“I noticed it, too,” Angel said. “Like snow’s coming.”
“Where’s home for you?”
“Wherever I am at the moment. I’ve moved around enough to see the danger from Amal and those like her. He has to do what he’s doing.”
“And I have to hide in the Carmag because I might burn myself out again?” Vehemence coated my throat.
“The vampires are hunting you.”
“They want me to hunt Amal.”
“Because they hate what they can’t control. And Amal wants the power of the kings. She doesn’t care how many innocents she kills. If she learns how to strip away our wolves, she’ll do it to every wolf who won’t bend to her will, leaving us helpless.”
“Unless you turn into failles,” I argued. “Then you can syphon her to death.”
“Failles have a curse passed down through a bloodline. There’s no guarantee any one of us would gain a faille’s abilities if we lost our wolf. More likely, we’ll be as weak as humans. What wolf would take that chance?”
Which explained why Anson had Laura searching his archive. “You believe the rumors from Cariboo?”
“I believed the fear I saw when those men talked about it.”
“I have to stop her.”
“And she’s trying to stop you. You need to be smart, Noa.”
Hearing my name, the way Angel said it, sent a shudder down my spine, over my useless runes. I wanted to learn all the things she knew by instinct. Wanted her swagger that swore at the world.
“Tell me what Set said about the smoke.”
Angel studied the shrubbery edging this section of the square. Abruptly, she turned back toward the crowds. “Why does he need to be alive?”
“Julien was my friend.”
“And it hurts, doesn’t it, knowing he’s dead because of something you did? Maybe it’s easier to lie to yourself.”
Shock raced through me. Shame. Was I so transparent?
But hearing the lament brought back waves of guilt. I hadn’t seen though Brin. Hadn’t saved Julien. He wouldn’t have been in that position if I hadn’t asked Grayson to involve him. Ask Julien to betray the secrets. I’d caused Grayson’s fears to come true—because of me, someone he loved had died protecting him. Protecting me.
Maybe lies were easier to stomach. Bad things didn’t happen because of my actions. I didn’t have to face my own failings. Face the power and evil strength that was Amal. The horror overwhelming everything I sought to protect, love, know.
And if those lies weren’t enough, when I blinked, when I scanned the square for Fallon, the face catching my attention belonged to Julien. He was here! Julien was alive and…
But before I was even sure, he faded into the shadows, and I was running despite the risk in chasing an illusion.
I ran anyway, pushing my way through the pressing bodies exiting the Frat House. Wolves, all of them, reeking of alcohol and leering anger when we collided. I stumbled, knocking away the hands clawing at my clothes, my hair. I swung around, my elbow connecting with something—someone. The howl meant it was most likely the male’s nose.
Curses followed. Angel paused long enough to send the males backward. I glimpsed the flashing blade in her hand, her predatory stance. The way she flicked her fingers in an invitation no one accepted.
I was involving her in my mess, and my pulse pounded. My breathing accelerated, frantic as I searched the shadows for some sign of Julien’s brown hair, the straight line of his nose. A shadowy figure ran in the distance. A flash of light on a male profile—or was I hallucinating? Was this some remnant of the faille burnout, seeing things that weren’t real?
But no.
I saw him. The knowledge beat at me as I raced down an alley, knocking over the trash receptacle outside some restaurant because bags of stinking garbage spewed across the ground. A lid rolled drunkenly, clanging against the pavement.
Angel was running behind me, closing the distance. She refused to shout my name. I should have appreciated why. I had enough gods-damn enemies out for the hunt, didn’t I?
But Julien.
