Lenore turned around in her seat. “You have a hideaway? Do tell more.”
“It’s not big enough,” he bit out.
She faced front. “Of that I’m sure.”
“It’s a private location,” I reminded Christian, curious as to why he would dismiss the idea so quickly.
He played with a buckle on the satchel. “There’s one mattress and no toilet. We’re better off in the city. If enemies surround us out there, how fast can you run through the dark woods? A Vampire can shadow walk, but where will the rest of you go?”
“He’s right.” Blue half turned. “At least in the city, we can jump a train, hide, or find a makeshift weapon. The woods are unforgiving. We’re better off in the human district.”
I reached up to touch my necklace, having forgotten it wasn’t there anymore. That really pissed me off. Why didn’t I choose a different necklace or none at all? But I wore my heart all the time, even when I visited my dad. Sometimes I tucked it in my shirt, and most people assumed it was fake. At least Christian still had his ring. I held his hand and rested my head on his shoulder.
“I’m sorry about your brooch,” Lenore said to Viktor.
Wyatt shifted to his side since the girls weren’t letting him spread out. “They got my favorite skull buckle. The one with the ruby eyes.”
“Serves you right for wearing that ridiculous thing with an elf costume.” Blue flicked his hand off her shoulder.
“What are they going on about?” Christian murmured in my hair.
Gem peered around the headrest. “They robbed us. I don’t know why they would have wanted Wyatt’s junky old buckle, but poor Raven.”
Christian turned a sharp gaze toward me and stared at my chest. It was the first time I’d seen him look toward my breasts with quelled anger. “Well,nowhe’s gone and made it personal.”
“The Irish aren’t verybright,” Wyatt said, using air quotes incorrectly. “Your girlfriend’s dead, but the necklace is personal?”
“One more word and I’ll drain you.”
Wyatt smirked at him. “I’d like to see you try.”
Christian’s lips peeled back, but when his fangs didn’t punch out, he shifted his gaze out the window. “Worry not. I’ll take a rain check on that one.”
“We’re half-dead, so I’m not sure it’ll matter.”
Viktor cleared his throat and put an end to the bickering for the rest of the drive.
* * *
Shepherd had smokedenough cigarettes that he should have emptied the pack by now. Yet each time he pulled out another, the same amount of cigarettes were in the box, as if he’d never smoked them at all. Also strange was there not being an aftertaste or lingering smell left in the car.
“This is some spooky shit.” He turned his palm up, entranced by the hourglass.
When Claude reached the road that led to Keystone, he turned the radio off. “At least we can drive. Perhaps I can still keep my job at the salon.”
“In that getup? You’ll have to change the name to something besides Razor Sharp.”
“Maybe To Die For.”
Shepherd gave a mirthless chuckle. Jokes kept him from thinking about Hunter’s fate and what Sparrow might have done. If that motherfucker put one finger on his son, there would be hell to pay.
“We should stop here.” Claude pulled off the road. “His guards won’t hear the car at this distance. Do you have a plan?”
“I have a never-ending supply of matches and a temper. That’s all the plan I need.”
“Arson and murder. Sounds delightful.” Claude opened his door and put one leg out. “If Niko is nearby, he’ll see our energy if we can get close enough. Assuming we still have visible auras or whatever he sees. Perhaps the female sheltered your son in a soundproof room while the men were breaking in. Or they might have escaped.”
“Or put up a fight, thinking we were coming to the rescue.” Shepherd punched the dashboard. “Dammit!”
