LISA


    Eventually, there''s nothing else I can help the nurses with, and I wander back to the table. It''s been hours. We came to the farmhouse in the early morning, and now it''s well past noon. Aside from a few packages of crackers and some water from the sink, my belly''s empty.


    My stomach growls. The crackers and water did little to satisfy my hunger.


    The Grand Sage speaks to Ryder, his voice low but clear. "The problem isn''t with the individual phones. They''re fine, but the networks are all corrupted. They aren''t communicating properly. From what I can tell, it''s all hacked. Someone''s taken control."


    "So..." Ryder takes his phone with a sigh. "It won''t be fixed anytime soon."


    "Correct."


    The Grand Sage hands Chloe and Mia back their phones. The two women exchange a glance before leaving after a brief word from Ryder. Something about their interaction feels off, but I can''t quite put my finger on it.


    While the Grand Sage and Ryder continue discussing, curiosity gets the better of me. I slip outside, thankful that I''m not particularly noticeable.


    A cool breeze brushes against my cheeks as I watch Chloe part ways with Mia. To my surprise, Chloe doesn''t head back to wherever she came from. Instead, she steps behind a nearby building.


    I frown, inching closer. What is she doing?


    From my vantage point, I can see Chloe tapping away at her phone. It''s strange—didn''t the Grand Sage just explain that no cell phones are getting a signal? Yet here she is, acting like everything''s normal.


    My heart races as I watch her bring the phone to her ear. I strain to hear what she''s saying, but she''s too far away. I take a step closer, leaves crunching under my feet.


    Chloe''s head snaps up, and I duck behind a bush. When I peek out again, she''s ending the call, her movements quick and furtive.


    Something''s not right here.


    I make my way back to the farmhouse, my mind whirling. As soon as I spot the Grand Sage, I sidle up to him, keeping my voice low. "I just saw something strange," I murmur, relaying what I witnessed outside.


    The Grand Sage nods, his expression tense. "I''ve already reported the matter to the delta," he says, his eyes darting around the room.


    I follow his gaze, noticing for the first time that Ryder''s no longer here. The room feels emptier now, with only the injured and the nurses remaining.


    The Grand Sage catches my eye again, tapping on his wrist. I glance down at the bracelet he gave me earlier, confusion clouding my thoughts. What is he trying to tell me?


    Before I can ask, the air is rent with shouts. My blood runs cold as I recognize the sound—a sound that''s now devastatingly familiar to me.


    Battle cries.


    A pale face pops over, red eyes staring into the room.


    My breath catches in my throat, and I squeeze my eyes shut, unable to watch.


    Then there''s a resounding clang as the hatch seals.


    They''re probably scratching the hell out of the room, but it''s completely silent in this tiny, cramped space. All I can hear is our ragged breathing and the frantic beating of my own heart.


    "We made it," Elverly whispers, her voice trembling. "We actually made it."


    I open my eyes, hardly daring to believe it. But it''s true. We''re sealed inside the safe room, the vampires locked out.


    The Grand Sage slumps against the wall, his chest heaving. "That was... too close," he manages between breaths.


    Adrenaline is still coursing through my system, making my hands shake and my thoughts race. Vampires.


    Just like at Westwood before.


    But this time, I escaped.


    As the initial shock begins to wear off, questions start flooding my mind. How did they find us? What happened to the shifters we left behind? And most importantly, what do we do now?


    I open my mouth to voice these concerns, but the Grand Sage holds up a hand, silencing me as he presses more buttons again.


    That gravity-defying flip of my stomach starts up.


    "I have the coordinates of another safe haven, a place they intend to reunite. The Westwood wolves are good folk, but silly to hand their phones to a gnome. They will lose many today."


    "What happened? Why were they attacked?"


    "Betrayal," he says simply. "The girl you spoke of—her phone was filled with secrets. But she''s not the only one." He clicks his tongue in dismay. "At least we know who the traitors in this camp were. But the others won''t be so lucky."


    "Why are you following the Westwood pack?" I ask curiously. "They didn''t know your true identity."


    He shakes his head. "I have no particular fondness toward wolf packs, but Sister Miriam places great faith in the leader of the Westwood Pack. It is war, Lisa. In war, it is imperative to gather your allies. We cannot fight back if we are all isolated. Do you think the three of us can stand against the army you saw?"


    I shake my head. There''s no way. None of us are warriors.


    We have a housekeeper, a magical engineer, and me.


    We''d die in seconds.