Page 49 of No One’s Daughter

Everything was going to change from here on out.

I drove Ailsa—still in the boot—and I to the meeting spot. I ignored her verbal insults and occasional kick at the boot and backseat. I couldn’t leave her in there.

I knew that.

But I needed a plan first.

I honestly didn’t have the energy to deal with her running again, and I needed to feed. The taste of her blood still lingered in the back of my throat and I fucking loathed how much it affected me. I’d only known her—what—twenty-four hours and she’d already crept under my skin.

My attention snapped to the sound of a bike in the distance—Marlette’s to be exact—and I hastily got out of the car, looking over my shoulder while I made sure to lock it.

Thankfully, the sun had set again so at least there was that.

I was pretty sure we were alone. At least as far as I could tell.

The land stretched open in every direction, nothing but uneven ground and low shrubbery breaking the horizon. We’d chosen this place deliberately. There was no cover, no blind spots. Anyone approaching would be seen long before they got close.

And tonight, the skies were clear. No shadows to hide in.

I moved along the crumbling track to meet her as she brought her bike to a stop, the engine cutting out with a low hum. She pulled off her helmet, red hair catching in what little light there was as she studied me.

“You look like shit.”

“Thanks,” I drawled. “You would too if you’d just lived my past twenty-four hours.”

Her expression didn’t shift. “What the hell happened?”

“We were followed,” I said, already pacing a step, then another, energy still too high, too sharp beneath my skin. “Zack—”

“Oh.”

“Yeah,” I exhaled slowly, dragging a hand down my face. “But listen, he’s the least of my worries. I’m fairly certain they killed Eve… and took the samples she’d taken before they burst in.”

​Silence settled over us for a beat.

​I didn’t stop moving, pacing in the dirt.

​Couldn’t.

​My fingers flexed, then curled, the need to do something clawing at me.

​Marlette watched me closely. Too closely. She knew me too damn well.

“What aren’t you telling me?”

I stilled, just for a second, then glanced back at the car.

“She saved me,” I said finally. “She teleported us out, or well, rather herself I believe, but she was cuffed to me so I think she accidentally brought me with her… to the other side of the country. We’ve spent the entire day on the road, getting back up here.”

Marlette’s face paled. “So she is who we think she is.”

“I’m certain of it,” I said. “Blood hounds attacked us too, drawn to her magic.”

That landed. Hard.

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

“Fuck.”