Page 116 of Cry of the Firebird

"No time for cuddles. We have to get moving," Isabelle said as she barged in. "There's going to be more coming because the Darkness always works in two team systems. They would have picked up that magic wave a hundred kilometers away, and every magically sensitive person is going to feel it."

"I need to get my bag from the Twins room with my runes and drum," Anya said.

"We already have them," Honaw said as he and Chayton joined them. "Anya, you really have to stop throwing your power like that."

"It was Yvan," she said quickly.

"His flames went through hers though, so it probably doubled that power," Trajan pointed out.

"Can we please argue about the magical technicalities later?" Cerise snapped. "Everyone get their stuff and get downstairs. I'm going to get some supplies, and I think you should too, Trajan." She gave him a meaningful look, and Trajan nodded.

Katya and Izrayl were already waiting for them by the time they got downstairs. Izrayl was lounging against his car with Katya sitting on the hood.

"Never a dull moment with Anya around." Izrayl smiled, but it didn't quite reach his eyes.

"What's the plan?" Katya asked.

"We need to get to Russia to my farm," Anya said.

Trajan took her hand and gave it a comforting squeeze.

Katya blew out a tight breath. "Russia it is. Into the lion's den."

"You aren't worried, are you, pup?" Izrayl pinched Katya's chin, and she batted his hand away.

"Do I look worried?"

"What an exciting life you lead," Chayton said and smiled at Anya.

"Reminds me of the old days," Honaw added wistfully. "It makes you feel alive when people are trying to kill you."

"Thanks, guys. That makes me feel so much better for putting your lives at risk," she replied.

"Don't worry about it. That was some pretty impressive magic you did with Yvan. We are proud of you," Chayton said.

"Be proud when I close the gates." Anya sounded colder than she wanted. The shock of being attacked in her sleep and nearly having her throat cut was creeping up on her, and she was doing her best not to show it. She wanted to get in a car, have Trajan sitting on one side of her, Yvan on the other, and have a nice drink of vodka as they put the city behind them.

Across the garage, Cerise tossed her bag into the back of her red Jaguar and climbed into the driver's seat.

"When you are ready, darlings," she said, her human form back in place. She looked edgy as she lit a cigarette.

Anya was surprised to see Yvan put his bag in her car and take the front seat. Her urge to get drunk suddenly intensified as something strange and jealous stabbed at her.What the hell is that about?

"I know you want us all to stick together, but I'm taking my bike," Isabelle stated. "There's no way I'm going to let some filthy lackeys of Ladislav get it."

"I wouldn't dream of asking you to leave it behind. Hamish can ride with Anya and me," Trajan said.

"The Twins are coming with me and Izrayl," Katya piped up.

Isabelle's motorcycle roared to life, making them all jump. "Today, people! They are coming! I can feel it."

Trajan led Anya to a shiny black Land Rover SUV. Hamish sprawled out on the back seat, and Anya sat in the front, pushing her bag onto the floor.

"When we get to the border, we'll put the cars on a train. I don't want to get to the end of Russia with no transport. There are too many of us to carry now," Trajan said. After their trip from Romania, none of them were keen on hitching rides in cold Eastern European countries, and Anya's farm was remote enough as it was. Trajan didn't believe in holding with the speed limit, and neither did the people they were with. Anya didn't care how fast they went; she wanted to be out of France before anything else came looking for her.

Aramis surveyedthe human wreckage in the mansion with as much passivity as he could. He opened his phone and dialed a number.

"I'm going to need a clean-up crew before the police arrive," he said and hung up. This was the third house they had investigated in a fortnight, and he knew they were connected. He just didn't know how.

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