Page 90 of Voyage of Fury and Fate

“What is it?” Thorne asks.

“I smell him.”

He nods, before moving again. The water has gotten deep enough that even on my shoulders, Everly’s feet are fully submerged.

“Can you do what you did earlier with Brayden’s power?” I ask the girl on my shoulders.

“Already did,” she answers. “I did it as soon as we entered the swamp.”

“Smart girl.” I turn toward Thorne. “With Everly’s shield up, we’re going in blind.”

“Or human,” Autumn adds.

The smell of sulfur fills my nose once more, telling me we’re moving in the right direction. I lose track of time as we stomp our way further into the muck. Something large slides into the water from a patch of dry land. The thought of what could be near my feet is almost as terrifying as what we’re searching for. I’ve never realized how much I depend on my ability to sense energy until I’m denied access.

“I see something,” Everly announces from my shoulders. “It looks like a house.”

“There are some people that live out here in the swamp. Can you see it well enough to make out any details?”

“Looks old and made of wood,” she answers.

“Do you see anyone there?” Thorne asks.

“I don’t know. It’s too far away.”

We keep moving toward the building in the distance. With Everly’s vampire eyes, it’s still several miles ahead.

“I see someone,” Autumn whispers. “They’re on the porch.” She stares into the distance. “A man is sitting in a rocking chair.”

“Is he human?” Thorne asks.

“I can’t tell.”

“I can let the shield down,” Everly suggests. “Just long enough to figure out what he is.”

“Do it,” I answer. “Only for a second.” The young girl takes a deep breath and energy floodsme. Not only do I feel Kragen, but he’s not alone. “Put it back!” I shout.

“Bastard,” Thorne whispers.

“Aye. There were others.”

“That felt yucky,” Autumn whispers from Thorne’s shoulders.

“Kragenisyucky,” I answer. “Everly, keep the shield up. The only chance we have is for them not to feel us. We have to get as close as possible to figure out our next step.”

We continue moving toward the house and the awaiting enemy with the shield securely in place. We’re less than a hundred yards from the building when Everly makes a strange sound from my shoulders.

“What’s going on?”

“Something feels like it’s poking at me,” she answers, resting her head in her hands.

“Poking?”

“Yeah. Like a knife stabbing at my brain.”

“Someone’s trying to get through the shield,” Thorne whispers.

“The closer we get, the more it hurts,” Everly whispers.

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