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“He hasn’t come home yet,” Owen says. “He texted, though, to let us know he’s fine.”
I rub my throbbing temple and take another sip of choco-coffee. “Was he not able to resolve the issue with the serum?”
“He did.” Owen cuts his bloody steak into bite-sized pieces. “He stayed up to help better fortify some of the houses, so those without the serum don’t have to fear waking up on fire.”
“We need to do that spell.” I take a piece of bacon and dunk it into my mug. “What’s the point of finding it if we’re not using it?”
“Ask your mentors about it,” Owen encourages.
I nod in agreement and nibble on my choco-coffee-bacon, my heart not really in it. The nightmares from last night left my stomach queasy and talk of the serum makes that uneasy feeling return. Like I’m not safe in my own home, surrounded by my mates.
The war between the huntsmen and wolf shifters had begun over my ancestor, who escaped the slaughter of her home to build Hartford Cove. She took her teacher’s grimoires with her, which included the only known spell that gives vampires the freedom to move around during the daytime without needing to ingest the blood of a witch.
My family had been sitting on the spell for generations, while vampires were forced to live underground. I gave it to Ros as a peace offering to stop the war, but his evil asshole of a father didn’t care about that. He just wanted to exterminate all wolf shifters from the world.
We stopped him, and I accidentally stole his super bat power, so he’s currently rotting in supernatural prison. Ros is now dismantling the organization that carried on the old feud, which means there’s nothing to worry about.
But the restlessness won’t go away.
Concern fills Tris’s light-brown eyes, and he leans over to cup my cheek. “Maybe you should go back to bed and try to get some rest. You’re not looking your usual perky self.”
The idea of lying upstairs alone in grandma’s big bed makes me shudder.
I shake my head, then wince as pain shoots through my temples. “Too much to do today.”
Haut brings another plate of bacon and a plate of eggs to the table. “What’s on your agenda for today?”
When I look at Owen, he shakes his head. “Nothing that can’t be put off a day.”
Haut’s hand settles on my thigh. “If you don’t want to go back to bed, we can just snuggle on the couch.”
I widen my eyes at him. “Can I have Greyson?”
He huffs out a breath. “I am Greyson, but if you want to snuggle my wolf, then you can.” He takes my mug from me and scoots it over to Tris. “But no more caffeine. It will make you anxious, which isn’t good for relaxing.”
“Busted.” Tris lifts the mug and sips, then hums with appreciation.
“I need to raid Books & Blots before the lesson this afternoon,” I tell Haut. “Grimoires for everyone. Aspen commanded it.”
“Then we’ll go down there later.” He nudges the plate in front of me. “Eat more bacon.”
I force myself to eat another slice while the others scarf down their breakfasts and talk around me about their plans for the day.
Despite my efforts to pay attention, the fog of exhaustion won’t let any of the words stick. It reminds me of when Bryant switched out my meds and they were messing with my head even more than my original prescription, which just makes me anxious.
Maybe everyone’s right, and I really should stay away from caffeine.
When Owen and Tris stand to leave, the motion startles me, and I jump.
Haut’s hand cups the back of my neck. “Did you fall asleep there for a second?”
“Maybe.” I lean into his touch. “Couch now?”
He frowns at the barely touched bacon, but nods. “Sure. We can save this for lunch.”
Without clearing the table, Haut stands and picks me up, carrying me into the family room. There, he swaddles me in a blanket until only my eyes and nose poke out before depositing me on the couch.
Turning on the TV, he picks a movie at random. His apron goes sailing over the couch, and he shucks off his boxers. A moment later, a large gray wolf stands in his place.
