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That was a good question . . . One I did not have the answer to. We’d already stayed too long and did need to get back on the road, but I had no idea where to.

Galbraith picked up on my hesitation, probably sensing uncertainty. “You’re more’n welcome to hole up here. Motel’s gonna need new management and I hear you got experience.”

“Thank you, but we already have our hands full with our hotel.”

“Alright, then. Well, good luck to you.”

“If you’re ever in San Francisco, drop by,” I told him. “The SOS Hotel is supernaturally safe for all.”

Galbraith’s grin stretched across his whiskered face. He glanced at the bar where Victor, Zee, and Zander continued their animated conversation. Although Victor mostly just watched on stoically. “I might just do that. The three of you make formidable allies.”

“What about Zander?” I asked. “I spoke to our barman—uh acting manager, Tom Collins—and we have an extra room.” Tom had called Zee earlier in the day and yelled at him in profanity-riddled threats to never hang up, ever again, or Tom would distribute all Zee’s dildos to the gremlins. After that traumatic declaration, Tom had confirmed that the weird, average-looking guy—my brother—had left the hotel a few days ago. Which was both good and bad news.

“We’ll take Zander back, if he wants to return,” Galbraith admitted. “With Cameron gone, and seein’ what our shunning did to the girl, we’re comin’ around to the idea it may have been misguided to shut folks out.”

“The different ones bring the best ideas. You should look out for each other.”

Zee continued his dramatic hand and tail waving, prompting Zander to laugh.

“We gave him Jenny’s truck, since he’s not much of a biker. What he does now is up to him.” Galbraith extended his massive hand. I reached out and braced for the bone-crushing grip. The painful handshake was over in a few seconds, but I’d be feeling it for a few hours. “The Whiteacre Falls pack thanks you. I reckon whatever you’re running from will realize they’ve bitten off more than they can chew.”

“Running?” I spluttered. “Ha, ha. What?” More spluttered laughter fell out of me. “We’re not . . . it’s not . . . it’s just . . . No. What? That’s not a thing we’re doing.” More laughter. Did it sound strained? “Anyhoo.” I stood, scratching the chair legs across the sticky floor. “We uh . . . we’d better get back on the road. Destiny uh . . . waits for no one. I guess.”

Galbraith saluted me with his beer glass. “See you ’round, Adam Vex.”

I caught Victor’s eye and nodded, signaling it was time to leave, and he tapped Zee on the shoulder. Zee saw me, gave Zander a sudden, massive hug, then blew a kiss at the growling Duke and the three of us filed out of the bar into the foggy parking lot.

“Not gonna miss this murk,” Zee said, snarling at the overhanging blanket of mist. He stretched his wings out and raised them over his head, trying to divert the drizzle. “Zander said he might take us up on our offer to stay,” Zee added. “They gave him Jenny’s beat-up ol’ truck so he can come visit, but he’s gonna try and mend ties with the pack first.”

“That seems sensible for a man who collects dildos as ornaments,” Victor remarked.

“Judgy McFancy Fangs over here can’t talk when he owns a frog ornament . . . like a psycho.”

“That you gave me as a gift, if you recall.”

“Ssh, nobody likes vampires. Also, I was very drunk and you took advantage of my inebriated, vulnerable self,” Zee said, with a grin. Victor opened his mouth, probably to deny doing any such thing, but Zee spoke over him. “So, where to next? Vegas, right? Say fuckin’ Vegas. I’m fuckin’ made for Vegas, baby. The lights, the drama, the rampant gambling addictions, the glitz, the fuckin’ glam, and mental-health implications!” He moaned as though he were deprived of pleasure. “Come to Uncle Zee.”

“If we wish to keep our whereabouts a secret, putting you in the middle of Sin City is a terrible idea.”

“Victor’s right.”

“Ugh.” Zee rolled his eyes, horns, shoulders, and wings until all of him had visibly deflated, but he soon brightened again as an idea must have formed. “I can do boring Zee, remember?”

I did remember, but honestly, boring Zee was just as attention grabbing as normal Zee. Zee was always going to be Zee, no matter what glamor he wore.

“Or as a last resort, Jasyn-with-a-y?” Zee fluttered a hand over himself, vanishing his wings, and wove the glamor of his dull-human disguise. “Remember this guy? So average, so human, but also incredibly handsome and a big hit with the police commissioner’s wife?”

“Frankly, I’d prefer to forget,” Victor grumbled.

I laughed as they both headed toward the van. “I’ll grab our bags. You guys get the van warmed up.”

Zee bounced along, pretending to be human, and Victor followed, eyebrows raised in disbelief.

“Don’t forget the Oreos!” Zee called.

“Right.” I broke into a jog, eager to get us on the road again.

Zee’s sing-song voice sailed across the lot. “Vegas, baby, here we come.”