Page 12 of Little Mate

Our uncle didn’t help. The port closest to us was also being watched.

That longer route gave us the cover we needed.

The screeching of brakes pulls my attention to the present, and I nudge Leo’s shoulder. He’s up with an alarm, sitting up quickly and eyes darting around. Once he notices we’re not in danger, my brother relaxes a bit and yawns. “We’re here.”

“We are, drools.” He glares at my jab but wipes his mouth with the sleeve of his shirt. Gross. “Isa grabbed some wet towels earlier. They’re in the basin next to the door. Clean up a bit.”

“Are we having breakfast or fetching the horses?”

“Breakfast first. We have a long day of travel up ahead,” Isa answers for me, her tone tense. Not that our brother catches this, the last dredges of sleep making him unable to notice the glassiness in her eyes and twitch of her hands. She’s seeing something. “Please be ready in ten.”

Before she’s done, he’s already swiping the cool cloth across his face and then neck. And knowing his attention is occupied, I turn to look closer at my sister. She’s watching me too, her lips stretched into a thin line while that barely perceptible nod sits like lead in my stomach.

One nod: bad news.

Two nods: clear passage.

Motioning with my head at the door, I exit and walk toward the back where there’s an empty caboose with a glass windowpane door. It’s large enough for us to look through, the door to our cabin not far and accessible.

Isa doesn’t make me wait long, and before the door closes behind me, she’s stepping through.

We stand side by side, both looking out onto the vast landscape and busy city to the left of the train tracks.

“What is it?”

“We’re walking into a bloodbath.” A harsh shiver runs through her, the grip she has on the railing turning her knuckles white. “The vampires are getting closer.”

“There’s something else, isn’t there?”

“My sight is being shielded, but yes. Your path is intertwined with his, Gabby.”

At her response, I choke out a gasp. This is bad. “How can this be?”

“Which one?”

“Both.”

Isa shrugs, but I’m not buying the nonchalance. Her worry is palpable. “My guess is a powerful witch, but not stronger than the Moore bloodline. I’ll break whatever they’ve cast.”

Nodding, I mull that over. With so many coming for our heads, it’d be easy to have someone help him. “What’s his plan, though? Why does the king of vampires need a sorceress?”

“Sadly, you’ll ask him personally soon enough.”

Fuck. “How much of a window, sister? Do we have time to get Leo to Uncle Roberto’s?”

“Three moons.”

“Are you sure?” This doesn’t leave us much room. I’ll barely be back home in that timeframe. “You just said you can’t see as clear—”

“The path might change, but the destination doesn’t. Fate is a determined bitch.”

“She is.” She led us here again.

“We’re safe for now but must move fast.” Turning to look behind her, she watches the door of our cabin. “Uncle Roberto is not far from here, just a short coach ride, and we’ll stay until late evening to rest. I don’t know when we’ll see Leo after this, Gabby. The future is blurry; I see a lot of red, but the paths haven’t deviated.”

“I trust you.”

“Thank you.”

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