the process difficult, but gradually they put it together—enough to realize the secrets about Fantasy were in their hands. The long years of research, hoping to combine magic and science into magical cures. The early deaths of local lycanthropes and vampires who had been purchased as test subjects from unscrupulous Otherworld leaders. Sold like slaves. Dubrey’s original goals might have been worthy, improving modern medicine, but he’d always been an evil man.
They repacked everything except the most recent notebooks and took those back to the guest house. Zoe accessed the Internet, searching for a key to decipher the abbreviations. If they could read the full notes, maybe they’d confirm the goal of the recent experiments. Dubrey wasn’t motivated by money. But having total control over a vampire? Ari thought that was something that would intrigue him.
After forty-five minutes of muttering at the computer, Zoe slapped her hands on her knees. “I can’t find a thing. This shorthand must be his own invention. Maybe somebody in your FBI could do it.”
After noting Zoe’s growing frustration, Ari wasn’t surprised by her lack of progress, but calling in the FBI was out of the question. “Listen, Zoe, we can’t turn this stuff over to any human authorities, here or in the States. What if the latest formulas got into the wrong hands…?”
“I know. That FBI comment just popped out.” Zoe rose from the desk. “It already occurred to me that we can’t trust humanity to protect it. I’ll contact my Magic Council, tell them everything. They’ll know what to do.”
Ari nodded in relief, satisfied they were on the same page. “Good idea.” She picked up the newest of the journals. “Let’s take these with us, just to be safe. You can hand them directly to the Council.” Ari hesitated. “But I need a favor.”
Zoe cocked her head. “Name it. And I’ll see what I can do.”
“The broken thumb drive.”
Zoe pulled it from her pocket, turning it over in her fingers. “What about it?”
“Forget you saw it.” Ari stuck out her hand. “Maybe it’s useless, but my PD’s cyber crimes guy is very good. And I trust him.”
Zoe tossed it into Ari’s outstretched palm. “What thumb drive?”
Chapter Twenty-Two
It was dusk by the time Zoe and Ari made their way down the overgrown drive. Zoe carried a box of journals. Ari hurried to push back the encroaching branches. She sniffed and rubbed her nose with the back of her hand. It felt stuffy from dust. A shower would be good. She glanced over her shoulder, relieved to get away from the overwhelming gloom of the decaying mansion and the dead body. As they reached the last bushes, Otherworld energy set Ari’s witch blood racing. She stopped so abruptly that Zoe bumped into her back, pushing them through the brush and spilling the journals on the ground. Recovering quickly, she stared at the two vampires leaning on the hood of Zoe’s car. Ari wiggled her fingers at Zoe and stepped forward, away from the precious notebooks.
The vampires straightened, watching them with cold eyes. The burly, dark-skinned bruiser with silver chains on his vest kept his arms crossed in a show of male dominance. The older vamp, a Caucasian with every visible inch of skin covered in tattoos, grinned, showing his fangs.
“You know these guys?” Ari asked, making no attempt to lower her voice.
Zoe took the cue. “Sebastian’s goons. Get away from my car,” she said, stopping in front of the guy with the chains.
He didn’t move.
“Sebastian sent us to get you,” said his tattooed partner, staring at Ari. He sounded tough. He looked tough.
Ari turned her head to Zoe, pretending ignorance. “Who’s Sebastian?”
“Local vampire prince. Not a very friendly dude.”
Heeding Andreas’s warning, Ari shook her head. “Sorry, guys, no time for a visit today.”
“Make time.” The guy with the tattoos, obviously the spokesman, flexed his shoulder muscles. “Sebastian wants to see you.”
“About what? I have a plane to catch. The airlines don’t wait.”
“Neither does Sebastian.” His tone was surly now, and he ignored her question.
Ari debated what to do. She was pretty sure she and Zoe could take them, but she hated to start trouble she couldn’t finish. When Ari was safely in the States, what trouble would Zoe have with Sebastian’s court? Besides, Ari couldn’t help but wonder why Sebastian wanted to see them, or how he’d known to find them at Dubrey’s estate.
She tapped her watch. “My plane leaves in two hours and fifty minutes. I intend to be on it. Until then, I