“We were following the horsemen.”
Nadine blinked at her. “The horsemen… of theapocalypse?”
“We have a lot to catch up on,” Wren said, and removing Nadine’s hand from her wrist, she hooked her arm through Nadine’s and turned toward us. “But first I’d like you to meet Corson, Bale, Lix, Hawk, and Aisling. Everyone, this is Nadine, she helped raise me.”
If Nadine was shocked to discover Wren working so closely with demons, she hid it well as she smiled at us. Before Wren approached Kobal about working together, the Wilders kept their distance and much preferred to slaughter any demon they came across.
“It’s nice to meet you,” Corson said and held out his hand.
Nadine didn’t hesitate before taking it. “I wish it was under better circumstances.” She released Corson’s hand and turned to Wren. She smiled as she brushed back a strand of hair from Wren’s forehead. “Randy is going to be so happy to see you, even if it is in this place.”
She released Wren and lifted Oliver into her arms. The boy sucked his thumb as he studied us. Those big, soulful blue eyes had far too much wisdom in them for someone of his tender years. Without thinking, I rested my hand on his back as I smiled at him. He smiled back and laid his head on Nadine’s shoulder while I lowered my hand.
“What is going on here?” Wren asked.
“I’ll explain when we find Randy,” Nadine said. “Come with me.”
She started to walk away, but a voice behind us halted her.
“Hey,” Caim said as he strolled toward us. “Have you—”
“Stop!” Bale commanded. “Don’t take another step.”
Caim froze with his foot in midair. One of the hounds emerged from the shadows and edged toward the invisible barrier.
“Partka,” Corson commanded the hound.
He didn’t have to tell it to stay as the hound stopped before the barrier and sniffed the edge of it. Its hackles rose, and it bared its teeth before it sat.
“What do we have here?” Caim asked as he lowered his foot and placed his hand on the hound’s head. “I don’t see anything.”
“Neither do we,” Corson said. “And you can walk freely toward us, but we can’t get out of here.”
“Well, isn’t that just a ‘fuck me’ kind of day,” Caim murmured.
“I guess that would be the best way to describe it,” Corson said. “I wouldn’t risk flying over the town either.”
“I already have,” Caim said. “I didn’t miraculously know the town was here before I told you about it.”
If Corson could have gotten through the barrier, I think he would have choked him. “I would suggestnotflying over it again,” Corson grated through his teeth. “Maybe there’s no barrier over the top of the town, or maybe you got lucky and missed it.”
Caim tapped his chin as he pondered this. “Iama lucky sort of fellow.”
“We need you outside the barrier,” Corson grated through his teeth.
Caim lowered his foot and saluted him. “Whatever you say, boss.”
“And keep the hounds with you.”
Caim glanced at the hound by his side. “I don’t think they have any interest in joining you.”
“Come on,” Corson said and turned away from Caim.
“Is that a fallen angel?” Nadine whispered as she led us around the side of the building.
“He’s more like an annoying pigeon,” Corson muttered, and I laughed.
When Corson shot me a look, I shrugged as I clasped Aisling’s elbow. “He had a point, and he’sourannoying pigeon.”
