Chapter 19

Lucy's POV The mountain roads twisted through darkness, our SUV's headlights cutting through fog that seemed too thick to be natural. Tasha drove while Carrick navigated, both of them unusually quiet. In the middle row, Cassie cleaned her weapons – an unnecessary task for a vampire, but old habits died hard. I felt Felix's presence before I saw him. The air changed, charged with that familiar electrical energy that always preceded his appearances. "Stop the car," I said. Tasha hit the brakes. "What is it?" "We're not alone." I opened my door, stepping into the fog. "Come out, Felix. We know you're here." He materialized from the mist, looking unfairly elegant in his usual black leather. "A bat cave? Really, Lucy? That's a bit cliché, even for vampires." The others emerged from the vehicle, forming a protective semicircle. Cassie's hand rested on her sword hilt while Carrick's eyes glowed with barely contained power. "This doesn't concern you," Cassie warned. "Everything about