Page 64 of Scout’s Honor

“Pssht, maybe not,” Dakota said, hand on her hip.

Aven shook his head. “Not the leader of you, witch, you do your own thing. Shifter hierarchy doesn’t affect you at all.”

Dakota nodded. “Good.”

“But why me?” Dallas asked, shaking his head. “You were higher rank in the military.”

“Who gives a fuck about the military?” Aven said, throwing his hands up. “I belong in the sky, doing surveillance, not on the ground making decisions like some mammal.” Dakota laughed and took his hand. Aven pulled her close and kept talking. “Jameson’s been my boss for a long time, in ‘The Cause’ and at work. He’s done a decent job, but he’s distracted now, and he’s too far removed. I think someone else can do a better job, at least for the four of us.” He jabbed his finger into Dallas’ chest a few times. “That’s you, Rowr. You’ve been acting like a leader since you got here.”

Dallas clapped Aven on the back, grinning a wide grin. “Thanks, Skree.”

Bonhi smiled and slipped her hand into the crook of Dallas’ elbow. He took it to his handsome mouth and kissed her fingers, then said, “I think you might be right, because Warrior Woman showed me there’s something going on ‘The Cause’ doesn’t know about. The vampires are trying to get their hands on a powerful item, and if they do, we’re in deep shit. Whatever’s inside it can control us or kill us—all of us.”

“Inside it? What, like a chest?” Aven asked.

Dallas shook his head, holding his fingers apart as far as they would go. “I thought it was a key, but I had a dream on the plane ride home that made me think it’s a small bottle or vial with liquid inside. It’s made out of a funny, bubbled metal.”

Bonhi felt sick. “It’s in the cabin,” she said, covering her mouth, and turning to stare at Dallas with desperate eyes.

Dallas grasped her upper arms. “That changes everything. We’ve got to get it before the vampires do.”

She nodded, finally spilling what she knew. “The cabin is just north of Cove Springs. It opened for me once without a key. I think it’s magic and can disappear like the… coven.”

Dallas looked at Aven, eyebrows raised. “Cove Springs?”

“It’s two miles from the BBOC,” Aven said. “You can take the 4-wheeler from the rear storage. The combination is 4941 and there’s a map to Cove Springs under the seat.”

Dallas nodded. “Thanks.” He turned to Bonhi. “Let’s go, before the vampires get the key.”

Bonhi stopped him. “What about Angie and the judge?”

Dallas thought for a moment, then said, “We’ll call Maze and the others off the doctor and have them come here. Aven and Dakota can stay until they get here.” He checked in with them and they nodded. He turned back to Bonhi and looked deep in her eyes as if he were infusing her with strength. “Me and you will go and get the bottle before the vampires get the key.”

She pulled together all her courage and nodded at her fated mate.

32—Count Chocula Motherfuckers

Dallas steered the 4-wheeler through the forest as fast he dared. The drive to the BBOC had been uneventful, and they’d found the 4-wheeler easily. Now, Bonhi sat behind him, holding onto his waist. Her glow lit up the forest brightly in a ten-foot circle, showing him the way. Night hadn’t fallen yet, but the sun had slipped behind the mountains, shrouding them in shadows.

Dallas slowed to maneuver over a tangled mass of tree roots disrupting the trail. Birds chirped madly in the trees around them, preparing for sleep.

“Hold on tight,” Dallas said, giving it gas, trying to goose the 4-wheeler up to smooth ground. He made it up and over the last bit of roots and found the trail again, about to speak, but something made the words die in his throat.

The forest was now bright with blue-tinted daylight as far as he could see. Dallas slowed, then stopped, then twisted to look at Bonhi. She was lit up like a 1000-watt bulb, so bright the intensity hurt his eyes. Her chin was up and her eyes were on the forest, her nostrils flaring slightly. She didn’t even look at him. Her entire focus was ahead.

“Uh oh,” Dallas muttered. Bonhi had ‘switched on’, which meant vampires were close. He’d be thrilled about it if they weren’t alone out here in the middle of nowhere. He considered turning back but decided there was nothing to do but keep going. Aven and Dakota were on their way, and Bonhi would be a fierce fighter, once she found her magic, he knew it.

Dallas got them going again at a slower speed, nose ready for the scent of vampires.

Bonhi tugged at his shoulder, then spoke in his ear. “We’re getting close.”

Dallas stopped and found a place to stash the four-wheeler, not mentioning Bonhi’s brighter glow. He cut the engine. “We go on foot from here.”

His phone rang, buzzing in his pocket. It was Maze calling.

Dallas answered quietly. “Yeah.”

Maze sounded out of breath. “Some human came and visited Judge Sturn. We’re pretty sure he took the key. He twitched, and I followed him, but someone shot at me and I lost him.”