It made me wonder how many other intermixed supernaturals were out there with strange and wonderful abilities. “Kayla, this doesn’t change anything,” I assured her. “What I said before stands. It doesn’t matter to us what he is. I’m certain he’s a great kid who just needs some guidance and help with his powers. We will find him, and once we do—”
“He’s in trouble,” she interrupted.
“I know,” I said. “That’s why we’re here—”
“No, not because of all this,” she said. “We were…on the run for another reason. I’m telling you this because I’ve decided to trust you. If you choose to go in there and help him, I want—I need—you to make me a promise”—she took a deep breath—“to take us both somewhere safe so they can’t get to him. Our location here is compromised now. We’ve lived in ten different cities in four years. I’m running out of options.”
“Who exactly is after him?” I asked.
Kayla glanced at Rourke and then back at me. “Your mate is partially right. The gargoyles are almost extinct. There is only one pack left in the world. They are extremely secretive and live in Eastern Europe—Czechoslovakia, I believe. Their numbers are small, and they’ve been actively seeking to grow for the last fifty years. When they found out about Jax, they decided they wanted him.” She bowed her head. “My family refused to give him up.”
It was common for shifter fathers to take their teenage sons away from their mothers and raise them in a pack lifestyle. But in this day and age, it was a little archaic, especially if the parent wasn’t the shifter. It would’ve been frightful for Jax to go against his will, especially if he wasn’t full gargoyle.
“Are either of your parents still living?” I asked gently.
She shook her head. “No. They were killed by this same pack four years ago. Jax and I have been on the run ever since.”
Tyler walked up to us.
He’d heard our conversation, and without even glancing at me, he stated evenly, “We give you our solemn oath, Kayla. We will find your brother and make sure you both remain protected.”
Kayla turned, appraising Tyler with quiet apprehension, finally nodding.
“Everything clear?” I asked my brother. “Do you think Jax is inside?”
He shook his head. “My best guess is no, but he might be sleeping or—”
Kayla bristled. “Jax is not dead. There’s no way he could be dead. He’s too strong for that.”
“I wasn’t going to say dead,” Tyler said, “but Enid might’ve knocked him out or is keeping him quiet.”
“It’s time to find out,” Rourke said. “How many staircases are inside?”
“Two,” Kayla answered. “One in the middle and one at the far end.”
Rourke turned to Ray. “Go tell Irish we’re ready. They enter from the front, we’ll take the side. Tell them to be ready in five. We meet on the fourth-floor landing. Nobody goes any farther until I give a signal.”
“Will do,” Ray said as he shot into the air.
We walked around to the side and entered the building. Smells from the other tenants—garbage, takeout, and pets—were all over the hallway. As we ascended, I couldn’t detect any sign of a struggle, and there were no strange supernatural scents permeating the air.
Once we reached the fourth floor, we spotted James down the long hallway. He was waiting at the top of the stairs as directed. Rourke nodded. We all crept forward, following Kayla’s lead until she stopped at the door in the middle. I hovered over her shoulder, reaching a single finger out to press it against the wood.
Nothing buzzed back, so it wasn’t warded or spelled.
I nodded the all-clear, and she grabbed on to the handle, turning it. It swung wide with no resistance.
We all paused at the entry and peered in.
The living room was in shambles, everything overturned.
Kayla made a move to rush in, but I held her back. I scented nothing, but tossed my power out to check. It came back clear. After a few moments, I whispered, “Okay, but move cautiously. We’re right behind you.”
“Jax!” Kayla called as she made her way through the wreckage. “Can you hear me?”
We picked our way through the debris, shifting wood and scraps of furniture out of the way as we went. There’d been a massive fight here. Jax had not gone with his kidnapper willingly. The lack of police presence or any concerned neighbors milling around meant that Enid, or whoever she’d hired, had warded the area until they’d had the boy under control.
