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“We need to end this. Clary ran into the forest and someone might have seen him before we brought him back,” Douglas says.

My dad curses. “Fine. We’ll see you back at the house. I’ll let the others know.”

I hadn’t expected my dad to agree just like that, but I guess, in times of crisis, they know when to save their argument for another time.

We’re the first to get back to the rental, and I keep a close eye on my rearview mirror in case someone saw us, and in case they followed so they could attack us when we’ve lowered our guards.

But the roads are quiet in this small town and we’re seemingly the only ones awake at nearly midnight.

The others must have left soon after we did because as my dad is placing Clary, none too gently, on one of the couches in the living room, they’re walking in through the front door.

My dad is scowling. “What happened?”

We tell him and his scowl deepens.

“Don’t, Dad,” I tell him. “He had his mate taken from him weeks ago. He’d do anything to get her back and he must have been feeling pretty desperate to nearly get himself killed to do it.”

My dad looks at me then huffs. “Did you at least see anything while you were there?”

I shake my head on the way to the kitchen to pour myself a glass of water. “Nothing. You?”

“Absolutely nothing.” He studies me. “We’re going to have to try a more direct approach here. They’ve built too far from the road for us to see anything, and I have a feeling that was by design.”

Yeah, me too.

“But that can be a tomorrow problem,” Bennett says, frowning. He was with Ivy, Penny, and Colton, and they also reported seeing nothing. “We could all do with a proper night’s rest and we can figure out the best way forward in the morning.”

He gives me a pointed look, which isn’t surprising. I got approximately two or maybe three hours of sleep last night and that was before Bennett called to say there was a problem we needed to check out at the hotel. After that?

Nothing.

“Fine,” I agree. “I’ll take a couch here with Clary. You guys take the beds upstairs.”

“You can take a bed.” Bennett is looking at Clary, and his attention is watchful. “I actually got some sleep yesterday, and I can keep an eye on him in case he decides to slip out in the night.”

“He won’t.” After the blow Douglas landed on him, I can’t imagine he’s going anywhere for a long while.

“Nevertheless, I’ll watch him,” Bennett says, settling down on the spare couch after tossing a blanket over Clary before I can.

Defeated, I muffle a yawn. “Okay. See you in the morning.”

13

AERIN

Someone is chasing me.

I pump my arms as I run, focused on a small gap in the trees just up ahead.

If I can just make it to that tree, I’ll be okay.

My breath wheezes from between my lips, creating white puffs of light in the night.

But no matter how fast I run, no matter how hard I ache to get to freedom, the distance never gets any closer.

And behind me…

Crack.

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