“Damn it. There are two Hitzus at the academy. Twins, apparently, male and female. They came in from the underworld.”
“What if they’re mated to the one Brock has captive?” My pulse raced.
We stared at each other, and then Lucas rubbed his face. “We may have just discovered how Brock knew Marcus was at the academy. They may have had Marcus tagged all along.”
“But if they have him tagged—” My gut twisted.
“If he was the Centaur Brock referred to, they didn’t re-envenom him, remember? According to my source, it would have worn off by now.”
But my mind raced. “Riley just told me Havoc was sick. He’s partway through the pass leading to Sarti, and she said someone darted him.”
Lucas’s eyes flashed wildly before he headed down the hall to Riley.
* * *
When we opened the bedroom door, Riley had already pushed herself up on one elbow while rubbing her head.
“Havoc is shouting at me,” she complained, blinking blearily. Sweat beaded her brow. “He says we have to run.”
Before I could ask why, she continued.
“He’s in pain.” Then her breath hitched. “He said something is eating him from the inside out.”
The knot in my gut twisted tighter. “Ask him if anyone in their group has been scratched by a Hitzu.”
“What?” she asked with a frown.
“Just ask him.”
She closed her eyes. When she reopened them a few minutes later, they were clouded with confusion. “Kiko, recently. Marcus, a while ago.”
Lucas swore. “It’s Brock and Isobel. They must have followed them.”
“Havoc says that he was darted.” Riley sounded confused as her eyes flashed. “Something about a parasite?”
“Isobel tracked them, and has a parasite that kills Dragons.” I could barely breathe. “Havoc has amazing healing ability, but it won’t be enough. Not with that. It was designed to kill.”
“No.” Riley’s eyes widened, and I sensed her horror.
Lucas’s brain had already leaped ahead. “If Isobel followed them… That mountain pass leads straight here.” Lucas’s eyes moved to my collar. “She’ll be tracking you.”
Riley sat up so abruptly that she swayed and almost keeled right over. “Give me dust. I will get us out of here.”
Lucas met my eyes. “No. Rafael is going to heal you.”
She blinked at him. “But Isobel—”
“Isobel has to walk or fly into Sarti, just like everyone else. When did she attack Havoc?”
Riley frowned at him, but her eyes flashed. “Within the hour? He’s so angry and in so much pain I can barely understand him.”
“Where are they?” the Morph asked.
She concentrated. “He says just beyond the High Pass Inn.”
Lucas relaxed, marginally. “Even if she flies straight through, we have another four hours, at least, until she gets here. Flying that pass at night is a fool’s errand, but this is Isobel.” He turned to me. “You have until then to heal Riley.”
I met his gaze. “And if I can’t?”