I didn’t think he was dead. Lifting my head, I took air in and filtered it over my tongue. There was no scent of death, and Enid would’ve left him behind like trash to rot. “Is anyone picking up on any strange signatures?” I asked. “This place had to have been magically locked down while this was going on, or it would be crawling with cops, yet I scent nothing. Marcy?”
“Nada. Not even the smallest whiff.” Marcy stood behind me. “This place is totaled. Whoever did this was massive. The dents in the wall are eight feet high, and things are crushed to smithereens.” Marcy and the others hadn’t yet heard what Kayla had told us about her brother.
There’d be time to explain later.
We followed Kayla down a narrow hallway. She paused by a closed door, stretching her hand out tentatively. “Jax,” she called quietly. “Are you in there?” Her fingers curled over the knob. She closed her eyes, angling her head toward the ceiling. I knew she was praying to someone—anyone—to give her strength to open that door. I prayed right along with her.
She swung the door wide, and we all gasped.
If the living room had been ruined, the bedroom had been demolished.
There wasn’t a thing left standing.
Most of it was broken to dust. Giant holes marred the walls, and the mattress was in tatters, springs poking out everywhere. There was nothing resembling a dresser or any furniture anywhere to be seen. There wasn’t even room to walk.
The wreckage was three feet high.
“Your brother put up quite a fight,” I murmured. “Anyone can see he’s a force to be reckoned with. Whoever took him is likely ruing their decision to do so right this instant.”
A quiet sob issued out of her throat. She covered her mouth with her hand and bowed her head. A long curtain of her dark hair fell, blocking her emotions from us.
I didn’t know her well enough to physically comfort her, and it likely wouldn’t have been welcome, so I didn’t reach out. Instead, we stood shoulder to shoulder, and when she was ready, I would be there.
Rourke made a small sound. “Look, there’s something sticking out of the wall.”
“Where?” Kayla’s head shot up, hope breaking in her voice.
Tyler saw it too. “It’s tucked into one of the holes on the far side.” Tyler gestured to the wall.
Sure enough, a rumpled piece of paper, barely visible, was stuck in a remnant of obliterated sheetrock near the window.
Kayla went forward to claim it, picking her way over the obstacles carefully, stumbling and sliding as she went.
Rourke rested his hands on my shoulders, gripping them tightly, leaning over to whisper in my ear. “Whatever that note says, it’s not going to be welcome news.”
I nodded.
That note wasn’t going to contain anything we wanted to hear, but hopefully it would lead us to Jax.
A sudden feeling of déjà vu washed over me, and I shivered. Rourke, sensing a change, rubbed my arms, a small growl issuing from the back of his throat.
We were all gathered in this place, at this time, for a reason.
I knew it for certain, and foreboding flooded through me.
Juanita had told me I would find my destiny once I found Jax, and whatever was in that note would lead me to him. Whatever it dictated, I had to do, without fail.
We watched as Kayla plucked the scrap of paper from the wall and read it to herself. She glanced at me, meeting my gaze. “It’s for you.” She brought me the note, her face set.<
br />
Once it was in my hand, I spread it open, so we could all read it. It was printed in pristine block letters:
I HAVE THE BOY, THE WOLF, AND THE FEMALE VAMPIRE.
IF YOU WANT THEM TO LIVE, THERE IS ONLY ONE OPTION.
YOUR LIFE FOR THEIRS.
It wasn’t signed, but we all knew who it was from.
Three words were written in the bottom right corner: THE PONTE VECCHIO.
“She has Danny and Naomi,” I said, anguish filling me. Enid knew there was a possibility I wouldn’t trade my life for Jax, someone I’d never met, but she knew there was no question I would for Danny and Naomi. I’d allowed them to leave Florida on their own, after Danny had almost been killed. It had been a mistake. One that I would now pay dearly for.
I fisted the note in my hand, crumpling it, fury blinding me. I didn’t trust myself to speak.
“The Ponte Vecchio is a bridge in Florence, Italy.” Marcy was the first to comment, her voice filled with quiet contemplation. “That’s an odd place to send us, but Florence is the epitome of old magic. It swirls around that city like a thick carpet of smog. Tons of places to hide three strong supernaturals against their will.”
