Page 35 of Gray Dawn

“Sure thing.” Her focus dipped back to the screen. “I’ll see what I come up with.”

“Let me know if I can help.” Arden meshed her fingers, twisting them. “I’m not a pro like you, but I took a few computer classes in school.”

“Clay and I always work better together.” She angled the screen toward Arden. “Scooch in.”

While the girls settled into their tasks, their collaboration giving me the warm and fuzzies every time, I tuned in to hear the plan. With me packing less firepower, we had to be smart about our approach.

The property itself was about an acre lot with five low-slung buildings. The nearest neighbor was about a mile away on either side. The trees would help muffle sound if things got heated, but the situation had the potential to go sideways fast. If that happened, the noise would be the least of our problems.

“Saint can handle aerial scouting.” Derry’s eyes brightened. “Marita and I will take the ground.”

“Locating Clay and determining whether he’s here alone or with the director is our top priority.” I wiped my palms down my jeans. “We’ll determine next steps after we know more.”

“What about me?” Arden leaned forward, putting her face in mine. “I want to help.”

“Put on your gloves.” I locked down my jittery pulse, indicating for Asa to get out and wait on me. “Then get behind the wheel.”

The pair of fingerless Tinkkit gloves Asa knitted her might allow Arden to turn her opponents’ strength against them, but she was still human and oh so very fragile.

“Drive if I can.” She climbed over the console. “Fight if I can’t.”

“Exactly.” I slid my attention to Colby. “Don’t let them get their hands on you.”

She might have slipped away from Clay once, which still didn’t jive with what I knew about him when he operated in that dead-eyed mode, but I wasn’t risking her a second time.

The Mayhews exited the SUV and initiated their changes while Dad began the dowsing process over the tablet Colby had zoomed in to frame our area. Sure enough, the crystal indicated the building to our left.

“Let’s do this.” I rocked forward only to bump into Dad. “What?”

“You’re not going.” His jaw was granite. “If Father is in there, you’re defenseless against him.”

Asa parted his lips then snapped his mouth shut without bringing my magic—or lack thereof—into this.

“I’m not standing out here, providing a free mosquito dinner buffet.”

Marita nudged my hand with her cold nose then jerked her head to indicate she and Derry were leaving.

“Be safe.” I scratched behind her ears. “Donotengage.”

Behind her, Derry chuffed in the next best thing to a promise from his wolf.

Once they padded off, Dad rolled his shoulders to shake out his wings. “Watch the girls.”

Being relegated to guard duty sucked. Realizing Asa was essentially on guard duty for the guard on duty? Yeah. Not my finest moment.

Ten minutes later, Asa couldn’t stop his eyes from crinkling. “You hate this.”

“You’ll have to definethis.” I kicked the nearest tire. “There’s a lot to hate right now.”

“You’re used to being the one who solves everyone else’s problems.”

Power like mine altered a wielder’s outlook. Especially with a black magic amplifier like the Hunk making all things possible.

“That’s a charitable outlook on me.” I almost laughed. “I’m used to being a hammer in search of a nail.”

“But all the nails have turned into screws.”

“Yes.” A chuckle slipped through. “All the nails have turned into screws.”