“They should be back soon. We have about three hours until sunup,” Danny replied.
“Let’s refuel quickly,” I said. “I hope you have food, because my stomach just ate its own lining.”
Tyler dug in his bag as Danny sat down. He pulled out several bags of protein mush and tossed them to both of us. I caught one right as the sat phone buzzed.
Danny plucked it off the floor and handed it to me.
I glanced at Tyler. “How many times has he called?”
“Twice.”
I pressed the receiver on. “Hello.”
“James has gone rogue.”
19
“I’m sorry, what?” My head snapped to my brother and Danny, who had clearly heard the missive. Both of their faces were stark. I’d been expecting another tirade from my father about our lack of communication. Not this.
He cleared his voice once. “James is missing.”
“What do you mean missing?” I jumped up, my breath hitching. “Was he taken? James would never leave willingly on his own.”
My father growled, “He left Pack of his own volition.”
“What?” Going rogue was as serious as it could get. You did not leave your Pack. “That’s not possible. He’s dedicated to this Pack.”
“He vanished last night, no trace, no note, no whereabouts. He hasn’t shifted, so I haven’t talked to him. But we are in the middle of a war, Jessica. He gets no leeway from me—”
“Dad,” I reasoned, trying to slow this conversation down. “This is James you’re talking about. If he’s gone, there’s a damn good reason. Just hold off on any action until we know what’s going on. He could be coming up here to help us. Nick could be in trouble. It could be anything.”
“I’m about to take on an enemy, a Pack of rogue wolves whose agenda is to kill my only daughter. I need all my wolves. My second-in-command does not get to defect whenever it’s convenient for him.” His voice was cold as stone. “Whatever his reasons are, they are not good enough.”
I glanced at Tyler and Danny. Tyler shook his head and stalked out of the cave. Danny gave a low whistle. There was nothing we could do. I felt helpless.
“Dad,” I said. “James is loyal. He’s always been loyal. Please don’t jump to conclusions. What if he was taken?”
“Taken?” my father huffed. “Not a possibility. But he will answer when he is found.” His voice broached no argument.
Shit. “When we get back, I’m on it. I will find him. We’re leaving to get Rourke within moments and after that James will be our first priority.”
“Jessica.” My father’s voice softened. “You have to be smart. Arm yourself and let the boys shift first. Go in strong. Don’t worry about defeating her. Incapacitate her and free Rourke. We can deal with her and any fallout as a Pack when you all get home.”
“I’ll give it my best shot.”
My father growled into the phone, “Tyler said a giant scorpion spider, one of Selene’s creatures, stung you and forced you to change. But when you were in your true form, I couldn’t reach you, as usual.”
“I think the spell put me into a… coma of some kind. I’m not exactly sure.”
“Tyler said you weren’t breathing and your heart wasn’t beating, but you were still alive. He felt your connection. I did too. I knew you weren’t dead.”
“I’m glad you weren’t worried. Yes, it seems I was in rough shape, but I feel fine now. I don’t have any residual effects.”
“Jessica” My father’s voice became quiet in its intensity. “I believe your body went into Stasis.”
“Stasis?” I said. “Like the Coalition? I thought only gods could do that?”
“They can. Or a god can put you in one. Stasis acts like a protective cocoon of power, but it has to be incredibly strong, because it feeds you and protects you for the length of time you’re under. I cannot put myself into Stasis.”
I gulped. “What exactly does that mean?”
“It means your body wields an incredible amount of power.” There was strain in his voice. “And you’re going to have to figure out how to manage and control it better from now on. Having any kind of ability like that is extremely dangerous. The power takes over and you lose control.” He was right. Without Tyler I might not have awoken on my own.
“Do you think it’s a special gift?” I’d never heard of a supe having “Stasis” as a special gift, but I couldn’t rule it out. “Or something to do with the Prophecy?”
“I don’t know, Jessica.” He sighed. “There’s so much we don’t know.”
“Did you feel the break when Danny and Tyler took my blood?”
“Yes,” he said. “Danny left my control immediately, but Tyler’s connection shifted to something else.” He sounded satisfied, which was surprising. “I can still sense him, even though he’s no longer under my immediate control.”
“Is that what you thought would happen?”