“Wes?” Cain glared at the witch. Had Wesley failed again?

Wesley approached. “The spell worked, I’m telling you. She must have escaped.”

“I’m going to kill you, you fucking bastard, if you hurt her!” John yelled at Baltimore, then glared at Wes. “And you’re next!”

A movement from under the bed suddenly caught Cain’s eye and he snapped his head to it. A rat came running out and ran straight to John, jumping onto his thigh. John rocked back on his haunches, but kept his knife at Baltimore’s throat where it continued to make the vampire’s skin sizzle.

“Oh, fuck,” Wes suddenly said and crouched down. He pointed to the rat.

Cain exchanged a quick glance with him. Then his eyes went back to the rat. “You’ve gotta be kidding me, Wes. Really?”

Wes shrugged. “Oops.”

Cain put his hand on John’s shoulder. “John, she’s fine. Nicolette is safe.” He motioned to Haven and Eddie. “Tie Baltimore up.”

As the two Scanguards men took care of Baltimore, forcing John to remove his knife from the vampire’s throat, Wes reached for the rat, which was still sitting on John’s thigh.

“Come on, Nicolette.”

The rat turned its head to Wesley.

In disbelief John stared at the rat, then at Wesley. “Oh, my God, what have you done?” His jaw dropped. “Are you telling me this is Nicolette?”

Wes tossed him a sheepish look. “Sorry, just a little mishap.”

“Mishap?” John ground out, murder in his eyes. “You turned my woman into a rat!”

“Kept her safe, though, didn’t it?”

“And now? Fuck, what am I gonna do now?”

Wes stretched out his palm and the rat walked onto it. “No worries. I can turn her back.” More quietly, he added, “I think.”

“You think?” John lunged for the witch, but Cain jumped in between them.

“Let him try.”

Wesley placed the rat on his lap and reached into his jacket pocket. He pulled out a small vial. “This should work.”

“What is it?” John asked, clearly suspicious.

“Sort of a reversal potion. Makes whatever last spell somebody is under go away. You know, like the undo button on a computer.”

Cain rolled his eyes.

Wesley opened the vial and dropped a tiny amount over the rat. A moment later, he landed flat on his back. A beautiful dark-skinned woman was sitting in his lap.

“Nicolette!” John cried out and snatched her from Wesley, pulling her into his arms. His lips were on hers before Cain could even blink.

“Oh, John! You came.” Tears streamed over the woman’s face.

John pressed her head to his chest and stroked over her hair. “Always, my love. I’ll always come back for you.”

Cain rose. He was happy for John, but now it was time to find Faye. He turned to Baltimore who was now tied to the metal bed frame.

“Where’s Abel?”

Baltimore spat. “I don’t know.”

Cain slashed his claws across Baltimore’s face, leaving deep cuts. Blood seeped from them, filling the hut with the scent of vampire blood. “Try again. Where is he taking Faye?”

“I don’t know.”

“He’s lying,” Nicolette interrupted.

Cain spun his head to her. “What do you know?”

“He got a phone call a short while ago. I was already in the form of a rat, so he didn’t think I could hear him.”

Cain’s heart rate accelerated. “What did he say?”

“I could only hear his side of the conversation. Abel must be somewhere in New Orleans.”

“Where?”

Nicolette shook her head, regret in her eyes. “I don’t know.” She motioned to Baltimore. “He asked “which one?”, but that’s all I heard.”

Cain felt his heart clench with fear for his mate. He snatched Baltimore by the throat. “Where is he keeping her?”

“Go to hell!”

“You first!”

Baltimore let out an evil laugh.

“Talk or I’m going to kill you!”

“You’ll kill me anyway, even if I talk.”

Cain stared at his adversary, but he knew Abel’s most loyal follower knew the drill: once he’d divulged what he knew, either John or Cain would kill him.

“Fine, have it your way.” He turned to Gabriel. “Use whatever methods you see fit to make him talk. Eddie will stay with you. The rest of us, let’s go.”