I stay.”
Lex said nothing.
Rune backed away. “We have work to do.” She gestured at the unconscious Owen. “Put him back where you found him. Someone will be along to care for him.”
“They might not,” Lex said, shocked. “What if no one comes?”
Rune shrugged. “Then he’ll die. At least he’ll be out of his misery. Put him down, Strad.”
But Strad didn’t move. “Did he hurt you?”
She crossed her arms, then uncrossed them. “No. He betrayed us. You were right all along. The black-haired baby…” She ground her teeth and clenched her fists so hard her nails bloodied her palms. “He let an innocent baby be sent into this hellish place. And he’s the one who released the rotting sickness. He’s a fucking…”
But she didn’t know exactly what Owen Five was.
“Rune,” Strad said, gently. “I’m not leaving him here.”
“He’s been tortured,” Lex said, stricken. “He’s been blinded.”
“Lex—”
“We’re not leaving him,” Lex shouted, furious. “He’s got no eyes, Rune!”
For the first time since they’d met, Lex stared at Rune with disgust.
And maybe just a tiny gleam of contempt.
Rune had to fight not to look away. “Bring him then,” she snarled, her voice hoarse. “But keep him the fuck away from me.”
Then she grabbed his hat from the ground, slapped it against her thigh, and whistled for the troublemaking Grim.
She’d find the witch, and she’d worry about Owen Five later.
She ignored the fact that deep, deep down, she was a just little bit relieved.
Chapter Forty-Four
Mother Skyll didn’t lead her to Damascus, and neither did Grim. Shiv Crow did.
He circled overhead, cawing occasionally, making sure she was on the right path.
“You are gathering a menagerie,” Lex said, panting slightly, despite the fact that they were walking.
“Do you need to rest?” Rune wasn’t ready to explain to them where the crow had come from.
“Nope.”
The berserker traded Cree for Owen, who was so much worse than even the bird. He had yet to awaken. Cree walked along behind him, slowing them down, but there was no help for it.
They kept an eye out for a safe place to stow both their injured friends, but hadn’t found anyplace satisfactory.
Cree had offered to care for Owen until they took care of business and returned. She didn’t seem to doubt that they would.
“Who exactly is Brasque Dray?” Strad asked.
“He’s the lord of Flesh Shimmer.” She took a breath. “You’ll have to meet him. I met another of the shimmer lords. Nikolai Czar, lord of the Death Shimmer. He’s a vampire.”
His stare was sharp. “The man Fie mentioned.” He hesitated, afraid to ask.
“I should have told you already. Fie’s alive. She’s leading the Army of Death and Darkness. They belong to Nikolai. Now that’s he’s free…” She shrugged. “I guess he’ll find them or they’ll find him.”
Unless Fie was dead—but she wasn’t going to say that.
“There’s a lot I don’t know,” she added.
“There,” Lex said, pointing. “Up ahead. A cabin. I’ll go check it out.”
Rune tucked Owen’s hat under her arm and pulled the shotgun strap over her head. She cradled the gun, almost hoping she’d have a reason to use it. “I’ll come with you.”
The berserker nodded, surprising her. She’d grown used to him arguing. But he had his hands full with Owen and Cree, and the cabin was within sight should they need him.
She jogged along with Lex in silence. Grim trotted just ahead of both of them, leading the way, his tail high, ears up.
He didn’t bark or growl a warning, and Rune didn’t feel any threats coming from inside the house.
Grim circled twice and sat down in the dirt at the front door, then lowered himself to his belly and quietly surveyed the area.
“There’s nothing inside,” Rune said. “He’s too relaxed.”
Lex nodded. “Let’s go in and see if it’s fit shelter for those two.”
Rune pushed the door open and stepped inside, Lex at her back. The room was dark, but with the two small windows and the door open, there was enough light to see by.
The one-room cabin looked like it might have been a stopping place for hunters caught out too late or too far from home. There was a cot in the corner, some dry firewood against the wall beside the fireplace, and a few mismatched dishes.
Strad came through the doorway and Cree hurried past him—as much as she could hurry—and turned back the spread on the cot.
After he’d settled Owen beneath the covers, he left Cree to tend him and walked to Rune. “Good place to leave them. I’ll build a fire.”
“I’ll find some