“THEY’VE GOT THE HOUSE surrounded,” Ash said.
I looked over to see him perched on a rafter near Hayley.
“House, but not barn,” he said. “But that still means they’re very close.”
“Which means we need to revert to our favorite ploy,” Daniel murmured. “Divert their attention away from the barn so we can get out. Is there a back door?”
“There is,” I said. “I saw it when we came in. But I vote for the aerial route if we can. The trees come up to the roofline, right?”
“They do,” Ash said. “And there’s a busted-out window back there. A decent branch comes close enough to grab. That was gonna be my suggestion.”
I looked over at the others. “Anyone have tree-climbing issues?”
Obviously Ash and I didn’t. Daniel, Hayley, and Corey said they’d be fine. Chloe hoped she would—she had gymnastics training. Mr. Bae joked that it would be his first time in a couple of decades. Derek said nothing.
“Derek?”
“It looks like I’ll be the guy doing the distracting. I’m not trusting a tree branch to hold me.”
“You’re not playing decoy,” Chloe said. She turned to us. “I’m sorry. I know that sounds like a cop-out, but he really can’t. The last time we were in a fight against the St. Clouds, the orders were to tranq all of us except Derek. For him, it was shoot to kill. They don’t trust werewolves.”
“I think they’ve calmed down,” Derek said. “They’ve been watching us for months and haven’t tried to assassinate me yet.”
Chloe put her hands on her hips. “And that’s your definition of acceptance? Not going out of their way to kill you?”
“You’re both right,” Kit said. “I do believe they’ve realized Derek isn’t the threat they expected, but I also don’t trust them not to use excessive force.”
“He’s not going out there,” Daniel said. “When I suggested that, I meant I’d do it.”
“What?” I said.
“That’s commendable, Daniel,” Mr. Bae said. “But we do need to maintain our strongest negotiating position. According to what Antone says, you and Maya are the most valuable subjects. You’re both clearly successes.”
“Negotiating position?” Derek said.
“I’ll play decoy,” Corey said. “Done it before. Got away, too. That’s a good sign.”
Kit shook his head. “We need you, too. The Cabals may not realize it, but you’re also a success, if you’re seeing visions. I’ll go.”
“You can’t, either,” I said. “You’re the lawyer. We need you to negotiate.”
“There’s that word again,” Derek muttered.
Ash dropped from the rafters. “Can we all stop falling on our swords and actually do something? Another couple minutes and those witches will cast their sensing spell and figure out where we’re hiding.”
“So you’re volunteering to do it?” Corey asked.
Ash met his gaze. “No, I’m not. Anyone has a problem with that? Too bad.”
“Well, I guess blondie is playing decoy,” Hayley said, trying for a smile.
Daniel stepped forward. “No. You’ve already done that once.”
“And I was pretty damned good at it, wasn’t I? Face it, I’m an excellent actor.”
“No,” Daniel said. “There’s enough bargaining power here. This is my turn.”
“You stay. Help Maya. Fight the good fight. Blah-blah. Personally, I didn’t mind being captured. Hot food. Hot showers. I’m not really cut out for this running around stuff.”
Hayley headed toward the ladder. When Daniel went after her, Derek caught his arm and yanked so hard that Daniel flew off his feet.
“Hey!” Daniel said, twisting in Derek’s grip.
Derek just stood there, impassive. As Daniel struggled, Corey stepped in front of him. “Uh-huh. Time to let someone else be the big damn hero. We need you here.”
“Hayley’s gone,” Ash said. “So how about we go, too. Before she distracts everyone for no reason.”
Ash led the way and we crawled out across the rafters. Behind me Derek balked, but Chloe urged him on and his dad told him to just take another rafter if he was worried. He did.
I don’t think Derek’s weight would have made much difference. There were six of us, putting about eight hundred pounds of weight on a very old piece of wood. When it creaked, I swung over to the one Derek was using. Ash picked up speed and got to the window first. Daniel helped him clear the glass. Then Ash leaned out, peering into the night. When he gave the all clear, we started through. Ash went first, with me right behind. Daniel stood watch and made sure we waited our turn so we didn’t overburden the branch.
As we crawled out, I could hear a commotion to the left—Hayley running through the woods, making enough racket to be a half dozen of us. Somewhere below, a shadow tore after her.
As Hayley crashed through the trees, we continued along. Ash and I swung to the next tree. Daniel followed. So did Chloe. Corey almost missed, but made it. Mr. Bae didn’t try—just whispered for us to go ahead, spread out, and he and Derek would get on the ground as soon as they could, and travel that way.
At the next tree, I decided we should split up, Chloe and Corey taking the easy route. Daniel, Ash, and I crossed another tree, then another.
“Okay,” Ash whispered. “We’re spread out enough. Time to go—”
His gaze shot to the side. Before I could look, he knocked me so hard that I’d have fallen if Daniel hadn’t grabbed me. Something hit Ash in the shoulder. He toppled. We tried to grab him, but he was a dead weight, and he fell from our hands, tumbling down, striking one branch before hitting the ground.
When I tried to go after him, Daniel caught me. I swiped at him, but he held me firm.
“It’s a tranq dart, Maya,” he said.
“I don’t care. He—”
Daniel clapped a hand to my mouth as a dark-suited figure slipped from the trees and crouched beside Ash’s sprawled body. The figure pressed a hand to his neck and nodded.
Daniel tugged me up and motioned to the branch above. I hesitated. Then another figure joined the first below, both armed, and I realized any rescue would turn into a group capture. So, after one last look down, I steeled myself and escaped with Daniel.