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“I don’t care how it works. It comes down to what you want and how hard you’re willing to fight to get it. Do you want to run forever?”

“No.”

“Do you want him to catch you?”

“Of course not. That’s why I need to keep moving.”

“Look at yourself, Adriel. You’re exhausted. Without me, you’re as good as caught. He’s, like… I don’t know the words you guys use, so sorry if I say this wrong, but he’s super old and strong, right?”

“Yes.”

“Older and stronger than you?”

“Much.”

“So eventually, he’ll run you down. If he’s stronger, faster, and crazy enough not to give up, then sooner or later, he’ll catch you.”

“What’s your point?” Adriel snapped, not appreciating how her tension and fear rose with every accurate statement.

“My point is we need a better plan than running our feet bloody and brainwashing our way over the Canadian border. Your mate may be old and powerful, but you’re female, and females are clever. If you had a halfway decent plan, you wouldn’t have to exhaust yourself running for your life.”

They were wasting time. “This is the plan I have! I don’t have the luxury of pausing to think! Don’t you get it? Every moment I waste debating if there is a better way, he gets closer to catching me!”

“You have no target! What’s your end game? We need to move toward something, or this insanity will never end.”

“The target is north!”

“That’s too broad and too far! There has to be a closer destination. A hideout. Someplace safe. A hidden space I could spell and protect so we can rest. I can’t keep actively using my magic if there’s no end in sight, and you need my magic if you want to beat him.”

“I don’t know any place like that! I’ve lived on the farm for too long. That’s all I know.”

Adriel’s voice trembled as her fear got the better of her. With such a sheltered existence, she knew nothing of the modern world. She only had the good sense to fear it.

“Well, I can assure you it’s not safe here in the woods. We’re wide open and unprotected. We need walls and a door.”

“Again, I don’t?—”

“I get it.” Juniper held up a hand. “Your home was on the farm. Blah, blah, blah. Adriel, if you want to evade this guy, you’ll have to throw out your old rules and find some balls.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means you’re a freaking vampire. Act like it.”

Her eyes widened in horror. “I am no such thing! I’m immortal?—”

She waved away the technicality. “Tomato,tow-mah-tow. I’m not the only one with powers. Use yours so we can find a place to hide.”

“What do you expect me to do?”

She pointed to her forehead. “Do that mind thing you guys do! I know you can bend people’s wills and make them forget. We need a place tostay. Let’s find a house. You can do your dazzle thing or glamour or whatever the term is to the owner. And then we can freaking rest and regroup.”

“Are you suggesting we steal?—”

“Borrow.” She gathered up her straggly brown hair and twisted it into a knot on top of her head. “We need to find a house that looks safe. Something with some property, maybe some sensory lights, and a camera system with security would be sweet.”

“I’m not familiar with such things.”

“I am. I just need you to do a little mind voodoo to get this ball rolling.”