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to approach. The magical indicators were growing weaker, but they were definitely there.
    All three of them got out of the SUV . Kate and Slade took the lead as Grif brought up the rear. Kate did her thing and the scene lit dramatically with a few waves of her hands and a low-voiced chant.
    “I see it,” Slade murmured, knowing his companions would hear him. He moved off in the direction of the trail.
    He could see now where the trail had been masked at the point they lost it earlier. Very nearby, it crossed the road and began again, much more faintly. Apparently the killers could hide completely on the asphalt of the road, but something about the desert held the last little glimmers of dark power that had traversed it.
    “The land didn’t like them,” Kate whispered, almost as if to herself. “We’re seeing the trace of its rejection of their attempts to hide themselves.” She looked over at Slade and they shared a moment of silent communication.
    It was almost as if he could hear what she was thinking. This land was sacred. Kate, as a priestess, had probably done ceremonies in and around the shifter housing development, including this patch of desert, to consecrate the lands to the Lady. It was a form of protection she probably did as a matter of course whenever she moved to a new place.
    That simple act had allowed them to follow the trail that otherwise probably would have remained hidden.
    Grif cleared his throat behind them, breaking the spell. Kate jumped a bit but Slade hid his reaction better, merely turning to nod at the impatient Alpha who was following them. Grif would have been within his rights to voice his objection to the delay a little more vocally, but he was being polite.
    “Sorry,” Kate murmured. She fell back to explain what was goi ng on to the cougar as Slade forged ahead, walking carefully to avoid disturbing the fragile trail.
    He followed it for some time, m ore than a hundred yards from where they’d found it again. He thought they might really be on to something when the trail just… petered out.
    “That’s it.” Slade said after his third loop around, looking for the remnants of the trail. He threw his hands up in disgust. “Kate, do you see anything more?”
    She shook her head. “No, sorry.”
    “What are you saying?” Grif asked in a quiet voice as if he was trying really hard to keep himself calm.
    “The trail ends here.” Slade faced the cougar Alpha, not backing down from Grif’s very obvious, frustrated anger.
    “Ends?” Grif growled.
    “Yes, Alpha.” Slade spoke firmly, but respectfully, acknowledging their respective ranks. “I will try to find it again, but it could take quite a while and I can’t promise I’ll find the scent again. For now, this is as far as I can take you.”
    The growl continued as Grif paced away, clearly upset. A moment later, he turned on his heel and strode back, appearing to come to a decision.
    “All right then. You keep working on this. Call in when you have something to report. Kate, you want to come back with me or stay here?”

    “I’ll stay and work with Slade . Maybe together we can find it again.” Something indefinable made her want to stay with the mysterious shifter. They all walked quickly back to the SUV. They’d need it to resume their work farther up the road.
    “I’ll run back, ” Grif decided swiftly and began to strip as they neared the vehicle.
    In deference to Kate, no doubt, he moved behind the rental car to get completely naked. He made a ball of his clothing and chucked it into the back of the rented SUV before shifting to his cougar form and taking off at a fast lope, straight across the scrubby desert. He’d be back to his family home in no time.
    “So what now?” Kate turned to face Slade.
    He held her gaze for a beat too long before replying and she wondered what was going through his mind. “Normally, I’d prowl, but not with you in tow. Two feet aren’t as fast as four.”
    “Are you saying