“Think…if…probably…” Antonio said. “Jaime, I’m sorry, but Jeremy’s right. We’ve had enough ifs. If you really thought you could do this, you would have mentioned it sooner-”

“I didn’t know it sooner. That-that woman Zoe took me to. The necromancer. She said something to me about calling a zombie, and I finally figured out what she meant. If a zombie is dead, then all I need is some artifact from one and I can use that to call the zombie, just like a spirit-”

“Jeremy’s going home, Jaime. He can’t help you-”

“I don’t expect him to. You come with me. Or Nick. Leave Jeremy here with Elena and Clay, and let him get ready to go home. I can find Hull. You or Nick can kill him. Done. Without bothering Jeremy.”

Antonio’s sigh rippled through the door. “He won’t go for it, Jaime. With Clay sedated, Elena wiped out by exhaustion and Hull out there waiting for his chance, Jeremy wants all hands on deck. He’s even called Karl Marsten to meet us at Stonehaven. Demanded his help fortifying the battlements, or he can forget about getting into the Pack. Now for Jeremy to do that-”

“He’s serious. I know. But-”

“Why don’t you come back to Stonehaven with us? If you have the time, and you feel safe enough being there, come with us and talk to Jeremy in a day or so, when everything’s under control. He’ll listen then.”

A few more murmured words, but I didn’t listen because I knew they wouldn’t listen, not Antonio, not Jeremy, their only concern being getting us out of this hotel before Hull made his move. When the door opened and Jaime stepped back into our room, I shot up.

“How’s Clay?” I said. “Any change? Have they decided anything?”

“Uh…no. I-I didn’t really…” She turned, as if to go back in and ask.

“No, don’t,” I said. “They probably won’t give you a decent update anyway. Nick?”

He shifted in the bed. “If anything changed, they’d let me know, Elena.”

“Please?” I looked up at him. “Just check. Jaime’s right here. She can watch me for ten seconds while you check.”

He shook his head, but climbed out of bed and headed for the adjoining door. When he went through, he left it ajar behind him. I motioned Jaime over. She hesitated. I gestured urgently, my other hand pointing at the open door. She crossed to the side of the bed.

“Meet me outside,” I said. “Under the terrace. Ten minutes.”

She frowned and opened her mouth, but Nick’s return cut her short.

“So you’re coming back to Stonehaven with us?” I said to her.

She paused, then nodded.

“Good.”

“I-” Shelooked over at Nick. “I guess I’ll go pack then.”

I nodded and waited for her to leave, then let Nick give me the non-update.

There were two ways to get past Nick. Prey on his trusting nature and trick him, or clock him over the head and run. I picked option two. Less cruel. I’ve tricked Nick before. More than once. Given the choice between betrayal and a potential concussion, he’d pick the latter.

So, when he wasn’t looking, I grabbed my hairbrush. As he turned, I hit him. He hesitated, and for one terrible moment I thought it hadn’t worked. Then he slumped to the bed.

I checked his breathing and his pupils, making sure the blow hadn’t been too hard. Then I lifted him into the bed and stuffed the pillows under the covers beside him, making a human-sized figure. It wouldn’t trick Antonio when he came to collect us, but it would probably pass muster if he just glanced in the door to check.

Next: shoes and cell phone. Then I was out the door.

Summoned

I WALKED OUT INTO THE NIGHT. JAIME WAS WAITING UNDER the hotel terrace, tucked between two half-dead spruce trees. When I approached, she didn’t move, as if wondering whether she was well enough concealed just to stay there and avoid me.

“I need you to help me find Hull,” I said.

She nodded, no surprise in her eyes.

“You said you can call a zombie if you have something of hers. Would a finger work?”

She only stood there, worrying her rings, trying to avoid my eyes.

“We can’t do this, Elena,” she said finally. “I can’t. I know you want to, but you’re not thinking clearly and-”

“Not thinking clearly?”

I strode up in front of her. Jaime stepped back, eyes widening in alarm. The second I saw that look, I stopped and stared at her. In her eyes I saw more than alarm. I saw fear.

“You’re worried about what Jeremy will say,” I said.

She shook her head. “No. Well, yes. But that’s not my main concern. Not really a concern at all. It’s pointless anyway.”

She looked so sad then, so deflated, that a twinge of conscience pierced my determination. I shouldn’t drag her into this. But I couldn’t find Hull on my own. Or could I?

“Stay here.” I started to walk away, hesitated, then said, “No, come with me. It’s safer.”

When she hesitated, I strode off. No time to cajole her. After a moment, I heard her footsteps jog up behind me.

“What are you doing?” she whispered.

“Scouting the perimeter.”

“For Hull?”

“More likely a zombie.”

I paused at the corner and knelt by a scent trail. Hull’s, but an old one. I pushed up and kept moving.