“What the fuck are you doing?” she yelled at him.

With his face only inches from hers and his jaw clenched from the effort of holding her down, he finally responded, “What if it kills us too?”

For an instant, her heart stopped.

“If it’s meant to kill a witch, it’ll kill me and Wesley.” He paused. “And Kimberly. Is that what you want?” His eyes bored into her. “Maybe you don’t care much about me or Wesley, but I thought you swore to protect Kimberly. Was that all a lie?”

Yvette closed her eyes for a moment. God, she hadn’t been thinking. He was right. If she unleashed whatever was in the vial, she could involuntarily harm the three siblings. The risk was too great.

She stopped pushing against him and allowed her body to go slack, showing him that he didn’t need to fight her anymore. “Thanks,” she whispered. “I wasn’t thinking.”

Haven nodded and released her, lending her a hand to get up. “And besides, how are you gonna get it through the ward anyway?”

A flash of light suddenly shone into their prison as if somebody had positioned a car or truck outside so its headlights shone through the window. It threw the room into different shadows.

Yvette looked down at the dog that now stood near the door, its head tilted as if listening to their conversation, when realization hit her. “The dog got through the ward.”

Haven’s head snapped to the animal. “Shit, how did it do that?”

“Come here, dog,” Yvette cooed and crouched down. The animal approached. With her mind she reached out to it, feeling its fear and confusion almost as intensely as if she was inside its body.

In her mind, she formed words her lips didn’t utter, words only meant for the dog.

Don’t fear me; I’m your friend.

The dog moved its paws and came closer. When it stopped before her, she stroked her hands over its fur and buried her face it its neck. The dog licked her.

Good boy. Now you have to help me with something.

The dog pulled away and turned its face up to her as if waiting for instructions.

“What are you doing?” Haven asked behind her.

Yvette turned toward him. “If I can’t get the vial out there to kill the witch, the dog will have to do it.”

“Didn’t I just explain to you that you can’t risk that?”

“We’ll be protected through the ward. Look!” She pointed toward the door where lightning bolts still bounced off the invisible shield around the room. “Not even her own weapons can make it through. As long as whatever is in the vial is unleashed outside of these wards, you, Wesley, and Kimberly are safe.”

A sign of unease skidded over his features as he clearly contemplated her words. “Are you sure?”

Was she? Was she really one hundred percent sure that it wouldn’t harm any of them? A cold shiver ran down her spine at the thought that she could be wrong, that maybe the potion Francine had brewed was stronger than that and could penetrate the wards nevertheless. But what other choice did they have?

Looking out into the other room, she noticed the fighting continue. Only three other vampires besides Zane had crowded into the room. The others seemed to be prevented from entering through the door on the other side. Somehow the witch seemed to have erected another force field. Yvette wondered how long the witch’s powers would last if she had to keep both the ward around the room and the force field intact while fighting three vampires plus the injured Zane.

Yvette turned back to the dog and petted its fur before putting her hand under its snout to make it look at her.

Go back out there. Take the vial back to Zane.

The dog’s round eyes stared at her as she felt its fear increase. It glanced to the door, then back at her. The dog understood her, but its body went rigid as it dug in its heels, the fear too great for it to follow her command.

Please. You can do it. Nobody will hurt you.

A soft whine was the dog’s answer.

“Yvette.” Haven’s voice made her look up. She’d forgotten he was still waiting for an answer from her.

“I’m sure. If I can get the dog to take it back out through the ward, my friends can use it to defeat the witch.”

Haven shook his head. “What makes you think the dog will do what you say?”

“It will. I just know it.”

Won’t you?

She looked back at the dog whose intelligent eyes were bouncing between her and Haven.

Please help us. Take the vial to Zane. Go.

A moment later, the animal turned away from her and looked at the open doorway. When it looked back over its shoulder, Yvette simply nodded, feeling the beast’s fear dissipate. From the corner of her eye, she noticed Haven stare at her, his mouth dropping open as he watched the dog approach the open door.