Nothing I tried worked. Jax refused to let me tag along. He claimed it was too dangerous. “Fine. Drop me off at Shadowborne.” I glared at him.

“What makes you think I’d do that? Do I look crazy to you?” He ran his fingers through his hair and began to pace. “You’ve put me in a spot. On the one hand, I’d love to think I could tell you to stay and you would.”

“Oh, but then you remember I’m people and not a puppy, right?” I snickered.

“Actually, I was hoping you wanted to live too. You said you did. Our plan, originally, was to kill my mother. This will weaken the hive. Without a queen, they’re lost.”

“You’re forgetting the other part of the plan.” I sighed.

He paused mid-step and turned to face me. “What’s that?”

“We need to stop my father. He can’t become immortal. He’s too bad. With that kind of power…” My voice trailed off and I shuddered. I imagined a world cloaked in darkness. “If he becomes a vampire, I’ll literally spend the rest of my days trying to kill him.” I wrapped my arms around my body. “Let me help you. Let me go to Shadowborne. I’ll find a way to stop him.”

“What makes you think you can stop him by going back to the academy?” Jax frowned. “Help me understand, Ash. I think this idea is foolhardy at best.”

“Well, for one, Vhorg is there. She’s on our side.” I smiled triumphantly.

“You think so?” His brows shot up. “I’m unconvinced.”

“She’s on our side. She just doesn’t know it yet.” I laughed. “I bet I can make her a believer.”

“I’ll go with you.” He nodded. “Let me get the hair first. Then we’ll free Scarlett. She can charge the potion. I’ll drink the potion. You can kill my mother. And we all live happily ever after.” Jax waggled his brows playfully.

“After we stop my father,” I reminded him. “You saw. Can you imagine him without humanity?”

He stepped closer to me. When we were toe-to-toe, he lifted my chin. “I don’t know how you propose we do this, Ash. He’s human. You have me on a no-kill regimen. Besides, do you really want to be all alone in this world?”

“Oh, because my father is such a comfort? Please. I’ve been gone weeks and the man didn’t even care I was gone until he found out I was at Shadowborne.” My eyes widened. “There’s something going on at the school. There has to be. That’s the only explanation.”

“I know you’d like to believe this, since it would give you a reason to go back, but I think it’s a terrible idea.” Jax tugged at his chin. “Still, if we free Alayna and Scarlett, we’ll be one step closer to taking down my mother and your father. Let’s start there.”

I folded my hands in front of my chest in a pleading gesture. “Let me help.”

“Dammit. I don’t want your help for this, but sadly, I don’t want to leave you alone either.” He rubbed the back of his neck and I could sense his stance was softening. “If I take you with me, you have to promise to stay vigilant at all times.”

I began to bounce up and down in excitement. “I will. I promise.”

“And you have to be serious. This is ridiculously dangerous. You’re a hunter.” He paused when he saw my mouth open as I prepared to protest. “You’re a hunter even though you haven’t finished your training. You have more skills than half of your professors. Believe me, I know.” He shook his head. “I can’t believe I’m considering bringing you to the hive. I have to be out of my mind.”

“With love,” I teased.

“Fuck. This is your idea of serious?” He scowled.

“No, this is.” I opened my coat. “Here’s my stake. Is that serious enough for you?” I glanced around. “Hey, what happened to my sword? I stole that by accident but I promise to intentionally put it to good use.” I winked.

“You’re killing me, blondie.” Jax shook his head.

I pressed my lips against his. “Nope. The potion is going to work. I can feel it.”

“I hope you’re right.” He took my hand and together we walked to the cave entrance. The sun was setting in the distance, turning the sky gorgeous shades of orange and purple.

“That’s a great sign,” I murmured. “Purple is my favorite color. Tonight, luck will be on our side.”

Jax kissed my forehead. “Right, babe. That’s how it works. Very scientific.” He rolled his eyes, then he released me so he could move the branches blocking our path.

Within seconds we were outside and racing down the mountain. We kept to the areas with the thickest tree coverage. It was a smart move, since it protected Jax from the sun. It also served to keep us out of sight, should anyone seek us out. Somehow, I couldn’t picture my father looking for me.

