"And the legend?"
"King Lycaeon was visited by passing gods, but he didn't quite believe they were who they said, so he devised a test. He served them dishes laced with human flesh, a major insult. Being gods, they discovered the deception and changed Lycaeon into a werewolf, a more proper form for devouring people. From his name, we get lycanthrope."
Legends of supernatural beings came about as people tried to make sense of what didn't. The Nephilim had been hunting the earth since time began, which meant the luceres had been here since the angels fell and mated with humans. They just hadn't been given their name until the story of Lycaeon began to circulate.
"You didn't tell me the most important fact." I sat up, thrilled when my head didn't pound, and my stomach didn't roll. "How do I kill them?"
"Pierce their hearts with fire. I'd suggest a burning arrow."
"Do I look like Robin Hood to you?"
Summer didn't reply. What could she say? I'd asked the question; it wasn't her fault I didn't like the answer.
My archery skills were as adequate as the next woman's, which meant pretty damn inadequate. The last time I'd touched a bow it had been to shoot at a target in high school. I hadn't been terrible, but I doubted I was capable of nailing a werewolf's heart from twenty yards, let alone a dozen of them.
"There's no other way?" I asked.
Summer spread her hands and shrugged.
"Swell."
Regardless of my lack of skill with the necessary weapons, I needed to get to Chicago right away. I'd seen fireworks, which could mean two nights away, but could just as easily mean one. A lot of big cities shoot off their rockets on the third. I contemplated Summer; maybe I should send her.
She stared right back, biting her lip. "There's a pile of ashes out there," she began.
I was so glad to hear that the howler's body had disintegrated that I nearly forgot to tell Summer what it was.
"Hey!" she shouted.
"Oh. Sorry. Remains of the howler."
"There was one?" She let out a relieved breath. "For a second I thought—"
"Shit!" I glanced around. "Where's Jimmy?"
"You found him?"
"Shit, shit, shit!" I jumped to my feet. Everything that had been in the cave before was gone.
"What happened?" Summer asked. "What did you say?" She grabbed me by the arm. "What did you do?"
I yanked out of her grasp. "I have the information. That's why we came."
"And now you just forget about him and go on your merry way?"
'Did I say that?" We had to find Jimmy. He was a danger to himself and others.
"Was he . . . himself?" she asked.
"Yes." I took a breath. "And no. He talked about sui-cide."
Summer's brow furrowed. "But he's a dhampir. He—"
"I wish I had something he touched," I interrupted. "I might be able to see where he is."
Summer held out her arm. At my curious expression, her eyes widened with false naivete. "Something he touched."
"Do you want me to slug you?" I asked.
"You can try."
I turned away. I didn't have time for a catfight right now. Maybe later.
My gaze wandered the cave. He'd left nothing behind. No map, no notes— I paused, practically laughed out loud, then reached into my pocket for the list. As soon as I touched it, I got a flash of a face and stilled. "He's gone to Sawyer."
Summer cursed.
"Luckily, he won't find him." Because if Jimmy wanted to die, Sawyer would be happy to oblige.
"What if Sawyer came back?" Summer asked.
Now I cursed, resisting the urge to run from the cave, jump in the car, and head for the nearest plane to New Mexico. I had to think, then act. I had to decide what was best for the world before I did anything.
Though I desperately wanted to follow Jimmy, to find some way to convince him that he needed to live, if not for me, then for the human beings he'd sworn to protect, there was still the problem of luceres in Chicago.
I sighed. I didn't have much choice. We all had our strengths, and in this case, Summer's strengths outweighed my emotions.
"You go after Jimmy," I said. "I'll head to Chicago."
"Keys are in the car." Her voice was matter-of-fact. She'd known my decision before I had. "Put a scratch on it and we will have words."
I had no doubt we'd have more than words, but that was a concern for another day.
With Summer's gift of flight, she'd be able to beat Jimmy to New Mexico. Even though he had the superior speed of a dhampir, a commercial airplane was still faster with the added incentive of not having to use his feet. Summer could meet Jimmy at the airport, or on the road, or wherever the hell she wanted to, as long as she caught up to him before he reached Sawyer.
"Do whatever you have to do," I said.
Her gaze flicked to mine. "Anything?"
"Anything," I repeated. "Just keep him alive."
CHAPTER 9