Her guide flying overhead veered to the left, and Ari followed US 55. A right off the ramp, a swing north, a left onto a secondary road, and eventually they entered a park or nature preserve that was heavily wooded. Ari pulled off and stopped at a grassy area under a canopy of dense trees. She sat still for a moment, her hands trembling. The cat mewed, and she turned to wiggle her fingers through the carrier’s wire door to comfort her. Acer’s daughter swooped out of the sky and landed beside the car. Ari turned off the ignition and stepped outside.
A flutter of feathers, and a naked teen girl stood before her, exhibiting no self-consciousness with her lack of clothing.
“I’ll leave you here. Dad says you should keep moving. We’ll delay them another ten to fifteen minutes until you’re out of sight.” A mischievous grin appeared. “Don’t worry about us. We’re not only bigger but faster. I’m looking forward to having some fun.” She lifted her hand in a brief wave. Feathers sprouted on her arms first; she fluffed her wings and flew away.
Ari sighed and slid behind the wheel. “Fasten your seatbelt, Dona. We’re taking off again.” The rental car leaped forward, and Ari headed north.
Thirty minutes later, she pulled into the outskirts of a small town, spotted a car rental, and left her current ride in a nearby motel parking lot. Carrying her bags and Dona’s cage, she walked two blocks back to the rental facility and used most of her remaining cash to obtain a small SUV. She hit the road again, still headed north, going home.
When she was sure she’d left the crows behind, she stopped at a shopping mall to replace the phone she’d left at Moriana’s. It probably wasn’t a GPS trace that gave her away—the crows would have appeared sooner if it was—but she was taking every precaution, even if she was going straight where Porbius wanted and expected her to be.
She called Andreas from the parking lot.
“Cara mia. Are you safe?”
“Yes, for now. Ryan?”
“Still unconscious.”
She swallowed her disappointment. She’d kept hoping the news would be better. “I’m on my way home. I have to see him.” She waited for the explosion, but it didn’t come. “Andreas? Did you hear me?”
“I’ll meet you somewhere along the route. You can’t enter town alone.”
“What? No argument?”
A pause. “I’m not starting a fight that is already lost.”
“Are you angry?”
“Cara mia.”
She sucked in a breath. “I’ll be in Brierly in three hours. There’s a lake with several stone benches where visitors feed the ducks.”
“I’ll be there. Stay safe.”
* * *
It was nearly midnight when Ari arrived, and the chain was up across the lake road. She parked the car and got out. Dona, who’d been riding free of the carrier for the last two hours, jumped out, showing every intention of going with her. Ari planted a hand on her hip. “Back in the car. We don’t need your protection right now. Andreas is already here.”
The cat blinked twice and sat down.
“OK. Then stay here and guard the car.”
Ari stepped over the chain and walked toward the water shimmering in the moonlight. A tall figure detached from the shadows of a tree and stepped toward her. His magic swept over her, and she broke into an awkward run.
“Cara mia.” He swept her into his arms and buried his face in her hair.
“It seems like it’s been forever,” she whispered. Tears ran down her face, soaking his shirt. She pulled back to ineffectively wipe at the wet spots. “Sorry. It must be the hormones.”
“Of course, it is,” he agreed, pulling her back against his chest.
“Oh, don’t be so agreeable.” She was half chuckling now. “Can I help it if I missed you?”
“I would be very disappointed if you had not.”
“Aren’t you going to show me how much you missed me?” She stopped talking when he covered her mouth with his and deepened the kiss enough to leave her breathing hard.
“You were saying?”
“Hmm. I’m sure I was suggesting you do that again.” She pulled his head down with both hands, and he obliged.
They strolled toward the car a few minutes later with their arms wrapped around each other.
“Any news on Ryan since we last talked?”
He looked down at her. “The human doctors found nothing, but the healer from the Magic Lab was there just before I left. In his opinion, Lt. Foster is under the thrall of a psychic vampire. They’re doing some further testing. Until they have confirmation no one else has been told.”
