  DRAKE POV
  &quot;You sure you don t want to come in?&quot; Callum asks me. Zoe s just parked their SUV across from our townhouse. I guess I shouldn t be surprised she knew where we live without asking.
  &quot;I ll be fine,&quot; I answer flatly with an involuntary glance at Sasha s limp form beside me. It s not super comfortable sitting on the folded-down back seats of the SUV, but I d rather stay here than leave her alone, or give these WASP operatives a chance to bail without us.
  WHAM!
  I jump and jerk around to look out the window while Callum rolls his eyes at me. Xander s just parked his truck next to the SUV; the noise was him slamming his truck door.
  &quot;We live just a couple streets over,&quot; Zoe informs us cheerfully as she and Rika hop out of the SUV. &quot;We ll be right back.&quot;
  &quot;And if you do anything to Sasha, I ll drink you dry and then use you for t

  SASHA POV
  Gahhhhhhhhh why does everything hurt so much?!
  Eyes blink open. Darkness, with flickers and flashes of light from random overhead places. Quiet jazz music, Rika s favorite. Soft snoring breaths of multiple people, nearby. Floor is rumbling—am I moving?
  What the fuck happened?
  Anselm is dead.
  Relief, instant and overwhelming—
  THUNK!
  PAIN as whole body jerks from the ground jolting. A groan escapes from my throat.
  &quot;Are you all right?&quot; a familiar voice whispers.
  Turn head. Golden eyes in the darkness, framed by strong features and disheveled dark hair. Want to answer. Mouth and throat not working. Pain intensifies.
  &quot;Where am I?&quot; I manage finally. American accent is beyond my reach. Guess he hears me now as myself, slightly Russian flavored.
  &quot;In Zoe s car. Your friends and mine are all here. We re on our way to Montana, I guess. To s

  CALLUM POV
  &quot;There we go. Thanks, guys,&quot; Zoe smiles, wiping the sweat off her brow as she, Xander,  n  I finish gettin  Sasha, still in panther form  n  breathin  real shallow, off Drake s back  n  into the hatch of their SUV. Rika s rummaging through their stash o  supplies like her existence depends on it, prob ly lookin  for somethin  to try n help her injured friend. She s somethin  else; never thought a bloodsucker d give a fuck  bout healing, but she s damn skillful an  cares a lot more n she s willin  t say.
  &quot;Here, man,&quot; I say to Drake, shovin  the bundle of his clothes  n  stuff we threw together before goin  into that goddamn warehouse in front of his nose. He takes it gently in his jaws, but his eyes are fixed on Sasha s limp, battered form. &quot;Take  em  n  go find a place to shift back. We ll take care of her. Promise.&quot;
  Drake reluctantly boun

DRAKE POV
  &quot;You sure you don t want to come in?&quot; Callum asks me. Zoe s just parked their SUV across from our townhouse. I guess I shouldn t be surprised she knew where we live without asking.
  &quot;I ll be fine,&quot; I answer flatly with an involuntary glance at Sasha s limp form beside me. It s not super comfortable sitting on the folded-down back seats of the SUV, but I d rather stay here than leave her alone, or give these WASP operatives a chance to bail without us.
  WHAM!
  I jump and jerk around to look out the window while Callum rolls his eyes at me. Xander s just parked his truck next to the SUV; the noise was him slamming his truck door.
  &quot;We live just a couple streets over,&quot; Zoe informs us cheerfully as she and Rika hop out of the SUV. &quot;We ll be right back.&quot;
  &quot;And if you do anything to Sasha, I ll drink you dry and then use you for target practice,&quot; Rika threatens.
  &quot;She s safe under my watch,&quot; I assure her irr

Chapter 41 Rough Road Ahead