“If bullets killed them, Kitty, that would be a great plan,” he replied. “But it takes the fire in my hands.”

“Not just yours. Other slayers have fire.”

“Yes, and those other slayers need someone guarding their backs.”

“Why are you being so logical?” Kat beat at his arms, only to stop and sigh. “I know, I know. You’re right. I don’t like it, but I do understand.” She chewed on her bottom lip. “I hate that I can’t see them. That I can’t help you in some way.”

“Knowing you’re in here waiting for me helps.” He placed a swift kiss on the tip of her nose, like Cole often did to me. “Trust me. I’m not going to let anything stop me from getting back to you.”

Reeve was silent as she slammed the clip in a SIG and handed it to Bronx. Jaclyn stared at a sword, unmoving. Everyone else was murmuring about what I’d wondered—how was this possible?

Mr. Ankh sat at a long desk covered by multiple computers, the wall in front of him shrouded by monitors. He was typing furiously at a keyboard. The fact that so many zombies were here at the same time told me Anima had sent them, was probably controlling them with the collars.

But...I don’t recall seeing collars on very many of them.

“What are you doing?” Cole demanded, nudging me. “Arm up.”

“Sir, yes, sir.”

He glared at me before stomping to Frosty to develop a game plan.

“You’re a freaking ray of sunshine, you know that,” I called.

He didn’t even glance at me.

I grabbed my axes, a sword and two guns, and a grinning River approached me.

“I hear you’re something special on the battlefield,” he said. “Better than what I witnessed in the pit.”

“I have my moments,” I acknowledged, glad for the distraction.

“Well, you’re in for a treat. I have moments, too. Practically every single one I live. So let’s do ourselves a favor and make things interesting.”

“Are you challenging me to a Zombie Kill-off?”

“Person who slays more evil spirits wins?” He nodded. “Done.”

“Not done. There’s no way to keep track. I ash them a horde at a time.”

His grin widened. “Smack talk already.”

“Truth talk.”

“If you aren’t good enough to count your kills, well, you’ve already lost. At least try to redeem yourself.” He patted my shoulder before striding to Camilla’s side.

“I didn’t agree to anything,” I called.

“Did I hear we’re having a kill-off?” Gavin asked, coming up beside me.

Seriously?

Incorrigible adrenaline junkies.

As the rest of the slayers ran out of the dungeon, heading outside, Cole returned to me and held me back.

“I love you more than fictional zombies love brains,” he said. “Tell me you know that.”

I licked my lips and whispered, “I know that. I do.”

“No matter what.”

I really hoped so. “No matter what,” I agreed.

He nodded. “Good.” To Mr. Ankh, he said, “I’m guessing you’ll be able to see us on the monitors, that the problem isn’t your system but something Anima has done to the zombies. So, when you see us, turn on the halogens.” With a final glance to me, he strode out of the room.

“Stay here,” I said to Kat and Reeve before rushing after Cole. I didn’t see him, but did run into Mackenzie along the way. She was steady on her feet, headed for the dungeon, her color high and healthy. “You’re fighting?”

“Not this time. I’m better, but not all systems go yet.” She lifted the hem of her shirt to reveal a patchwork of black scabs. “A few more days, and look out, zombies.”

Our world might be going down the crapper, but at least we could heal each other. “Do me a solid and guard the girls. They could try something sneaky.”

She motioned behind me with a wave of her chin. “That’s why I’m here. To babysit.”

Mr. Ankh must have heard her voice, because he called her over. “My text said now, Miss Love, not five minutes from now.”

“Suck it,” she muttered.

“I heard that, Miss Love.”

“Just as I intended you to, Mr. Ankh.”

As I continued on, Kat called, “Ali!”

I paused to look back.

“Whatever you have to do, protect my boy.”

In other words, do whatever was necessary to use my new ability. The one Helen had warned me to be careful with. The one Cole didn’t want me to use, not because we didn’t know a lot about it, I realized now, but because it might have come from the woman who’d killed his mother.

What a mess.

I continued on my way without replying. Nothing about this was business as usual anymore. This was personal, and I had no idea what to do about it.

Chapter 16

ZOMBIES ATE

MY HOMEWORK

Rather than continuing on to the tunnel that led outside the Blood Lines and thus the gate, the slayers stopped a few feet away. I came up beside them, Cole on my right, River on my left. The air was thick with the stink of rot, and moans and grunts of hunger created an eerie song—as far from a lullaby as you could get.

I scanned the gruesome creatures drooling over the possibility of eating us. A few were collared. Most weren’t. All were as ugly as—