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formula that ate the dirt right off of you. “We’re going to smell like dank swamp until we can wash off, and I can guarantee there won’t be any decent showers where we’re going.”
    We pounded along the bumpy terrain for a good twenty minutes.
    My teeth rattled around until we finally evened out onto a small paved road. “Almost there,” Ray yelled. “We got lucky with our directions. This direction is close to civilization. Any farther west and it would’ve been more complicated. Naomi tracked you before we went off-road, so we knew where you’d be.”
    Naomi nodded, her face amused by Ray’s antics. Then she glanced over at Rourke appreciatively. “Your beast is fierce,” she said to him. “I have not seen an equal to it in all my years. The rumors of your strength are renowned in the vampire world, and clearly they weren’t exaggerated.”
    Rourke nodded once, accepting her praise, but didn’t comment.
    “I will not tell a soul,” Naomi said. “My allegiance is to Jessica, and by proxy to you, and I won’t risk putting us in jeopardy, nor will I ever talk of anything that would compromise us.”
    “There’s no need to keep it quiet anymore, Naomi,” Rourke said. “The game has changed for me forever and my old ways won’t work any longer. If I don’t adapt, I’ll be the one who ultimately places us in jeopardy. And who knows? Maybe if supernaturals know what I am, and what I’m capable of, they’ll think twice about pursuing us. Keeping Jessica safe is my number one priority, so it doesn’t matter if anyone knows what I am.”
    Naomi sharpened her gaze, her eyes suddenly dancing. “If you’d like, I can spread rumors of your strength among thevampires. I still have a few contacts. Vampires love to gossip. They live for drama and it might help us.”
    Rourke chuckled. “I like your style, Naomi. Do whatever you see fit. I’m willing to do just about anything to keep the odds in our favor. Having the supernatural community renew their gossip about me might be a good thing.”
    Naomi nodded as she peered out at the scenery flying by. Ray must have been going at least eighty. I knew she would do whatever it took to keep all of us safe, just like Rourke, and she took her part seriously. I had no doubt she could come up with a tale that would paint Rourke as a fierce beast who could rip your throat out while you were still talking.
    “When we get to the airboat place,” I said, nudging Naomi out of her thoughts with the toe of my shoe, “I’m going to send you out ahead of us. I told my father you’d be arriving before us to get the coordinates. He said the place is warded from humans, but since you’ve already seen them, I’m sure you can find them again.”
    “
Oui
, I will do that,” Naomi answered. “Are you going to wait for the wolf boys to join us before we depart? Or are we going to leave them to meet us later?”
    “The ‘wolf boys’?” I chortled, tossing back my head. “Now, that’s something you don’t hear every day.”
    “Well”—Naomi blushed, shrugging—“they are always together, those two. It will be easier to find a name that works for both of them. You refer to Ray and myself as ‘the vamps,’ and I agree, it’s easier to group us together, so ‘wolf boys’ is the equivalent for me.”
    “I like it. And, Naomi, I think you’re developing a sense of humor, and funny looks good on you. Let me check in with Tyler now so we can plan ahead. Gimme a second.” I held up a finger.
    Tyler, are you there?
I called.
    Yep
, he said.
We’re about an hour from a city called Homestead. We made good time. Where are you?
    Not sure yet. We’re not near any town at the moment. But before we discuss that, I need to let you know I made contact with Dad. He’s fine and the plan is to meet up soon. I hope you’re close. If you are, we’ll wait. Once we get to the airboat place, I’ll let you know our exact location
.
    Glad you got in touch with Dad. I