Ari’s stared at him, her stomach queasy. “Porbius isn’t a psychic vampire.”
“No, Volucris is, but he isn’t here.” He hesitated as if he might say more, then took her hand. “Come on. I know you’re anxious to see him, and we can talk as we drive.”
“Where’s your car?”
“At home. Cutting across country was just as fast, and I thought it would be better to enter Riverdale in your rental car rather than use an identifiable vehicle we own.”
“Smart thinking. You get to drive.”
They had to take a few moments for Dona to show Andreas how glad she was to see him, but they were quickly on their way. In the ninety minutes it took to reach Riverdale, they filled each other in on the details of the last few days.
“It’s been eerily quiet since the crows left. I suppose Porbius was plotting this attack on Ryan.” Andreas shook his head. “I don’t understand how he’s done this or why he’d use Ryan to lure you back to Riverdale. Why does he want you here, if he knew where you were in St. Louis?”
“Maybe he didn’t know until the last minute.”
Andreas gave her a piercing glance. “What happened to tip him off? Did you do something different? Run through your activities since last night.”
“Contacts, you mean.” She wrinkled her forehead, thinking back. “Claris called me for the first time last night, and I talked to you. I tried to call Milla this morning, but I couldn’t reach her, so I called Kyra and found out the pregnant cousin wasn’t doing too well. Then I met the eagle family. Moriana and I had just gotten home when Porbius called.”
“Do you trust the eagles?”
“They saved me. Besides, what would be their motive?”
“The O-Seven offered a bounty of three million last year. Perhaps they’ve renewed it, even increased it. But I agree it isn’t likely the eagles would turn around and risk their lives. Unless it was a setup, and they knew they wouldn’t be harmed.”
“I don’t think so. You didn’t meet those kids.”
“That only leaves Claris or Kyra.”
“Geez, are you serious?” She scooted around to stare at his profile. “Never. Neither of them would do anything to harm me. For Goddess’ sake, Claris is like a sister.”
“I didn’t mean intentionally. A comment to the wrong person, a conversation that was overheard.” He kept his eyes on the road, his voice tight. “If not them, then who?”
“I don’t know, but they wouldn’t say something like that in public. There has to be an explanation we haven’t thought of.”
They drove mostly in silence until they entered the suburbs of Riverdale and arrived at the Eastside Medical Center. It was two in the morning, but there were police cruisers in the parking lot and the hospital staff had already become accustomed to frequent comings and goings from Room 418. No one challenged Ari and Andreas’s presence except the police officer outside Ryan’s door. Once Ari showed him her badge, he nodded as they passed.
Ari paused in the doorway. The room was empty except for Ryan’s still figure in the bed and Claris sitting at his side, clutching his hand. Machines hummed, bags of fluids dripped into lines that ran to his body. Claris turned her head, stood abruptly, and flew into Ari’s arms, almost knocking the breath out of her.
“You shouldn’t have come, but I’m so glad to see you.” Claris jerked her chin toward the bed. “It’s scar
y having him lie there so still. I can’t help but remember—”
“Don’t go there. Ryan will be fine. Where’s his mother?”
“Taking a nap in the nurses’ lounge. She’s exhausted, but she couldn’t rest in here with the police coming in and out.”
“I noticed the police cars.”
“They’ve been around since we arrived.”
“They’re not here just to offer support,” Andreas said. “Before I left, I worked with a sketch artist to give them a likeness of Porbius. They’re screening every car that drives into the lot, and the stairways are monitored.” He walked over and pulled back the curtains. A large metal panel blocked the window. “Protection against crows. The police have been thorough.”
Ari nodded. Officers rallying around one of their own. They were doing everything they could, but their enemy wasn’t human. He wasn’t going to come through the doors or windows; his insidious magic was seeping through the walls.
She turned to Claris. “Tell me about his condition. Have the Magic Lab consultants been here?”
“Just before midnight. Two healers. They didn’t say much. Then a young man came and took new readings with a handheld device about an hour ago. He mumbled something and left. I guess we just have to wait.”
