Page 109 of Lost

“Heck yeah, I can drive any ATV. I have brothers,” said Stevie Rae, and we all climbed into the Polaris, which I discovered was basically a tricked-out golf cart that could go fast.

“I have a brother, but I couldn’t drive this thing,” I said.

“Z, not to be mean or anything, but I might be a better Okie than you.”

“I don’t doubt it.”

Grandma chuckled and said, “Head up that dirt road. Take a left when we get to the top of the first ridge and then turn right and keep turning right as the paths split. I’ll tell you when to slow down.”

“Easy-peasy!” Stevie Rae said. “Hang on, y’all!”

The Polaris roared to life and we hung on. Dodging spiderwebs and giant ruts like a pro, Stevie Rae guided it up, up, up, winding along the face of a ridge as the weather got colder, foggier, and just plain weirder the farther we climbed. When the poor visibility caused Stevie Rae to slow way down, Grandma shouted over the engine.

“Stop for a moment, please, child!”

Stevie Rae put the ATV into park. Then Grandma did something very strange. She stood up so that her head poked through the roll bars that pretended to be a roof, and shouted into the grayness that foretold dawn.

“Oak! It is me, Sylvia Redbird! I give you my promise that those with me mean no harm to my grandson or his people.”

There was a pregnant pause, and then Oak’s gentle voice replied from within the rustling winter-brown leaves of the trees surrounding us.

“I see you, Wise Woman, and I recognize those who are with you. You may pass in peace.”

And, just like that, the night warmed, and the icy fog surrounding us lifted, though mere yards from us I could see the fog thickened again, hiding the ridge in ice and mist.

“Okay, it’s safe to go on now,” said Grandma. “It’s not much farther, though. Keep a lookout for a large tree fallen across the path.”

“Will do!” Stevie Rae put the Polaris into gear and floored it.

I leaned close to Grandma so she could hear me over the engine. “So, Kevin did this? Protecting this ridge was one of the reasons he used Old Magick?”

“Yes. He had to. Stark was leading the Red Army directly to the Resistance. There were innocents here. They would all have been slaughtered.”

I nodded, beginning to understand the depth of Kevin’s need. I couldn’t blame him for calling the sprites. I probably would have done the same had I been in his place.

“Fallen tree, dead ahead!” Stevie Rae called as our headlights illuminated the felled log. “And we have about fifteen minutes before it’s dawn.”

“Go ahead and put it in park close to the tree,” Grandma said. Then she stood again and shouted, “I’m trying to harvest mustard plants by the light of the moon. That’s when they are most potent!”

“Huh?” I said.

“Sssh, we shouldn’t have to wait long before—”

From the trees above us, camo-wearing vampyres repelled to the ground. All of them had crossbows, with arrows nocked and pointed at us. One vampyre separated himself from the group. I recognized him before I could see his Mark. There was only one Warrior who held himself with that confidence, moved with that controlled, lithe grace,andheld a huge longsword as if it was a feather.

“Dragon!” I couldn’t stop my mouth from shouting.

“Ohmygoodness!It’s so great to see you!” said Stevie Rae. She actually started to get out of the Polaris, no doubt to give him a big ol’ Oklahoma hello hug, but Dragon’s narrowed eyes and the longsword he kept trained on her definitely dampened her enthusiasm. It also had Rephaim moving protectively to his mate’s side.

But it was my grandma who beat all of us out of the vehicle. She went to Dragon, ignoring his longsword.

“Merry meet, friend Dragon. I bring allies from another world—the world Kevin told you of.” Grandma half turned, motioning for me to join her, which I did—moving carefully so I didn’t accidentally provoke anyone to shish kebab me. “This is my granddaughter—”

“Zoey Redbird!” Stepping from the thick forest shadows, Anastasia Lankford walked to me, smiling brightly. “Merry meet. It is lovely to see you alive and well.”

“Right back at you, Anastasia.” My eyes began filling with happy tears, and I couldn’t stop myself from hugging her tightly. “I’ve missed you.”

“Me too!” said Stevie Rae. “Can I have a hug?”