Page 99 of Amber Gambler

>Harrow is a no-show. I’ve got Farah searching the cemetery, but I’m not hopeful.

The concession to meet us at dusk might have been a ploy to buy him time to bolt.

“He’s not here.”

Farah’s voice brought my focus swinging up to her face, which rippled into eddies from her exertion.

“Thanks.” I exchanged a weighted glance with Carter. “Then I guess we’re done here.”

“Any news on Audrey?” Farah scooped up Percy. “Did you find anything else after I left?”

“We don’t have any leads on her whereabouts.” I was careful to keep it upbeat for her. “I’ll let you know as soon as we have news.” I registered motion on my periphery. Kierce. Striding toward us with purpose. “Tell Johnny I said hi.”

The bottom dropped out of my stomach as Badb, who should have been at the hotel, swooped over him.

“What lit a fire under him?” Carter stepped up to my side. “Is that Badb?”

“I’ve got a bad feeling about this.” I met him halfway down the aisle. “What’s wrong?”

“Harrow is at the hotel.” Kierce pulled his gaze down from Badb. “She says we need to hurry.”

Feet moving faster than my brain, I was running full out for the truck before Kierce finished his thought. I had just been texting with Matty. He was safe. He had to be. And if he was okay, then Josie was fine.

Please, God, let them be all right.

As I dodged startled spirits and hurdled graves carving into my shortcut, I checked my phone.

No new texts.

I dialed him. No response. Switched to Josie. No answer there either.

And Kierce was stuck with only human methods of travel available to him.

Had my siblings been at home, I wouldn’t have stopped at the truck. I would have kept running. I would have blazed a trail straight to them. But the hotel was far enough that wheels would get me there faster.

I leapt the fence without slowing down and bounced on the balls of my feet at the truck. Kierce was next to me, havingmatched me with his much longer legs, but Carter was bringing up the rear. With the keys.

“Go.” Kierce motioned to Badb. “Don’t let Harrow out of your sight.”

The crow flew with a purpose in the direction of the hotel.

Ready to run back, pick up Carter, and carry her to the driver’s seat, I took a step toward her.

“Don’t you dare,” Carter huffed, clutching her key fob, which she mashed to unlock the doors. “Get in.”

Happy to get one step closer to my family, I did as she asked without hesitation.

Kierce and I were strapped in and ready to go by the time she climbed behind the wheel.

She cranked up, sped clear of the parking lot, and spun out onto the road.

“I wasn’t going to steal your keys.”

The sound of my voice shattered the quiet muffling the cab.

“Sure.” She glowered at me in the rearview mirror. “And I’m the Queen of England.”

“I was going to pick you up and carry you,” I admitted, knee bouncing. “Is that better or worse?”

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