Tyler added, “Florence is also home to the Mediterranean Pack. This is no coincidence.”
Of course it wasn’t.
There were no coincidences.
“It’s also where the Romanian witch told me there had been recent disturbances when I called about my missing aunt,” Marcy added. “Tally might be there too.” Her voice shifted to hopeful. “When we find that old bag of bones, and those responsible for kidnapping her, heads are going to roll, and when I say roll, I mean they are literally going to come off the shoulders and bump down those cobblestone streets.”
Everyone’s eyes landed on me.
“So what are we going to do?” Tyler asked.
Without pause, I replied, “We’re going to Italy.”
3
Getting to Florence safely was another question altogether. We’d found a dive bar by the harbor and were sitting around a table discussing our options. Other than the bartender and one random customer who was too sauced to notice us, we were the bar’s only occupants.
“Let’s throw out a few more options,” I said. “After we’re done, I’ll talk to my father. As Alpha, he’ll have the final say about how we get there.”
I’d spoken to my father briefly last night, after I’d had my mind interlude with Juanita, to inform him of what had gone on at the cabin. Juanita had told me to head to Baltimore. My father had given us the okay to come here, and he was now awaiting an update.
“I say we hitch a ride across the Atlantic with someone powerful,” Marcy said. “Enid can’t kill indiscriminately, or the fabric changes too much. Preferably a witch of some sort who can keep the plane spelled with me. You know, in case I get knocked out or something.” She drummed her fingers against her chin. “Lemme think.”
The thought of getting on a plane made my head pound. The last ride hadn’t turned out very well for us. We’d gone down in the middle of a swamp. I wasn’t eager for a repeat performance.
I hadn’t had adequate time to process the fact that Enid had taken Danny and Naomi. She’d definitely hit me where it hurt. I told the group, “We can’t forget that Enid wants us to make it to Italy. If we don’t, her evil plan can’t take shape. She’s kidnapped our friends, and she knows we’re invested. I don’t think she’d take a plane down, but that doesn’t mean I want to get on one.” I turned to Nick. “Are the phones operational?” We’d stopped briefly to get new ones.
“Yes, I’ve set up five,” he told me, holding one out.
I reached for it. “Great—”
The door to the bar burst open.
We all leaped out of our seats, ready to face the threat. It was almost comical, each of us positioned in a different way. Marcy had her hands out, fingers twitching. Tyler was crouched, ready to spring. Rourke had his fists on the table, teeth flashing. James’s shoulders were drawn back. Nick had his hands out to the side. And I was down, knees bent, ready to launch myself forward.
We looked like the mismatched Avengers.
The only person who remained seated was Kayla.
Two seconds later, Eudoxia strode in, her gown flowing out behind her like it had its own wind. This one was a deep, rusty orange. Her delicate features were precise and perfect, her pale blonde hair piled on top of her head in its typical mass of curls. The only detectable difference since I’d seen her last was her pallor.
Instead of being a chalky, dead white, she glowed rosy pink.
She’d taken my blood in the Underworld, and it’d brought her fae side to the forefront. Apparently, it had stuck.
I righted my stance.
She was the last person I’d expected to walk through those doors.
“What—” I cleared my throat. “What are you doing here?” I began to make my way toward her, but Rourke gave me a look before I rounded the end of the table.
He bent down to murmur in my ear, “I’m going to have Marcy spell the humans.”
I nodded. Having them witness this encounter wouldn’t be wise. I hadn’t seen Eudoxia since the day we’d left the Underworld and she’d flung herself through the portal without looking back.
My power stretched out ahead of me, testing her signature, trying to assess how strong she was after ingesting my blood.
We shared a connection now, but it was muted.
That wasn’t surprising, as she survived on blood, and had likely drunk from many since then, diluting what she’d taken from me.
