Chapter 27 · The Key

"What the hell—" Aiden started.

Rex's hand was already inside the hunter's coat.

He yanked out a small leather book and sprang back beside us. The lead hunter checked his empty pocket, then laughed.

"You think that'll help you?" His voice held no anger. That made it worse. "Go ahead. Read it. See what your father really was."

Rex's fingers crushed the book's cover.

I grabbed his arm. "We need to move. Now."

The hunters didn't chase us. They stood among the trees and watched, as if we'd already done exactly what they wanted.

Cain was still convulsing on the ground. Black lines crawled across his chest, and the silver mark beneath his skin pulsed with every spasm.

"Aiden, help me." I hooked my hands under Cain's shoulders.

His skin burned against my palms, then turned ice-cold. The change came so fast my teeth clicked together.

Aiden caught Cain's legs. Rex stayed frozen.

"Rex!"

His eyes snapped to mine.

"We're leaving," I said. "Unless you'd rather explain that book to the hunters."

That got him moving.

We dragged Cain through the trees.