When Silas arrived at the hospital, he was surprised to find that Nickelova had fully recovered. Her skin was plump, her complexion vigorous. Even her platinum bob was back in place. Considering she’d still been bald less than a week ago, he took her full head of hair as certain evidence that magic was involved in her healing. He’d have to thank Grateful for her help after this was over. Come to think of it, he’d owe Grateful a debt of gratitude for a few things if they all came out of this alive.

“You’re looking better,” Silas said to Nickelova, the heart firmly in his hand. “You’ve gained weight.”

“That will happen when you’re forced to eat sixteen hours a day.” She refused to look at him, choosing to focus intently on a spot on the hospital wall instead. The room was a pit, covered in stacks of trays and strewn clothing. There were only two people who could tend to Nickelova: Grateful and her trusted friend Michelle. No one else could see, hear, or clean up after her, and by the looks of it, Nickelova didn’t feel the need to pick up after herself.

“It’s time to go. We need to find Alex.”

“Tomorrow night is the lunar eclipse. Trying to nip his plan in the bud?” She stage-whispered the last as if she were speaking to a small child. “I’m sorry to tell you, this plan is far beyond the bud stage.”

“Get dressed.”

“You can’t stop him, you know. No one has ever been able to stop Alex. Not even me. He thinks three steps ahead.”

Silas elevated the heart. “You will get dressed,” he said with intention. “And then you will take me to Alex.”

She bound from the bed like it was on fire and reached for a pair of jeans hanging over the arm of the only chair in the room. “Are you going to stand there and watch me?”

“I’ll wait outside. Don’t dally. We have work to do.” He slid into the hall, tucking the heart back into the new satchel he’d purchased to replace the backpack Soleil had barbecued.

Jason approached from the direction of the parking garage. “Is she cooperating?”

“You could call it that. How is Kyle doing?”

“Selene is keeping him calm. He didn’t sleep last night. Gerty has her eye on the place. I didn’t emphasize the fact that Kyle might be Fireborn pack’s first nonwerewolf alpha if something happens to all of us.”

“He knows.”

“This plan,” Jason said, “you’re sure your witchy friends are up to the task?”

“Positive. Polina and Grateful are a powerful duo. We’re covered.”

“Hey, you’re friends with Logan. Have you ever seen Polina’s magic mirror?” Jason asked.

“No. But he’s told me about it. Apparently, it’s this giant stretch of silver that tells the future. It’s ancient and practically foolproof. If they see us in trouble, they’ll send help.”

“Right. In the form of Rick and Logan, their caretakers.”

“Both of them can shift into beasts big enough to hold off a T. rex. That I have seen,” Silas said. “Believe me, we’re in good hands.”

“And Alex won’t see them coming.” Jason rubbed his hands together. “This has to work.”

“It’s going to work.”

Jason leaned against the wall and fidgeted with his tie. He was too dressed up for this type of work, but Silas rarely saw Jason in jeans and a T-shirt. It wasn’t his style.

“You nervous, brother?” Silas asked.

“Actually, I was wondering…”

“Yeah?”

“How are you handling this? You lost a woman you once loved and the woman you were in love with all on the same day. And now this thing with Laina.”

“You’re wondering why I’m not collapsed on the floor in a puddle of my own tears.”

“It has crossed my mind.”

“Soleil and I were close once. I loved Meredith. Maybe I still love her, despite everything. But there’s something I love more.” He adjusted the satchel on his shoulder. “Our family, Jason. What would Dad say if I crumbled and left our sister in danger? And what kind of alpha would I be if I let the pack down?”

“He’d say you were human.”

Silas swatted a hand between them. “I’m not human. I’m a werewolf, and I’m the alpha. I’m not going to give Alex the satisfaction of knowing he got the best of me, even for a minute.”

“But shit, you’re only one wolf. Anyone else would be crushed. Sometimes we don’t choose these things.”

He paused, blinking at his brother. “It hurts. It does. But I can’t afford to feel it right now. Not yet. I will eventually.”

Jason’s hand landed on his shoulder. “I’ll be here when you do.”

The water was getting a little deep for Silas, his mood drifting toward self-pity, so he was relieved when the door opened, and Nickelova stood, fully dressed at the threshold.

“We’ll need a car,” she said. “I feel the amulet from a distance.”

“It’s not in the city?”

“No.”

“Let’s go.” Silas began to walk away.

“I can’t leave the room, Einstein,” Nickelova said.

Jason laughed. “Oh, that’s my fault. Grateful told me to…” He removed a red cloth from his pocket and scrubbed the threshold near her feet. He’d barely cleared a six-inch patch when she leapt over his head and bolted down the hall.

Silas squeezed the heart inside his bag.

“Ahhh.” Nickelova froze, arching her back as if she were in pain. Reluctantly, she limped back to his side.

“You will stay close to us, Nickelova,” Silas commanded. “You will not try to escape or call attention to yourself.”

Her eyes stared, empty and hateful toward the window.

“Come on. We’re wasting daylight.”

