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She nodded, tears threatening to spill over her lashes

I wanted to tell her she could cross through ht – but a growl, low and guttural, caught aze darted from one shadow to the next "Is that a bear?" I asked "I hope that’s not a bear"

Lydia’s expression had changed She looked at ht you here I’m sorry I just wanted you to see"

I stood "I know, honey It’s okay"

"No, it’s not It was selfish of me" She lowered her head

"Not at all," I said,a lovely pout, she whispered, "You should know, they were summoned"

I put a hand on her arm and leaned closer "Who, sweetheart? Who was sulance over her shoulder "The rew louder as she spoke "They were suing on the word twelve I straightened and whirled around, looking for the hellhounds, the beasts who’d escaped eternal damnation to frolic on earth And to rip me limb from limb

Before I could ask any ain Her words curled around me like dark, ethereal s for someone whose demons play ith ours

-- BUMPER STICKER

I raced back to the carounds so fast, tree limbs and pine needles whipped across my face with cruel intent I didn’t care I flew over the fallen log and zigzagged past the trees, the landscape blurring in my periphery as I focused on sound Not just any sound A specific sound A growl But I had yet to hear it again

I felt Reyes near me, incorporeal His heat encircled me¸ but I didn’t have time to explain I burst fro, "Ti at a very confused Kit, I scooped up the file I’d laid on the ground and raced toward her SUV She didn’t argue She followed behindher keys as she ran

"Is there a bear?" she asked as we hustled into her SUV

"So Reyes

He bit down and exah a perfect three-point turn, stirring up dirt and clouds of dust

I felt bad about leaving the girls behind without so o back for them when this Twelve business was all said and done

"Okay," I said once ere on the road, "there are at least eight girls buried near that big boulder to the east of the cabins, just past the tree line"

"What?" she asked