Should she tell Claris the lab tech’s suspicions, try to prepare her friend? Then again, maybe he was wrong.
Claris leaned back and looked her up and down. “You look ready to pop.”
Ari produced a weak smile. “Like a balloon. Four more weeks.” She glanced toward the door and stiffened. “A wolf just looked in. Do you know him?”
“Steffan put him there. He and Jena left a couple hours ago, but he wanted someone with Ryan until he could get back. As if police weren’t crawling all over the place.” Claris rubbed her weary eyes. “I just can’t believe this—and that no one knows how to fix it. Unless you do?”
“Not yet, but we will.” Ari put a hand on her arm. “Why don’t you take a break? I’ll watch him.” Claris’s eyes were swollen from tears and lack of sleep. She appeared totally wrung out. “At least go home and take a shower. Maybe eat something. Since Andreas and I will be here, Steffan’s friend can drive you. I’ll call if anything changes.”
Claris threw a worried look at the bed. “I guess I could use clean clothes.”
Ari grabbed the keys from the bedside table and pushed them into Claris’s hands. “So go. When you get back, we’ll talk.”
“I won’t be gone long.”
“Let’s find you that escort.”
As soon as Ari returned from seeing Claris on her way, Andreas gestured toward the bed and lifted a brow. “She loves him.”
“Yeah, I noticed that too. He’s a great guy, but what bad timing. Brando’s loss is still so fresh, now this…” Ari stood at Ryan’s bedside and studied his strong features. In spite of his summer tan, his face was pale, his breathing slow but steady. The knot in her gut tightened. She wasn’t used to seeing him so vulnerable. Before joining the police force, he’d been a Marine. Ryan was tough.
She leaned over and touched the stubble on his chin. “He’s under some kind of spell for sure. I can feel the dark magic.” She grimaced and pulled her hand back. “It reacted to my touch.”
“Can you break its hold?”
“I wouldn’t even try without knowing more, and I’m sure all the easy fixes have already been tried or rejected.” Ari frowned and sank into a chair next to the bed. “I’m anxious to talk with the lab to see what they’ve discovered, but Cillian’s staff probably won’t complete their analysis until morning.” She clasped Ryan’s hand and looked at Andreas. “See if you can feel the bad vibes.”
Andreas placed his hand over hers and nodded. “His face isn’t showing pain.”
“No, but something’s weird. He feels distant, like he’s fading away.”
“You mean dying?” Andreas checked the steady lights on the monitors. “The machines are not indicating anything wrong.”
“Not dying, but…I can’t explain it. Just slipping away.” She looked at Andreas. “Is this some kind of psychic vampire thing? Could Volucris be here?”
“If he was, it might explain Ryan’s condition.” His face darkened, an emotion almost like pain flashed across his face, and he shook his head. “Bastian told me Luc was in Germany. But I just don’t know.”
“Bastian could have lied. Or Luc left Germany after you talked.” Ari scooted back, settling in to stay for as long as it took. She kept a firm hold on Ryan’s hand. “Can you call Bastian again?”
Andreas sighed. “It’s daylight in Germany, but I’ll talk to him later. Right now, I’ll find you something to eat and drink. Anything else?”
She shook her head. “I’m not very hungry, but I could use a half caf. Something to perk me up but not stimulate an early delivery.”
“At least you’re already in a hospital.” He gave her a swift kiss on his way out the door.
Ari returned her attention to Ryan’s immobile form. What had Porbius and whoever was helping him done to Ryan? This didn’t feel like a normal bespelling. Something more insidious. It felt like evil magic was crawling around inside of him.
Andreas returned with food and coffee and kept watch with her until Claris arrived an hour and a half later, looking revived by the break. She took over Andreas’s spot at the bedside so he could make it home before dawn. Mrs. Foster came in shortly after.
The human doctors made their rounds at 8:00 a.m. and reported no physical changes. The first news came at 8:15 when Cillian called.
“Do you have the lab results?” Ari demanded.
“Yeah, I do. It isn’t good.”
