Page 51 of Roguefinder

Caleb turned and eyed the parchment on the table. “I got a vision both times I touched it. Maybe I should do it again.”

My panic threatened to return. I gripped the spatula I held, ready to rap his knuckles before he could start toward the table. “You’ve touched it enough.”

One corner of his mouth lifted. “First time you’ve ever said that.”

“I’m serious. Certain kinds of magic can drain energy.” I nodded toward the invitation. “We don’t know if there’s something about that piece of parchment, or if your gift just works that way. We can experiment later. Right now, I think it’s a bad idea to push yourself.”

He seemed to consider it. Then he sighed. “Okay.”

Relief washed over me. I went to the stove and heated oil in a pan. “You need to shift before tomorrow night’s performance,” I said, looking at him over my shoulder. “I want your wolf as settled as possible before we walk into a nest of vampires.”

A look of horror crossed his features. “They wouldn’t try to feed from us or anything, would they?”

“If they were desperate, maybe. From what I’ve read, vampires prefer human blood. They say it’s sweeter.”

“Gross.”

I laughed. “I’ll feed you this frittata. Then we’ll go for a run.”

He looked toward the windows. “In the middle of the day? Someone will see us.”

“I know a good place,” I said, an idea forming. When he glanced at the window, expression skeptical, I let my smile spread. “Are you afraid of the rain?”

“Ha. Hardly.”

“Glad to hear it, college boy.” I nodded toward the table. “Now get ready to eat. You’ll need your strength for this.”

He went to his chair, a mix of curiosity and anticipation on his face. “You gonna tell me what you’re planning?”

I turned back to the stove. “Nope.”

“Fuck.”

Smiling, I poured the eggs into the pan.

Chapter

Ten

CALEB

Jesse’s “plan” turned out to be a street barely wide enough for one car to pass through at a time.

None did, though. The second we entered, it was like we’d stepped into a different century. The buildings rose four and five stories on either side, their bases made of thick stones with deep joints. Iron wall sconces threw pools of amber light onto the black cobblestones, which were shiny and slick from the rain.

Church towers were visible at the end of the street, where traffic and a few pedestrians braved the cold.

I hunched deeper into my gray hoodie, which I’d paired with jeans and boots with enough traction to stop me from falling on my ass.

Jesse wore a sweater and dark beanie that hugged his head and made me want to push him against the nearest wall and suck him off.

“What is this place?” I asked, breath puffing. Every dozen or so steps, tall wooden gates broke up the monotony of the stone. Small plaques mounted beside each one were too blackened to make out the letters. Not that I could have read the Italian.

Jesse offered a cryptic smile. “You’ll see.”

I stepped over a flattened piece of cardboard so soaked that the cobblestones beneath seeped through the pulp. “Hopefully before we get murdered.”

He laughed softly. “Trust me, baby, you and I are the most dangerous creatures on this street.”