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One of them nodded. “Quiet as far as I know.”
“Good,” I said. “Because I’d like to get settled.” I reached into the car for my backpack.
Dastien was getting the bags out of the back. “Go on ahead. I’m going to chat with them and then catch up.”
Chris started walking down the path, and I followed. “So, important things first,” I said.
“What’s u
p?”
“Your hair. A beard? What’s the deal?” I poked his beard, and he swatted my hand away. It suited him, but as a friend, I couldn’t let it by with at least asking.
He rubbed a hand over his stubble. “Been too busy running around to shave. After a while, it seemed like a bother. Same with the hair.” He shrugged. “I’ve been spending so much time as a wolf that it doesn’t matter.”
“How are you holding up? Your emails sounded pretty crazed toward the end.”
He blew out a breath. “I’m tired. You know me. I’ve trained like the rest of them, but it’s not my thing. I enjoy life too much to go around hunting every night.” He was quiet for a second. “You know, I never thought I’d see another one of them after Santa Fe, but they keep coming. Sometimes it’s just one, but sometimes its twenty. We—”
“Twenty? Jesus. No wonder you’re tired.”
“Yeah. We gotta do something to stop it or we’re going to die trying to keep up.”
“Agreed. How’s Adrian?”
“Good. The guy was made to be a Cazador. He’s pretty much all but joined them. He loves a good fight. Aside from the demon bite, he’s been having fun. The bite is still healing, but he’s back on patrols tonight.”
“Already? Any chance that it could lead to a demon possession?” I hoped not, but we couldn’t be too sure.
“Nah. He’s good. We did the usual holy water and potion routine. I’m sure he’d like a little downtime, but we need every Were we have.”
That didn’t seem smart to me. If we didn’t have time for injured Weres to fully heal, then things were much worse than I’d thought.
“We’ll figure out why they keep coming.” I just wasn’t sure how we’d find the answer exactly, but I needed to make sure that Luciana didn’t have any leftover magic brewing somewhere on the old witch’s compound. But there wasn’t a chance I was stepping foot on that place until sunrise.
“All I know is I’m not the only one getting tired. We don’t have enough wolves to keep this pace for much longer. We’re all exhausted…which reminds me.”
I thought I knew what he was getting at, but I wasn’t sure. “Go ahead. Ask.”
“You going to tell me what you were up against last night? Felt you pulling as if your life depended on it.”
“It was depending on it. I, uh…” I wasn’t sure how to say it, but I finally decided just to spit it out. “A demon took control of my mind and was trying to drag me to Hell,” I said so quickly that my words ran into each other.
“What the fuck, Tessa!” His mouth dropped open and even under the beard, I could see his skin had paled.
I winced. “That sounded bad.”
“Hell, yes. It sounds pretty much like the worst. And with these demon attacks, I’m not liking it one bit.”
“Me, neither.” I blew out a breath. “Me, neither,” I said again, softer this time.
I checked my phone for the millionth time, just in case I’d somehow missed it vibrating. Nothing. The screen had zero alerts. I shoved the phone into the back pocket of my jeans, promising myself that once I was in my room, I was going to call her nonstop until she picked up.
“Anyway, I’m sorry if you’re exhausted, but thanks for the help. I really—”
“Please. Stop. I only brought it up because I was worried.” He nudged me. “You take what you need. That’s what the Alpha does.”
“I’m not the Alpha,” I mumbled.