Ari clutched the phone. “What is it?”
“He’s under the thrall of a psychic vampire.”
“I’d heard they were considering that, but you sound like it’s something worse.”
“This vamp’s a rare kind of feeder. A soul sucker. He’s draining him.”
“What?” Ari shot out of her chair. “Cillian, I feel him fading. How do we stop this?” She clapped a hand over her mouth as she registered the horror on Claris’s and Mrs. Foster’s faces. She forced herself to ask calmly, “Do you have a plan for treatment?”
Cillian hesitated. “Not yet. You know how dangerous it is to break any thrall. It can kill both. Maybe there’s something that will slow the process,” she added helplessly.
“Like what? Can we call his spirit back?”
Claris grabbed her arm. “Tell me what you’re talking about.”
“I will,” Ari promised her. “Just give me another second. Go on, Cillian.”
“I’m not sure calling has been proven to work, but there are legit healers who use it. It can’t hurt.”
“What did she say?” Claris demanded. “What’s going on?”
Ari disconnected and moved around to the far side of the bed. “We may be able to help him. I’ll explain, just follow my lead.”
She clasped Claris with her right hand, Ryan with her left. Claris caught on and grabbed his other hand. Mrs. Foster looked puzzled at first, then put an arm around Claris and leaned forward to place her other hand on Ryan’s forehead.
“That’s right.” Ari nodded in approval, her voice barely above a whisper. She swallowed with difficulty. “This isn’t going to be easy to hear or understand, but please don’t panic. Ryan needs you now more than ever. A psychic vampire has bespelled him and is slowly draining his soul.”
Mrs. Foster gasped, but Ari kept on doggedly. “Once it’s gone, he will die. They don’t know how to stop it yet. I hope to give them time to find a cure by using a form of spiritual healing, a calling, to delay his spirit’s departure.” She stopped and waited for their grief and despair to hit her. But the women were made of sterner stuff.
“Is he suffering?” Claris demanded.
“The research doctors don’t think so.” She squeezed Claris’s hand. “I’m so sorry this happened. It’s me the elders want. If I hadn’t le
ft town, they wouldn’t have attacked him.”
“It isn’t your fault.” Claris sounded half mad. “You had to protect your child.” She looked down at their joined hands. “So how does this calling work?”
“Tell me what to do.” Mrs. Foster had recovered from her initial shock. “I want to get it right.”
“There isn’t a right or wrong way. Touch him, talk to him. It doesn’t have to be out loud. Tell him whatever you want or need to say, as long as he knows you love him and need him to stay.”
Ari pulled up a chair and began a silent dialogue with her partner. She talked about their friendship, how much she depended on him to watch her back, and mentioned prior cases she couldn’t have solved without him. She reminded Ryan that she wouldn’t be there if he hadn’t saved her from a Hellsgate warrior and how he’d helped rid the world of Brando’s killer.
Claris and Mrs. Foster were absorbed in their own private conversations. The three women sat in outward silence for the next hour. When Ryan’s brother arrived, they broke the news to him and took turns at the bedside. It was all repeated again with Steffan and Jena an hour later. Officers and friends who stopped by added their own thoughts and prayers to the calling without showing the slightest bit of skepticism.
At one o’clock in the afternoon, Ari slipped out of the room. Claris had gone for a walk twenty minutes earlier, and Ari found her in the hospital chapel. She paused to watch her friend’s bowed head for a moment before she continued down the hall. She wouldn’t interrupt while Claris was consulting a higher power.
Ari’s intended consult was of a very different nature. She’d figured out Andreas hadn’t told her everything he knew about Volucris. She now understood the hesitations, the pain in his eyes, and that he’d tried to protect her in case the lab didn’t confirm it. He’d known Volucris was a soul sucker. She needed to know everything he knew and where Volucris was right now. She couldn’t wait for Andreas to wake in two hours. Ryan might not have that much time. She shuddered. It was bad enough Ryan might die, but to steal his soul? Not if she could help it. She’d talk to the devil himself if she thought it might help.