Frida gave me a sad smile from where she sat in front of a circle of candles, petals, and bowls. “It appears she’s safe, but she’s almost in the exact location I saw your father last time.”

  I threw my coat on the bed and sat on the floor across from her. “Time to find out if he’s still there.”

  “Your hand.”

  “Wait. Doesn’t blood have to do with black magic?” I almost didn’t care, as long as we found Victoria and my father. But given the lengths Gessilyn always went to avoid the dark arts, I had to ask.

  “Usually, but right now it has to do with finding a blood relative. We’re still in the realm of good magic.”

  I held my arm over an empty bowl. Frida handed me a knife. I sliced my palm and squeezed the blood into the bowl. She touched the wound, and it healed immediately.

  “We need to hold hands.”

  She took both my hands. I closed my eyes, knowing the request was coming. Frida spoke in a foreign language and a breeze rustled around us, bringing the aromas of the candles and flowers to my nose. My feet fidgeted as I waited impatiently for the results.

  “Please sit still or this won’t work.”

  I forced my feet into submission. Then my thumb started tapping. “I’m trying.” I took a deep breath and tried to clear my mind. It seemed I couldn’t get anything right today.

  Somehow, I managed to remain still. After what felt like hours, but was probably only a few minutes, the breeze stopped and Frida let go of my hands.

  My eyes flew open. “What did you see?”

  “He’s still in the same general area. There were some mixed signals. I assume because your old pack is nearby, and of the same bloodline.”

  I nodded. “Our pack has been intermarrying for centuries. That’s why they’re out to get me.”

  “That explains it. I’m not sure exactly where your father is, but they’re close to her.”

  “Do you know anything about the mutt she’s supposed to be with?”

  “These spells just give me locations.”

  I jumped up and paced. “Can you do anything to help us once we find my old pack? They want to hurt her, and there are a lot more of them than us. We’re rounding up others, but I have no idea how much help we’re actually going to get.”

  Frida gathered the petals. “I can do plenty. Do you want me to use runes to send people other places? Do you want me to send them into other time periods? I can work on something to make your pack temporarily more powerful. Should I go on?”

  My mind spun. As nice as it would be to send them to a different time period, I didn’t want to mess with changing the past or future. “Where can you send them?”

  “Anywhere I can place a rune. I can send them back here or to another country. Since we’re on a time crunch, it’d have to be somewhere I can get to with a rune now—somewhere I’ve already been.”

  “As tempting as that sounds, I don’t know if it’s actually a good plan. We’d have to eventually kill them, anyway. It’d just be putting off the inevitable.”

  “It’s up to you. I can work on something to boost your strength.”

  I stopped and stared at her. “Can you come up with something to get us to shift without the moon?”

  “Sure. Do you have a month? Maybe more?”

  “No.”

  “Then let’s focus on the problem at hand. Head downstairs and make your plans. I’ll get to work on a spell.”

  “Thanks, Frida. I really appreciate this. Your family has already done so much.”

  “Glad to help. You guys have become friends. I want to see Victoria safe, too.”

  “We’ll throw you guys a party or something once all this is over.”

  “Just save your girl.” She turned and gathered the remaining items from the circle. “Go.”

  I spun around and went downstairs. Even more people had filled Moonhaven. I nodded a hello to the ones near the stairs and went to the kitchen. Brick and Bobby both stood at the stove, working furiously.

  Brick turned to me. “We’re never going to be able to feed all these people.”

  “We don’t have to.” My stomach rumbled, reminding me of the impending full moon. “We need to start traveling north and find Victoria before my father’s pack does. They’re all north, near the ocean.”

  “Everyone’s going to be weak without food—and lots of it.”

  “We can get them to hit some drive-thrus on the way up. It’s going to take too much time right now. Let’s pack this up and get going.”

  Bobby poured some stew into a bowl. “Just eat. You look like you’re going to pass out.”

  My stomach rumbled again, and I started to feel light-headed. Had my father timed it this way on purpose?

  “Take it.”

  I grabbed the stew and sat down. A troll who reminded me of Tap sat next to me, talking with some others around the table. I scarfed down the food, listening to them discuss the terrain near the tip of the peninsula. My mind continued to spin. I took another two bowls of the meaty stew until I finally felt stable enough to lead the enormous group.

  I called everyone’s attention. So many came into the kitchen that not everyone fit. “This isn’t going to work.”

  “Sure it will,” Brick said. “Just tell us what to do.”

  “Okay.” I climbed onto the table, feeling a lot steadier than before I’d eaten, and went over the details. “I’ve got pictures of most of the pack. They’re old, but everyone still looks the same. These are the people we need to kill.” I climbed down and made my way into my office to where I kept a family album.

  I opened to a page of my father and held it up. “This is their leader. He’s the most dangerous, but the others are nearly as bad as him.” I handed the album to the person nearest me and made my way toward the front door. “I’m leaving now. I suggest everyone stays close. Their power is in their numbers—we need the same.”

  Brick, Jet, Ziamara, Soleil, and Tap followed me to my Hummer. I gave Tap a double-take. “When did you get here?”

