Lets get outta here, Tan said.

They left the campsite and had just merged onto the freeway when she caught sight of a white convertible with the top down. The driver was wearing dark sunglasses and her hair was tucked under a baseball cap. Next to her was a woman with short hair and green eyes that stood out in sharp contrast to her dark skin. The dark-haired woman locked eyes with Valerie. Goosebumps broke out on her arms.

Zaki, lets get out of here. Somethings wrong, she said.

Without questioning her, he hit the accelerator hard, zooming past several cars. He cut over into the left hand lane and sped up even faster. She gripped the seat so hard her knuckles turned white. She hoped she hadnt overreacted. Next to her, Tan was pale, but his eyes were steely.

Two lanes over, the white convertible was keeping pace with them. Zaki was hemmed in by cars on all sides, so he couldnt speed up. The white convertible changed lanes so that again they drove side by side.

The dark-haired woman unbuckled her seatbelt and stood. Valerie gasped in horror when the woman leaped from the convertible with catlike grace. A soft thud on the top of the SUV made the car tremble.

People rolled down their windows to stare and leaned on their horns. The shock factor alone was enough to cause an accident.

Zaki, you have to slow down! She could get hurt.

Are you crazy? Lets teach this psycho a lesson and sideswipe the median so shes knocked off. Thatll teach her, Tan said.

She could be killed!

So?

Enough! Zaki commanded, his usual teasing tone absent. Tan fell silent. Valerie is right.

Cyrus appeared beside her. Henry said somethings wrong.

Someones after us. It sounds crazy, but shes on the roof. She quickly filled him in.

Zaki slowed the car and pulled onto the shoulder of the road. To her relief, she saw Tan shudder, and when he blinked, Thai was back in control.

Thank God, she couldnt help saying, and he squeezed her hand.

The car rolled to a stop, and Zaki turned around. Stay inside.

He got out of the car without another word, slamming the door. Cyrus appeared next to him. Thai rolled down the window.

Shes gone, Zaki said, shading his eyes and peering down the highway.

No shes still here, Thai, quick" Valerie said, but she was too late. A hand holding a rag clamped over Zakis nose and mouth, and he collapsed. Thai leaped out of the car with Valerie on his heels. The woman was fast, but the rest of the world fell away as Valerie entered the zone in her mind that touched her magic.

Val, no! Cyrus cried. But his voice was far away.

In one swift move, she shoved Thai behind her while blocking a blow from the womans fist with her upper arm. The woman moved supernaturally fast, springing to the hood of the car. A swift kick caught Valeries shoulder and sent her reeling. She would have been pushed into traffic if Thai hadnt caught her arm.

She used the momentum of the pull and kicked against the side of the car, jumping in the air to sweep her foot in an arc that hit her attackers ankles. The woman fell, crashing onto the hood and then to the ground.

A screech of tires broke Valeries focus, and she saw that the white convertible had pulled in front of their car. Thai raced toward the driver, but the woman on the ground leaped up and into the car, and they sped back into traffic, several drivers honking angrily as they nearly caused an accident getting away.

With her burst of power ebbing, Valeries vision shrank to a tiny point. Cyruss blue eyes stared anxiously into hers as her knees buckled beneath her and the world went black.

Chapter 5.

When she came to, Valerie was sitting in the front passenger seat of the SUV, which was parked in a garage. Thai was pressing a bottle of water to her lips.

Sorry, she said to him.

He shook his head. Dont try to talk yet. Zaki is still passed out in the back seat"from chloroform, I think. But once he wakes up, he can get some of those herbs.

I shouldnt have done that. Stupid.

Yeah, it was, he said. But you cant help yourself; I know that.

You get me, she said with a smile.

Zaki stirred and groaned. He sat up, his hand pressed against his head.

Surely, James Bond never had to deal with this kind of amateur tomfoolery, Zaki said indignantly. His comment had the intended effect, making Thai smile grudgingly. My bag of herbs, if you please.

Thai handed Zaki his pouch, and he expertly mixed some powders. He put some on his own tongue, and then gave some to Valerie. They didnt work as well as they had the day before, but a measure of energy returned to her.

Where are we? she asked.

The airport. I didnt want to miss meeting up with Chisisi and Henry. And the sooner we get out of here, the better.

Are you sure you werent followed? Zaki asked.

I think so. Not that Im an expert at eluding people, Thai replied.

Inside the bustling airport, Valerie held Thais hand tightly as she automatically scanned the faces of the passersby.

Henry and Chisisi appeared through one of the sliding doors. Henry was pale with worry, and she made the effort to smile. When they were close enough, she hugged him.

Its okay. We got away.

I know. Cy told us everything. He got a good look at the woman who attacked you, and he and Kanti are back on the Globe trying to find out more.

We must move quickly, Chisisi said, hustling them toward a ticket counter.

The rest of the trip was a blur for Valerie as they bought tickets and boarded the plane to Colorado. She couldnt even appreciate her time in the clouds, because she was fast asleep before they took off and woke up in Thais arms, being carried through a rental car parking lot.

Put me down, she said, embarrassed. He gently set her on her feet.

You didnt even wake up when we landed, and it was really bumpy, Henry said. His anxiety for her leaked through their bond.

