Page 113 of To Ashes and Dust
“Take your time, as much as you need.”
PARTTWO
40
CASSIE
White puffs of mist slipped from my lips as I breathed in the icy night air. My eyes drifted over the dark expanse of the alleys below as I crouched atop the roof of a building, my Elythian leather armor groaning as it stretched and shifted against my skin. Thalia and Barrett searched below us. Barrett remained alert, watching their surroundings as Thalia shifted to her wolf form. Damien stood at my side, eyes scanning the area behind me. It was inching toward midnight, the night unusually calm, and we hadn’t encountered a single darkling.
I didn’t like it.
It had been two weeks since I’d erased my parents’ memories, and while I missed them deeply, the pain had lessened. I knew it would never leave me. It would remain a dull ache for the rest of my life, but it was worth it to know they were safe.
Damien kept tabs on them, that much I knew, but I hadn’t had the courage to ask him for any updates, fearful talking about them would only pick at a wound that had just begun to mend. They were settled in a local hotel until their house in Washington was ready, and it would only be a matter of time before they were gone for good. The idea hurt to think about.
I drew a deep breath, stretching my thoughts out to the group patrolling the south sector.
Any updates, Aiden?
Damien lowered to his knee at my side, his eyes locked on the massive gray wolf below us, her nose to the ground as she searched for any scents to follow. It had been hours since we’d started our patrol, but Thalia had been unable to find any fresh signs or scents to track, and it left us all uneasy.
Nothing here. Not even a trail to follow.
Nothing? I chewed my lip, resting my elbow on my knee as I leaned toward the edge of the roof, lifting my gaze to the rooftops before us. Aiden’s usual irritation slipped through the connection, bristly and hot. I spoke through the connection again.
Have Leo reach out to me if you find anything. Be alert.
Understood.
I reached out to the group patrolling the north sector. Over the last few weeks, we’d begun to see just how far I could communicate mentally, the distance growing with effort.
How’re you guys faring, Logan? Encounter any darklings?
He responded a second later.
Nothing, Lady Cas. Owen’s shifted right now, but he hasn’t been able to pick up any fresh trails.
I found myself chewing my nail in frustration. What was happening? Had Melantha pulled the darklings back? Where had they all gone?
Okay, keep us updated. Call us if you find anything.
Understood.
I let out a heavy sigh, and Damien’s gaze shifted to me. “Nothing?”
I shook my head. “Neither of the groups have had any luck. Something’s wrong, Damien. What does this mean? What could they be up to?”
“I don’t know.” His voice wavered, uncertainty clouding his eyes as he ran his fingers along the coarse stubble on his jaw.
My eyes dropped to Thalia, who seemed to have given up, for she’d shifted back to her normal form. I reached out to her, Barrett, and Damien.
The other teams haven’t seen any darklings either.
Thalia’s voice drifted through my mind.
The only scents I’m picking up are old. There’ve been no darklings here for a few days at least.
I pondered for a moment, trying to make sense of it all, but no matter what, I couldn’t come to any conclusions.
