Page 35

"I'll take my bears out at night in town," Bayer said, his voice firm. "If it's feeding there, we might catch its trail."

I turned to look at him, alarmed. Hadn't we just established that this thing was specifically hunting bears? And now he wanted to place himself directly in its path?

Phoenix seemed to share my concern. "Not alone," he said. "We do this together. Mixed patrols—wolves and bears."

I watched Bayer's jaw clench, but he nodded once in agreement.

"What about the rest of us?" Emery asked, his arm slipping around my shoulders. "We can't just sit here while this thing hunts."

"Actually," Esther said, stepping forward, "there may be a way to help. Estrelle and I, we've been researching protection spells—barriers specifically designed to repel revenants."

"Would they work on the entire territory?" Phoenix asked.

Esther shook her head. "Too large an area. But we could create safe zones—the packhouse, perhaps some key locations in town."

"That's something, at least."

Phoenix agreed. "We'll focus on establishing these safe zones first, then expand our search efforts."

My phone buzzed in my pocket. I glanced down. Danny, it's Mom. Please call me. 911.

My stomach dropped, even though Phoenix had sent wolves to watch her last night. "I need to make a call," I said, standing abruptly. All eyes turned to me.

"What's wrong?" Emery asked, concern etching his features.

"My mom," I said, already moving toward the door. "Something's happened."

Bayer was beside me in an instant, his hand gentle but firm on my arm. "I'm coming with you."

"We don't know what—" I started, but the look in his eyes silenced my protest.

"I'm coming with you," he repeated, his voice brooking no argument.

Phoenix nodded. "Take Kaylan too. And check in every thirty minutes."

I was already dialing the number as we headed for Bayer's truck, my heart hammering in my chest. She answered on the first ring.

"Danny? Thank goodness!"

"Mom, what's wrong? Are you okay?"

Her voice was shaking. "It's Logan. He...he never came home last night. His roommate just called. He didn't show up for his lab this morning either."

I felt the blood drain from my face. Logan was never late for anything, especially not his research lab.

"Have you called the cops?" I asked, climbing into Bayer's truck. Kaylan slid into the backseat, his expression alert.

"Yes, but they said he needs to be missing for twenty-four hours before they'll do anything." She sounded on the verge of tears. "And Shane isn't answering his phone either."

My grip tightened on the phone. "Shane's probably just sleeping off a hangover, Mom. But I'm heading over now. We'll figure this out."

"We?" she questioned.

"I'm bringing friends. Just...stay inside, okay? Lock the doors." I didn't want to scare her, but after what we'd just learned about the revenant feeding in town... I felt myself go cold. How could I not have considered a risk to my mom?

"Danny, you're scaring me."

"I'll explain when I get there. Just promise me you'll stay inside."