I looked around. “Where is he?”
“He texted and said he’s chasing a lead,” Zoe replied, her fingers busily combing through Sami’s hair. I had the distinct impression that she wanted to hug her child but knew better because she didn’t want Sami to make another eye-rolling scene. “He promises to catch up with us as soon as possible.”
“You can’t wait for him, Sami,” Aric said sternly. “He knows the plan, so he’ll catch up to you. If something happens, you have to leave without him.”
“You have your credit card,” Zoe added. “There’s cash in that bag in the hotel room.” She hesitated and then barreled forward. “You know how to drive. Daddy taught you. You also know how to use your magic to steal a car. Don’t drive over the speed limit. Be calm. Change cars if you have to.”
Sami nodded and the forlorn look on her face tugged at my heartstrings. Was this how it had been when I was abandoned? Was I left with instructions I couldn’t remember? Did the people taking care of me have a plan?
“She’s not going to be alone,” said Gunner. “Honestly, nothing is going to happen. I can pretty much guarantee it. If the unthinkable does happen, and some unforeseen enemy manages to make it past the four of us, do you think our team is just going to abandon her?”
Aric offered up a genuine smile. “No. Of course not. It’s just—”
“This is your regular routine,” I finished, understanding. “I get it.”
“She’s been coveted since her birth,” Zoe explained. “We’ve always had a plan.”
That right there was a sobering thought. “She’ll be fine,” I promised. “We will, too. We’re going to a bar. The bulk of the people there are pretty much harmless.”
Zoe’s eyes flashed. “I’ll burn the world down to make it back to my kid. I’m the thing in the dark people need to be afraid of.”
In that moment, I totally believed her.
GUNNER DROVE TO THE DIRTY ROOSTER. I HAD to give him directions because the location was convoluted, and when he parked in the middle of nowhere, Aric looked confused.
“There’s a bar out here?” he asked.
“There’s something out here,” Zoe confirmed, hopping out of the truck. She immediately went to the edge of the forcefield that obscured the supernatural hotspot. “Look at this.” She ran her fingers over the magical barrier that only she could see. Even I wasn’t powerful enough to get a visual. For me it was a sensory thing.
“Is it a dome?” Aric watched his wife’s hands glide over the invisible surface.
“Yeah.” Zoe’s eyes were lit with intrigue. “It’s powerful, too, although it’s different.” She tilted her head. “Mine is better.” She puffed out her chest, lowered her hands, and winked at her husband. “I’ve got this.”
I realized a split second before it was too late what she intended to do and grabbed her hand, firmly shaking my head. “No.”
She frowned. “Do you think we should just knock or something?”
“That’s the plan. It’s not a normal knock, though.” I shot her a warning look, waiting until she nodded, and then raised my own hands. “The owners know me.”
“Have at it.” Zoe made a sweeping motion with her arm. “Go nuts.”
“Thank you.” I let loose the magic, knowing those inside would recognize it. What I didn’t tell her was that it was possible the owners would double down on the locks when they realized it was me knocking. While we weren’t exactly enemies, we weren’t exactly friends either. I let out a breath when I felt the door opening. It didn’t look like brute force was going to be necessary after all. “See?”
“Yes, you’re wondrous and magical. We should all be like you.” Zoe cast a look toward her husband. “Anybody hits on you and I’m going to blow them up.”
He smirked. “Same goes.”
“Wow,” Gunner breathed. “I didn’t know that was the rule.” He pinned me with a faux serious look. “I owe a bunch of people sticks of dynamite up their rear ends.”
I snickered. “We’re a really odd crew, aren’t we?”
“I think we’re awesome,” Zoe said. “Show me this place. I’m dying to see it.”
“Your wish is my command.”
IT WAS FUN TO WATCH ZOE ENTER THE speakeasy. She was a master at keeping her face impassive but the way her eyes hopped from table to table, magical lights illuminating what should’ve been a bare field in the middle of nowhere, had me smiling.
The owner, a bubbly dude named Cedric with a bright aura, didn’t look surprised to see me. His smile was welcoming, although it dimmed a bit when he saw Gunner. “I didn’t realize you were bringing guests with you now.”
I shrugged. “You didn’t say I couldn’t bring friends.”
“I’m pretty sure I did.”
“Well, I didn’t hear it.” I waited to see if he would make a fuss. It wouldn’t have changed the outcome, but it would’ve made things uncomfortable. He merely shook his head.
“Take a seat.” Cedric indicated an open table at the edge of the space. Rather than sit there, Zoe headed directly toward the center of the action. “Or sit wherever you want,” he muttered, clearly unhappy.
I held it together, although it was a chore, and waited until everybody was seated to look around. To my surprise, the female shifters from the woods, all three of them, were seated at one of the outlying tables. The look Jasmine gave me was dark and she didn’t wave or offer a greeting.
“That’s interesting,” I muttered, inclining my head toward the women when Zoe pelted me with an inquisitive look.
Zoe frowned when she saw them. “I’m not sure I buy their story. It doesn’t make sense to me that they decided to wander into the woods and hide out there.”
“What do you think they’re covering up?” Gunner asked, sliding his arm around my back. He was a little unnerved by the magic zinging through the room. I recognized most of it was for looks, including the twinkle magic that zipped to and fro, but he
