My heart sank to the sand as I hurried to my feet—or tried. With Rorie secured to me, it wasn’t that easy. My body instantly shook as Sam helped me up. Then he took off like a bat out of hell and into the house before I could blink.
I ran as fast as I could with Rorie. Maybe Jordyn had a bad dream. Seeing our sister as a bone-chilling creature would spark nightmares forever. Yet my mind flashed with its own demons. I hadn’t been able to shake my conversation with Rianne and her warning about being careful who I trusted.
But those around us at the moment were people I would go into battle with. George, Rebekah, Conrad, and even the five deputy vampires I’d gotten to know in the weeks since I’d been here, although not all five were on shift at the same time. Still they were dedicated to George. Jo knew the deputies well, and considering the residents in town had been prepared to help me fight Rianne, I couldn’t see them doing anything to harm me.
I refused to think the worst. But the closer I got to the glass accordion doors, the faster my heart raced. When I reached the deck, a gasp raked from my lungs before I burst into the house.
The front door was open, and one of Stan’s deputies was lying on the porch.
No. No. No. My babies!
Rorie began to cry as if she could feel my fear.
“It’s okay, baby girl,” I said, my voice barely audible. “Momma bear is okay.” I lied through my freaking teeth. I was far from okay. Bile catapulted to my throat, and the acidic taste scorched my tongue.
As if my daughter understood me, a sense of warmth traveled through my body, easing the nerves slightly as I skirted furniture in the family room before jogging to the nursery.
I skidded to a stop in the doorway, my eyes wide, my jaw hanging open.
Jordyn was passed out on the floor beside a crib with a dart in her neck, and Sam was magically strangling a familiar-looking man with his elemental powers.
“Who are you? What are you doing here? Who sent you?” Sam asked the intruder, snarling at the man as his voice thundered.
The man’s dark eyes bugged out as he held his throat, his face turning red.
I couldn’t believe my eyes. I had to shake my head a couple of times.
“That’s Norman Collier,” I managed to say. “The guardian who came looking for you the other day.”
I shivered out of my funk when I remembered how he’d been staring at my children for far too long with no emotion on his face.
I rushed over to the cribs as Sam continued to interrogate the vampire. Ellie was in her crib, but Luna and Orion weren’t. My heart fell to my feet. Maybe they were with George. He liked to keep the babies in his room when he babysat. But if George had them, he would be in the nursery helping Sam. Everyone had to have heard Jordyn’s scream.
I crouched down over Jordyn and tapped her face. “Sis, wake up,” I said in a sharp tone. She only had one dart in her, so she shouldn’t be out for that long. At least I hoped not.
I tore out of the nursery and checked every room in the house as tears poured out and my chest hurt as if someone had stabbed me several times. This couldn’t be happening.
Rorie bawled in my arms, but I barely heard her over the pounding of my pulse and the ringing in my ears.
Luna and Orion were nowhere inside. Clutching Rorie, I flew out the front door. I counted five bodies—Conrad, George, and three deputies—all with darts in their necks and scattered on the porch and driveway.
What the fuck?
My legs were weak, and my body trembled as I clutched my daughter to me, stepping over bodies before scurrying to the road.
Rorie continued to cry.
“I’m okay, baby girl.” I felt compelled to soothe her as best I could, but my voice cracked and pitched.
I’m having a nightmare. That’s it. I’m dreaming. I have to be.
The world began to spin on its axis as I thought of my recurring dream. Bits and pieces of it flashed before me.
“Please,” the boy begged. “She needs your help.”
“Who needs my help?” I asked.
“My sister,” he said with a slight lisp. “You’re the only one who can help her.”
