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I held up one hand.
I turned away from the people that were standing in front of me and walked away.
"Where are you going?" Eli called after me.
I didn't know. I had no particular destination in mind. I felt like I was losing my mind and I didn't know what else I could do. They were all looking to me for answers, for some course of action. But I was so far out of my depth that I didn't know where to turn to.
At times like this, I would usually find Azolata. He didn't always have an answer, but he would be able to listen.
But he left with Lou.
Our time was running so low that I was afraid of what one more misstep could do to me.
I stopped in the middle of our backyard and looked into the trees. Azolata wasn't here. Lou was gone. Savannah was gone. And there was no way for me to reach them. They might have been dead for all I knew.
I took a deep breath and turned around. I returned to the group that was gathered around in my backyard. I looked to each one of them and finally settled my eyes on Dante, who was sitting on the steps that led up to the porch. I went over to him and sat next to him. I took his hands in mine and was surprised to find them cold. I glanced up at him.
He shrugged. "It happened a little while ago. I guess when Lou left."
I didn't like this, not one bit. Shifters as a species were never cold, not unless we were dying.
What happens to one, affects the other.
"I want you to keep practicing, and much as you can. We have until the full moon, two days away.”
Dante nodded but it looked like he wasn't even listening.
I looked up at everyone else. "Until you hear otherwise, stick to our plan."
I closed my eyes and bowed my head. I took a deep breath. I was furious with Azolata, first for letting Lou go and then going with him. It was reckless, irresponsible, and stupid. Growing up, we were told never to trust the fae. And not only had Azolata let Lou go with one but one of the royal court.
I wasn't sure that even Azolata could resist them.
The stories we heard of the people taken to their court were either horrific or wonderful. Sometimes it was both.
I forced myself to take a few more deep breaths. Panicking now wouldn't help.
I looked up at Artie. "I need you to drop everything else. Even checking the protections around town. Forget it. I need you to work on this as quickly as possible."
"I can still do the protections," Artie said.
"Fine. But everything else comes after this."
He nodded and then frowned. "What do you want, exactly?" He asked.
It was dark now and the stars were appearing over our head.
"Find me a way to the court."