Okay, it looked like we were hunting down a magical elf so that we could force him to make me a druid-killing staff. No big deal. Just another day in my crazylife.
* * *
Gear was in the skies,flying over our yellow bus to alert us of any foes. Danny had whipped up a quick spell to contain my scent again, and unabashedly told me there was in fact wolf urine in it—Keegan’s to be exact. After throwing up the first attempt, Danny had to use magical means to get me to drink the second. Now we were just outside of Ashland, Oregon, with our happy druid at the wheel. Ruben and Sophie agreed to stay behind, in case Eva came back or we needed help. It wasn’t a good idea to go into these things all together anymore; the odds of getting captured were very real. At least with Ruben and Sophie back at camp, someone could come looking for us if shit went south and we were captured or killed. I think there were other reasons Sophie wanted to stay behind with Ruben, but I was keeping my nose out of herbusiness.
Danny had the window open, hand hanging out and trailing yellow magical smoke as we drove. “Turn right and park!” He suddenly screamed, when we reached MainStreet.
Isaac hit the brakes and careened the large school bus to the right, parking it in front of a large family park—a beautiful lakefront park, which faced a strip of bars and clubs … because this wasOregon.
“Why a bus?” Logan asked as Isaac stepped away from the captain’s chair and met us at the back. This was not a normal bus. The back half of the seats had been ripped out and four sets of bunk beds had been set up, each with its own privacy curtain. A small kitchenette stood between the bunks and the seats, with a tiny water storage tank for washing hands or doing dishes. Solar panels dotted the roof. All in all, this bus was a rugged traveling hotel. Assuming you didn’t mind peeingoutside.
“Why not?” He smiled and I couldn’t help but smile too. Isaac was one of those people who was infectiously happy and weird. But good weird, I was realizing. He just didn’t care what others thought abouthim.
“Okay, people, we have a minor problem,” Danny said, his eyes glowing phosphorusyellow.
Dom was strapping guns to his chest and stopped to look up at thesorcerer.
Danny sighed. “It’s a pureblood only club, and I’m not sure the elf is here anymore, but if we go poke around inside, I can pick up his trail again and know forsure.”
Pureblood only.Those words enraged me and made me sick. Danny had said earlier that the elf was at a club with a ton of other purebloods but not that it was restricted to only those magicalbeings.
“I’m not letting you go in there alone,” Keeganstated.
Danny was the only pureblood on the bus. Well, technically Logan and I were, but we were magicked to look like half-breed wolf shifters. And Isaac was pureblood, but I was guessing a happy earth-loving druid wasn’t welcomethere.
Danny nodded. “I would rather not go in alone either. I can put an illusion over a few of you to escort me inside, but only for a short time, and no more thantwo.”
“I’m going.” I crossed my arms defiantly. We only needed this elf because he was going to have to make a weapon for me. I deserved to go in and help findhim.
“No,” Keegan and Logan both said in unison. Isaac smiled stupidly, looking between the two men. He must have lived alone out in the woods a long time. I’m sure our drama was akin to watching a reality TV show forhim.
“No?” I echoed them, bracing for a fight. I might not be the best fighter but I wasn’t completely helpless. Right? The weight of the Ruger tucked in the belt at my lower back actually felt good.Powerful.
Logan leaned forward in his seat, reaching out to me. “Steven will be looking for you. He may have posted your picture at these kinds of bars. Might even be offering a reward. We don’t have time to disguiseyou.”
His words hit me with their truth. That damn druid knew what I was now, knew myface.
“Oh, I don’t think so,” Isaac said. “I think Steven wants her for himself. If word gets around what she is, then other druids will want herpower.”
Keegan shrugged. “Maybe, but can’t risk it. I’m going and … Nadine. We might need feminine charms to get people totalk.”
Nadine gave a wicked grin that told me the only feminine charm she would be using would be a knee to theballs.
Dom cocked one of his guns and nodded. “I’ll walk theperimeter.”
“Me too,” Logan added, stepping out from his place behind theseat.
“Me three.” I jumped up, rushing into theaisle.
Keegan sighed. “Would it kill you guys to just sit back one time and let me handleit?”
“Dead,” Dom said, and I busted out laughing, looking around at the others to make sure I wasn’t the only one who’d just heard him speak and gotten hisjoke.
“Oh my God, you have a sense of humor? I mean … who knew?” I said, and Dom’s eyes twinkled, the slightest curling of his lips as he headed down the aisle and off thebus.
Roxy squeezed Dom’s bicep as he passed. “Be safe. I’ll stay back and man the getawayvehicle.”
He nodded, giving her a slight smile as he was loading, clicking, and rearranging guns hidden all over hisperson.
