“She’ll become your primary concern when she appears,” Bonnie spoke up. “You won’t care about the rest of us when that happens.”
Zoe hesitated and then shook her head. “I’ll protect my daughter at all costs. I’d be lying if I said otherwise. However, I won’t sacrifice all of you to do it. We’re a team, and we’ll be fighting together. I promise I won’t just abandon you.”
Bonnie opened her mouth, perhaps to argue more, but she ultimately loosed a sigh and nodded. At that exact moment, the phone in Zoe’s pocket began to ring.
“That will be her,” Aric said. “She’ll set the meet for the next half hour.”
“We’ll be ready,” Zoe replied grimly, tugging the phone out of her pocket. “Everybody knows what they have to do. This won’t be easy, but I know we’ll be able to win.”
Marissa stared at her. “How can you be sure?”
“Because I never lose.”
EMMA PICKED A SPOT IN THE WOODS with a heavy tree canopy. I’d been there once prior, weeks before, during a search. At the time, I remember thinking it was a nice place for a picnic. Before Gunner, a thought like that wouldn’t have entered my mind.
Zoe took the lead, the rest of us flanking her. Aric was close but his eyes were already scanning the shadows offered by the trees for signs of his daughter. Even though he was obviously worried, he remained calm. They’d trained Sami for a situation exactly like this, and while I had no doubt the teenager would be in a world of trouble when her parents finally got their hands on her, I wasn’t particularly worried.
Sami could take care of herself. She’d shown that to Gunner and me on that first day. She would make it through this.
Emma stood in the center of a small clearing. She looked smug, as if she’d somehow already won. She probably believed that, I realized. In her head, this was already behind her and she was moving forward, focusing on whatever ritual she thought she would be able to carry out with the eclipse. Everything that was about to transpire was merely a formality.
“I’m so glad you managed to make it,” she trilled as we closed the distance. She was surrounded on both sides with female shifters while the vampires hung back under the trees. They were so far back in fact, all I could see were shadowy silhouettes, and a brief flash of blonde hair that reminded me of a summer day.
“We’re thrilled, too,” Zoe drawled. She carried a rucksack in her hand, the newly enchanted book neatly tucked away inside. “Where’s my vampire?”
“He’s safe.” Emma’s lips curved in smug superiority. “Once I have my book, you can have your vampire.”
“Yeah, that’s not the way it’s going to work.” Zoe adopted a tone that was both condescending and somehow demanding of respect. “I’m too old to play whatever games you have planned. That means I’m in control now.”
Emma glanced at the nearest shifter and snickered. “I would have to argue against that statement, since it was my call that got you here in the first place.”
“If that’s the way you feel.” Zoe turned to leave, causing Emma to make a hissing sound.
“Don’t be a spoilsport,” Emma called to her back, a nervous chuckle escaping. “I was just messing with you. If you’re so desperate to see your vampire, I’m more than happy to show him to you.”
Zoe turned back, her expression dour. “I’m also too old for theatrics.”
“What’s life without a little drama?”
“Tolerable.” Zoe heaved out a sigh and shook her head. “Listen, I get that you’ve had some horrible things happen to you. You were taken, enslaved, and forced into submission. You’re sowing your oats now, which could be applauded under different circumstances. But you’re not embracing the light. You want to continue living in the shadows. I can’t fix your way of thinking for you. I can’t give you back the life you lost. All I can tell you is that you’re not going to get what you want out of this scenario.”
Emma’s eyes narrowed as she stared at the bag in Zoe’s hand. I could feel her extending her magic to the item shrouded inside. “What is it you think I want?”
“Retribution. Power. Payback. Absolute dominion over whomever and whatever you want.” Zoe’s eyes briefly lit with mirth. “You’ve been dreaming of this for a long time. You think the Archimage can imbue you with unlimited magic. Disappointment is always a bitter pill, but I think it’s going to be practically impossible for you to swallow.”
Emma turned haughty. “The books seems to have protected you.”
“It wasn’t the book,” Aric called out. “You’re too far gone to see that. Give us our vampire.” He stared down one of the female shifters across from him, a young woman who cast a nonstop series of flirty smiles in his direction. “I tire of these ridiculous games.”
“Give me the book and I’ll give you the vampire.”
Zoe heaved a tremendous sigh. “I’ve already told you how this is going to go. You give us our vampire and Mama Moon and I’ll give you the book. Otherwise ...” Zoe took me by surprise when her hand ignited in flames and she held it close to the bag, “…I’ll end this right here and we’ll fight it out.”
Emma’s eyes went wide with panic. “Don’t do that!”
“Then give me my vampire!” Zoe’s fury echoed through the small clearing. “Where is he?”
For a moment, Emma looked indecisive. I thought she might actually fight with Zoe. Instead, she motioned toward the vampires behind her. In dumbfounded silence I watched two familiar faces emerge from the trees. In the limited shade offered by the lingering day, a furious-looking Rafael, who appeared a little bruised but ultimately defiant, appeared. He was in restraints, his long hair a mess, and he was clearly spoiling for a fight.
Despite my relief at seeing him, it was the vampires holding him in place who took my breath away. I
