Dainton crept from his hiding place the moment the sun's light dipped low enough on the horizon. He found Nico leant against a wall, waiting for him to make an appearance.

"It's about time. I thought you were never going to wake. Callie said you're to feed from me and leave the area immediately," Nico said, holding out his wrist in offering.

Dainton didn't hesitate. His bite came so swiftly and with enough vigour that Nico flinched, something he prided himself on never doing.

After a minute passed, Nico tapped Dainton on the shoulder and said, "That's enough for now." When Dainton continued, Nico placed a thumb at the corner of Dainton's mouth and levered his lips so it broke the suction-hold Dainton had on his wrist. "I said enough."

Dainton stepped back at the barked order, wiping an escaping droplet from his lip, and licked the smear off the back of his hand. "Want me to seal it?" he asked, nodding at Nico's wound.

"It's fine. Get in the car and tell me about the Deliverer and why you're so adamant you think Sidney is it."

"Where are we going?"

Nico waited until Dainton closed the passenger door before replying, "Away from here is all I was told. Where do you want to go?"

"I don't know yet. Maybe that way?" Dainton pointed West, the direction Callie and Sidney were taken.

Nico smiled with relief. "Tell me about the Deliver."

"Mama said that the Deliverer could walk with the living; sunlight doesn't hurt Sidney. The Deliver can hear what isn't said; Sidney can hear my unspoken thoughts. The Deliver can command animals; I've seen her make a deer drop where it stood with a single word. Fire will answer the Deliver's call; the morning I woke, Sidney stood at the entrance to my hide and her hair looked like it was on fire. And lastly, any living creature would willingly die for her; the night she crossed over, I took an arrow and almost died for her. That's how I know it's Sidney."

Remaining silent during Dainton's description and the revelation that hit him a moment later, Nico took a calming breath before asking, "I assume you'll be wanting to help the Deliver, right?"

Dainton nodded.

"Good, because Sidney isn't it, Callie is."

With nothing more to go on than the general direction the two shifters took them, Nico put his foot to the floor and prayed he'd find the camp as easily as Gavin hinted before they left.

Luck appeared to be on his side. It took a couple of U-turns for Nico to find the motorway Gavin said overlooked the East entrance to a large estate. From their vantage point, he spotted a well-lit, sand arena in the distance, presumably once used as a sand school for training horses.

As they watched, guards gathered at the gates awaiting orders. The leader scanned the treeline below them. His headed snapped around to address a subordinate, snapping back as suddenly to focus on Dainton.

Nico had already crossed to the other side of the motorway and dropped over the side rail into the thick vegetation where he shifted into wolf form.

For the second time that day, Dainton would unknowingly be the bait in a ruse to gain access to the camp. He swore when he realised Nico had taken the keys for the car. He ran, keeping to the open road where his speed gave him an advantage.

Nico didn't look up to check on Dainton. He kept his attention focused ahead while hiding in the shadow of an overhanging tree, up to his furry, black ears in a frigid river to conceal his scent.