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I hooked the two evacuation bags for Yelena and me over my shoulders. There was nothing in place for Logan, Caden, and Seth, but they hadn’t unpacked yet so it was easy enough for them to bring their bags with them.

They were Yelena’s now, which meant they were mine too.

I wasn’t going to let some magic eater fuck with the ones brought to me by the gods.

I didn’t want to leave Seth, but Yelena was right that we had no other option.

The hallways were thick with people. We took the stairs down to the main floor to leave the elevators open for others, and packed into the garage, where a plethora of vehicles were parked and waiting.

Logan passed her keys to me and I tossed our bags into the trunk of her car before taking over the driver’s seat.

Yelena took the passenger seat while Caden and Logan took up their spots in the back.

We’d have to take another person if we actually did flee.

Every seat would need to be occupied to get everyone to safety, though a few traffic law violations would be required to fit everyone.

I pulled out of the building, bringing the car around to face the front gates.

I couldn’t see anything that would cause us to flee, but that didn’t mean something wasn’t nearby. I turned to Logan. Any information you can give us would help.

“Um, okay, well, so far I’ve been the only one able to see the entity. Seth and Caden could sense it, but only when it got close.”

Yelena tapped her fingers against her thigh. “Why only you?”

“I have no idea. Though, to be fair, I don’t know anyone else who’s been in contact with it. Caden and Seth couldn’t see a spirit we encountered in the Appalachians either.”

“If you’re the only one we can rely on for detection, I need you to walk the perimeter.”

“ No ,” Caden snapped. “That’s not safe.”

Yelena rolled her eyes. “Panther, we don’t have time for your fussing. We’re potentially evacuating nearly a hundred people in a few minutes if whatever followed you breaks through our wards. Logan is here and she will do her duty for the good of the nest.”

I can go with her , I offered, projecting the thought to the vehicle’s inhabitants.

“Why can’t I go with her?” Caden asked.

“Because you need to learn your place.” Yelena growled. “Haru, take Logan. Use your largest form so you can be quick about it.”

Yes, Mistress .

I slid out of my seat and Caden took over the driver’s seat for a faster getaway. I shifted into my strongest wolf form. It was about three times the size of my usual form and didn’t suit life in the nest very well so I rarely assumed it. I crouched to the ground, focusing on Logan.

Climb on .

She did as instructed, thighs squeezing me just behind my shoulders.

I set off with a smooth gait and followed the outer perimeter of the wards, reinforced by a nine-foot-tall iron fence that was decorated with hundreds of protective charms. This area of the nest contained the garage and extensive food gardens that looped around the main building, and the forest beyond the fence stretched for miles.

Anything ?

“Not so far.” Logan’s fingers dug into my fur. “Can I ask a question?”

Yes.

“Is Yelena good to you? Do you actually like her?”

I snorted. Of course I like her. She saved my life. We’ve been lovers for years now and I’ve never had the desire to leave her .

“I try to trust the vibes I get off people, but Caden’s worried. Seth had a horrible experience in a nest and we’re all really on edge.”

Understandable. Seth and I were in that same nest together.

Logan’s fingers squeezed tighter. “Really?”

He was a comfort to me . We spent a considerable amount of time in the infirmary together before I came here.

“From the animal fights?”

I paused and glanced at her when she reached out to stroke my head. Yes. That’s how I lost my voice.

“I’m so sorry.” She likely said the words automatically, but her tone rang with sincerity. Logan sighed and looked around, surveying the forest outside of the fence. “Would it be possible to get into the trees?”

Why?

“I don’t know how it works, but the forest has given me warnings about the entity before. It might help figure out how close it is.”

Sure. Let’s finish the perimeter first and let Yelena know.

I got going again, picking up my pace. I hadn’t let anyone ride on me like this for years.

Logan was an easy weight for me to carry in this form—solid and steady.

I liked having her up there. Her power thrummed against me like warm water trickling down a waterfall, but I wasn’t even sure if she was aware of it, given how focused she seemed to be on everything else.

The forest was quiet around the nest, but not eerily so. Flickers and scrabbling of woodland creatures and birds were still audible, though there seemed to be fewer than usual.

We finished the loop shortly and paused next to the car that held Yelena, Caden, and now three additional evacuees in the back seat. I guessed Yelena was trusting me to evacuate Logan if needed.

Nothing. She asked to be taken into the forest.

“You have permission,” said Yelena. “Be safe.”

Always .

