The men grabbed the end table, moved it right to the door, and after counting to three, they swung.

But the heavy table did nothing but bounce off the glass and skitter back across the room.

As everyone panicked, desperately trying to find a way out, Simone slowly walked to the window and stared out.

Darrbee stood with several black-fanged women. She raised her hand, which now looked more like a claw, and waved at Simone.

That’s when Simone understood—she was the sacrifice to Gullveig.

They all were.

Perched on a tree branch, high in the air, Kera watched a few of the Mara move to different points around the house and begin a ritual in a language she didn’t understand. A few of the other Mara stood back, still oblivious to the Crows’ and Ravens’ presence. For now.

Kera glanced at her fellow perched Crows.

“We can’t let them burn,” Kera said plainly. When no one said anything, she repeated, more emphatically, “We can’t let them burn!”

“Those are the Mara Elders surrounding that house,” Tessa pointed out. “They’ll rip us apart. Shona-sari, their leader, is not to be fucked with.”

“But we’re here,” Siggy said. “We can help you.”

Tessa glanced at the Raven before adding, “I was including you.”

“Oh.”

Kera refused to back down. “We at least have to try.”

“And get killed in the process?” Erin shook her head. “There has to be a better way.”

“You know this is just rich people? Right?” Leigh asked. And when Kera’s eyes grew wide and her mouth dropped open, she quickly added, “I’m just saying they probably wouldn’t do the same for us.”

“I’m not giving up my morality just because the people I might be saving are assholes.”

“Even if they’re suing us?”

“Chloe!”

Chloe sighed and rolled her eyes. “Great. We get a goddamn Marine and now we have to have a moral center. How is that fair?”

“I’m going,” Kera announced. “You can back me up or not, it’s up to you.”

“I’m coming with you,” Vig said. He started to move toward her, but Josef grabbed his arm and briefly held him back.

“Is pussy really worth what you’re about to do?” the Raven leader asked.

Vig’s brow furrowed as he immediately replied, “Yes. It is.” “He’s right,” Stieg agreed. “It is.”

“Totally worth it, dude.”

“He’s right, bruh. It’s absolutely worth it.”

“I can’t believe you’re actually asking the question.”

Josef shook his head, sighed deeply. “You’re all suchidiots.”

Vig easily moved beside Kera on her perch.

“You ready?”

Erin leaned forward, her hand on Kera’s shoulder. “Just remember, I’m your mentor. So if you, at any time in the next ten minutes, want me to end your life—just let me know. I’ll do my best.”

Darrbee wiped a tear as Shona-sari put an arm around her shoulders and hugged her. “You did so well, my little night-mare.”

Knowing her leader was pleased made Darrbee proud. “Thank you.”

“You will miss her.”

“She was a horrible human being. She made everyone around her miserable with her demands and her bone-deep unhappiness with all of life.” Darrbee wiped more tears. “I adored her.”

“I know. I know. But think of how you’ll enjoy her dying screams.”

Darrbee nodded. “I will enjoy that.”

“Shona-sari,” one of the Elders called out. “Look. We have little friends joining us.”

Shona-sari turned and watched the Crows and Ravens drop from nearby trees.

She gave Darrbee another hug before releasing her. “Stay by my side, little nightmare. I will show you all their weak-nesses . . .”

And Darrbee couldn’t wait.

Shona-sari gave a wide grin that showed all her tiny, sharp black fangs. She spread her arms wide in greeting.

“The Crows and the Ravens! More souls for the—”

A blade flew across the space between the Crows and Ravens and toward the Mara.

Shona-sari, an Elder Mara, moved quickly, jerking hard to the side as the blade flipped past her and lodged itself into the head of poor Darrbee.

The young Mara fell back, landing hard on the ground. The silence stretching out as did her black blood across the ground.

The Crows and Ravens turned to look at who’d thrown the blade.

The L.A. Crow leader shrugged, smirked. “What? I took a shot.”

Shona-sari screeched at the loss of her young student and she became air, then smoke; then she crossed the field and was on the Crow leader. She slammed the woman to the ground, her fingers on her skull.

The Crow screamed out as Shona-sari showed the bitch true nightmares in all their brutal glory. But another Crow grabbed Shona-Sari by the hair, yanked her up, and tossed her away.

“Go!” Tessa ordered the Crows, pointing at the Mara with her blades. “Kill them all!”

Kera reached down and pulled Chloe to her feet.

“Don’t stand there,” Chloe said, trying to shake off whatever the witch had done to her. “If you and that raging bull of yours are going to help those rich fuckers, Kera, you better get moving. We’ll protect your back.”

Kera nodded and faced Vig. “You ready?”