“There’s a draft,” he said, dropping down to show his dust being pulled under the straw. “See? There’s a trapdoor right here.”

The horse swung his head to try to bite him like a fly, and Jax darted out of the way, glowing a bright red as he landed on Nick’s shoulder. The man was standing in the dead center of the aisle, uncomfortable. “Nice,” I said, eying the horse, who now had his ears back, evil as he swung and tossed his head, daring us to come in.

“Girls like horses,” Nick said, arms crossed. “One of you can get him out.”

Ivy frowned. “Oh, for God’s sake,” she muttered, reaching for the gate.

“No!” I shouted, seeing the not-so-subtle equine signs.

The horse lunged forward, but Ivy was quicker, pulling her hand back an instant before the horse got his teeth on her. He stomped, tossing his head with his ears back. “Little sucker,” she said, clearly shaken as she dropped back to where Nick stood.

Jenks smirked and flitted into the stall, not a hint of dust showing as he avoided the horse’s bite and vanished under the floorboards. An instant later, a soft electric glow leaked up through the cracks. He’d found the lights.

“Did he get you?” I said, taking Ivy’s hand, but apart from a bad mood, she looked okay.

A silver dust sifted over our fingers, and I let go when Jenks rejoined us. “It’s a passage, all right,” he said as Ivy shook her head. “It runs under the road. This is it.”

Nick crossed his arms. “With hell horse guarding it? Ivy, will your drugs work on it?”

She shook her head. “I don’t have enough. He’s got to weigh over a thousand pounds.”

“Hit him over the head with your cast,” Jenks said. “Use what you got.”

Ivy just looked at him, and I sighed, standing outside easy bite range. “I’m not going to be stopped by a freaking horse!” I said.

The horse’s ears flicked forward, and his nose toss took on a less aggressive slant. My breath caught, and Jenks landed on my shoulder. “Did you see that?” he said, and Ivy chuckled.

“Rachel, I think he likes you.”

“No way,” I said, but the monster’s ears flicked forward again, followed by a happy step toward us. My lips twisted, and I gazed at Ivy, mystified.

Jenks laughed. It was the first time I’d heard it since Matalina died, and something eased in me. “Well, I know you’re not a virgin to soothe a savage beast,” he said, and I swatted at him, missing him by a mile. “Go pet the horse, Rachel.”

Nick scuffed his feet. “We’re running out of time here …”