“Stop probing me,” she scoffed in the irritated voice she reserved just for me. “That’s not how you greet someone of my stature, ignorant wolf. And, yes, I’m strong. More so than before. No need to further investigate.” Before I could formulate a response, she strode forward, slapping a note on the table. The fragile wooden top threatened to break as it wobbled under the impact of her strength.
Everyone gathered around. It was lettered exactly like the one Enid had left behind in Kayla’s apartment. It read:
IF YOU WANT YOUR PLACE ON THE COALITION, FAE QUEEN,
BE AT 1928 FLEET STREET, BALTIMORE AT 5:00 PM TOMORROW.
IF YOU FAIL TO SHOW, YOU DIE.
GO ALONE.
The address was this very bar. Eudoxia crossed her arms, her red lips pursed in her perpetual frown. “Care to explain?” she asked, giving me a what have you done now? face.
“Um. It’s complicated,” I answered, hedging. The fact Enid had known yesterday that we would be at this exact place at this time was unsettling enough. But it was a clear indication that she wanted us to arrive in Italy. “The supernatural world is in an uproar, if you haven’t noticed. Things are happening around the world as we speak, and people we love are in danger. We’re on our way to Italy as soon as possible.” I left out who exactly was in danger, because Eudoxia wouldn’t give a rat’s ass about helping Danny or Naomi. She considered her former vamp a traitor anyway, since Naomi was now bound to me, instead of her, by blood. Naming them wouldn’t compel her to join us, but clearly Enid wanted her to go with us, or she wouldn’t have sent for her.
“It doesn’t matter if things are unsettled here or in Europe,” Eudoxia huffed. “That doesn’t mean we need to get involved.”
“How can you say that?” I said, stunned. “That’s exactly what it means. We are the next Coalition. Our job is to intervene. All the time. In fact, I think that’s pretty much all we’ll be doing from now on—getting involved.” We’d discovered we both had a place on the Coalition not that long ago.
The Coalition was made up of five of the biggest supernatural Sects—werewolf, vampire, fae, demon, and witch.
The Power of Five.
My job was Enforcer. I had no idea what would be asked of me, only that I was taking my team with me.
“We are not the Coalition yet,” she countered, her eyes narrowing. “Until we take our vows, what happens is of
little interest to me.” So very Eudoxia. If it didn’t concern her, it was inconsequential.
I pointed to the note. “Enid certainly thinks it’s of interest to you, or she wouldn’t have dragged you all the way here.”
“Enid?” Eudoxia’s delicate eyebrows drew inward. “The Hag?”
“One and the same.”
“That can’t be right.” Eudoxia snatched up the note and held it to her nose. “There is no signature residue, no hint of magic.” She waved the offending piece of paper in the air like not having a scent solved everything.
I moved around the table to face her. “Why would you come all this way if you thought that was a random note left by no one of consequence?”
The Vamp Queen shifted, looking mildly uncomfortable. She raised a hand to twirl an errant curl that had dropped near her face. “Because of its location.”
“You’re going to have to be a little more specific than that.”
She abruptly turned and waltzed away. “I found this note in an area that only I can reach. No one else has access to it.” I immediately pictured a dirty cell filled with death and despair. “Also,” she added, “Alana advised me, ‘When you get a special note, you must do as it says.’” She turned and glared. “But no one told me you’d be at the end of this missive.” She glanced around the dive bar with disgust. “Nor that I would be leaving the country.” Alana was a seer and Eudoxia’s fae aunt. I’d encountered her during extenuating circumstances not too terribly long ago. I would be happy never encountering the likes of Alana again.
“Well, you’re here now,” I pointed out. “And this place isn’t that bad.” The bar was called Bad Decisions, which sounded a bit ironic at the moment.
Eudoxia snorted. “This note said to meet here”—she gestured around the room—“it said nothing about going anywhere with you. I have a Coterie to run with vampires who eagerly await my return.”
“Enid wouldn’t send you all the way to Baltimore for no reason,” I countered. “She must want you to accompany us to Italy. And the note says if you don’t show, you die. Are you willing to risk death by being stubborn?”
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