"All right," I say, more serious now. "No more bickering. We're a team. For now."
It tastes like ash in my mouth, but I extend a hand to the satyr. He stares at it for a second, then takes it.
Shaking the hand of the smug bastard I wanted dead a few hours ago wasn't how I thought this day would go, but I'll do whatever it takes. Because this isn't just about saving her. It's about saving what's left ofus.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
Darius
Our attempts to find her yield nothing. It doesn't surprise me.
Sage has always been clever and resourceful. Now she's sharpened by rage, stripped of restraint. She will do whatever she must to reach her goal.
Finding her won't be simple. Yet she is still tied tothem. The bond she forged with the vampires remains, faint but intact. Through that thread, we might track her before it's too late.
By evening, we regroup at the Darrows' house. Their people are gathered there, whispering and nervous. When they see me stepping in beside the vampires, shock ripples through the room.
Before explanations can be offered, the young vampire—the mayor's daughter—speaks. "All right," she says, eyes darting between us, "either the world's gone completely mad, or… I don't even know. First you say Sage is dead. Then that she's turned. We went searching for those injured people, and now—" she gestures at me, incredulous, "now he's here?"
Kayden rolls his eyes, a small, bitter smirk on his lips. "Yeah, we noticed. Hard to miss, isn't he, Don? But he's on our side. For now."
Tomas speaks directly to Asher. "Do you trust him? After everything?"
The valkyrie watches me in silence, her hand near her immaterial weapon. I meet her stare evenly. I expected the distrust. It changes nothing.
I stand still, arms crossed, shirt sleeves rolled to the forearm.
Asher's nod is short and decisive. "Yes. For this mission—for finding Sage—we have no choice but to trust him." Shifting back to command, he adds, "Did you find the humans?"
Tomas answers, "We did. Three targets. Two are alive, transferred to the hospital. The boutique owner didn't make it. Eira checked the medical records—heart condition. She was gone before we arrived."
Two of three. Better than I expected from this assembly.
"Do you have a strategy to find her?" Tomas asks, glancing again toward Asher. The echo of hierarchy between a commander and a soldier, merged with that of a sire and his progeny, is not lost on me. An interesting dynamic: authority and allegiance, forever entangled.
"To find her," I say, "we must first understand what she wants. Desire dictates movement. If we identify what she seeks, we can use it. Leverage it. Without that, she could be anywhere."
Kayden gives a sharp laugh, all venom. "Oh, I can enlighten you. She wants blood. Carnage. Maybe to crush my heart again or try to kill me for the fourth time. She's part vampire now. Logic doesn't factor."
Asher shakes his head. "No, Darius is right. She's thinking strategically. She halted our pursuit, sent us chasing the people she injured. That means she's still close, searching for something. If we can determine what that is, we can set the trap."
Kayden mutters under his breath, "Right. Forgot that Mr. Strategy and Mr. Destiny are teaming up now."
I ignore the remark. Their tension, their grief, their pride—all are noise. Sage is the signal. And I will find her.
"All right then, I have a question." The valkyrie speaks at last. Her gaze remains fixed on me, though her words are aimed at the others. "When we find this… evil Sage, what exactly do you plan to do? Is it even possible to bring her back? She isn't a regular vampire, from what you've told us."
"A wise question," I comment.
"Don't flatter me," she snaps, eyes narrowing.
"A fact, not flattery," I reply evenly. "Our intent is to bring her back to reason, as Darrow has done before with other vampires."
"Will it work?" she presses, turning to Asher.
"We hope so," Asher answers.
"It will have to," Kayden adds, his jaw rigid with resolve.