* * *

Silas kept an eye on Nickelova while Jason drove. The dragon fae directed them onto the highway and out of the city. It was a good thing the Ford Transit had a full tank of gas.

“You’re sure this is the way?” Silas asked from the passenger’s seat, the dragon’s heart securely in his lap.

“The dragon scale amulet calls to me. I’m sure.” Nickelova’s tightly crossed arms didn’t fill him with confidence in her, but she had no other choice than to tell him the truth. He’d made sure of that.

“There’s only one town in this direction—Red Grove.” They’d already searched every inch around Laina’s cabin.

She shrugged and stared aimlessly out her window. “This is where I sense it.”

Silas scanned the horizon for anything unusual. They passed Monk’s Hill cemetery and Grateful’s house, continuing through the tiny town of Red Grove. Nothing. A few miles past Laina’s cabin, they were officially in the middle of nowhere.

“It’s here,” Nickelova said.

“Here? There’s nothing out here.” Jason pumped the breaks and scanned the area.

“It’s here. I can feel it.” Nickelova stared at the field on the side of the road. A few trees grew in the expanse of space, but nothing dense enough to hide Alex.

“Why would he even be out here?” Silas said. None of this made sense. “Is Alex invisible?”

“I don’t know if he’s invisible,” Nickelova snapped. “You ordered me to bring you to Alex by tracking the power of the amulet. I feel the amulet here, and Alex would never go anywhere without it. That’s all I know.”

Silas called Grateful.

Polina answered her phone. “It’s just me, Silas. Grateful is, uh—”

“You’ve got to be kidding me—”

“At the hospital with Rick, giving birth.”

“We can’t turn back, Polina. Alex has Laina.” Silas exchanged a worried glance with Jason.

“Relax. There’s no turning back. I can do this. I’m watching you in my magic mirror, and Logan is nearby.”

“Nickelova says Alex is here, but I see nothing.”

“I have a vision of you hugging Laina, but the image is fuzzy,” Polina said. “I think the dragon fae magic is interfering with my divination.”

“Well, there’s a whole lotta nothing out here. Unless Alex has made himself a cloak of invisibility,” Silas said.

“I can see it now. Laina is there, Silas. Somewhere. I’m sending Logan.”

“Not too close. I don’t want to scare him away.” Silas ended the call and climbed from the car, opening the back door for Nickelova. “You lead the way.”

Nickelova hesitated for a moment, scanning the field.

Silas exchanged glances with Jason.

“It’s this way.” She strode toward two trees in the distance, Silas and Jason following close behind.

“Why do I feel like she’s not telling us everything?” Jason said.

“Because she’s a tyrannical killer who almost ate your fiancée.”

“Yep. That’s why.”

Nickelova stopped short of the area between the two trees. “Why did you stop? Where’s Alex?” Silas demanded.

She raised one hand, a look of confusion on her face.

“Did you see that?” Jason asked.

“What?”

“The air near Nickelova’s hand kind of shimmered. I feel like I’ve seen this before.” Jason tipped his head to the side and squinted.

“I can feel it,” Nickelova said. She stepped forward and extended her arm. Her hand perforated the misty afternoon light and disappeared to the elbow.

“Silas, stop her!” Logan yelled from behind him. Silas glimpsed his friend for only a moment, and then Nickelova’s hands clamped on his and Jason’s shoulders.

“It’s a portal!” Jason yelled.

But it was too late. Silas winced as he and Jason pitched forward along with Nickelova, toppling into nothingness.

“Silas!” Logan yelled, but his friend’s voice was cut off as all three of them landed inside what looked like an empty barn.

“Where are we, Nickelova?” Silas asked.

“I have no idea,” she said snarkily. “But I did what you ordered me to do. It’s here.” She pointed across the barn.

Hanging from a tack hook on the wall was the dragon fae amulet. Silas crossed the large space and lifted the heavy talisman from the hook, draping the chain over his palms. It looked authentic. What was it doing here? “What the hell is going on?” he murmured. His phone rang.

“The amulet is here,” he answered, registering that the number was Polina’s. “But Alex and Laina aren’t with it.”

“Silas, where are you? I can’t see you anymore,” Polina yelled, a tinge of panic in her voice.

“I’m in some kind of barn.”

“Silas? Silas? Are you there?”

“I’m here. Polina?” The line went dead.

“What is this place?” Jason asked. He stared at Nickelova, who was turning a slow circle.

“He lured us here,” she said ominously, shaking her head. “I told you. He’s always three steps ahead. Always.”

Silas pressed the GPS app on his phone. “I can’t get any service. Nickelova, take us back the way we came.” He rested his hand on the heart in his bag.”

“I can’t.” She shrugged. “The portal is closed, and I have no power without my heart.”

Silas searched the walls for any opening, but there were no doors or windows.

“We have the amulet. Can you use it to get us out of here?” Jason asked Nickelova.

“I can try.” She held a hand out to Silas.

“You will use this amulet only to return us to Red Grove,” Silas commanded with his hand inside his bag, gripping her heart. Although she rolled her eyes, he handed the amulet to her.

