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“Are you kidding?” She looked outside, pointing as though I didn’t know what the weather was. “Even if you can huff it, it’ll take you hours to reach their nearest border, and that’s without it raining. And you have to?—”
“Cross through Blood and Beryl, I know. I’m hoping after the display tonight, my crossing through their land won’t cause an issue.”
“That’s if they don’t kill you on the spot for being in their territory.”
“I’ll ask for parley. Clemency. Something to plead my case to their leader so I can just pass through.”
She stared at me skeptically. “Elias might still be at the commemoration.” She shook her head tightly. “And something was up with him. I couldn’t read him very well, but he’s deceptive. I don’t trust him. You’ve heard the rumors. Even if they aren’t true, they’re based on his actions.”
“I’m a little low on options, Adora.”
She groaned, throwing her head back. “I’m sorry. I just hate feeling helpless. I hate leaving you and not knowing where you’ll end up. Or what’s going to happen.”
“Trust me, I feel the same,” I told her. She looked at me with apologetic eyes and pressed her lips together. “But I have to try. Earth and Emerald is my best bet. No Man’s Land isn’t exactly safe, either. Without House protection, it’s open season on us.” Turning, I saw my wolf in the back of the truck. Her eyes were fixed on me, feeling every emotion and knowing what this would mean for us.
Adora craned her neck and saw Nova back there, standing under the camper shell in the bed of the truck. A sad smile graced her lips before she spoke.
“This is too weird. It doesn’t feel real,” she muttered.
“This is as real as it’s going to get,” I said, looking at my watch. “I need you to go. You’ve got forty-five minutes. They may not stop you, but they are going to come to the house looking for me when that hour mark is up.”
She pulled a knife out from a sheath under her skirt and handed it to me, pointing at the seat. “Cut the seam and reach in under the cushion. You’ll need something to trade.”
I scrunched my eyebrows in confusion but knew it was just better to do what she’d said. It would be easier than asking questions. I ran the blade along the threads, popping them until it was wide enough to stick my hand in. Reaching through, I felt the material of the cushion, then felt a slit that shouldn’t have been there. Pushing past the additional tear, my fingertips touched something cold and hard. I grasped it, pulling it out from the hiding spot. Holding the hidden item up, I inspected it and my mouth fell open. Eight small shifter-blood vials were carefully wrapped, the glass protected by interwoven pieces of thick cloth. They were bound with plastic wrap, keeping them tightly enclosed.
“Where did you get this?” I asked.
“Mom’s supply,” she answered, unashamed. Shrugging, she added, “She always said to be prepared. You need currency while you’re out there. There are some empty vials in the bag, but use them sparingly. You need to be able to run and you can’t do that low on blood.”
I wanted to laugh, and a small one escaped me. “When did you do this?” Looking down at the torn seat, I shook my head incredulously. “You sewed it in the seats. What if the truck had been stolen?”
“Then we lost the vials, and we lost our bags with it. Worth the risk, and apparently, it’s paying off now.”
I leaned over, grabbing her shoulders and pulling her to me. I wrapped my arms around her, squeezing her tightly, and she did the same to me. “Thank you.” The words came out hoarse and my throat clogged with emotion.
“You always look out for me,” she said quietly. “I look out for you too. Just in different ways.”
We held each other for what felt like a long time and still not long enough. “You’re my sister in every way that matters,” I whispered in her ear. “I love you more than anything. But don’t think you can snark your way out of this, okay? Mathis is looking for any excuse to punish me and he will use you if you give him any reason.”
She nodded against me, holding me tighter.
“Say it.”
“I won’t be a smartass,” she grumbled in my ear.
I chuckled, but it sounded sad. Bitter, even. “Take this seriously. It’s life or death now. Take care of Mom and Abbey. Keep Rowe safe. The less she knows about anything, the better.”
Adora sniffed, and a stuttered breath followed. I knew the tears were flowing. Letting go, she nodded again, glancing out the window. “Nova, you take care of Danni.” My wolf dipped her head, and then my sister looked at me. “Be careful,” she choked out, grabbing my hand and squeezing.
“You too.” I tucked the vials into my bag, placing them between rolled clothes. My sister gripped the steering wheel with both hands, leaning her temple against it as she watched me. With a final glance, I pressed my lips together and took a deep breath. It was like psyching myself up for a duel in the shifting circle, but this was so much more. I was fighting for my life now. Grabbing the door handle, I got out and slid down to the ground on leaden feet. I grabbed a waterproof hoodie from behind the seat and put it on, zipping it up and pulling the hood over my head to shield the rain and hide my face. I slipped the straps of the backpack over my shoulders, not clipping the front piece. Last thing I needed was a harness for someone to be able to easily grab and hold me.
Walking to the back of the pickup, I opened the tailgate and the camper so Nova could get out. Her heavy paws smacked the wet pavement as she landed. Her ice-colored eyes glowed like headlights in the dark. I closed the truck up, then met my sister’s gaze in the rearview mirror while I hit the truck twice, signaling for her to go.
The engine revved as Adora pressed the gas, and she pulled away, turning her headlights on and heading home.
Home.
A place I wouldn’t get to see ever again.
