Crossroads

“He left to find you after— it was over. He cal ed a while ago to say you were gone.”

Should I tel him of meeting Sani? No. It is Frey’s time to talk. I smother the spark of anxiety that flares when I think of what Kayani wished to speak — or confront — me about.

Letting only curiosity come through, I ask, “Did he say what he wanted?”

Frey’s eyes flash, anger surfacing, the cat close. “Why would you tel him to watch me? To watch George? Why did you go to the lodge in the first place? Who were you looking for?”

I close my eyes, breathe in, search for the strength to tel Frey what I suspect.

When I start to speak, I feel Frey go stil and quiet. His eyes bore into me, the concentration of a feline deciding whether the creature he’s studying is predator or prey.

It makes the vampire, too, spring to alert. Stil, I manage to keep my voice steady, human, and I tel him al. Who I suspect is responsible for the deaths of the sisters, why I believe it, that Chael is here in Monument Val ey.

I finish with my suspicions about George, the things he said to me this morning, his anger because I caused Sarah’s death. “He thinks she died because of what happened at the council. He wants you to put an end to me. His words. I believe he’s the one who shot me. He thinks I stand between you and staying here with John-John on the reservation.”

Frey stands, moves abruptly to the porch railing; his hands grip the banister. “You told Kayani al this?”

“Of course not. Seeing how Sarah and George reacted to my being vampire, do you think I’d risk it? If he and George talked, though, George may have.”

Frey shakes his head. “I don’t think they were alone together.” He turns to face me, crosses his arms across his chest. “Chael is here? You’re sure of it?”

“Yes. Though no longer at the lodge. My mistake.” I fil in the details. “I underestimated him. Stupid. I thought maybe you’d know where they might go. Another hotel or lodge in the vicinity?”

“There are a couple of possibilities. I’l check them out tomorrow.”

“You’ll check them out? You don’t even know what he looks like.”

“But I do know what Judith Wiliams looks like.”

“No, Frey.” I jump to his side. “She might recognize you. It’s too dangerous.”

The pulse in Frey’s neck throbs as he clenches his jaw.

“No. She won’t see me. I’l make sure of that.”

“At least let me go with you.”

“No. You have to stay with John-John. He likes you. He needs to have a woman near him. It’s what he’s used to.”

That’s not the reason he wants me to stay. At least not al of it. “I know what you’re thinking but you can’t take him on by yourself. He’s too old and too powerful. And with Judith on his side, it’s two to one. John-John can’t lose a father, too.”

Frey’s anger explodes with a sound half animal, half human. A primal snarl from the panther. “He is responsible for Sarah’s death.”

I grit my teeth, match his anger with my own. “I’m responsible for Sarah’s death.” The words linger on the quiet night air, a release of guilt and acknowledgment that’s been building inside since we first heard of the accident. “Me. I brought this nightmare to you. I won’t let you risk your life. I’l stop you. You know I can.”

Frey’s eyes — the panther’s eyes — glow yel ow in the dark.

“You could try. But I have more to lose than you do.

Protecting one’s young is a powerful motivator. It makes one stronger, more determined, than simple anger. Or guilt.”

He’s captured me by the fierceness of his gaze, holds me in a grip of determination and wil. He’s done this before, when I was newly turned. I thought it was a mind trick. But we have no psychic connection now and I feel as powerless as I did then.

Until I marshal my own strength and fling it back at him.

“Stop it, Frey. Please.”

His eyes lose their intenseness, his hold wavers, fal s away. He looks ashamed, embarrassed.

I touch his cheek. “I know what you are feeling. But you must let me help.”

He shakes his head. “You are my friend, Anna. I respect you more than anyone I’ve ever known. But you are stubborn.

You see your way as the only way. It’s your turn to trust me. If you value our friendship at al, you have to trust I know what I’m doing.”

“You don’t know Chael.” I whisper the words.

He passes a hand over his face. When he looks up at me, his eyes are human, ful of acceptance and sadness. “Then you wil prepare me — tel me al you know about him.”

My heart is heavy. I sink back into the chair, col ect my thoughts. I remember what happened the first time I met Chael. It was at the gathering that proclaimed me the Chosen One. Frey remains standing at the rail, calm, patient.

Waiting for me to begin.

I look into his eyes. “He is a coward,” I begin. “And that makes him very dangerous. He wil not fight you. Not at first.

It’s why he has Judith Wiliams with him. She is a rogue and foolhardy. You must kil her the moment you see her. It’s the only way. There may be others, too. If you give me time, I might—”

An abrupt brush of the hand sweeps aside that notion. “Go on.”

I don’t know what else to tel him. “He is old. He is powerful. He is arrogant. You must catch him unaware. Do not try to extract a confession or engage in a debate. He wil choose a vulnerable moment and attack. And he wil kil you.”

A thought surfaces, an echo of something that came to mind this morning. “Do you know how to use a bow and arrow?”

I do not have to explain; awareness blooms in Frey’s eyes.

“Yes. Sarah has a crossbow.”

“Then use it. Watch for Chael and shoot him the moment you see him. Do it from a safe distance. Aim careful y.”

Frey straightens from his slouched position against the porch railing. “Thank you,” he says. “Now I think we should we get some sleep. John-John wil be up early. I’ve taken Sarah’s room. I moved your things into Mary’s.”

He doesn’t wait for acknowledgment but heads into the house, leaving me staring into the darkness.

Did I tel him enough? Did I tel him too much?

How do you prepare a friend to battle a monster?

CHAPTER 33

IF EITHER OF US GOT ANY SLEEP LAST NIGHT, I’M UNAWARE of it. I could hear Frey pacing in his room the same way I’m sure he heard me pacing in mine. I didn’t attempt to reach out to him. Everyone prepares for battle in his own way.

And I had my own battle raging. Deep inside. Sani said if I chose mortality, I would have only twenty mortal years. If I were lucky enough to marry, have children, I would certainly not live to see my grandchildren.

And would any of us survive a vampire uprising? Would I want to?

It’s John-John’s sleepy voice and soft footfal s padding into the kitchen around dawn that draws us out. Frey and I open our doors at the same time, step into the hal. We’re both wearing the same clothes we had on yesterday. His stil hold that strange aroma. It’s not unpleasant — like a combination of sage and sandalwood. He