Chapter 14
“Are you sure it’s wise to run all the way back alone?” I ask Randall.
“I will be fine. I have several enforcers meeting me at our outpost here.” Randall’s gaze meets mine through the rearview. “You need to head north. I can’t delay you by asking you to take me an hour back to Grand Junction. This is the best way.”
“I doubt rogues will bother him after the show of force we gave them earlier. Relax, B. It will be fine.” Raven pats my shoulder.
My stomach rumbles loudly. The protein bars only took the edge off and accelerated my healing, but I’m still starving from the amount of magic I used. Especially so close together. I’ve called two different storms in the span of a day. I’m surprised I have any energy left.
“We need to find real food,” I grumble. “Even if it’s just those prepackaged sandwiches you get at a gas station. We don’t know what we will be facing, and I need my magic.”
“You might have to settle for gas station sandwiches. There’s not much on the way to Montana,” Randall says.
“That’s fine as long as we don’t get any unexpected visitors.” Draven shudders.
“We’re going to need to stop for gas at some point and we haven’t seen them when we stopped so far.” Raven shrugs.
“And every time we stop at a gas station, I’m on edge.” Draven rubs the back of his head.
“You’re scared of gas stations? I just watched you use magic to break their fall from a hundred feet in the air,” Randall says.
“To be fair, it’s not about the gas station but the old ladies that seem to haunt every gas station we stop at.” I tilt my head back.
“Old ladies…”
“It’s probably best if you don’t know. I don’t want to invoke them and traumatize the boys further.” I giggle.
“She never beats you with a stick,” Greyson grumbles.
“I think I do a fine job of getting injured all on my own without Aggie’s help, don’t you?” I raise an eyebrow at him.
“That’s fair.” Greyson nods.
“This is where you leave me.” Randall pulls the SUV over next to a building with a watch tower.
“Thank you, Randall.” I hold out a hand for him to shake.
“No, thank you. You did even more for my pack this time than I could have hoped for. I’ll have reinforcements to the academy as soon as possible.”
“Every little bit is much appreciated.”
“Absolutely.” He nods and jogs into the building.
“All right, let’s go get a beatdown by the fates.” I chuckle.
“What do you think they’ll tell us this time? Because we are almost certain to see them unless they’re busy watching the civil war happening in Olympus.” Raven hops in the front seat.
“I don’t know. Maybe they’re done with me because we’re so close to the end.” I shrug.
“I doubt that. Plus, there’s the shifter war that you know you’re going to involve yourself in.” Raven points at me from the front seat.
“Like you won’t?” I shove her shoulder. “A child of Ares is always up for a fight.”
“My mate is a shifter, Beth. Of course I’m going to be there to help.” Raven leans back in her seat.
“And you all expect me to just sit this one out,” I huff. “Not happening. If I’m needed, I will be there.”
“Then we will try not to need you.” Greyson pulls away from the building.
“I think you have earned a break.” Raven raises a brow at me. “You nearly killed yourself earlier to stop a giant.”
“We’ll see.” I shake my head as my stomach rumbles again.
“We’re headed to the nearest gas station. We need gas and more snacks.” Greyson adjusts his grip on the steering wheel.
“Don’t go out of the way to find one. We can probably get at least into Wyoming before it becomes a problem, right? We’ve delayed too much already.”
“Yeah, we’re at about half a tank. I think we can get another hundred miles out of it before it becomes a problem.” Greyson nods.
We travel north in silence. I lean my head against the window, watching the scenery flash by. There are less cars dead on the side of the road, but the reports only become more dire.
Elevators all over New York City have stopped working altogether.
There are reports of people being stuck for twelve hours or more and evacuation crews are spread thin to help them in a timely manner.
The department of public safety has issued a warning to all citizens.
If you can avoid elevators, you should use the stairs instead.
It’s not just New York City. This is happening everywhere. It’s just more concentrated in large cities with tall buildings where elevators are necessary, the radio host cautions.
“Elevators are breaking down now? People are trapped. Shit.” I point out the window. “Look, there’s a gas station.”
“It looks deserted,” Draven says with a relieved sigh.
“I wouldn’t get my hopes up.” I unbuckle my seat belt as Greyson pulls in next to a gas pump.
“For an old lady, Aggie is a damn ninja,” Greyson groans.
“I need food.” I push open my door, but when I hop out, I sway on my feet. “Fuck.”
“Get back in the SUV, Beth. I know what you want. You’re still weak and depleted.” Raven points a finger at me.
“Fine. I’m not feeling great, but let’s not announce I’m weak right now in public. That’s like asking for us to be attacked.” I climb back in and lean back against the headrest.
“You’re right. That was a dumb thing to say. I’ll be right back.” She turns to Kira. “Want to help? There’s going to be a lot of it.”
