Chapter 27

I stared at the gate. It was an ornate wrought iron thing decorated with apple blossoms, both real and metal. The gate was set in a stone wall that stretched as far as the eye could see on either side of me. It separated me from a vast orchard, apple trees heavy with nearly ripened fruit. Overhead the sky was vibrant blue and cotton puff clouds floated lazily along.

On my side of the fence there was grass at my feet and along the stone wall, but I didn’t turn to see what was behind me. Behind me was the past, and I was moving into the future, if I could just get through the gate.

Twister stepped up next to me, and I buried my fingers in his ruff.

We sat and contemplated the gate in silence for a time until an urgent bark got my attention. Nimbus, now on the other side of the gate, rose up on his back legs and put his front paws on the gate. He poked his nose through one of the gaps and whined.

“He is ready for you. Though he’s not fully grown, he’s been forced into his maturity by the circumstances, as so many of our kind are. You have proven time and again that you are truly worthy of our trust and companionship, and Nimbus will guide you down your future paths.”

“What about you?” I kneeled and put my arms around his neck.

He seemed to like this, leaning into the contact.

“I am content.”

“Twister, I still want you in my life.”

“Truly?” He was clearly pleased by this, ears up, eyes locked on mine.

“Yes, silly.” I wiped a tear from my eye, not ready to say goodbye to this magnificent being.

“Then I will return to you in the future. Look for me. It won’t be too long.” He seemed to wink before placing a paw on my arm and leaning in for one last solid scratching. “Now, go to Nimbus, walk through the gate, and let him guide you to your full potential. Then return to your world and give that evil creature an ass whooping he won’t forget.”

I giggled. “You said ass whooping.”

“I’ve been in the storm for a while. It was a common phrase when last I bonded a human.”

“Okay. Fair.” I kissed his broad forehead and stood. “You promise I’ll see you again soon?”

Twister glanced at Nimbus, who rooed happily and wagged his fluffy curled tail.

“I promise.”

“Okay.”

Stepping away from my guide, I put my hand on the wrought-iron gate. It creaked open at my touch, and, with one last deep breath, I stepped through.

Nimbus pressed his head under my hand, and I scratched his ears before taking another step. Pressure built up in my chest, glorious heat and warmth before it exploded out of me.

A wave of golden energy radiated out from the two of us, rustling the leaves in the heavily laden fruit trees. As it passed through the trees, the fruits ripened to a brilliant red.

I sagged as the energy abated, but new knowledge and awareness filled me. Nimbus rooed happily and nudged my hand, so I kneeled on the ground next to him and buried my fingers in his fluff.

“Okay, so what’s next?”

He turned to look at me, his soulful brown eyes filled with a golden light.

Now we go home.

***

My eyes snapped open, and I choked on the thick liquid someone was pouring into my mouth.

“She’s awake,” a familiar voice called.

I couldn’t identify it in the confusion of the moment, but I did know it wasn’t a bad guy. The voice filled me with comfort and calm. Swallowing reflexively one last time, I gagged on the coppery liquid and almost choked when I saw Jaz pull her arm away from my mouth.

Blood? Ew!

“You were near death,” she said. “It was the only way.”

“Thanks,” I managed to get out before a black and white fluff ball pounced on my stomach, almost making me lose all the blood I’d just drank.

“Nimbus!” I wrapped my arms around him.

He rooed for quite some time, obviously having a lot to say, and it sounded a great deal like scolding.

I just laughed. Then I looked around and sobered. We were still in the study. Katsuro glowered at me from across the room. Jaz still kneeled at my side, and Oliver joined us.

“Oliver!”

He smiled. “Hannah, so glad to see you conscious again.”

“Do we still need to escape?” My gaze strayed toward Katsuro. His expression softened, and he inclined his head slightly.

“Yes, sunshine, we still need to escape. And while I appreciate you waking me, please never risk yourself like that again.” The same scolding tone that Nimbus had managed colored the vampire’s voice.

“No promises.” I gently shoved Nimbus off me so I could stand.

He stayed right against my leg, but at least let me get to my feet.

