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I couldn’t stop the sigh of relief that escaped me.

Wolf said nothing, though. Didn’t make any sexual jokes, didn’t laugh at my obvious moment of weakness.

He just wrapped his arms around me, pressing my body to his, and fell back asleep.

With my ear pressed against his chest, I listened to the subtle drum of his heart. Listened to the constant pounding, the perfect rhythm.

“Huntyr,” a familiar voice pulled me from my sleep. “Huntyr, wake up.”

I blinked my eyes open, still wrapped in Wolf’s arms.

But that voice sounded so familiar…

“Rummy?” I sat up, careful not to wake Wolf. “Is that you?”

Her familiar laugh, bubbly and warm, filled the space around me.

I stood up and walked toward the trees, finding her leaning across the bark in the same black leather jacket she always wore.

“Hells,” I breathed. “It really is you. What are you doing here?”

She crossed her arms over her chest and smiled, as if she had meant to surprise me all along. “Happy to see me?”

“Happy?” I couldn’t contain my excitement. I ran to her and pulled her to my chest, hugging her tighter than ever.

Rummy and I weren’t much for physical affection, but I would make an exception this time. My chest swelled with happiness. She laughed and hugged me, too, wrapping her arms around my scarred back.

But when she pulled away, her smile had faded. “I came here to tell you something, Hunt.”

My stomach dropped. “Tell me what? How did you even find me? We’re in the middle of the Transcendent.”

“I know. That’s why I had to come find you myself. It’s Lord.”

I blinked. “What?”

“He’s sick, he… he isn’t in his right mind.”

“What do you mean? What’s wrong with him?”

“Maybe I should show you instead.”

She turned and began walking deeper into the forest. I glanced over my shoulder, ensuring Wolf still slept soundly, and followed Rummy.

Lord needed me.

I couldn’t wait.

“Wait up!” I called after Rummy. She maneuvered through the thick forest like she knew exactly where she was headed, like she had been through here dozens of times before.

Still, I ran after her.

In all the years I’d known Lord, I had never seen him sick. I had never seen him injured. Even when he fought off vampyres, he remained unscathed. The only blood that ever marked his skin was the blood of those killers.

If what Rummy said was true, things must have gotten very bad.

“This way!” she yelled.

“Are you sure you know where you’re going?”