Page 20 of Midwinter Night's Prince

His fists clenched.Get out of there, Blair.

Millions of humans hiked on Mount Olympus and ventured near other portals every year. The demons of the other world rarely bothered to lure any of them to their side. But they would attempt to take Blair. His soul would whet their appetite.

Blair had no bargaining chip, no answer to offer, and no power that would be of any consequence against the monsters of Olympus.

“Can you drive faster?” His lips tightened.

They were driving rather than running because Axia couldn’t catch up with them on foot. Gerald also preferred driving with their luggage, although when pressed, he could increase his physical speed with spells.

“I’m pushing one thirty,” the witch retorted. “There’s a one twenty speed limit.”

Seth blinked, not quite taking in what he’d just heard. Gerald was…following the speed limit on a hunt?

Oh, for the sake of all that was holy!

“And I’m out of here.” Seth opened the passenger door, and slid out of the moving car, landing in a crouch.

He had to lose the idiots at one point or another in any case.

He doubted it would take long for his companions to inform Aveka that he’d gone his own way—and there was a high chance she’d summon him.

Direct summons were one of the few of her orders he couldn’t wiggle out of. She emitted a location signal and demanded he appear right that moment. Traveling along his lightning took a fraction of a second. There was no escaping it.

Unless…

Casually walking between cars flying on the motorway, Seth pulled out his phone and rang Aveka’s number.

The call connected on the fourth ring. A gruff, low and slow drawl answered, “Yes?”

Vladrien—one of Aveka’s most faithful companion. Seth wrinkled his nose in distaste. “We have the girl’s location. The others are heading there via car—I’m taking another way around to pin her in. We should have her in a couple of hours. Can you inform Her Majesty?”

The ancient vampire said nothing for long second. Then a chuckle broke the silence. “Funny how you didn’t manage to snare a little girl until we sent you help.”

“Witches have their uses,” Seth replied, indifferent to Vlad’s intended insult. “Don’t you make a habit of collecting them for that very reason?”

“Indeed, but I’m a humble born vampire, not the leader of the almighty Stormhales. I would have thought your kind superior. Apparently not.”

Vlad was trying to bait him, and it might have worked if Seth valued his opinion. He was shit out of luck, though. The only opinion Seth cared for was his own.

“Apparently not,” he echoed. “Tell Aveka she’ll have her prize soon.”

He hung up before the ancient could add another word.

He’d bought himself an hour.

The next moment, a bolt of lightning struck where Seth stood, streaked across the sky, and hit right at Blair’s feet.

The girl ran right into his chest, and to his utter shock, passed through it as though she were entirely immaterial.

As though she were already dead.

12

THE WAY HOME

Blair screamed when Seth appeared out of nowhere in her path. She winced, prepared for an impact, but she passed through him. Inside him.

Her jaw fell open. What the hell was happening?

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