“Dad should’ve known.” Tyler shook his head.
“Those were likely the only wolves he could spare at the moment,” I replied. It was very unfortunate. I pushed away from the counter. “I want you to try and get in touch with Dad one last time before we move out. Go shift while we start to hammer out the details. We need to figure out how to handle the Vamp Queen and get us all safely to New Orleans. We can’t waste any time if Dad’s in trouble—”
Something thudded loudly on the roof. The ceiling beams cracked, but held. Dust and dirt rained down on us as someone walked across them.
“Ray’s back,” I announced. I shouldn’t be surprised that he would make an extreme entrance. This was so typical of him.
Tyler opened the door and we all filed outside.
Ray stood on the roof looking quite proud of himself. I rested my hands on my hips. “I see you’ve learned to fly,” I called. “That’s fairly impressive, but it seems your landing skills need a bit of work. The front door is down here.”
“Yeah, I wasn’t watching,” Ray called down. “But I have a good reason. I was heading back fast, because something’s coming.”
“What do you mean something’s coming?” I asked, alarmed, dropping my arms and moving forward.
Naomi didn’t wait for him to answer. She shot into the air to investigate.
“I mean, there’s some strange shit flaring off in the distance. It’s miles from here, but they’re starting to crop up all over. The power feels strange, like something is pushing against my chest. And it stinks.”
“It stinks?” I strode closer to the roofline.
“I flew over to one, but once I got there, there was nothing left but the smell of rancid eggs and some leftover energy. On my way back, two more popped up east and another one southwest. It seems like something is searching, and since you’re always stuck in thigh-high crap without waders, whatever it is … I figured it’s probably looking for you.”
Rotten eggs was bad.
That meant sulfur, and sulfur meant demons.
Rourke was next to me in the next moment. “I don’t feel a strong power signature close,” he said. “But I’m not willing to doubt him. We need to get on the road. I want you back in that car. If whoever’s searching has your signature, I’m not sure how many miles it will take to get you in its sights.”
Naomi landed right in front of us. “He’s right. The disturbances are off in the distance, but the power is strong and stinks of sulfur.”
“Are they demon circles?” I asked.
“Oui,” Naomi said. “I believe so. None but a Demon Lord can summon itself to this plane, so these must have been made by another.”
“You mean like the sorcerers?” I asked. “Who else would team up with the demons?” Of all the supernatural Sects in existence, the demons stood alone in all ways. Demons and fey were the only two I knew about who lived on a different physical plane, but there hadn’t been a fey sighting in hundreds of years. Demons were their own creepy race and they kept to themselves for a reason.
“The lesser demons have to be cooperating with spell casters to get on this plane,” Rourke said. “So the sorcerers would be the most logical choice, since they’re gunning for you already.”
I turned around, frustrated. “This is crazy. Sects don’t team up with each other like that. Especially demons. They don’t make allegiances with others.”
Rourke grinned. “You might want to take a look around at your current allies. Cats, wolves, vamps, and witches all working together. Things are changing in our world very quickly.”
I glanced at the two vampires in front of me. Ray had jumped off the roof and stood next to Naomi. “Yes, but we didn’t team up on purpose. It just … sort of happened,” I ended lamely. I’d been the first Pack wolf to swear an oath to the Vampire Queen, which is how Naomi and I met. And I’d done it in a matter of days after my first change.
“You just became a vamp Master willingly.” Rourke chuckled. “Your secretary, and best friend, is a witch. Her aunt, the most powerful witch in the country, just helped us escape, and her daughter is giving us information to help save your father. Jessica, there’s no doubt in my mind you were put on this earth to change things up in a big way. The moment I met you my world turned upside down, and so did each of ours.”
“He’s right,” Ray said. “My life couldn’t be any different than it was just a few weeks ago. When I saw you that day at your apartment, I knew you were different. Something had changed, but I didn’t know what. Now look where I am.”
“It could all be just a big coincidence,” I said, even though I knew that wasn’t true.