Kat gaped. "Urian has a heart? Who knew?" Urian glared at her. "Shut up, Abadonna."
Cassandra saw the love on Phoebe's face as Urian neared her. "Urian is the one who saved me when Mom died," Phoebe explained. "He pulled me from the car after the bomb exploded and hid me. He tried to save Mom and Nia too, but couldn't get to them in time."
Cassandra didn't know what to think about that. It didn't make sense that a Daimon, let alone one related to Stryker, would help them when all their lives they had been pursued byUrian's kind. "Why?"
"There's no time for this," Urian hissed. "My father isn't a stupid man. He'll catch on quickly when he doesn't hear from the two dead men."
Phoebe nodded, then turned back to Cassandra. "I'm asking you to trust me, Cassie. I swear you won't regret it."
Cassandra exchanged frowns with Wulf and Kat. "I think we can trust her."
Wulf glanced to Urian, then to Kat. "You said they were sadistic. Any chance they're playing with our heads?"
Urian gave a low, bitter laugh at that. "You have no idea."
Phoebe smacked her husband in the stomach. "Behave, Uri. You're not making this any easier." Scowling at his wife, Urian rubbed his stomach where she'd hit him, but didn't say anything else.
"Go for it," Kat said. "If he's lying, I now know how to hurt him." Her gaze went meaningfully to Phoebe.
Urian went ramrod stiff. "Destroyer or no, you ever touch her and I will kill you, Katra."
"Then we understand each other," Wulf said."Because if anything happens to Cassandra, Kat is the least of your problems."
Urian stepped forward, but Phoebe forced him back. "You said we have to hurry."
Urian's rigid features softened as he looked at Phoebe and nodded. Without another word, he led them toward a black airboat that was already on the ice, waiting for them. Chris climbed on board first, followed by Kat.
Cassandra followed suit. "Is this the same boat the Canadian Mounties use for search and rescue?" she asked Wulf.
Wulf cleared his throat as if offended. "Same company makes both, but I'd like to think mine is a bit nicer."
And it was too. Plush to the extreme, right down to the padded chairs. "Yeah," Chris said as he took a seat and strapped himself in. "Dudley Do-Right is us."
Cassandra smiled at him as Wulf took the helm. Her sister jumped in, then paused when she realized her husband had stayed on the dock and wasn't making any moves to join them.
Phoebe's face was even paler. "Come with us, Uri," she begged, reaching up to take his hand into hers. Her voice was filled with strain and worry. Cassandra stared at their joined hands that showed how much each one wanted to hold on and never let go.
"They'll slaughter you if they find out about this."
The pain on Urian's face as he stared longingly at Phoebe made Cassandra ache for both of them. "I can't, baby, you know I can't. I have to stay and cover your tracks, but I promise I'll be in touch as soon as I'm able."
He kissed Phoebe passionately, then kissed her hand and let her go. "Be safe."
"You too."
He nodded, then removed the last bit of harness rigging. "Take care of my wife, Dark-Hunter." Wulf glanced at Phoebe and nodded. "Thanks, Daimon."
Urian scoffed. "Bet you never thought you'd utter those words."
Urian raised the doors to the dock at the same time a group of Daimons broke into the boathouse. Phoebe gasped and started for her husband. Chris pulled her back as Wulf gunned the engine and flew north over the ice. Luckily, the wind was with them and they accelerated quickly.
"No!" Phoebe shrieked as they sped across the lake. "We can't leave him."
"We have no choice," Chris said. "I'm sorry."
Cassandra saw the despair on her sister's face, but Phoebe didn't cry. She merely stared behind them where the boathouse was quickly drifting out of sight, her eyes filled with horror.
Cassandra held on tightly to her seat belt, her heart pounding. "How fast are we going?" she asked Chris.
"Over a hundred at least," he answered. "These things can move as fast as one hundred forty with the wind, but only about forty against it."
Wow. She looked over at her sister, who still hadn't stopped looking behind her even though the boathouse had already faded from sight.
"He'll be okay, Phoebe," Kat said. "His father wouldn't really hurt him. Stryker may be psychotic, but he loves Urian."
Phoebe's face showed every bit of her doubt.
"Keep going north," Phoebe said to Wulf. "We have a safe place where we can hide all of you."
No sooner were the words spoken than Cassandra heard the fierce shriek of something that sounded like it came from Hollywood. It was followed by the distinct sound of wings flapping. Looking up, she saw the dragon headed for them.