Page 66 of Quest of the Wolf

“Is that the GPS tracker?” I whispered.

“Yeah. It’s magnetic, so you can stick it to a car.”

“What about to a werewolf?”

“Uhm, not unless they’ve been drinking water from ferrous pipes recently.”

I got the joke but didn’t laugh. How would I convince Duncan to carry a magnetic tracking device? It was less obvious—and dignity-destroying—than a collar, but I had a feeling we would have to go with my backup plan. I would have to change into a wolf and follow Duncan, somehow remembering to carry the tracker in my mouth so Bolin and Jasmine could trail us with our gear.

Bolin glanced toward Duncan, who was waiting for us by his van.

“He’s a nonferrous werewolf, I’m pretty sure,” I said.

“Well, if you can figure out a way to stick that to your target, I’ve got it set up with an app on my phone.”

“Okay. Thanks.” Not wanting to rouse Duncan’s suspicions by delaying longer, I tucked the tracker into the bag of items that Bolin had given me.

“To your mother’s cabin?” Duncan asked when we were all in the van, me in the passenger seat with my knees to my chest and my shoes propped on boxes and bags where one’s feet would normally go. Bolin and Jasmine found places to sit in the back.

I nodded. “It’s where all hunts begin.”

He gave me a wary this-is-a-bad-idea look again, but he put the van in gear and didn’t object to my plan.

21

Since we were takingDuncan’s Roadtrek, I didn’t object to him driving, but when we were cruising along on the highway, and he leaned forward, grunting and grabbing his forehead, I second-guessed that choice. His scar lit up, a faint orange glow seeping out between his fingers.

I lifted a hand, worried I would have to take the wheel to keep the van from veering off the road.

Duncan clenched his jaw, squeezed his fingers into a fist, and lowered his hand. He seemed to get control of himself, though the glow continued to be noticeable.

“Is that going to be a problem?” I asked quietly.

Outside, dark gray clouds had rolled in, and fat snowflakes wafted down. If they started sticking, the roads would turn slick. A distracted driver would be a bad idea.

“He’s calling me back.Tryingto call me back.”

“That didn’t quite answer my question.”

“It’s what you wanted, isn’t it?” Duncan frowned and returned both hands to the wheel, but his peevishness didn’t last long. “Sorry. Having to fight it makes me testy.” He managed a quick smile for me before returning his focus to the highway—and keeping Radomir from affecting him, I had no doubt.

“Itiswhat I was hoping for today, but not while you’re driving, ideally. Unless the call would prompt you to roll us right into Radomir’s garage.”

“With the wolf case that he’s been trying to steal nestled in the glove compartment?”

“It’s nestled between my feet. I looked in your glove compartment, but I wouldn’t be able to fit anything else in there. You have it stuffed with tools.”

“Stuffed. Really. The tools are neatly organized.”

“They’re covered with dust, and there was a Queentapein the mix. Does your van even have a tape player?”

“Ihave a tape player. For nostalgia.”

“Back there among the underwater demolitions?”

“No, you don’t keep your music in your armory.” Duncan looked at me like I didn’t know anything, though a more relaxed smile accompanied the expression. Maybe the magic trying to compel him to Radomir’s lair had faded. If so, I had no doubt the guy would try again. “It’s in the little cabinet for bathroom supplies.”

“Silly me,” I murmured. “I’d assumed extra rolls of toilet paper would go in there.”

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