Someone knocked on the door, and Nash headed into the kitchen—hopefully to collect his temper—while I peeked through the curtains to see my uncle’s car parked in the driveway. I unlocked the front door, and Sabine walked in without being invited, followed by my cousin and Luca. My uncle brought up the rear.

“So, what’d we miss?” Sabine dropped onto the couch.

Nash returned from the kitchen with a bottle of water and took the cushion next to her. “Avari has Kaylee’s dad, and she kissed a hellion to find out where he’s being held.”

“What?” Uncle Brendon demanded, and I couldn’t tell which part he was more upset about. “Why didn’t you call me?”

“I did. You were bailing Sophie out of jail. Or something like that.”

“Sabine was the perpetrator. Sophie was just an accomplice after the fact.” My uncle sank into my father’s recliner and ran one hand through his thick brown hair.

I glanced at Sophie to see if she’d correct him or let Sabine’s lie by implication stand. She stared at her feet and said nothing. But I couldn’t really blame her for not owning up to that one. It was Sabine’s fault, at least in part, for playing so loose with her fears and insecurities.

And for letting her carry scissors, my cousin’s well-established weapon of choice.

“It’s been one hell of a day.” Uncle Brendon looked up and glanced around the room. “Where’s Harmony? Did you call her?”

“Yeah, but she’s in the Netherworld, gathering ingredients for—” I glanced at Em, then decided to keep the details quiet, because I wasn’t sure how much everyone else knew about Traci’s predicament “—something. Should we go look for her?”

Both Nash and Tod started to nod, but my uncle shook his head. “No. She’s careful, and she knows how best to get in and out without being seen. If we go after her, we’re just increasing the chance of her—or us—getting caught.” Which would be worse for Nash, my uncle, Luca, and Em, who couldn’t come back on their own.

Not that I had plans to take Em or Luca into the Netherworld anytime soon. Or even Sophie, though she’d demonstrated the ability to come and go on her own. Once. But once wasn’t enough to prove she could stay calm under pressure or cross over without unleashing her full scream—the only trait she seemed to have inherited from her father’s side of the family.

She could wail well enough to cross over, with the required intent, but she was not a bean sidhe. Her screams would not sing for souls. She could not restore life.

She’d be a sitting duck in the Netherworld. Or an enticing piece of bait...

I shook my head, shaking the thought loose before it could take root. I was not going to use my own cousin for demon bait. Even if she sometimes deserved it.

“Harmony will be back on her own, and the best thing we can do is wait for her.”

“But what if Avari has her?” Nash demanded. “He has Kaylee’s dad. How do we know he hasn’t taken my mom?”

My uncle stood. “If he had your mom, he’d tell us. It does him no good to take her hostage and not tell us how to bargain for her freedom.”

“What if she’s not a hostage?” Sophie asked, and Emma sank slowly onto the arm of the couch next to Nash in obvious horror. “We weren’t hostages when he took us. What if he has Harmony but doesn’t intend to give her back?”

Nash stood. “I’m going after her.”

Uncle Brendon rolled his eyes. “You can’t get there on your own, son.”

Nash turned to Sabine. “Take me. Please.”

“Nash...” She took his hand, and I realized I’d never seen her look at anyone else the way she looked at him. Like it broke her heart not to be able to give him whatever he wanted. “I can’t. It’s not safe.”

“I know!” He pulled his hand from her grip. “That’s why I have to go find her.”

“Nash, I want to protect her just as much as you and Tod do,” my uncle said. Tod looked skeptical, but Nash looked furious. “But if anyone knows how to get in and out of the Netherworld without getting hurt, it’s your mother. She’s been gathering stuff for her homemade remedies since she was younger than you are. I’m sure she’s fine.”

“If she’s not, I’m holding you responsible.” Nash stomped into the kitchen and out into the backyard. The door slammed shut behind him, and Sabine stared at it like she wanted to go after him but knew better.

Tod crossed his arms over his chest. “One hour.” His voice was calm and quiet, and betrayed no hint of indecision. “If she’s not back in one hour, I’ll go after her myself.”

No one argued with Tod.

“Okay. Until then, we need to decide on a plan to get Aiden back. How did you find out Avari took him?”

I dug my dad’s phone from my pocket, woke up the screen, then handed it to my uncle.

His face paled instantly. “Well, that does seem...certain. Is that crimson creeper near his foot?”

“Yup.”

“And you know where he’s being held?”

“The basement of the Netherworld version of Lakeside.”

“Buried beneath the mental hospital. That’s not creepy,” Emma mumbled.

Sophie flinched. “Did you really kiss a hellion to get that information?”

I met her gaze as boldly as I could, considering that I was still incredibly creeped out by what I’d done. “Everything has a price, Sophie. Someone has to pay.”