“Sure.” Kira hops out of the car, and they walk into the empty store.
Greyson hesitates before opening his door and rounding the car. He glances both ways, scanning the area before grabbing the pump. I glance out the windshield and grin. An old woman I would recognize anywhere is hobbling toward Greyson with a walking stick in one hand.
“Um, Greyson?” I call out the window too late.
Her cane flies through the air like a torpedo straight for Greyson’s head. Greyson ducks the stick just in time and jumps back.
“Shit, why?” Greyson shouts.
“Dumb male. Dumb. Dumb. Dumb,” Aggie sings.
“Aggie, what?” I ask. “Why is he dumb?”
I gingerly get out of the car and sway as I make my way to her. Aggie holds out a hand to me and I clasp her hand in mine. Magic pulses through me in waves, clearing my mind and curbing the drain on my magic.
“Thank you.”
“Don’t choose. You can’t choose.” Her lip wobbles briefly as I gasp.
“I knew it wasn’t that easy. I already chose saving the world over and over. Why do I keep having to prove myself like this?” I take a step back.
“There’s always a choice,” Aggie whispers. “Yours hasn’t come yet but it will soon.”
“Well, that’s not comforting at all.” My shoulders slump.
“Beth, you should be resting… Oh shit.” Draven jumps away from Aggie.
Her walking stick flies through the air behind Draven’s back.
“Draven? Duck,” I say a second too late.
There’s a loud thud followed by Draven’s grunt as he falls to his knees on the street.
“You need to be stronger,” Aggie hisses. “You will need strength and reflexes for what’s to come.”
“I can’t exactly get stronger in a day.” Draven rubs the back of his head, only for Aggie to whack him again.
“Not that. After. You’re important to the world. You must get stronger,” Aggie babbles.
“Oh shit, more prophecies? Can’t we catch a break?” I throw my arms up.
“Not you.” Aggie shakes her head. “Your story is almost complete. Him. Them.”
She points an accusatory finger at Draven, then Greyson. She swings her stick low, and Greyson isn’t quick enough to jump away from the stick that cracks him in the shins.
“Argh. How are we supposed to survive another war if you’re always beating the shit out of us, Aggie?” Greyson rubs his shins.
“Must get stronger,” she babbles.
“Beth,” Raven calls. “What are you doing out of the SUV? You’re supposed to be resting.”
“Trying to save the boys from Aggie.” I giggle. “She’s in a mood today but I don’t think I have ever seen anything as impressive as the way she hurled that cane at Greyson’s head before calling him a dumb male.”
“Jesus, Beth,” Greyson grunts.
“What? You dodged that one. It was like a damn missile going straight for him.” I shake my head.
“Here. Eat something.” Raven hands me a sandwich. “You need your strength.”
“Yes, stronger.” Aggie waves the cane again, narrowly missing Draven’s face.
“Aggie, can you avoid the face?” Kira asks. “I happen to like his face.”
“Hey,” Draven growls. “She’s beating the crap out of me.”
“I’m sure you’ve done something or will do something dumb to warrant it.” Kira sets a bag on the back floorboard.
Aggie nods her head seriously. “He needs to be stronger.”
“It’s okay, Aggie. We make each other stronger.” Kira pats the fate’s shoulder.
“Stronger,” Aggie growls.
“Is something else going on?” I ask. “You’re more cryptic than normal.”
Two old women materialize behind Aggie and place their hands on each of her shoulders. “You know warning the little wolf is a bad idea, Aggie. She will know soon enough.”
“Family must reunite,” Aggie mumbles. “The sisters will need each other for what’s to come. Reunite.”
Aggie slams the end of her walking stick and the ground shakes beneath my feet.
“What?” Kira asks, covering her mouth in shock.
I don’t envy her being on that end of Aggie’s cryptic warnings. I’ve had my share of experiences with her, and they are never fun.
“Reunite or the shifters are lost in the darkness. Humans are scared creatures. Lost in the dark. Lost in the dark,” Aggie chants.
“Shit. I guess that confirms who is going to be the next person to save the supernatural world.” I squeeze Kira’s shoulder.
“How does reuniting with my family help everyone?” Kira whispers. “That doesn’t make any sense.”
“Maybe the one who was mistreated the most by wolves needs to be the one who saves them.” I shrug.
“Show them strength. You need to be stronger.” Aggie taps Kira on the forehead with her walking stick.
Kira shudders, then cocks her head to the side. “What did you do?”
“Make you stronger.” Aggie nods.
“Enough, Aggie,” her sister says. “We must be going before she does something that cannot be undone.”
“Wait, what’s happening?” Kira reaches for them, but they are already gone.
“It will be okay, hon.” I wrap an arm around her shoulders.