Davina (The Immortal Prophecy 3)

“They’re moving faster than us. Your Mother Wolf is in the middle of their group. She’s protected by her wolves and Romah vampires. We need to get ahead and get Davy on our side if we’re going to stand a chance. Or—”

“Roane—”

He ignored Christian, continuing to talk as they grew closer to the main camp. “And I couldn’t find Jacith. He’s not traveling with his family, but he’s a sorcerer. I’m sure he’ll be with them at the battle line.”

“Lucas!”

“What?”

He twisted around, a fierce frown on his face. They had just cleared the last opening, leading to where the others had all congregated. Christian wanted to say something, and he stopped to listen, finally, but he felt one of his own coming toward him. He paused, distracted from whatever Christian was saying when he looked. It was one of his that shouldn’t be there. He hadn’t felt her for so long, since she was taken, and as he searched for her, or whoever it was, Christian’s words broke through his concentration the same time he spotted her.

“. . . Wren is here.”

She paused on her path. Vampires had stepped aside to let her pass, but she stopped, and her chest lifted. She took in a breath before she tucked her hands behind her, but he saw how they trembled. The usual defiance wasn’t there. Instead, she was hesitant, and he sensed the guilt through their blood connection.

He asked her in his head, “Why are you fearful of me?”

Her eyes widened at his question and she swallowed, her eyes glancing to the side for a moment. Her head lowered, but then her shoulders rolled back and she lifted her eyes once more. As they found his, they were strong once again. Her normal flare was back, and she replied, “Because I left them behind.”

Roane started for her. The relief at seeing her faded into alarm. She braced herself for him and as he drew abreast, he grabbed her arm and propelled her with him. There were no tents assembled, but Roane didn’t say a word until he pulled her far enough from the group so no wolf could overhear. As soon as they moved out of earshot, he released her and asked in his head so no nearby vampire could eavesdrop on their thoughts as well, “You left them? What do you mean you left them?”

“She’s safe. Davy is safe.”

“You guys got free?”

“Yes.” She didn’t answer for a split second, then, “Davy got us all free. I don’t know how because she didn’t have her magic, but then she did. She carried us twenty miles away.”

“Why aren’t they with you?” But he knew, as soon as he asked. He answered for her, “Because Davy went back, didn’t she?”

“She didn’t get Kates out. Davy went back for her.”

No. Roane knew that wasn’t the truth. She wouldn’t have gone for her traitorous best friend. That would be an added benefit, perhaps, but he knew the real reason Davy was going back. For Lucan. She wanted to kill his brother so he wouldn’t have to. He looked to Wren. He kept his thoughts barred from her before he asked her now, “How far?”

“Five miles away. I can take you to her.”

He nodded, though he knew the chances of catching up to Davy before she got to the Mori was low. Still. They had to try. He spoke out loud, “You’ll show me on a map where you were and we’ll go from there. We won’t return to the same spot. Davy will be ahead of us. We have to try to intercept them.”

“I will.”

He started to return, but glanced back. He frowned. “Was there more?”

“I wanted to return to my leader’s side.”

He sensed her fear come back, and the guilt made sense then. She left Davy’s side to return to his. Reaching out, he gave her arm a slight squeeze. “The others remained with her?”

Wren nodded, feeling her first wave of relief since they escaped the Mori. “Yes. Gavin, Gregory, and Tracey went to find her. Davy left us behind. She didn’t want to endanger anyone.”

For the first time in a long time, Roane allowed a half-grin to show on his face. “Of course she did.” His hand squeezed her arm once again before dropping back to his side. “You came back. That will help us figure out where to intercept her. You did good, Wren, but rest as quick as you can. We need to proceed as soon as possible.”

She nodded, and he left her behind to find Saren. He needed to know where Jacith was, and he had a hunch Davy’s Immortal sister could help him with that information.

DAVY

Their group ventured across the river and into Mori territory. If Davy hadn’t seen the Mori vampires before, she would’ve known the instant she stepped from the water and onto land. She felt the magic all over. It was in the ground, the trees, even the rocks. The

air had a shimmer of it even and she breathed it in, but got another shock. It was her magic. It bonded to her and she realized it must’ve been left from when she carried her group from Lucan’s captivity. Enough magic must’ve burst out of her, that it was only now moving to the outskirts of their land.

Gavin noticed her reaction. “What is it?”