Autumn Thorns (37 page)

He let out a long sigh. “The day we feared was coming has arrived, girls. The world is about to know that the
demons exist. Given the hate groups that sprang up against you, I dread to think what's going to happen.”

I closed my eyes, envisioning the potential for disaster.

Human supremacist groups had already sprung up to go on the rampage. And we all knew they wouldn't differentiate between the demons and any other Supe. This was just the fuel they needed to blow their hate campaigns sky high, a wild fire into a massive movement.

“What can we do?” Delilah's voice was hushed, almost reverently afraid.

“Stop Telazhar. That's the only way. Take him down, wipe him out, drink his blood. I don't care what the method is, but he has to be destroyed. Then, we worry about Shadow Wing.” And with that, Chase stood. “I need to get back to the office. I've been working eighteen-hour days the past few weeks.” He turned to Iris. “Thank you for watching Astrid while I'm there. I haven't heard from Sharah in a few weeks. Sometimes I feel like taking my daughter and heading over to Otherworld to be with Sharah and leaving all of this behind.”

Iris nodded, her eyes wet with tears. “I understand. Bruce was talking about heading back to Ireland, but as I told him—it doesn't matter where we go. Shadow Wing is determined to burn everything to the ground, and no matter what country . . . or even what world . . . we're all in danger until he's destroyed.”

With that, we saw Chase to the door.

Camille turned to us as we returned to the living room. “I'll head out to Talamh Lonrach Oll. I'm tired, but I think I should ask the Merlin to go to the UK. He might be able to quash the mess over there.”

Delilah nodded, her expression fading from worried to dark and beautiful. She had changed a lot since her last round of training with the Death Maidens. Now, she routinely saw ghosts and spirits, but they couldn't touch her unless she chose to allow it. And she was transforming even still.

“I'll talk to the Supe Community Action Council.” She
stretched, yawning. “We have the militia here, but it's time to call up reinforcements everywhere.”

I let out a long sigh. “I've got time before sunrise to talk to Roman. We'll marshal the vampires. It's time we all came together and walked into the fires of war united.”

And with that, we were off, doing what needed to be done even as the clock seemed to tick away all too fast.

New York Times
bestselling author
Yasmine Galenorn
writes urban fantasy, mystery, and metaphysical nonfiction. A graduate of Evergreen State College, she majored in theater and creative writing. Yasmine has been in the Craft for more than thirty-four years and is a shamanic witch. She describes her life as a blend of teacups and tattoos, and she lives in the Seattle area with her husband, Samwise, and their cats. Yasmine can be reached at her website at galenorn.com, via Twitter at twitter.com/yasminegalenorn, and via her publisher. If you send her snail mail, please enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope if you want a
reply.

Looking for more?
Visit Penguin.com for more about this author and a complete list of their books.
Discover your next great read!