“I already asked. He didn’t know.”
“Then why do you still see the apple?”
He hadn’t really been seeing it. It hadn’t even been in the forefront of his thoughts right then. But at her question, the damned thing appeared before him, all bright and shiny and smelling like the apple pie he loved so much. He would have closed his eyes, but he knew it would remain there behind his eyelids. So instead, he focused on Josh as he gave his answer.
“He wants to enslave Josh. He said so.”
Josh and Nero jolted at that, both of them reacting in predictable ways. Josh shook his head, his expression filled with defiance. Nero frowned, clearly thinking hard in the way of a guy used to sorting through military strategy. But neither said a word.
Bruce looked at the woman. “I don’t know how I fit into the picture, and I don’t know why the bastard picked me to offer the fruit to. But I know he wants my brother, and I’m not going to help him. He won’t get Josh through me. Not ever.”
Lady Kinstead glared at him. “Then your brother dies along with the entire world. At least a slave is alive.”
Nero shook his head. “There has to be another way.” He stared hard at the woman. “We have to find another way.”
She sniffed. “What do you think we’ve been trying to do? You even went back in time, and you failed.”
“I didn’t—” He cut off his words, but Josh finished them for him.
“We did. In this timeline, we haven’t changed a thing.”
“Yes, we did!” Nero answered. “We know how to kill it now.”
“Not if we can’t find it.”
And that was it—the big question for everyone. Where was the demon that was creating the expanding circle of death?
While everyone mulled over that disastrous question, Bruce chanced a look outside.
Oh fuck. It was a minute or two short of dawn. Laddin had set an alarm, but it had probably been drowned out by all the noise from the cars.
“Laddin!” he said. “You’re late!” Laddin had promised to give the cheese pixies some answers at dawn—at the tree that was over a mile away!
“Late for what?” Nero asked.
But there wasn’t time to explain. Wolf Laddin looked at the sky, whimpered in fear, and then took off. He was running like the wind as a wolf, and Bruce didn’t hesitate to follow him, doing his best to keep up on his human feet. He wasn’t nearly as fast, but there was no way in hell he would let Laddin face those demon cheeses alone.
By the time Bruce rounded the barn and headed out through the open field, he knew it was hopeless. They weren’t going to make it before dawn. Even Laddin, who was a distant streak of reddish brown in the distance, wasn’t going to get there in time. Bruce was running like his life—or Laddin’s life—depended on it, but they didn’t have a prayer.
“Eat the apple. You can run faster.”
Bitterroot was back, hopping through the field beside him like a damned bunny. He had no problem keeping up, and Bruce wanted to kick him, just for the hell of it. But he didn’t have the time and he certainly didn’t have the breath. But as it turned out, he didn’t need it to talk to the creep. The bastard could pick his thoughts right out of his head.
Fuck off! he thought as loud as he could.
Bitterroot ignored him. “Laddin’s not going to make it in time. And in case you haven’t noticed, magical creatures are all very angry around here. Wisconsin is one big knot of hate and fear. It is not going to go well for your lover.”
We’re all pissed off. You should be too. We’ll all die if we don’t stop that demon. So instead of hopping like a jackrabbit beside me, tell us where the bastard is!
Then, out of spite, he imagined Bitterroot as an ugly Peter Cottontail with buck teeth and donkey ears. And to his shock, the fairy abruptly changed into exactly what he’d pictured—complete with a polka-dot bow tie and a ratty straw hat. If he’d had the breath, he would have burst out laughing as Bitterroot stumbled at the sudden change in his body.
“I am angry, you idiot. And I’m trying to help!”
Bullshit.
“Eat the apple, you fool. Lovina was right. The Seers have all said you will eat it.”
And save the world?
“Sometimes. It’s not clear.”
Great. And because he wasn’t stupid, he knew that the two might not be connected at all. He could save the world by entirely different means. Or not save it at all. So this argument was getting them nowhere.
What do you get?
“Other than a saved Earth?”
Yes.
“Standard contract.”
Like what? My firstborn child? Wasn’t that what all the fairy tales wanted?
“Don’t be insulting. We cherish human children. I am the grandchild of a human girl. It is how I am who I am.”
An asshole?
“A prince. Listen, I’m offering you a bargain here. I’m hoping that more power will save your world and mine.”
Testy, testy, he mocked. Because the guy’s tone was aggrieved, as if he really was doing something against his own better interest. Which made Bruce distrust him even more. Anyone who said This is for your own good was lying. Still, the offer was getting tempting.
What kind of power would I get?
“I told you. You’ll get more.”
What the hell does that mean?
Bitterroot rolled his eyes. “Whatever you intend to be more.” He gestured to Bruce’s feet. “You want speed, yes? You would have more speed.”
Bruce did want to go faster. He was only three-quarters of the way there, and the sun was already up. He couldn’t see Laddin, and his heart squeezed in fear for the guy.
“It’s not just speed. If you intend violence, you’ll become
