

“Did you hear what I said?”

Severin’s eyes glowed orange. “Oh, I heard, wolfman. And I’m impressed. I’ll be even more impressed if you can fight your way out of this.”

He lifted his hands and snapped the rope as easily as Clay had. As he leapt up, Clay sidestepped, then came back behind Severin and slammed him in the back of the head. Severin dropped, but twisted at the last second, caught Clay by the leg, and threw him into the wall.

“He’s a demon,” I said. “Possessed.”