“Fuck, we can’t let that happen.”

“I agree. You have to kill Ingers, wipe her files, get rid of everything that is even mildly connected to the supernatural.”

The body of Agent Valley let out a heavy groaning sigh. “All those years I tried to tie the humans and the supernaturals together, to bring about change. To help Frank. All to see it be wiped out now.”

Liam felt the Agent’s emotions as if they were his own, and he shared in the disappointment that was so much more than just a simple task going unfinished.

“Humans aren’t ready, not yet, Agent. You know that.”

“I’d hoped perhaps we’d finally come far enough.” Another deep groaning sigh rumbled out and Liam had to hold his breath to not take in the putrid scent from the belly of the rotting Agent.

“Sir, is there anything else you can tell us?”

“The meeting is on the night of the winter equinox. I don’t know how Ingers plans on showing her hand to the Army, but I know that is the night. She has ties to the Black Coven. I was coming to warn you about them when she killed me.”

Liam squeezed his eyes tight and lowered his chin to his chest. “A little less than three days.”

“Yes. And Liam, I would ask one thing of you. The boy is like my son…”

Liam knew what his request would be. “I’ll do my best to watch out for Frank. There is a war coming. I can’t guarantee his safety, but I will look out for him as one of our own.”

Seemed Rylee wasn’t the only one collecting wards.

“Thank you, O’Shea.”

With that, Agent Valley jerked away and fell to the ground, his body twitching twice and then stilling.

Liam looked at his hands, goo hanging off the tips of his fingers, grey matter under his nails. Teeth clenched he turned to see Frank crying.

Nothing he said would ease the kid’s pain. He knew from experience when you lost a parent, there was very little anyone could say to even begin to help. So he kept it simple.

“Come on, kid. Let’s get cleaned up.”

v

Chapter 14

Doran, Alex, and I bolted through the castle, not really looking where we were going. Just running blindly.

We spun around a corner and there was Jack and Berget, waiting for us.

Fuck a duck, we were so screwed.

“Rylee, lovely to see you again, sister,” Berget all but purred. As with Faris, I saw the sign something was wrong, off with her. Her whole body quivered, like a horse covered in flies, its skin twitching uncontrollably.

“Jack, be a dear and grab her, would you? I’m feeling rather faint.”

Jack’s blue eyes swirled three tones, so he was still a Tracker, could still Read people, and now to add to that, he was a vampire. A baby vampire, but that didn’t matter.

He rushed forward, his eyes full of sorrow. “I’m sorry,” he mouthed, and I saw in that moment he was holding back. Still, he was too fast for me.

Doran, though, was another matter.

The Daywalker slid between us, catching Jack off balance, and off guard, apparently. They crashed into the stone wall, shaking the place. Dust fell from the ceiling and Berget clapped her hands together. “Oh, I love a good fight. Shall we make a bet, Rylee?”

I yanked my swords out, and didn’t bother to answer her crazy fucking idea. “Alex, start opening doors.” We had to get out of here. I was banking on at least one doorway leading into the daylight.

Alex yanked doors open left and right. Night time, night time, and then, bingo.

Sunlight filtered in, early morning or late evening, I couldn’t tell. Didn’t matter. I jumped toward Doran and Jack, driving my blade through Jack’s chest. He reared off Doran long enough for the Daywalker to scramble from under him.

A mad dash was all we had, and the three of us tumbled through the doorway and into the sunlight, the door slamming behind us. Sand and surf, we lay on a barren stretch of beach. Alex, the previous danger immediately forgotten, ran toward the waves, diving in and under like a seal.

Doran sat up and I got a good look at him. “Not bad for tangling with a vampire, I hardly see any marks.”

“He was holding back. I think he is tied to her, like I was, and is fighting her.”

I snorted. “So? He chose this life, Doran. Did you chose to become a Daywalker, or did someone just take you?”

His eyes clouded over. “I see your point.”

I noticed he didn’t answer the question. Jack, in choosing to become a vampire under Berget’s power, made his choice. He was not on our side anymore.

Maybe he never had been. I stood and brushed the sand off my dress, checked my weapons and looked around. The sun was rising here, wherever here was.

I glanced into the water to see Alex further out than he should have been. “Alex, get your furry ass back here!” With no effort, he turned and headed back to the shore.

The waves crashed around us, and Alex was back in a few minutes, grinning like a fool. “Seals are fun.”

I stared into the water, saw dark spots humping up and down in the water.

And then the unthinkable—a set of jaws burst out of the water around one of the seals, clamping down on it, then dragging it under the water. Alex’s mouth dropped open.

“S {jusre was.

“Holy shit, Alex! That could have been you.”

Doran stepped beside us, affecting a strong Aussie accent. “Can I interest you in a shrimp on the barbie?”

Australia, we were in the land down under. Shit, first time for everything, I suppose. Well, since we were here, I Tracked the Blood.

Expecting nothing.

Shocked as hell when I got a resounding thread to follow.

“They’re here,” I said, striding off in the direction of the Blood.

“Wait, are you serious?” Doran grabbed my arm.

I stared at him. “Well, what the fuck did you think we were going to do?”

“Wait for Faris?” He quirked an eyebrow at me, his piercing catching the glinting sun. “You know, since we just had to run like hell from Berget and Jack as it is?”

“We’ll be ready for them next time.” Shit, even I didn’t believe me.

“Fuck, Rylee. We need help. If not Faris, then can you connect with Blaz?”

I shook my head. “No, he’s too far.”

Doran held me loosely. “We should get you out of the sun.”