The room was a ruin of smoking ash. The smell was horrible, but it was better than being dead. The only thing left untouched by all the grime was the saint. He rested there, still perfectly preserved. Only missing a hand, some hair, and a few accessories.

I reached down, and put the hand in my purse. At the last second, I spotted the on the floor in a pile of ash across the room and went to grab it. The knife had our blood on it, and I wasn’t leaving a drop of it behind.

Lucas made a face at the hand sticking out of my purse. “Witches,” he said with a laugh.

“Without magic, we’d be dead right now.”

“True enough, princess. True enough.”

We stepped over piles of ash and rot on our way out. By the time we reached the exit, I was more than ready to be outside. The cool mountain air flew over my skin as Lucas pushed open the door, and I breathed a sigh of relief. Now all I had to do was get to San Jose and somehow heal Raphael.

I was enjoying the air so much that I didn’t notice Lucas had stopped walking until I was jerked to a stop. “What?”

Lucas growled, looking ahead of us, and I turned. All I could see was forest. But I knew Lucas had much better night vision than I did.

I stepped back to stand next to him as we waited.

The brujos are still here, Lucas said in my head.

What? I tried answering back the same way.

There. In front of us. They’ll be here in a second.

They? My stomach knotted as I took in the severity of that word. It sounded like more than just one of those creepy brujos. Just Father Valentine? I asked.

No. All of them.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Three

Ten men dressed in black robes stepped into view in a wall of black and red aura that made my heart beat faster. Father Valentine’s white hair made him stand out.

The pack isn’t far, Lucas said, his voice was deep and gravelly. His wolf was close. But if they attack, I’m going to switch forms. Don’t be scared. I’m going to try and keep him away from you—stall until the pack gets here—but keep the knife handy.

I felt along his pack’s bonds, but the other wolves wouldn’t be here. Not soon enough. I reached into my purse, feeling for the cool metal, and gripped it tightly. Okay.

“You surprise me,” Father Valentine said. “I didn’t expect you to get out alive.”