“News flash about two minutes late,” Clay said as he darted out of the demon’s way. “The glowing orange eyes were a tip-off.”

“It’s not a lord demon,” I said. “Green is lord. Orange is just a regular demon. If that helps.”

He glowered at me. “You know what would really help, Savannah? If you—”

The demon’s punch caught Clay in the chin and sent him reeling. The demon glanced at Sierra, and I raced over so he wouldn’t free her. He didn’t try, though. Just looked at her and went after Clay again.

This time, Clay didn’t get distracted. He didn’t try to hit the demon either, just kept out of his way, watching him, studying his moves. As moves went, they were simple ones. This was an entity accustomed to relying on brute strength.

Then Clay slipped. As he staggered, the demon swung full-force. Clay spun out of the fake stumble, and kicked the demon in the back of the knees. The demon dropped. Clay grabbed him by the hair.

“We only need one of them alive, right?” he said.

“Right.”

Sierra screamed. Clay’s free hand grabbed Severin’s neck to snap it and—

Severin disappeared. A figure flashed, so fast all I saw was a shape reaching for Sierra. Then she disappeared, too.

Clay raced for the door and threw it open. I followed and caught up to him in the parking lot, looking around.

“They’re gone,” I said. “Teleportation. Balaam wasn’t going to let them get killed. Just enough of a roughing up to teach them to pay more attention.”

“Whatever.” Clay took out his cell phone and dialed. “Hey, it’s me. Got her. I had to take care of a demon infestation first. Seems to be over now, but I’m getting her in the car.”

He paused. “I’m fine. She is, too. Can you call—?” Another pause. “Thanks. See you in Miami.”

“Was that Elena?” I asked.

I knew it was. You could always tell by his tone. So why did I ask? Because he hadn’t looked at me since we’d left the room. With Clay, that meant he was seriously pissed off. I hoped I was wrong, which is why I was trying to get his attention.

“How’s she doing?” I asked. “I know she was attacked—”

“Battered and bruised. No lasting damage. Car’s over there.”

“How’s your arm?” I said. “It looks like it’s blistering. Are you—?”

“Jeremy will take care of it in Miami.”

“Okay, so you’re upset about Kate and Logan? Rhys told you the twins could be a target, and I almost delivered Elena right to them—”

“You didn’t deliver Elena anywhere. No way you could have known this had anything to do with our kids.”

“Is it because you’re here, rescuing me, when you’d rather be taking care of them? I—”

“In the car, Savannah,” he said, unlocking the doors on the rental.

“No, you’re mad at me and I don’t understand what I did.”

“Nothing.”

I planted myself in front of him. “I know I did something.” “No, you didn’t do a goddamned thing. What the hell was that, Savannah? I’m fighting a demon and you stand there, doing fuck-all?”

“Excuse me? Did you miss the part about me not having my spells?”

“I didn’t think it meant your whole body was paralyzed, along with your brain. My mistake.”

I took a step back.

“You run and I’ll stuff you in that damned trunk and lock it. Which, all things considered, might be the best place for you.”

He threw open the driver’s door and climbed in. As he shut it, he noticed I was still standing there and put down the window.

“Get in the damned car, Savannah. I’m not Adam. I’ll chase you once, and then I’ll make sure you don’t run off again.”

I got in the car.

twenty-two

Of all the friends I have today, Elena was the first I’d bonded with. She’d been taken captive by the people who’d killed my mother. At the time, she’d been friendly, but not overly chummy. Not like Leah.

Leah had been one of those adults who doesn’t really “get” kids, tries too hard and ends up coming off phony and condescending. At the time, I hadn’t been mature enough to realize that. I only knew that when Elena came along—with her quiet concern and unwavering attention and fierce determination to get me out—I liked her better. Trusted her more. As a child, I was worthy of her protection, but a deeper bond wouldn’t come until she knew me better. That felt genuine. I had to earn her respect.

Then I met Clay and realized earning Elena’s respect was nothing compared to the task of earning his. The first summer I’d spent at Stonehaven, Clay had tolerated me only because of Elena. I’d known he didn’t like having a near-stranger stay in their house, and even as a child, I’d understood what a huge honor I’d been given.

I’d earned his respect by staying out of his way and not expecting anything from him. I didn’t expect anything from Elena or Jeremy either. At home with Paige and Lucas, I was known to sleep in until noon, then wait for lunch to be put on the table, and take off afterward, bitching if they called me back to clear my dishes. At Stonehaven, I woke up with everyone else, helped with breakfast, and cleaned up. If I needed towels, I found them. If I needed entertainment, I grabbed a book. If I needed clean clothes, I hauled my dirty ones to the basement and asked if anyone else wanted some washed. Of course, I wasn’t expected to do everything myself, but I offered and I pitched in, and in doing so, I earned the respect of the most feared werewolf in the country.

And now I’d lost it.

I could rage against the unfairness of the accusation. What did Clay know about losing your greatest strength? About feeling powerless? A lot, unfortunately. That zombie scratch four years ago had left him with a nearly useless right arm, just weeks before the birth of his children, when the drive to protect his family was so strong it nearly drove him crazy.

How had Clay dealt with that? Moaned about the injustice of it? Surrendered his role as Pack enforcer and relied on the others to defend them? No, he worked out harder than ever, then learned to compensate for the remaining weakness. No one had marveled at his determination. No one had expected anything less. That was just Clay. If you’d asked me what I’d have done under similar circumstances, I’d have said “the same thing.” I was tough, too. If I got thrown from a horse, I got back on.