“All by yourself?” Erik said.

“Yes, all by myself,” Stevie Rae snapped. “Are you forgettin’ I could stomp my foot right now and make the ground under you shake? I could also pick you up and toss you on your silly jealous butt. I think I can handle checkin’ out those trees by myself.”

Beside her, Dallas laughed. “And I’m thinking red vamp with an earth element affinity trumps blue drama vamp.”

That made Heath snort and laugh; and, predictably, Erik started to bow up again.

“No!” Stevie Rae said before the stupid boys started throwing punches. “If y’all can’t say anything nice, then just shut the heck up.”

“Did you want me, Stevie Rae?” Johnny B said, coming up to stand beside her. “I saw Darius carrying that arrow kid into the abbey. He said I should find you.”

“Yeah,” she said with relief. “I want you and Heath to check out the front part of the abbey over by Lewis. Make sure those Raven Mockers really are gone.”

“I’m on it!” Johnny B said, giving Heath a pretend punch on the shoulder. “Come on, quarterback, let’s see what you got.”

“Just pay attention to the dang trees and shadowy stuff,” Stevie Rae said, shaking her head as Heath ducked and dodged and struck Johnny B’s shoulder with a few quick punches.

“No problem,” Dallas said, starting to move off with a silent Erik.

“Make it quick,” Stevie Rae called to both sets of guys. “The sun’ll be up soon. Y’all meet me in front of Mary’s Grotto in half an hour or so. Holler loud if you find anything and we’ll all come runnin’.”

She watched the four guys to be sure they were really going where she’d sent them, and then Stevie Rae turned and, with a sigh, started on her own mission.