It was worth it. Im much better, she said, and it was true. She had barely touched her magic that afternoon, and if it hadnt been for her connection with Henry the day before, she probably would have been fine, she assured herself.

Henrys face relaxed, but Thai eyed her skeptically. She hoped she hadnt drooled on him.

They approached a nondescript blue van, and Zaki pulled out some keys. I had originally reserved something a bit faster and sleeker. Also red. But Chisisi nixed it.

This will be much less memorable for anyone who sees us, Chisisi said.

But much less fun, Zaki countered, and messed up Chisisis hair with his hand.

Valerie was both startled and amused to see the usually put-together Chisisi rumpled. But by now, even Chisisi was having trouble fighting a smile. Zaki seemed to have that effect on everyone.

Less than an hour later, they had left the city of Denver far behind them and were driving through a winding, bumpy highway up a mountain.

Is this place far? Thai asked.

We can only get so close by car, Chisisi said. After that, we must travel on foot. It is not an easy path. But for tonight, we will stop at a hotel, young ones.

It is not Mena House, but things could be worse, Zaki assured them.

After another hour, Zaki turned into a long drive that led up to a small but elegant hotel that was nestled in the hills. It was like an oasis in the middle of the wilderness, she thought, seeing the lights beckon them. She couldnt wait to get into a warm bed.

We know theres no way we were followed. Weve been the only car on the road for miles and miles, Henry said, and she was happy to hear that the anxiety had finally left his voice.

The group entered the cozy hotel, which had a huge fireplace surrounded by comfy leather chairs. They sat down and waited as Zaki checked them in.

There is a surprise for you, Henry, Chisisi said with a glint in his eyes. I have arranged"

Henry? a silver-haired man with sad brown eyes stood up from a wing chair by the fire. I was afraid Id never see you again.

Dad! Henry said, and gave the man a fierce hug. Ive missed you so much.

Valerie suddenly became shy. Her brothers father was much older than she had imagined.

You must be Valerie, he said, and gave her a hug. I hope you wont think Im forward, but I have thought of you as an adopted daughter since I found out Henry had a sister.

She was touched, and her eyes filled with tears. In less than a year, she had doubled the size of her family. Im so honored, she said, her voice hoarse.

And Im Thai. Nice to meet you, sir.

Please call me Joe.

Chisisi shook his hand. Good to meet you in person at last, Mr. Jenkens.

I must thank you for bringing me to my boy one last time.

It is our pleasure.

The rooms are ready, Zaki said.

Zaki handed out the keys. Valerie, you are with Henry and his father, and Thai will stay with Chisisi and me. Zaki turned to Thai, pressing his lips together to keep from laughing. Im sure youre honored as well to be bunking with such suave and skilled men of mystery, instead of Valerie. I heard she snores.

In the elevator, Joe rested one hand on her shoulder and the other on Henrys. If only your mother could have met Valerie, he said.

I know, Dad. I wish it, too.

Valerie fell asleep quickly to the sound of Henrys and his fathers even breathing, but she woke up a few hours later, restless. It reminded her of her days in the hospital, when she had insomnia after being sick and asleep for too long. Quietly, she left a little note for Henry so he wouldnt worry if he woke and slipped out of the room. She wished that she could stop by Thais tent like she had for months, but with Chisisi and Zaki sharing his room, she didnt dare to even knock.

Instead, she headed downstairs and out the back doors of the hotel, breathing a sigh of relief when she was outside. The crisp mountain air was refreshing, and steam rose off of the swimming pool, which was gently lit and glowed aquamarine. Without overthinking it, she kicked off her shoes and jumped in. The water was warm, and she swam underwater as far as she could until she had to surface for air.

Hard to believe you couldnt swim until a few months ago. Youre a natural.

Gideon! she said with glee, seeing her mentor standing at the edge of the pool, projecting from the Globe.

Cyrus lent me your charm. I hope you dont mind.

Of course not. Is everything okay?

With Cyrus, yes. He told us what happened, and hes working on finding out who came after you. But something else has happened.

Valerie, is this guy bothering you? Thai asked, stepping out the back door of the hotel.

This is Gideon, my mentor on the Globe and second in command at the Guild of the Knights of Light. Hes the one whos training me to perfect my fighting skills"with and without magic. She swam to the edge of the pool and rested her arms on the ledge.

Im sorry, sir. Im glad to meet you.

Likewise. Ive heard good things about you.

If you dont mind my asking, what kind of magic do you have?

I have chosen not to develop my magic. But I am skilled at fighting, like Valerie. Without her gifts, of course.

Hes much better than Ill ever be, she said. But, Gideon, you said something happened.

Gideons relaxed smile disappeared, and she could see him draw himself up to his full height, which was over six feet. Its Jet. Hes missing, and we are afraid that the Fractus have taken him.

Jet and Chrome are the wolves who protected me after Id been attacked by Sanguina, she explained to Thai. They have the ability to follow magic trails.

Theyre brothers? Thai asked.

Mates for life, Gideon replied. Their connection intensifies their powers, and until recently, they have never failed to trace magic anywhere it has been used, even after several days have passed.

So cant Chrome follow the trail of magic to discover what happened to Jet? she asked.

He can sense nothing. Its similar to how they couldnt sense the transparent men who attacked you in Messina. Thats why we think the Fractus are involved.

How can I help?