Thomas swore, pulled out his cell phone, and turned away from them. Probably calling for aid. He snapped the phone closed after a few moments of talking in a low voice to someone on the other end. “Search the building. Get Micah down here to take a look at these herbs and try to figure out what they might have been doing.” He glanced at one of the warlocks sitting on the floor trying to stop a bloody nose. “Drug up the surviving Duskoff and get them back to the Coven. Throw them in Gribben, and we’ll question them.”

Theo pulled her to the side. “Are you injured? How are your stomach and your ribs?”

“I’m okay. I don’t think anything’s broken.” She touched her sore belly. “Just scrapes and bruises.” Bad bruises.

Thomas’s shoe crunched some broken glass on the floor behind them, making them turn. He swung around and pointed a finger at Theo and Sarafina. “Theo, you don’t let her out of your sight from now on. I don’t want her so much as peeing without you in the room.”

Sarafina frowned. “Uh.”

“I mean it.” Thomas pointed at her again, like a father reprimanding a child. “Don’t make me handcuff you together. Go back to Louisville and find a good hotel. I don’t want you far from us. Sarafina, on the way there, call Micah and tell him everything you just told us.”

Thomas started to turn away, then stopped and turned back. “And Sarafina, you did an awesome job here. Thank you for rushing in to defend Claire the way you did. If you want a job with the Coven, it’s yours.”

THEO FUMED THE ENTIRE WAY BACK TO LOUISVILLE, his hands tight on the steering wheel of their rented SUV. He couldn’t bring himself to speak or do much beyond concentrate on the road in front of him. The rage he felt at Bai and Stefan boiled through his veins, and he didn’t trust himself not to explode, so he just kept silent.

Beside him Sarafina sat staring out the window, deep in thought. He couldn’t blame her. Being earmarked for broodmare status by a daaeman would bring much contemplation along with it.

They reached the hotel where Stefan had originally intended to lodge and left the vehicle for the valet. Stefan’s limo was still parked back on the land and the Gods only knew where he was by now.

Eric’s flashy red bike was parked outside. Theo couldn’t help but sneer as he passed it on the cobblestone street.

They were both a mess. They needed to get up to the hotel room before anyone started asking why they were dirty and blood-streaked.