  “While you were eating. You think I’d miss this?”

  Chapter 85

  Victoria

  “Are you okay?” Stella asked.

  I couldn’t pull my attention away from my sister. It was definitely her, only with shorter hair and modern clothes. She stood with a group of people about our age. One guy with a backwards baseball hat and a skater shirt had his arm draped around her shoulders. They laughed about something and shared a kiss.

  She pulled some of her hair behind her ear—it barely stayed, as short as it now was. A girl beside her pointed to the next float and Elsie turned, delight filling her eyes as the float neared. It held a group of good-looking guys singing a popular song.

  “Victoria?” Stella asked.

  “My sister’s over there.”

  “What?” Stella exclaimed. “The one you’ve been looking for?”

  “Yeah. Across the street in the purple and green top.”

  “The one with the skater boy attached to her?”

  I nodded, still taking in the sight of Elsie standing there.

  “Are you going to talk to her?”

  “We can’t cross the street during a parade.”

  “Sure we can. We just have to run in between the acts. There’s plenty of room.”

  My heart nearly exploded out of my chest as my dream replayed. What if she wanted nothing to do with me?

  “Come on.” Stella tugged on my arm. “This float’s almost past.”

  I couldn’t move.

  “What’s the matter?”

  How could I explain my dream without sounding like a fool? It was just a dream, but it had felt so real. And given that Elsie hadn’t found me, it meant she probably hadn’t tried. It seemed like the entire supernatural world knew Toby and I were back together.

  That was it. Maybe Elsie was upset over that. I was returning to the life I’d always wanted. Hers had been destroyed. The human she’d gone to the dance with would’ve been long dead. Even if he’d returned after the other side released the dead, he’d have moved on with his life, having married and had children.

  “Victoria?”

  “I’m not ready.” I gasped for air and stared at my sister. She looked so happy. What if her seeing me ruined all that?

  “You haven’t seen her in how many years?” Stella asked. “I’ll bet she’ll be thrilled to see you.”

  I frowned. “She never once tried to find me all those years on the other side. I tried to find her, but she made no effort.”

  “Didn’t you head this way just so you could find her?”

  “Maybe.”

  “If she’s mad, I’ll deal with her. You need answers.”

  I swallowed and turned to Stella. “You know, you’re right.”

  “Of course I am, but now we have to wait for this marching band to go by.” She glanced around the crowd. “It looks like it’s going to be a while.”

  I breathed a sigh of relief. That gave me some time to think about what to say to her—if I could think over the loud music and the cheers. The music vibrated through me, making it next to impossible to consider my words to Elsie.

  Finally, the band passed. Stella grabbed my arm and dragged me across the street before a float full of clowns made their way down the street. My mouth went dry as we neared Elsie. She and her friends laughed at the clowns, not noticing us.

  I jumped onto the sidewalk just as the float came to where we were. Something hard and small hit my head. I turned around. Clowns were throwing candy as children and a few teens chased after it.

  Stella pulled me through the crowd until we were right next to Elsie and her friends. They didn’t notice us. The guy wrapped around her made fun of the clowns and their entire group burst into a fit of laughter. Stella nodded toward them.

  I shook my head. What was I supposed to do? Just walk up to her and introduce myself as her formerly dead sister? Ask her how she’s been since our father killed her?

  My pulse raced through my body. If Stella hadn’t been standing there, clutching my arm, I would have turned away and ran. I knew she was safe and happy. That was what I’d been concerned about. Now I knew.

  “Go,” Stella urged.

  “No.”

  She arched a brow.

  I yanked my arm away from her hold and remained in place. She shoved me so that I stumbled directly into Elsie.

  “Hey, watch it!” She turned and glared at me. Her eyes widened and her face paled as recognition covered her face. “Victoria?”

  The guy wrapped around her pulled her closer. “Are you okay, El?”

  She continued staring at me. “Yeah, this girl just bumped into me.”

  “Elsie—” I said.

  Her eyes narrowed. “Don’t call me that. In fact, don’t call me anything.”

  My heart shattered. The dream had been real—she wanted nothing to do with me. Regardless, I was there and needed to try. “Can’t we talk?”

  Elsie’s expression stiffened. “Nothing to talk about.”

  “It wasn’t my fault.”

  “I don’t care.”

  They moved around her, standing closer to me. “What are you talking about?”

  “Nothing,” Elsie said quickly.

  Tears stung my eyes. “There’s so much we need to talk about.”

  “Who are you?” asked the guy.

  “Drop it, Tray,” Elsie snapped.

  “Will you give me five minutes?” I asked. “Then I swear I’ll leave you alone forever if you want me to.”

  She narrowed her eyes. “And if I don’t?”

  “I won’t give up.”

  Elsie muttered under her breath and pulled from Tray’s hold. “I’ll be right back.”

  “Want me to stay with you?” asked Tray.

  “I’ll be fine.” She weaved through the crowd and broke free.

  I followed her to an empty picnic table. “Where have you been all this time, Elsie?”

  “I go by El now. Not that stupid, old-fashioned name with too many memories.” Her voice cracked. “What do you want?”