They opened the gates for us and I slipped through the wards. The magic washed over me and Logan tensed, holding on to my fur even tighter. I wasn’t going to take her far. I chose a towering fir tree and got Logan within touching distance.

Does this work?

“Should be fine, yeah.” She moved to climb off me but I stepped nearer the tree and stopped her.

I can’t run away with you if you’re on the ground. Do your magic from my back .

She let out an annoyed huff. “I don’t even know if I can do it up in the air. I’ve only known I was a witch for a few days.”

I’d have to inquire more about that later.

For now, I opted for a compromise, crouching down so her toes could reach the ground, but I could still spring forward at a moment’s notice.

She braced a palm against the tree and a ripple of heat rolled from her, into me, and into the earth below.

I shivered and dug my claws into the soil.

Fear spiked through her scent and her body tensed above me. “We need to get inside the wards right now.”

I lifted my head and released a howl to let everyone know something was coming.

I launched off the ground.

Hold on tight .

The moment she leaned forward and grabbed on, I took a run and leapt straight over the fence. I’d been inside the nest for so long that the wards didn’t care where I entered or left from, and with Logan on my back, it didn’t block her entrance either.

I hit the ground running and as I skidded to a stop next to the vehicle where Yelena waited, a wave of unease hit me. I turned to the front gates and Logan let out a sound of distress.

“Haru, can you see it?”

I strained my eyes, searching for whatever was there. Flickers of light, like a heat wave, rolled around in front of the gate but I couldn’t see anything substantial.

No. What’s there? What’s it doing?

A shriek filled the air and all my fur stood on end. What the fuck was that thing? Panic rippled through everyone waiting. I hated that I couldn’t see it.

Haru .

I turned to Yelena. Yes ?

What the hell is that thing?

Can you see it?

Yelena nodded.

I danced in place, jostling Logan, tilting my head to look at her. Yelena sees it .

“What does it look like to you?” Logan asked Yelena, leaning down to see her face through the window.

“Like smoke from a tire fire fucked a well of crude oil and had a baby blessed by Helios.”

“Yep, accurate.” Logan stroked my fur and while I didn’t need to be comforted, it was nice all the same. “It’s trying to get inside, but so far the wards are holding.”

I suspected she spoke aloud for Caden’s and my benefit. I supposed that meant she hadn’t figured out how to use telepathy yet.

Can you use your magic to let me see? I asked.

“I don’t know how to do that but I guess I can try.”

Logan set her palm on my head and a sear of heat sank through my fur and skin so hot I had to force myself not to shake her off. Bit by bit my vision blurred and cleared, the entity coalescing into an almost spider-like shape the size of a van. The oily, smoky tendrils pawed at the wards.

“Did that work?” Logan asked.

I almost wish it didn’t, but yes.

It swarmed around the bottom of the wards, slapping and stroking in search of a weak spot. Logan pet my fur and I realized I’d been growling when I fell silent. The entity shrieked and hurled its whole body against the wards. They rippled but held.

Logan shivered above me.

I won’t let it get to you .

Kendrick marched over to where we were waiting. “Yelena, what in the holy fuck are we doing out here?”

Logan, can you give Kendrick the ability to see it too so he shuts up?

She laughed before she could catch herself and Kendrick turned a glare on her. I sidestepped so his reach for her fell short.

Hands to yourself, stag . She belongs to Yelena.

He rolled his eyes.

Logan leaned over me to see Yelena. “Haru wants me to help Kendrick see the entity. Is that okay?”

Yelena blinked. “If that’s something you’re capable of, then yes.”

“Kendrick, can I have your hand, please?” Logan held hers out and Kendrick set his into it. I laughed to myself when he yelped at the burn I knew was coming.

“Fucking hell,” Kendrick hissed. Then his eyes widened as the magic took effect. “Holy shit. What the fuck is that?”

“Unclear,” said Yelena. “But it consumes magic and if it gets through the outer layer of the wards we’re all screwed.”

“How long do we wait?” Logan asked.

Yelena shrugged. “Hard to say. I’d have to get up to the wards to see what their strength is holding at, and I’m not particularly keen on doing so with that thing right there.”

“Send Velda. We can keep an eye on it from here,” Kendrick suggested.

Of course he’d suggest anyone but himself for the task. Coward.

The entity hissed and flailed at the wards. I wanted to get Logan out of sight from it, to leap the fences and take her away into the forest, but there was no guarantee we’d be safer out there than where we were. I’d tear that creature apart before I let it hurt what was mine.