“They’re completely random. The lone commonality is that they happen within the forest and the valley. That is it.”
“Not Devil’s Spine?” he asked. His thoughts tumbled back to the day he had been forced to drink Maricela’s blood. The southernmost peak of Basilio’s Point was the one clear detail from her life he could glean from her memories. How could he not take notice of a rock formation with such strange ridges?
“Well, I’m sure they do, but how would we know? It is a few days’ hard ride from here. If there was an attack, who would survive to tell us?”
“Do you know anyone who has ever ventured to the mountains?”
Carolina pursed her lips as she thought.
Lalo dragged his attention away. He did not need to think about her mouth at this moment. Kneeling, Lalo clicked his trunk open and reached for the flask hidden beneath his things.
He twisted the cap off the flask and brought it to his lips but paused when he saw her watching.
“Do you mind?” he said. “This isn’t a pleasant experience for me, and I’d like some privacy.”
With a sigh of exasperation, she shifted in her seat until her back was to him.
“What happens when we do find Vidal?” she asked over her shoulder. “Do you expect us to so easily go to his hidden lair and strike down a centuries-old vampiro?”
“Actually, yes…after we find the tool used to create him.”
Lalo took a deep swig. The cold boar’s blood slid in gelatinous chunks down his throat. He gagged, nearly spit everything up, then forced himself to swallow.
“You truly hate the taste of blood,” she said.
“Unequivocally so.”
The cramps plaguing his stomach eased at once, but he would never be as strong as he had been after that night in the cantina.
He took another long drink then closed the cap. She must have found him so disgusting at that moment. He exhaled and dropped his chin to his chest.
Hands that were both callused and soft brushed over his.
“Lalo,” Carolina said gently. She was on the floor beside him. So close, her skirts brushed against him. “Lalo, look at me,” Carolina ordered.
Slowly, painfully, he did.Saints, why did this girl have to be sobefuddling?
“This partnership will not work if we aren’t honest with one another,” she said. “May I be honest with you now?”
His pulse raced as she eased closer to him.
He nodded.
Carolina smirked. “You look awful.”
Lalo balked. “I beg your pardon?”
“And you may have learned to punch and fight, but you cannot wield a weapon for shit.”
Lalo frowned but a smile tugged at his lips. “You mock me?”
She giggled. “I’m sorry. Perhaps that was rude. But I needed to pull you from whatever sorrowful place your mind was headed. There is no more time for wallowing. How can we face the ultimate evil if you aren’t completely ready to defend yourself?”
“I…” Lalo’s throat bobbed. “I hadn’t exactly thought of that.”
“Well, you must. I know your brain will get you the answers you need. But what about the rest? Vidal will not be easy to kill.” A gasp escaped her. “A brilliant idea just came to me.”
He chuckled. “You are humble as ever.”
