LISA


    The entire world shakes and shudders, and I wake with a jolt. "Earthquake!"


    "We landed, you idiot." Elverly scowls at me. "Next time, don''t use me as a pillow."


    "Don''t take her vitriol seriously, Lisa. She''s the one who covered you with a blanket." The Grand Sage nods toward me, and I glance down, surprised to see a flannel fabric about as large as a baby''s blanket.@@@@


    She yanks it off me with a huff, folding it and tucking it under her arm, where it disappears.


    I blink.


    "Where did it go?"


    "Dimensional storage," The Grand Sage tells me, pushing different buttons. The vibration of the room ceases. "Stay here. I''m going to check on matters, and the cloaking device isn''t enough to cover everyone outside."


    A hatch above us creaks open, letting in a sliver of light that makes me squint. I hold my breath, not daring to move as the Grand Sage maneuvers his way between Elverly and me. His robes brush against my arm, and I catch a whiff of something herbal—sage, maybe?


    Funny. Sage for sages.


    As he climbs, I can''t help but stare at the rungs he''s using. Were those there before? I wrack my brain, trying to remember if I''d noticed them during our journey, but come up blank. It''s possible they were there all along, hidden in the shadows of this cramped space.


    But it''s more probable that they popped out of the wall when he was pressing one of those many buttons.


    The Grand Sage''s feet disappear through the hatch, and I strain my ears, trying to catch any sound from above. The silence remains unbroken, broken only by my own shallow breathing and the faint rustle of Elverly''s clothes as she shifts in her seat.


    "Do you think—" I whisper, but Elverly cuts me off with a sharp look.


    Right. Stay quiet. Got it.


    I press my lips together, fighting the urge to fidget. The waiting is excruciating. How long has it been since the Grand Sage left? A minute? Five? Time seems to stretch in this confined space, each second feeling like an eternity.


    The crunch of gravel under my feet feels surreal as we exit the barn. My eyes dart around, taking in the vast expanse of farmland stretching out before us. Horses and cows graze peacefully in nearby paddocks, oblivious to our status as refugees. A cluster of beat-up trucks sits in the driveway of a dilapidated white farmhouse.


    Elverly''s nose wrinkles as she surveys our surroundings. Her disdain is palpable, and I can''t help but share her sentiment. This place seems a little too worn down to be considered a safe haven.


    Then again, I guess no one would expect to find two gnomes here.


    The Grand Sage motions for us to follow him towards the farmhouse.


    As we approach, two men materialize, seemingly out of thin air. My heart leaps into my throat, and I stumble back a step. Their sudden appearance is startling enough, but it''s the low, rumbling growls emanating from their chests that really set me on edge.


    Shifters. They have to be.


    The Grand Sage doesn''t seem fazed. He addresses them directly, his voice calm and authoritative. "I need you to take me to the alpha of the Westwood Pack."


    The shifters exchange wary glances, their postures tense. I hold my breath, waiting for their response. To my surprise, the Grand Sage smoothly introduces himself.


    "Allow me to introduce myself. I''m Dr. Jonathan Blackwell, senior consultant for Paradigm Solutions. I was hired to assist with a few of your delicate matters."


    I struggle to keep my face impassive. Dr. Jonathan Blackwell, my ass. But the way he introduces himself so smoothly makes me wonder how much time he''s spent dealing with humans who had no idea they were shaking hands with a supernatural.


    A gnome.


    I''ve never even heard of gnomes.


    Garden gnomes, but otherwise, no.


    The shifters still look uncertain, but before they can respond, a familiar face emerges from the farmhouse. My heart skips a beat as I recognize Ryder, one of the deltas of the Westwood Pack. He''s followed closely by Mia and Chloe, two faces I know all too well from my time with Ava.


    Panic floods my system. The Grand Sage is undercover for some odd reason, and wants us to be, too. But there''s no way I can keep my presence here a secret now. They know me.


    On the other hand, I can ask them about Ava—


    But as their eyes sweep over our little group, something strange happens. Or rather, doesn''t happen. Their gazes slide right past me as if I''m not even there. They focus intently on the Grand Sage, hanging on his every word as he reintroduces himself as Dr. Blackwell.