Page 13 of Shadow's End

Wolves can hear sounds from six to ten miles away, depending on the terrain and wind. While I doubt her hearing is that keen, I can’t imagine up to a mile would be much of a stretch.To Maelle, I added, “Where would you prefer us to set up?”

She waved a hand casually. “Wherever. I have … things I have to take care of, but I will remain nearby if you need me.”

I nodded. She turned and walked away, disappearing into the deeper shadows that haunted the dance floor. The air suddenly became easier to breathe.

I glanced at Belle. “Monty’s on the way?”

She nodded. “He’s just grabbing your spell stones from your pack.”

“Just as well I didn’t lock the SUV then.”

“You could leave the keys in the ignition and put a ‘feel free to steal’ sign on that thing, and absolutely no one would take you up on the invitation.”

I grinned but turned around as Monty came through the plastic.

“Where’s our resident vamp?” he asked.

“Dealing with ‘stuff’ but close enough to hear and see what is going on,” Belle said.

“Ah.” He handed me and Belle the small silk bags containing our spell stones. “I suggest you two interweave your stones while I provide an outer layer. Belle can remain in the inner circle with you, just to be doubly safe.”

Belle raised an eyebrow. “I think it would be best if the three of us are in the center. Safer all round if this is a setup.”

“I disagree, and I am the boss in the field.”

She grinned and patted his arm. “You keep on believing that, if it makes you happy.”

He rolled his eyes. “Just get to it, both of you.”

We did. After Belle and I had placed our spell stones, we raised the protective magic, weaving the separate threads through each other’s to create a stronger whole.

Once we were done and the circle was raised, Monty placed his own spell stones, then stepped inside his barrier and raised it.

“Right,” he said, turning to face us. “You’re good to go.”

I nodded and sat cross-legged on the ground. Belle followed, then inched closer so that our knees were touching.

We’d done this hundreds of times before, but my stomach nevertheless clenched. Probably because this time, unlike the other times, I knew exactly what might be waiting.

“You’ll be fine,” Belle said softly. “I’ll pull you out the minute I sense anything untoward.”

“I know.”

But knowing didn’t ease the fear and uncertainty, however. In cases like this, it probably never would.

I took one of those deep breaths that did absolutely nothing, then carefully wiped away any smears of blood from the ring before releasing it from its tissue prison.

The minute the gold hit my skin, my psi talents exploded to life, drawing me hard and fast down a rabbit hole of images and information. In quick succession I saw two golden wattles, red boulders, a cavern shaped like a mouth, and a deep body of water. Then feet, and legs, and then arms, but no torsos. No heads.

None of the parts belonged to Roger. But he was here, somewhere.

His intermittent pulse ran across the darkness, a spark of life in a cavern that held nothing but death.

Realization hit. This was a pen.

A stockyard.

A place Marie and her people took their human “cattle” before they dined on them.

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