“What happened with your mother? Will she be happy to see you?” I spoke into his ear, while clinging to his back and racing at speeds that had my face contorting.

His pace slowed considerably at my words. “Actually, the plan is to avoid her altogether. She should be out hunting by the time we get there.” Jax squeezed me extra tight. “I don’t want her anywhere near you ever again.”

“Well, that will make it harder for me to kill her,” I joked. “I mean, how long do you think my sword is?”

“Not long enough.” He turned his head and gave me a grim look.

We ran in silence for a while. As our elevation changed, I knew we were getting closer to the school. Suddenly, I was laser focused on our surroundings. Vampires could be anywhere. We could be in danger.

“This is the only time I wish I’d claimed you.” Jax spoke low, but I still heard him, even though I wasn’t sure that was his intention.

In response, I hugged him closer. “We’ll get through this. We’ll be fine.”

He slowed bit by bit until we were barely moving. Jax seemed to be scanning the area. “Not a sound. Don’t even breathe loudly,” he murmured.

I nodded against his cheek as we moved around a giant boulder and hill. As we circled, I discovered we’d obviously reached the hive. Carefully hidden doors opened to the west, which made a lot of sense. Standing near the entry was an older couple.

“Good evening, Grant.” Jax smiled at the elderly man. “Just stopping to grab a few things.”

“I’m not sure you’re supposed to be here, sir.” He shifted to partially block the entrance of the building.

“What makes you say that?” Jax tilted his head. Then he leaned in and murmured, “You should let me in so I can get what I need and then I’ll leave.”

Grant stared at him a moment before he suddenly stepped aside. “Get what you need and then leave, sir.”

Jax nodded. “Good thinking.” After grabbing my hand, he started toward the door. “Who’s in the hive right now?” I watched as he tried to sound all casual, but his grip on my hand made me want to cry out in pain. I tugged gently and flashed my eyes at him when he turned my way. He mouthed an apology.

“Well, the hive is empty, sir.” He bowed slightly.

Jax waited until they made eye contact again. “Did my mother tell you to say that?”

The man hesitated again. “No, sir.”

“You’re sure? So, the queen isn’t holed up inside?” He tapped his foot impatiently.

Shaking his head, Grant murmured, “No, sir, but if she returns, I’ll tell her you’ve arrived.”

Jax stiffened. “Don’t do that. If she arrives, tell her you haven’t seen me.” Then he tugged me toward the entrance and I swallowed my fear as I wandered inside.

“Is this what it felt like for you when you went to Shadowborne?” I tried not to tremble.

“How do you mean?” He casually laced his fingers through mine and rubbed my skin with his thumb. “Calm down, babe. I can hear your heart from here.”

I paused, took a deep breath and focused on my strengths, the same as I did during each class taught by Master Lin. I needed to be centered. For the time, it was essential for me to forget I was the lamb in the lion’s den. “Okay. Let’s do this. Bathroom?” Then my brow furrowed. “Do you use the bathroom? Do you pee? I don’t think I’ve ever seen you pee.”

Jax chuckled. “Of course, I pee. How do you think I eliminate the crap in people’s blood?” He shuddered. “Do I look jaundiced and sickly?”

I shrugged. “No, you look pasty white.”

He stopped. “I prefer to think of myself as porcelain toned. Thank you.”

I giggled. “Come on. This should be a simple in and out procedure.”

He jerked his head toward a closed door at the end of the hall. “This would be the queen’s chamber. Inside, we’ll find her brush and her bed.”

“She sleeps in a bed?” I pushed past him. “This, I’ve got to see.” I started to reach for the door handle, but he blocked my hand and opened with his own instead. “What?”

“Don’t touch anything. You’ll leave your scent. You have no idea how your smell lingers.” Jax shook his head.

I crossed my arms over my chest. “Did you just call me smelly?”

He sighed, wrapped his arms around me and pulled me close. “No, but you have a very distinct odor, a human one. No one can know you’re here or that you were at one time. Got it?”

With a frown, I nodded. “I’m ready.”