Page 25

“It’s not a problem, Judith,” Ellery says evenly, laying a hand on her arm. “I’m sorry, it’s so easy to lose stuff out here. Let me grab you some cocoa.”

I walk back to the van and melt into the darkness. For four years I’ve kept every part of myself in check. Ten seconds of not being able to find her, and that was gone. It wasn’t the wandering off. It was ten seconds of not knowing that I never want to feel again.

After the blood I found near the trail, there should’ve been more patrols. Whatever’s stalking around Ravenslight needs handling before some hiker or tourist meets it on a clear night when I’m not paying attention.

Because I haven’t been paying attention. Something ran through those trees and I lost it, because I was busy losing her.

When I load the guests back into the van, the keys shake in my hand.

Chapter 13

Nick

Nights like this are the worst. The weather won’t cooperate, and I’ve yet to find a break in the cloud cover to see even a sliver of the aurora. The group is cold and restless, tired of driving around and around with nothing to show for it.

Luca told me to cancel. Of course, I didn’t because around Ellery, I do stupid shit.

Every afternoon she’s shown up at the office to work through the random tasks I give her. At this point I’m just paying her to alphabetize brochures. At four she disappears to the cafe until it’s time to depart for the tour. She’s exhausted, I can tell, but she hasn’t asked for a day off yet. I’ve decided it’s the money. The alternative is that she’s waiting for me to break first, and I don’t much like what that says about either of us.

As we rumble down a dirt road, I keep checking the sky through the windshield like I can conjure the lights from the clouds. We’ll take them to the camp by the lake to stretch their legs, warm up by the fire, and enjoy some snacks. It might lift their spirits enough to not leave me a scathing review. Some people don’t understand that I have zero control over the weather.

Turning down the narrow road, the van shudders like the engine is about to call it quits, and I ease off the gas as the rattling intensifies.

“Something wrong?” Ellery leans around the headrest, keeping her voice low.

“Going to pull over and check.”

“Making a quick pit stop, friends,” she announces. “Anyone want some cocoa?”

Some of the guests murmur, “Yes.”

I guide the van onto the shoulder as far as the ditch allows, two wheels in the frozen grass, and cut the engine. When I pop the hood, thick steam pours out, hissing in the frigid air.

Fucking fantastic.

If Luca were here, he’d have this sorted, and we’d be back on the road in no time. Another reason Ellery’s no good for this job. I wave a hand through the fog, trying to see what the problem is. Not like I could fix it anyway.

“You might need this.” She’s at my side, handing me the flashlight from the glove box. “Don’t know how you can see a thing without it.”

She shoves her hands in her pockets. The angry part of me wants to blame her for this mess, even though it’s not her fault. She’s a complication I don’t need.

I point the light at the engine.

“Overheated. I think. I’ve got no clue. This is Luca’s department.” I stuff the flashlight in my pocket. “We might be stuck here a while.”

“You take care of this. I’ll take care of them.” She bumps my shoulder with hers, and I swallow hard. She gets back into the van, closing the door behind her.

Luca doesn’t answer his phone until the third call, and I’m ready to wring his neck.

“What’s up?” He’s distracted. Video games play in the background.

“Van broke down. Can you come fix it, or do I need to get a tow?”

“Shit. Okay, tell Dr. Luca what’s wrong with poor Lucille.”

I explain as best I can, and he’s sure he can fix it. But it’ll take him close to two hours to get out here. Next, I call Kendall, who had the good sense to cancel her tours tonight. She agrees to drag herself out of bed and drop my guests back to their hotels. Forty-five minutes. That’s two I owe her now, and she keeps count.

Laughter spills out when I slide open the door to break the bad news. Ellery’s handing out pastries and cocoa while coordinating a game of Two Truths and a Lie.