Wesley nodded proudly. “I’m a witch. Of course I can.”

John sighed. “And once we know where she is? We might still be too late.”

Cain reached his hand out to his loyal guard and helped him up. “At least this way we have a small chance. We can send a few guys there clandestinely, while you continue to pretend you’re doing what Abel wants you to do.”

“Uh, actually,” Wesley threw in, drawing everybody’s attention back on him. “We have more than just a small chance. Once I have Nicolette’s location, I can put a protection spell on her so that whoever is guarding her won’t be able to harm her.”

“I recall you mentioning on the way here from San Francisco that you were working on one, not that you had actually perfected it,” John said with a good dose of skepticism in his voice.

Wes rolled his eyes. “I’ve had plenty of time to work on my craft. So why does everybody here constantly doubt my abilities?”

To Cain’s surprise, Blake slapped his colleague on the shoulder, grinning. “Maybe it’s time to redeem yourself and show them all that you’re not just a fuck-up.”

Wesley exchanged a look with Blake that appeared almost conspiratorial. “Maybe you’re right. Let’s show those vamps what the rest of us are made out of. Wanna assist?”

Blake chuckled. “As long as you don’t turn me into a pig in the process.”

Wes clicked his tongue. “Speaking of pigs, Blake, do me a favor. The next time you want to borrow one of my potions, ask me first, instead of messing with my stuff.”

“Huh?” Blake appeared utterly clueless.

“Well, never mind. I see why you have the need to arm yourself with some magic to defend yourself. Next time just ask first.” Then Wesley turned away from Blake and motioned to John. “I need something that belongs to Nicolette so I can scry for her. Do you have something she wore, or a lock of hair, something with her sweat or her scent on it?”

John reached to his neck and pulled a chain out from under his shirt, revealing a small vial dangling at its end. “Will her blood work?”

“You’ve gotta be kidding me,” Wes said, already reaching for it. “That’ll make it so much easier.”

Cain glanced at the vial with the red liquid inside. “You carry her blood with you? Why?”

“I need to feel her close. You understand that, don’t you?”

Cain nodded slowly. He understood. Because John had not been able to blood-bond with the woman he loved due to the previous rule that the leader of the king’s guard wasn’t allowed a private life, he’d resorted to the next best thing: to always have her blood around him to be reminded of her.

Cain took John’s arm and clasped it. “Once this is over, I promise you’ll get to make her yours if that’s what you desire.”

John locked eyes with him, and in that moment their old friendship was restored.

Then Cain turned to Wesley. “How long will the spell last?”

“Twenty-four hours.”

“Good. That should be sufficient time. Get to work. Make it quick. Blake will help you.” And he hoped that the witch knew what he was doing. For all their sakes. “The rest of us, let’s get Abel and take him down.”

The cell phone in his pocket rang, and Cain impatiently pulled it out, glancing at the display. He answered it. “Yes, Gabriel?”

“You’d better come up here.”

“Stall them.”

“I’m afraid I’ve stalled as long as I could.”

Cain cursed. “I’ll be there in a minute.” He disconnected the call and looked at his friends. “Your orders stand. Find Abel and prevent him from making any phone calls to alert whoever is guarding Nicolette. And be subtle so nobody is aware of what you’re doing. We don’t know which of the guards are loyal to my brother. I don’t want anybody to warn him that we’re on to him.”

Not waiting for a response, Cain charged out of the room and ran up the stairs. When he reached the upstairs foyer, he could already sense the tension that rendered the air so thick he could have cut through it with a knife.

Two guards blocked the entrance door and immediately stepped aside when Cain approached.

On the porch, Gabriel and Eddie stood, two more guards at their sides, their backs turned to the palace. Cain marched between them and stared at the six vampires who stood on the driveway just below the steps. Behind them three black SUVs were parked, and the tinted windows made it impossible to see how many more vampires were inside. Or how many others were hiding in the forest bordering the palace’s grounds.