He grinned, proving my point, then raced by to hold the door open for me. Old habits died hard for a man raised in a bygone era.
“Also, I’m driving.” I held out my hand for the keys.
He snorted. “Don’t push it, Geneviève.”
I snapped my fingers, waiting. “On the contrary, Henrik. I’m the one tired of being pushed. So give me the goddamn keys before I take them.”
He studied me a moment longer then dropped them into my hand. Seconds later, we were roaring up the narrow, twisting road.
* * *
By the time we parked at the trailhead beside Roux’s rental car, the light flurry of snow had become a near blizzard. Shivering, I zipped my jacket and flipped up the hood. Then I set off against the biting wind, following the faint trail of pawprints Roux and Bene had left. Snow was rapidly filling them, but I could just make out the telltale depressions. Henrik followed, and we plowed steadily onward.
Ten long minutes later, Henrik grabbed my shoulder and put a finger to his lips.
I froze, listening. Someone — or something — was groaning.
My heart jumped to my throat, and I raced ahead, to where the woods ended and the property’s snow-covered lawn started.
A surprised chuff sounded, but I ignored it and fell to my knees beside a pair of felines.
“Bene! Are you all right?”
He lay crumpled in the snow, tawny sides heaving.
Just need a minute to catch my breath,he panted into my mind.
Roux stuck his muzzle over my shoulder and huffed.He’ll need more than that.
His breath hung in the cold air, but the warmth of his body enveloped me, and I couldn’t help running my hand over his muzzle. Tigers didn’t have manes, but their fur thickened at the corners of their cheeks, making them just as ferocious.
What are you doing here?he asked, glad yet exasperated.
“The coven is on its way right now,” Henrik said. “We have to abort.”
No kidding.Bene rolled slowly to sphinx position, then collapsed back to the ground.
How much time do we have?Roux persisted.
Henrik grimaced. “Twenty minutes, if we’re lucky.”
I looked at the house. Light streamed from the windows on the opposite side of the building, leaving the lawn on this side dim. The snow muffled any sound that might have escaped those thick concrete walls, so the only noise was the eerie wail of the wind.
“What happened?” I whispered.
Not sure. It was like a burst of electricity,Roux said.Or a burst of magic, I suppose.
I held out my hand, testing the air. Frowning, I moved a few steps right, running my hand along an invisible wall of energy.
“This is spelled. All of it,” I whispered to the others.
I thought you checked this area before,Bene grumbled.
“We did, but it wasn’t active then.” I moved my hand around, getting a feel for it. “This isn’t a standing spell. It’s being cast by someone right now.”
Roux cursed.You’re saying Grepper is home?
I nodded, peering down at the house. “He knows we’re here.”
