Page 12 of The Tracker's Revenge

Chapter 5

Twenty-five minuteslater, Eric drove the Mercedes into the garage of his large house. He ordered us to stay in the car as the door slid shut behind us, and he checked his phone to make sure the security system hadn’t been breached and no one was inside waiting for us.

I was still in my wolf form, while Rosalina and Liliana’s neighbor sat in the backseat, looking numb. The woman hadn’t said anything, not even to wonder where we were going. I guessed it hadn’t mattered as long as it was far, far away from the giant vampire and his deranged, equally giant pet. That or she’d completely gone mute from shock. Not that I would blame her. She lived in an idyllic, peaceful suburb, and this was probably the worst thing that had ever happened to her. The poor thing.

As soon as Eric gave us the all-is-clear, I picked up my ripped jacket.

“Let me take this,” Eric said.

I nodded, allowed him to gather the jacket in his hands, then jumped out of the car through the window, and hurried into the house to find some clothes. I didn’t have to go all the way upstairs. I had a duffel bag in the training room, and the sweats and a T-shirt went on easily and quickly.

Once dressed, I met Rosalina and the woman out in the hall as they made their way towards the stairs that led to the main level.

The woman was wide-eyed, allowing Rosalina to lead her into the house. She hugged her thin arms, looking as scared as a captured squirrel.

“Where’s Eric?” I asked.

Rosalina shook her head. “Hewhooshedupstairs.”

He could certainlywhoosh, even faster than a vampire, something else I needed to learn from him and quickly. I’d made enemies with some very messed-up Skews, and I really did need all the skills I could get to defend myself and those I loved.

I figured Eric had disappeared to put the elixir in his ultra-secure safe—the same where he’d stashed the jade dagger that had created that hybrid. Only he knew the location of his hiding place—somewhere protected by very powerful magic, he assured me. Apparently, the same mage or witch who had crafted his shifter ring had created this safety device, whatever it was. Damien had also contributed to making the place as secure as possible.

“Good,” I said more to myself than Rosalina. I didn’t want anything to happen to the cure. I didn’t know what I would do with it now that Liliana was dead, but I certainly wanted it as safe as possible.

As if suddenly waking up from her stupor, the woman halted in the middle of the hall and shook Rosalina’s hand off her shoulder.

“What the hell is going on? Who are you, people?”

“It’s okay,” I said. “You’re safe with us. My name is Toni Sunder, and this is Rosalina López. What’s your name?” I smiled, trying to set her at ease.

“Everyone calls me Em. I don’t like my name.”

It was an odd answer, but she was nervous. She’d probably had the shock of her life.

“You’re safe here with us, Em,” I repeated. “You don’t have to stay. You can go back home whenever you want, but, if I were you, I would wait a bit. Would you like some tea or coffee?”

She nodded absently. We led her upstairs to the kitchen. She glanced around at the luxury of Eric’s place with a sort of curious detachment. She opted for chamomile tea, which was an excellent choice since it would calm her nerves.

Em sat at the kitchen table, and a moment later, I slid a steaming cup in front of her, then proceeded to make some strong coffee for Rosalina and me. I added extra water for Eric, in case he wanted some.

Our guest sipped her tea quietly for a few minutes before she spoke again.

“Is... is Liliana dead?”

Rosalina took the chair across from Em and answered her in a quiet tone that was almost a whisper. “She is.”

A lump rose in my throat, and I busied myself with staring at the brewing coffee maker, glad for Rosalina’s strength in situations like this. I was not the best at comforting people—not as good Rosalina, at any rate.