—”
“Lorenzo?” Snod massaged his temples gently, sighing wearily. “Shut the fuck up.”
“Shutting up now,” Lorenzo squeaked.
“We’re going to have a very long conversation about my brother,” Snod promised him, “but only after
we rescue Frankie, all right?”
“Can’t wait.”
“We ready?” Ephraim grunted, itching to hunt.
Snod nodded, leading them all back out to Ephraim’s van. He let Rees ride up front with Ephraim,
climbing into the back with Lorenzo. He closed his eyes, concentrating on reaching out to Frankie and
giving Ephraim directions.
He still couldn’t tell what was happening to Frankie. He had no idea what Terrell was doing, but he
thought he sensed sadness. There was no pain, only a broken emptiness that he tried to fill with his
rapidly spiraling thoughts.
Frankie, I love you, I’m coming for you, I’m not giving up on you. I’m going to take you home,
we’re going to our bed, I’m going to hold you and never let you go again...
Snod only heard a mournful echo ringing through the bond, but no other response. Frankie was
pushing him away, but he refused to relinquish his hope.
“We’re almost there,” Snod said quietly, a rush of adrenaline making the tips of his fingers tingle.
This was going to be the most important hunt of his life, and the consequences of failure were
immense.
Ephraim began to slow down, the tires of the van crunching on gravel as they turned onto a dirt road.
Up ahead was the house as Snod had described it, Ephraim confirming, “That’s it?”
“Yes,” Snod replied. “Pull over here.”
“What? You really think we’re gonna just sneak up on the ancient vampire and catch him unawares?”
Rees snorted, fidgeting with his seatbelt.
“Terrell is arrogant,” Snod said, stretching out his legs with a grunt. “Most vampires are. You’d be
surprised how easily that can be used against them.”
“Even if they can turn into smoke and blink around like Sonic the Hedgehog on crack?”
“I... I don’t know what that means, but yes.”
Ephraim was watching the house carefully, saying, “Snod and I will take the front. Rees, stay by the
