Page 60 of Vampire United

Cora’s eyebrows hit her hairline. “Is somebody getting hangry?”

Caleb covers a smile, but he gestures to Caroline. “What else?”

“They’ve abducted a woman, and they’re holding her hostage to ensure the Faeries are loyal.” She pauses. “Including their leader, Sylvan.”

This time, Maddy gasps. “Sylvan is theirleader?”

Caroline nods, and she begins pacing. “But there’s something else going on… Something more.”

Maddy glances at Caroline. “What do you mean?”

Caroline throws her hands up. “Maybe it’s a gut feeling, but I know Merrick Industries has experimented on a lot of supernaturals. There’s got to be something bigger going on. They’re trying to do something…something huge.”

“Do you have any idea what?” Caleb asks. They could be up to all kinds of awful things in Merrick’s group of industries. They have an endless supply of research money and ethics aren’t something Malcolm cares to keep.

Caroline stops short and shakes her head. “No, I have no idea, but it must be big. Why else would they have joined up with Orion?” She scrubs a hand over her face. “It’s such a mess.”

Caleb gestures to Cora. “Is Galina around?”

“Won’t take long to get her here.”

“Maybe it’s time we figure out where Orion is. If he’s at Merrick Industries, maybe Caroline can get us inside.”

But her expression turns dubious. “It’s possible my access codes and everything still work.”

Cora jerks her thumb toward Caroline. “Will you keep an eye on her while I get Galina here?”

“You have a summoning spell or something?” Maddy asks.

Cora tugs her cell phone from her back pocket. “No, I’m going to call her.” She grins. “I just don’t have reception in here.”

This makes them all laugh, half-hysterical sounds, but it still feels good even if it feels a little stolen in the middle of all the end-of-the-world-ness going on.

Caroline takes a seat in the cushioned chair Cora vacated. “I’ll be good.” She studies Quinn. “Maybe we could talk a little while we’re waiting?”

Quinn shrugs. “Sure.”

While Cora steps out of the reading room, Caleb makes his way to Maddy’s side. “You hungry?” he asks quietly. “It might be time to get you something to eat.”

She frowns at him. “Why do you ask?”

“Oh,hangryprobably covers it.”

“Well, I don’t feel hungry, so I don’t know how I’mhangry.”

Caleb drops his arm around Maddy’s waist. “It’s been a while since you’ve had anything to eat, Maddy.”

She presses a hand to her middle. “My stomach is still pretty upset from the whole venom thing. I’d probably throw up whatever I tried to choke down right now. Blowing blood clots isn’t appealing.”

Caleb frowns. “Blowing blood clots?”

She gives him a dark look. “You know, like blowing chunks, but blood.”

That thought sort of turned Caleb’s stomach, too, but he finds himself grinning a little. “Still, I think we should get something to eat as soon as we can. As soon as Galina gets done, we should eat and rest.”

“Sure. If there’s time.”

Cora soon returns with Galina trailing behind her. “Look who I found.”