“What are you guys talking about?” Laurel said weakly. The weariness in her voice made Tamani want to run over and take her in his arms and away from everything. Back to Avalon where no one, none of this, could hurt her again. For the millionth time he wondered what about this world—about this human boy—made her so determined to stay. To put herself in constant danger to protect them, when all Tamani wanted was for her to be safe. She was strong—so strong—but he had seen bigger trees than Laurel break when the wind blew hard enough.

“I got Chelsea’s shirt,” David said. “The one she wrapped Yuki’s cut with. I . . . I thought you could use it as a sample for your experiment.”

Laurel’s eyes widened. “Yes! David, that’s perfect!” She tried to get up, but collapsed back onto the couch. David and Tamani both stepped forward, extending a hand. David scowled at Tamani. Tamani scowled right back.

“I’m okay,” Laurel said. “I just stood up too fast. I need the sample,” she said, and Tamani could tell she was straining to keep her voice even. “I have to prepare it tonight or it’ll be too late.”

David held up the shirt. “I’ll bring it upstairs,” he said.

“I’ll help you up,” Tamani offered at the same time. A tense moment passed before Laurel’s mom stood and helped Laurel get up from the couch.

“I will take Laurel,” she said in a very gentle voice, “and Mark will bring the shirt.” David handed the shirt reluctantly to Laurel’s dad. Laurel leaned against her mom’s shoulder and avoided looking at either of them, but Laurel’s mom took David and Tamani in with a glance that reminded Tamani all too vividly of his own mother. “I think you’ve both had plenty of excitement for one night. I’ll help Laurel prepare her sample and then she needs to sleep. Everything else can wait till tomorrow. David, you’re welcome to crash on the couch if you want. I’m not sure you should go back out there tonight.” Then, almost as an afterthought, she added, “You’re welcome to stay as well, Tamani, but . . .”

“Thank you, but no,” Tamani said. “There is still work to be done tonight, I’m afraid.”

“I assume you can let yourself out,” Laurel’s mom said, and Tamani was almost certain there was a touch of laughter in her voice as she said it. But he just nodded and watched as Laurel and her mom slowly mounted the stairs.

“Well,” David said, turning his eyes to Tamani.

Tamani said nothing, simply turned and slipped silently out the back door. He had no patience left for David tonight.

Aaron fell into step next to Tamani the instant Tamani stepped off the back porch. “Would you like to explain what just happened?” he asked, a definite edge to his voice.

“We were attacked by trolls,” Tamani retorted, tired of holding his temper. “But then, if you didn’t know that already, you are seriously failing in your job.”

“We arrived seconds after you drove away, but it was too late. We had a trail to follow, but nothing else.”

“I hope you followed it.”

“Of course we did,” Aaron said sharply. “But it disappeared. Again. What I want to know is why you didn’t follow it. You had them in visual range!”

Guilt welled up at Tamani’s core, but he pushed it away. “I had to stay with Laurel.”

“We could have made sure she got home safely.”

“I didn’t know that. All I knew was that you weren’t there.”

Aaron sighed. “Tracking you while you’re driving that vehicle is exactly as difficult as you’d imagine.”

“What about our life isn’t difficult, Aaron?”

“You should have followed them, Tamani. That is your job!”

“That is your job!” Tamani snapped back, louder than he should have. “My job is to protect Laurel, and that is what I did.” He turned away and laced his fingers behind his neck, letting his elbows hang limply by his face as he drew in short, fast breaths, trying to regain control. “I’ll find them,” he said after a long pause.

“The trail is long-cold,” Aaron said, refusing to yield.

“I don’t care. I’ll find them. I’ll put in extra shifts after Laurel is in for the night. I’ll make this right,” he promised, more to himself than to Aaron. He listened for Aaron’s reply, but heard nothing. After a long minute he dropped his arms and turned, but he was alone in the trees.

Chapter Nineteen

“WE NEED TO TALK,” CHELSEA SAID, SEIZING LAUREL’S arm as she walked into the hall at school.

Laurel grinned. “Oh, I’m all right, Chelsea, thanks for asking. How about you? Did you develop any whiplash over the weekend?”

“I’m serious,” Chelsea hissed. “We need to talk. Now,” she added, her voice catching a little.

“Okay,” Laurel said, realizing this was not a time for jokes. “Absolutely. I’m sorry, um . . . let’s go down here.” She pointed Chelsea down the hall toward the janitorial closet that was always hanging open. No one hung out there. “What’s going on?” she said, sliding down the wall and patting the floor beside her.

Chelsea joined her, leaning her head close to Laurel’s. “It’s Ryan. He doesn’t remember what happened Friday night.”

Laurel looked confused. “That’s normal with head injuries, isn’t it?”