Hailey swooped down the street past the alley where Jeremy and Jackie crouched. They leaned out again, and another crack and shatter of concrete as a gunshot slammed into the wall where Hailey had been only an instant earlier.

"She's gonna get her head blown off," muttered Jackie.

"So let's not waste our fuckin' shot," said Jeremy.

He darted out of the alley. Hailey spotted him from the opposite end of the street. She threw out both of her hands, shouting once more.

A huge wave of fog erupted, the same as in the Tacoma bar months ago. The street was suddenly a white haze, so thick Jeremy could only make out a few steps in front of him. He grabbed Jackie's hand and pulled her forward, out into the open, making for the library he could no longer see.

Why didn't we think of that before? Shit. Nice one, Hailey.

Another gunshot crack, but it was obvious Rook was firing blind now. It didn't land anywhere near them. Jeremy ran, Jackie only a few steps behind. The rain continued to pound them from above, soaking into their jackets. A flash of lightning lit up the fog bank, and a roll of thunder followed soon after.

Storm's fuckin' close…

"I lost you, sir!"

"We're going in," Jeremy called back, panting as he ran. "Soon as the damn fog clears, you keep every fucking thing with a pulse away from that building, got it? Over."

"Copy that. Good luck. Out."

Suddenly, the fog ended. Jeremy and Jackie were in the open, in the field between the library and the rest of the town, with the twisted and broken metal fences scattered everywhere around the huge stone structure. Jeremy slowed for a half-second, glancing over his shoulder—and it saved his life.

A huge wall of water burst out of the fog, flooding toward them. Jeremy grabbed Jackie and pulled her down to the ground, sloshing into the muddy grass. The water rushed overhead, slamming into the fence wall with enough force to break off more pieces.

"Holy shit," he gasped.

Jackie was already back on her feet. She grabbed him and pulled him toward the fence. Together, they desperately clambered over, a wall which Natalie had cleared easily on her wolf. Hailey flew out of nowhere a moment later, landing next to the two of them.

"Sorry," she gasped, almost completely out of breath. "'koto tried… hit me… they're not far."

Jackie turned and crouched in cover. She faced back toward the street where they'd come, pistol in hand.

"Get in there. Ain't gonna get a second chance," she muttered.

"What?"

"Cinza won't touch me. She owes me. Can't say the same for you." She shook her head. "I got you covered, Ashe. You two get in there and arrest him."

Hailey, breathless and panting, turned to him for confirmation. Jeremy nodded. It wasn't time to argue. He bolted for the entrance, just as Jackie's pistol opened fire—at what, he couldn't be certain. He trusted her more than he did anyone else, even his own brain. No matter what, she had his back.

He ran toward the library, toward the man he'd been hunting for months—a pursuit that had him cross continents and nations, broke every relationship he had and put them back together again, and upended his entire world several times over.