"I'll deal with you later," he promised.
Ving pulled up and barely made it out of the car before Rainy grabbed him and slammed him over the hood.
"Dusty, calm them down," Jule ordered.
"Got it," Dustin said, trotting towards the men.
"Fan out and find out if any others are alive!" Jule shouted to the men. "You don't leave my sight, Oracle."
She acquiesced, afraid to disagree.
"I got one!" a shout rang out.
"I shouldn't have to tell you to tell me everything," Jule said, blocking her path with his arm. "There are two people on my list. No one else in this fucked-up universe matters."
She looked up, hearing the unspoken threat.
"I love him, Jule," she said, admitting the words for the first time.
He dropped his arm, and she picked her way through the bodies, covering her mouth to keep from vomiting. Lon knelt by a vamp whose chest still moved. She leaned down, bracing herself as she rested a trembling hand on his forehead.
For Damian.
"He's one of the last to arrive," she said and closed her eyes. "He came from an underground facility on the other side of Tucson."
"Where?" Dustin demanded.
"He's not exactly providing an address."
"Rainy!" Lon shouted and waved the brooding Guardian over. Still fuming, Rainy joined them.
"What landmarks did he pass?" Jule prodded. "Street names, anything."
The vamp's memories were fading fast and growing blurry. Sofia sifted through them.
"The mall. He passed it on his way out of town. Abandoned gas station, new housing development in the foothills. Dirt road, reservation perimeter on the left …" she murmured.
"Do you recognize it?" Jule turned.
"I do," Rainy confirmed. "Keep going."
The memories stopped. Sofia withdrew, staring at the dead body in front of her.
"I take it he's dead," Dustin said. "Rainy, get your men. Call in those from the neighboring sectors. We'll need to hit fast then evac."
"You did good, sweetheart," Jule said. He lifted her to her feet. Her stomach growled. "When was the last time you ate?"
"Friday," she said, not waiting to think of what would happen to her if Damian disappeared too long.
"Dusty, we're going to have another problem soon," Jule said for Dustin's ears only.
"I'll be okay," she said. "I've gone two days without serious consequence."
Dustin looked at her, then at Jule. They exchanged one of their silent communications.
"Fuck," Jule said quietly, realization crossing his features. "Sofia, you said Czerno drained your blood?"
She nodded.
"We should've seen this coming," he said, running his fingers through his hair. His gaze went to Dustin. "You think …"