I frowned. “Wait, so my mom could order them to search?”

“Yes,” Constantine replied.

“Technically, yes,” Elijah corrected. “Chandramaa might protect the queen, but they take orders from someone else. Whoever that might be. And they’re not likely to split their focus with the ceremonies and councils starting so soon.”

“That doesn’t seem fair.”

Marigold shrugged. “Doesn’t have to be. But realistically speaking, there’s no need for any of us to leave the camp. It’s secure and they have enough blood for everyone. If we leave and we get nabbed, it’s our own fault, really. They were clear on that when we set up the Bower.”

“But who’s doing it?” I asked. “Hunters? Other vampires?”

“Does it matter?” Marigold yawned, rooting through her beaded bag. “I need more sugar.”

And then my mother, Madame Veronique, and missing vampires were suddenly not the worst thing that could happen to me.

Lucy.

“Solange! Let me go!” I heard her yell from the woods. “She’s my best friend!”

I leaped to my feet, dashing to the guards. “Lucy?”

“Yes, me. Ow!”

“Let her go,” I said quickly.

Lucy stumbled out of the tree, pushing her hair off her face. Her sweater was crooked and she looked furious. “What the hell, Solange?”

“Constantine posted a guard,” I said sheepishly.

“No shit.” She straightened her clothes. “Bruno says hi.”

“Bruno’s out there too?”

“Yeah.” She turned to peer into the shadows. “So’s Kieran. He’s waiting for the all-clear. Bruno seemed to think your guys would jump him for being a hunter.”

“Kieran’s here?” I sounded as freaked out as I felt. I wasn’t ready to see him, or for him to see me like this. I didn’t have sunglasses to cover my eyes. My fangs still wouldn’t retract. “You couldn’t have warned me?”

“I’ve been calling you for the past hour!” Lucy grumbled. “Not to mention the six thousand texts this week.”

“My phone’s back at the camp.”

“What the hell’s going on? Logan said you took off and nearly got them all killed.”

I scowled. “That’s not what happened. The Furies tried to kill me and Constantine saved me. And then I saved him back. Sorry, I didn’t stop to text you,” I added sarcastically.

“Oh, you are not pulling that crap on me, Solange Drake.”

“Back at you, Hamilton.” I wasn’t even sure why we were fighting. Lucy knew me better than I knew myself sometimes. I should have been asking for her help. Especially with Kieran lurking in the woods.

“Are you going to let him in, or what?” Lucy asked. “He came all this way with me to make sure you’re okay. You know, after you broke up and forgot to tell me about it.”

“Let him through,” I called out loudly, knowing they’d hear me.

Lucy stepped closer to me. “He misses you,” she said quietly as Kieran came out of the tree line. She glanced at me. “And I know you miss him too.”

“It’s better this way,” I said. She had no idea the thirst that screamed inside me, even just seeing his silhouette. Even when I looked at her, she was faintly edged with red, as if everything were soaked in blood. My gums hurt around my fangs. And there was that little thing about my going crazy. “You guys shouldn’t have come.”

“Too late now,” she said cheerfully.

Kieran looked good. He wore his usual cargos, his dark hair tousled from the wind, his shoulders hunched against the press of the cold circle of vampires in the shadows. I knew he’d have already catalogued the glint of eyes in the dark, the pale skin, the movement of guards on the other side of the Bower.

He stopped in front of me. I couldn’t quite meet his eyes. “Hey.”

“Hey.”

There was a long awkward pause during which I contemplated staking myself just to end it.

“Pathetic,” Lucy finally huffed to herself. “Whoa!” she added when she caught sight of the Bower. The lanterns swung gently. From here you couldn’t see the moth-eaten edges of the lace or the worn patches on the velvet sofas. “Okay, that’s cool.”

“It’s the Bower,” I said, smiling slightly. “Isn’t it great?” Kieran barely glanced at it. My smile died. “What are you guys doing here?”

“Oh, I don’t know,” Lucy said with dry nonchalance. “Kinda heard my best friend was going dark side.”

I scowled. “I was saving a life, actually.”

“And I’m grateful,” Constantine said, joining us. He was on my right, just behind me, and Kieran was in front. It was like a sandwich from hell. I shifted uncomfortably.

“Constantine,” I said. “This is Lucy and Kieran.”

“Ah,” he drawled. “The best friend who electrocuted you—”

“Hey!” Lucy interrupted.

“And the hunter ex-boyfriend,” Constantine continued smoothly.

“Constantine,” Lucy seethed, her hands curling into fists.

“Lucy,” I said. “Stop it. God, you’re as bad as my mom.” I shook my head. “Look, it’s not safe in the forest for humans, especially hunter humans. You should go.”