Draping it across both palms, she closed her eyes and tried again. Although the amulet pulsed, nothing changed. “I can’t,” she said. “There’s magic, powerful magic, preventing me from creating a portal.”

Silas removed the amulet from her grasp.

“You could give me back my heart,” she said. “I’d be stronger.”

“Fat chance,” Jason said, trying his phone again.

“It won’t help you anyway.” Alex materialized at the center of the barn, a familiar face at his side.

“Laina?” Silas asked. “Are you okay? Did he hurt you?”

She strode to Silas and tossed her arms around his shoulders. He hugged her, but the hug felt unfamiliar, almost as if he were hugging a stranger. He couldn’t describe why, exactly, whether it was the pressure or the length of the hug. But Laina wasn’t herself. Had he infected her with sulfralite again?

As Laina retreated from the hug, she swiped the amulet from his grip and tossed it to Alex.

“Laina, what are you doing?” Jason spread his hands, a look of betrayal on his face. Laina backed toward Alex, her eyes going dull and blank.

“What have you done to her?” Silas drew his gun and leveled it on Alex’s head. “Let us out of here.”

“That’s not going to happen.”

Silas pulled the trigger. Although the gun fired, the bullet never reached its target. The amulet pulsed and its magic wrenched the gun from his hand; the bullet rerouted into the ceiling. His Glock skimmed across the floor into the wall.

“Try to be civil, Silas. While you’re still alive, it’s the least you can do.” Alex held out a hand to Nickelova and summoned her with his fingers.

She ran to his side. “I knew you’d come for me.”

“Oh, Nickelova. Of course I would. I need you.”

“I need you too,” she said. “Give me my heart, and we’ll pick up where we left off.”

He gripped her by the lower jaw. “Not yet.”

Nickelova’s face fell. He pushed her aside and turned toward Silas. “The thing about you, Silas, is you are utterly predictable. Always brave. Always selfless. I knew if I stabbed Laina and made her believe it was Nickelova, you’d retrieve her from that mountain and use her to find me. Ryker would never have given me her heart. The demon could smell me a mile away. But I easily deceived and manipulated your ex-girlfriend into doing the dirty work for me, and believe me, from what I hear, Ryker was dirty work.”

“Shut up. You shut the fuck up,” Silas said.

“My heart, Alex,” Nickelova whimpered. “Give it to me.”

“Don’t worry, darling. You won’t need it until tomorrow night. It only has to be inside your chest a moment before I sacrifice you.”

Nickelova looked confused. She backed away from him. “Sacrifice me? What are you talking about?”

“The ritual I must perform requires a demon, a vampire, and a dragon, along with a whole lot of energy and a blood sacrifice. Raising Panaal isn’t easy, but it will be worth it. At least for me. You’ll be dead.”

Nickelova gave a high-pitched sob, then pleaded with Alex in earnest.

Silas used the distraction to nudge his brother and gesture toward the gun behind them. He wasn’t thick enough to believe he could successfully shoot Alex. But if he could get that gun and kill Nickelova, they might be able to stop the ritual. Jason slowly backed toward the weapon and Silas thought of ways to distract Alex.

“How did you do it?” Silas interrupted. “How did you make Laina believe it was Nickelova who stabbed her when she was up in that mountain the entire time?”

“The same way I convinced Soleil you needed the heart and how I was able to obtain The Book of Flesh and Bone.” Alex walked over to Laina, who stared at a spot on the floor as if not in her right mind. He touched her shoulder. “Show them.”

Immediately, Laina’s body pitched forward, her scapula breaking, one arm wrapping unnaturally behind her head. There was a ripping sound and a splat as something gooey and slick hit the ground. When she stood up again, she was dark haired, olive skinned, and had brown eyes that carried the blank expression of someone who wasn’t quite awake.

“No,” Silas murmured.

“Who is that?” Jason asked.

“Have you met Olivia Turner of Crescent Star pack?” Alex asked. “Skinwalkers are incredibly powerful, especially when her position as a Lycanthropic Society member gives her a free pass through any of your enchantments.” Alex placed a hand on Olivia’s shoulder.

“Where’s our sister?” Silas demanded.

“Safe, for now,” Alex said.

“Leave Laina out of this,” Jason said. “Can’t we settle this like men?”

Alex snorted. “If you still think this is about settling a score, you haven’t been paying attention.”

Silas clenched his fists. In the place where Olivia had shifted, he noticed a smear of goop that looked like pink-tinged petroleum jelly. That’s what he’d seen in Soleil’s room when he’d confronted Meredith. It had been Olivia who had stolen The Book of Flesh and Bone. It was Olivia working for Alex. So then, where was Meredith?

Just then, Jason reached the Glock and kicked the gun toward Silas. He dove for it, rolling and firing toward Nickelova’s head. With one pulse of the amulet, Silas found himself flattened against the far wall of the barn. His bullet, once again, missed its mark.

“You two better get some rest,” Alex said. “Tomorrow night, everything changes.” The amulet pulsed again and Silas lost consciousness.