The dragon stretched his wings, the scales catching the light. Bonded to the Tracker as I am, I know her heart even better than you, Wolf. Better because while I have some affection for her, I do not love her as you and the others do. So I see her more clearly. And if I must, I will drive her to do what the prophecies call on her for.

“And if that means her death, you don’t care, do you?” Anger surged through him. The dragon might be their ally, but he was apparently not their friend.

Blaz shrugged, his shoulder bumping into the barn and shaking the timbers. I do care, for we are tied together, she and I. If she dies, as will I.

“Then why aren’t you with her right now, making sure she’s okay?” Damn it, this dragon was the most infuriating creature—

Because unlike you, I know she will come to me when she is damn good and ready. Trust her, Wolf. Her instincts run true, even if at times they seem to be contrary to what you believe.

Liam threw his hands into the air and turned his back on the dragon. “Whatever, Blaz. We’ll be back later to pick up Valley.”

Ahead of him, Frank was sprawled out on his back, the two witches hovering over him.

“What the hell is this?”

Pamela covered her mouth with one hand, giggling. “He passed out when Blaz showed up.”

What the hell was he going to do with a fainting necromancer, a green witch, and a witch he hated, who had no abilities at all at the moment? Yeah, not much. Not much at all.

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Chapter 11

Faris had a plan, or at least, he said he did. He took us via the veil to the castle, which acted as a central jumping point to many parts of the world. For those who couldn’t jump the veil, the castle was a place that allowed one to pick and choose where they went. Of course, you had to know where each door opened, and hope they didn’t get destroyed while you were on the other side. Already, we’d managed to close one permanently.

Yeah, my bad.

We were on the first floor of the castle where walls were covered with sconces, their light flickering in the air. It was not an area I’d been in before. Faris strode ahead of us, my weapons strapped to him. They looked small on his big frame, and out of place against his designer cut clothes. He stopped in front of a plain wooden door, the slats barely held together with bent and twisted nails, rusted with age. Hanging by a thread? Not even. This was not a door I would have picked to try, but since I wasn’t running the show …

“Hurry up, Tracker.” Faris snapped his fingers, and pointed to the ground beside him, as if I were his pet, a dog eager to obey its master. I tightened my hands into fists.

Doran gave me a push on the small of my back. No words, we couldn’t discuss anything without Faris hearing.

I moved to Faris’s side, my blood pounding in my ears, and I reminded myself of Charlie, this was a game Faris was playing. One where he didn’t know I’d uncovered his secrets. But I also reminded myself he had two of my friends at his disposal now. Faris’s left eye twitched. Something had been off with him since he’d jumped the veil, which meant that no matter what I thought I knew, it could all go out the window in one big ass vampire tantrum.

Fuck, talk about being stuck between a set of fangs and a sword.

Faris pointed at the wooden-slatted door. “This is what we’re going to do. We will open doors, you will step through and Track the Blood. If you find them, that is the doorway we will use.”

“And if I can’t?”

He glanced down at me, the glint in his eyes unforgiving. “We keep trying until we do.”

With his left hand he pushed the door open. On the other side it was night and a deep jungle, the rustle of bush and wind blowing through the myriad of plants floated through the doorway. I had a sudden urge to run away, the presence of something dark, so heavy it clogged the breath in my throat.

“Step through, Tracker.”

“You have to tell me their traits, idiot. I can’t just guess at what I’m Tracking.” I put a hand on my hip and cocked one leg, though I was not feeling all that damn confident.

The vampire’s eyes narrowed. “The first vampires, vicious and wild, uncontrollable, power mad, blood hungry. Now get on the other side of the doorway and Track them.”

I didn’t move, sensing something through the doorway. “There is something on the other side, we should try another door.”

His hands twitched now along with his eye. “I don’t fucking well care, Tracker.”

For all that Faris was the ultimate in asshattery, something was wrong. Like really, really wrong with him.

“If Rylee gets hurt, you will have lost your only way to find the Blood,” Doran said, breaking our standoff.

“Good thing you are here then, Shaman. You can keep c Yoify her alive when the injuries happen.” Faris didn’t turn as he spoke, just stared into the night darkened vines and trees, hands trembling with what I assumed was rage.

“Alex, come with me,” I said softly, refusing to snap my fingers for him. Never again would I do that, not after Faris doing it to me.

He stepped beside me, lifting his nose to the doorway. “Uglies.”

“Yeah, that’s what I was afraid of. Come on, we’ll make it quick.”

My feet barely crossed the threshold of the doorway when the ground around us shook and a roar broke the air. Alex cried out and pressed hard against me. My first thought was we were going to face another giant, but no, there were no giants in jungle areas I was aware of. I stood weaponless, and for the first time truly, truly understood the situation Faris had me in, a position I had gone into willingly, thinking I could handle him and it.

I was completely at his mercy and completely without any way to protect myself.

Shit.

Shaking, I Tracked the Blood, or at least what I knew of it.

I didn’t pick up anything, couldn’t sense a thing out of the ordinary. I tried Tracking vampires in general and got a distant ping, way far to the south.

“Nothing, there is nothing here.”

The creature, whatever the hell it was let out another roar, far closer this time. I spun, and froze.

Faris blocked the doorway, one of my own swords pointed at me. “Be very sure, Tracker.”

“Fuck, I’m sure! Now move, that thing out there is getting closer and I’d like to be on that”—I pointed into the castle—“side of the door before the big fucker shows up!”