Zoe's Blockade (Destiny's Trinities Book 5) by Tracy Cooper-Posey Page A

Let’s see if there is a wounded Grimoré out there. It’s possible his colleagues have already dealt with him in whatever manner they use for their wounded.” She looked at Diego. “I would ask Blake to hunt, except that in this case, I think he should remain here with Cole, Zoe and Declan. Zack can hunt with you, if you are in agreement.”
    Diego shrugged. “I was a hunter a long time before Blake was dubbed.”
    “Which is why I’m asking. Thank you.”
    Zoe got to her feet. “Wait, why can’t we come?”
    Seaveth shook her head. “Your trinity has not been sealed yet. You’re incredibly vulnerable right now. If something happened to one of you before the seal was made, I don’t know what that would do to weaken our ranks. Each trinity is critical, each is precious to us. You must remain behind and complete the bonding.”
    “Fine by me,” Declan said heavily.
    Cole shook his head. “I know the woods out there. So does Zoe. So does Declan, better than me. We should come with you. There are more than enough of us, even against these hounds and things.”
    “Vampeen,” Diego said. “Don’t discount them. You’ve yet to meet one.”
    “They’re human, you said,” Cole shot back.
    “They were human, once,” Sera said quietly. “They are no longer human. The conversion process destroys nearly everything they once were.” She reached up and took Blake’s hand.
    “If they were once human, they have human limitations in strength and speed,” Cole said. “That makes them predictable.”
    Diego’s smile was wise. “Okaaaay,” he said and looked at Seaveth. “If you let him go, I want to be next to him when he meets his first vampeen. With a camera, too.”
    “I’m not letting him go,” Seaveth said firmly. “I’m sorry, Cole. Zoe. We simply cannot risk you at this time. We have three hunters and we’re all used to combing among trees for them. We’ll manage.”
    Zoe sat back down again. There was ruthless sense in what she was saying.
    Cole shook his head. He stayed silent. He wasn’t going to argue anymore, either.
    “That just leaves finding the sucker,” Diego said. “I’ve never smelled them before. Vampeen, yes. I’ve never been close enough to learn a Grimoré’s scent. Zack?”‘
    Zack shook his head.
    Seaveth smiled. “Yesterday, I couldn’t find my keys. I mean, it wasn’t simply that I’d left them somewhere other than the pot by the door and I just had to look around quickly to find them again. They’d fallen down behind the bed and were on the floor beneath it. I wouldn’t have thought to look there in a million years. After I had spent a couple of minutes of looking in all the usual places, Ferr came to me and led me right to them.”
    “You asked her?” Lindal said, his tone curious.
    “She just seemed to know.” Seaveth’s gaze swiveled toward the mantelshelf.
    “Be careful how you ask,” Lindal said quietly. “Remember how Ferr reacts to anything she doesn’t like.”
    “They disappear?” Zoe guessed, looking at the pixies moving around on the shelf.
    “They jump away,” Lindal confirmed.
    “Emphasize the wounded quality. The helplessness of the Grimoré,” Seaveth said.
    Lindal moved closer to the shelf and looked down at the little creatures. He didn’t speak, yet all of them looked up at him, startled, as if he had shouted.
    Some of them cowered next to their friends, holding each other. Yet, none of them vanished.
    Sera got to her feet and came and stood with Lindal and now Zoe could see without question the family resemblance. They were most likely brother and sister.
    Both of them stood and “spoke”.
    The trilling and cooing among the pixies leapt in volume. They all flew into the air, circling around Lindal and Sera.
    “I think that’s a yes,” Lindal said.
    Three of the pixies headed toward the living room doorway out into the front hall and as they flew, golden sparkles floated out behind them.
    “Trails,” Cole said.