“So, what’s the plan?” I was so grateful I wasn’t on my own anymore. I went over to Oliver and folded myself into his arms. The shade clutched me tightly.

“They are using guns, which complicates things,” Oliver replied. “We can’t just blast out of here, despite having the more powerful vampires.”

I glanced at Jaz and tilted my head.

“Saving you completely blew my cover, as it were.” She shrugged. “I’m not sorry.”

“Thank you,” I replied, hoping that she was indeed on our side, as everyone kept saying. I just didn’t know enough to completely trust her.

“Davin and his wolves, along with Clare and Bridger, are on the perimeter. They are harassing Vito’s creatures. Oliver slipped through, but we may have to deal with Drake as well as a few lesser vampires.”

“Vito?”

“The vampire who captured us,” Katsuro clarified.

“Ahh, he wouldn’t tell me his name.” I shook my head. Vito, huh?

“Typical,” Oliver said. He eased his grip on me, and I stepped away.

“So they know we’re here and they’re not busting in because they’re afraid of Katsuro?” I risked a glance at him. His return look was wary.

“Essentially,” the vampire agreed.

“Okay, so I have some powers. Nimbus has some powers. Can we create a shield for the bullets while we run out of here?” I glanced at the cloud puppy.

He wagged his tail. I hoped that was an agreement on his part.

“The main danger is to you and Nimbus,” Oliver said. “Bullets are not much of an issue for me, and the vampires can dodge. It is more difficult when we have to protect you.”

“What about it, buddy?” I glanced at the fluff ball.

He nodded.

“I think it should be okay, then. Also, Nimbus, can’t you just teleport out?”

He wagged his tail again.

“So I’m the weak link and I’ll do my best to shield, but above all else, make sure they don’t get their hands on Nimbus again.” I put my hands on my hips and glared at the others. After a moment, they all nodded.

While Oliver, Jaz, and Katsuro conferred on our route, I attempted to make a shield. The power was there. I could even hold it. I simply had no idea how to make something that would repel bullets.

Finally, Nimbus came to my side and grumbled at me before putting a paw on my leg. Slowly, the energy I held flowed around me into a distinctive bubble shape. It hardened, but not completely, and Nimbus put his paw back on the ground.

“Okay, got it. Thanks.”

He rooed.

Once I was ready, the others went to the door. Katsuro listened for a moment before opening it. This required him to destroy the doorknob, which he did with little trouble. The doorframe broke a little, but who cared? Also, damn, that man was strong.

He led, Oliver slipped into the shadows, and Jaz followed. Nimbus stayed right at my side.

At first, we met almost no resistance, and Katsuro was easily able to handle the men they threw at us. Then they seemed to understand we were going to get away, and they dug up some sort of magic user we hadn’t expected.

The first blast of energy down the hall would have taken out Katsuro if Nimbus hadn’t stepped in with a fierce growl and thrown something back at the man.

Then Nimbus and I moved to the front, and Jaz closed in so we were more tightly protected. Unfortunately, we couldn’t get any farther down the hallway. The man we faced was experienced, and Nimbus and I were not.

It was all I could do to deflect the blasts of energy coming at us, and while I’d apparently fully unlocked my powers, I still had a lot to learn.

Oliver finally slipped through the shadows and came out behind the magic user. Mage? Witch? I didn’t know the right term and clubbed the man over the head.

He attracted a few rounds of gunfire, but as soon as the magic user was unconscious, Katsuro and Jaz surged forward and handled the rest of the men, while Nimbus and I hurried on behind them.

I was almost shocked when we made it out into the courtyard. It was night, which I hadn’t known until then. Floodlights lit the area and people were shooting at anything that moved, keeping the werewolves back.

It didn’t take long before the lights zeroed in on us. We couldn’t retreat, and the only way to go forward was to brave the open space and all the guns, and I was starting to wear out.

Katsuro took a deep breath, glanced at Jaz, then practically vanished.

Oliver touched my shoulders when my breathing quickened with a touch of panic. My feelings eased until Jaz turned to me with a slight smile on her face.

The predatory look sent my heart racing, and I backed into Oliver.

She’d had us all fooled. We were so screwed.