* * *
DANICA
We went back to the cabin to make sure we had everything we needed. The griffin wasn’t pleased that we were both leaving. He’d growled and attempted to climb into Kyla’s car. He’d also ignored Nathaniel’s Alpha stare until, finally, I explained that I needed him to help guard Samael.
He’d glanced toward the cabin where my demon lay and heaved a sigh. But he stayed.
Vas nodded at me as we climbed back into the car. Between the demons and the wolves guarding Samael with their lives, nothing would get to him.
I glanced at Kyla. We’d decided to take turns driving, and she was currently relaxed in the passenger’s seat, her brow furrowed in thought.
“If anything happens to me, I need you to convince the demons to protect Mella from the mages.”
She slowly turned her head. “And just how do you suppose I’ll do that?”
“Let them know all about my conversation with Mariam, making sure to mention how it would be a sign of weakness if demons fail to do exactly what I said.”
She smiled at that. “Done.”
According to the information Mariam had given us, we had the best chance of finding Mella if we headed to Cape Hatteras. I guess it was a good thing Mariam had been keeping track of Mella, even if it was because she’d planned to hand her over to the mages for punishment.
It was a four-and-a-half-hour drive to Cape Hatteras. By the time we’d ruined Mariam’s day, and then stopped by the cabin, it was already 10am.
I could feel time ticking away as we drove. I’d considered asking the demons to fly us, but it would likely take the same amount of time. At least if we were driving, we weren’t hurtling through the air.
“It’s going to be okay.” Kyla had returned her attention to the window, and I let out a breath, rolled my shoulders, and attempted to unclench my hands from where I was white-knuckling the steering wheel.
“It’s difficult not to second guess my every decision when everything is riding on those decisions.”
“You can only do what you can do. Mella will help you if she can.”
“I hope so.”
Thankfully, Kyla had an iron bladder, so we only stopped once. By the time we were driving through the Outer Banks, I was crossing both my fingers and toes that Mella would be there.
We made it to the cape and parked, walking across the parking lot and onto the beach. To the right, a herd of wild horses were frolicking, and Kyla tensed in a way that told me she’d like to put the fear of God into them.
“What is it with you and horses?”
She opened her mouth and I shook my head. “Never mind.” I pulled one of the small white stones out of the drawstring bag. “Can you hold this?”
She held out her hand, and I used a throwing knife to slice open my forearm. This arm was turning into a mess of silver scars, but I shrugged that thought off, wincing as I allowed a few drops of blood to drip onto the stone and then took it back from her.
Then I pictured Mella’s face in my head and threw the stone into the air.
It exploded like a firework, greens and blues shooting across the cloudless sky. The horses took off, and I stared at the beach and waited.
Nothing.
I took a deep breath and grabbed another stone.
Still nothing.
We had one left.
“Come on Mella. Do me a solid here.”
I threw the final stone into the air, watching as the sparks drifted across the sky, raining down into the ocean. Then I sat on the sand and stared blankly at the water.