  I swallowed. “My only sister. I searched everywhere for you on the other side. Where were you?”

  She shrugged and stared at some initials etched into the table.

  Taking a deep breath, I stepped closer. “You know, I was killed that night, too.”

  Elsie stared at me, her eyes wide. She held my gaze, so I took that to mean she wanted to hear more.

  “I ran away from Father to Toby. We were going to leave together, but his father killed me.” I had to keep it short since she’d only given me five minutes.

  She studied me, still not saying anything.

  “Father and his pack are gone now—again. I found Toby after the other side opened, and then Father found us. Let’s just say that it didn’t work out for the pack. He and our brothers are gone, along with most of the leaders. Mother survived, but I haven’t actually talked to her. She didn’t do anything to protect me when the pack leaders—never mind. I don’t want to talk about this. I want to talk about you. Where have you been?”

  “Around. Happy. I don’t want any reminders of my old life. Things are better that way.”

  I took a deep breath. “I’d like to keep in touch. Get to know each other again.”

  “I don’t want any reminders of the pack. That’s not my life anymore.”

  “Your new friends, do they know about your shifting?”

  She clenched her jaw. “No, and they’re not going to.”

  “How does that work out for you around the full moon?”

  “Fine. I have it under control. Not that it’s any of your business, but I disappear for a night and come back.” She pulled out a phone. “Looks like your time is up.”

  “Can we exchange numbers?”

  “Did you not hear a thing I said?”

  “You could join Toby’s and my new pack as a wolf. You could run with us on the full moons.” I begged her with my eyes. “We’re not that far away, and there’s a supernatural bar not far from where we run. It’s a great place to hang out after shifting back.”

  “The Faeble? I’ve heard of it, but like I said, I don’t want to be part of that world anymore.”

  “I miss you, Els—El.”

  A flash of sadness covered her face for just a moment. She cleared her throat. “That was a long time ago. We’ve both moved on. You’ve got a new pack, and I have a new life. Thirty days a month, I get to live a normal human life—just like I’ve always wanted to. I can go to dances and date cute guys, and you know what?”

  “What?”

  “There’s no one to stop me. Tray and our friends want the best for me, and nobody tries to control me. I couldn’t be happier. If you really do care about me, just let me have that. If I let you into my life, others will follow. That’s just the way it works. I want my human life.”

  “What happens when he ages and you don’t? Toby barely changed in all the time I was dead, and he never crossed to the other side. That’s how we age, don’t forget.”

  She shrugged. “I’ll buy creams and say that’s why. Just be happy for me, okay? I finally have the life I always wanted. Sounds like you do, too. I wish you and Toby the best. Really.”

  Tears blurred my vision. “That’s really the way you want it?”

  A rib popped.

  Her brows came together. “Are you shifting early?”

  I wiped at my eyes as another rib popped. “No. It’s complicated, and would take much longer than the five minutes you’ve already given me.”

  Elsie’s eyes widened. “Did you find a way around the curse of the moon?”

  “No. We’re still working on it. I need to go.”

  She grabbed my arm. “Why are you starting to shift now?”

  “You can’t have it both ways.” I blinked away tears and another bone popped. “You can’t push me away and then want to know all this. You have your shifts under control. I wish you the best, really I do.” I pulled away from her grasp and ran behind a building, trying to calm my emotions. I didn’t want to shift again. I would just have to be heartbroken later.

  Chapter 86

  Victoria

  I ran down an alley and leaned against a building, gasping for air and trying to take hold of my heartache. I hadn’t seen Elsie in so many years, it should’ve been easier to let her go. Yet part of me wanted to give into the pain, shift, and run off the hurt. But I couldn’t do that. Not when I had a new werewolf to watch over who had a vampire after her.

  Stella ran into the alleyway and over to me. “What’s the matter?”

  “Just as I thought. She doesn’t want anything to do with me.”

  “Her loss. We need to get going. Verla’s odor is getting stronger, and I can also smell more werewolves—it’s so strange being able to smell people before seeing them.”

  I sniffed the air and shivers ran through me. “Smells like more of Toby’s old pack.”

  “Awesome. We both have people who want us dead in the area. I see no way that could go wrong.”

  “Let’s just figure out where they are and get out of here. Now that I’ve spoken with Elsie, I have no reason to be here.”

  Stella gave me a sad expression. “I’m really sorry about that.”

  “I figured as much. Now I know. Come on.” I stepped out of the alleyway and sniffed the air, separating out Verla’s scent and the other werewolves’ from everything else. “Verla seems to be near the booths, and the wolves…” I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. “I think they’re everywhere, spread out.”

  Stella’s face paled. “What are we going to do?”

  I thought about creeping down the alley and finding a back way out, but then remembered my first run-in with Franklin. I couldn’t risk Stella and me getting trapped. “Let’s mingle with the crowd again. It’ll make our scents harder to pick out.”

  She glanced over. “It looks like the parade’s almost over. Then what?”

  “Then we see if people go anywhere else. Right now, our safest bet is to hide out with the humans. My guess is that even Verla wouldn’t try anything in a group this large.”