But where the hell is my gargoyle?
Tamping down my rising fear, I head to the guardrail and lean over, peering down into the darkness of a steep ravine, searching for signs of him—a torn piece of clothing, broken branches, tracks, anything.
But it’s too dark. I can’t make out anything but the vague outline of trees and jagged, rocky outcroppings.
“Draegan!” I call out. “Draegan!”
No response but the endless yawn of that pitch-black ravine.Damn it.
He’s immortal,I remind myself.He can’t die. Whatever happened, he’s fine. He’s fine. He’s—
A burst of violet light erupts near the car, and a sudden warmth fills my chest, wrapping around my heart. I feel a tug deep inside me, and then I’m following it, powerless to resist as it draws me back toward the wreck. Back toward that eerie glow.
For a moment, I wonder if I really did die in the crash, and this is the part where I finally cross over. Am I supposed to walk into the light? Will my mother be there waiting for me?
Will Draegan?
Goddess, no. He can’t be dead. Please, please let him be okay…
I take another step, waiting for something to happen. Some instructions or deep inner knowing or—
No. It’s not that kind of light.
It’s coming from Drae’s briefcase in the backseat area. We’d stashed the SSD card and the protection amulet in there as soon as we retrieved them from the safe deposit box. It must be coming from the amulet.
Carefully picking my way back through the wreckage, I find the briefcase still intact, still closed tight. The light dims but still seeps out a bit at the edges. The moment my fingers wrap around the handle, I feel that same odd connection I felt at the bank—the steady pulse, as if I’m holding my own heart in my hand.
Something tells me to keep it close.
With no sign of Draegan, I tighten my grip on the case, cross the road, and head into the woods toward the other car, wondering if I’ll find any survivors.
Goddess, they came out of nowhere. And these mountain roads are so dark and isolated… Shit. We’re in the middle of nowhere. I don’t even have a phone to call for help or text the guys.
Draegan, where the hellareyou?
“Hello?” I call out, trying to peer through the windshield, hoping there’s more than just a bloodied corpse inside. Hoping they have a phone. “Can anyone hear me in there? Do you need help?”
Before I get a response, another wave of dizziness crests, this one so severe it drops me to my knees. I clutch my head in my hand and close my eyes, willing the nausea to pass.
Come on. Come on. You’re fine. You just need—
Footsteps again. Soft. Close. Alive.
Thank the—
“Stand up slowly, Westlyn. And keep your hands where I can see them.”
I freeze.
That voice.
That horrid, bone-chilling, nails-on-a-chalkboard voice.
I would recognize it anywhere.
Eloise.
Chapter Three
