Tip-toeing in so as not to alarm him, though he’d probably hear my heartbeat the minute he woke up, I set the goblet on his bedside table and sat on the side of the bed. He moaned.
“Ego,” I whispered.
His eyelids popped open. “Scotty,” he rasped past his descended fangs. “What…what time is it?”
“The sun’s been down a while.”
“Okay, wow. Sorry.” He sat up and leaned against the headboard. I’d have to let Lysandro know that something was definitely off because Ego seemed almost hungover.
I pressed the goblet into his hands. “Drink up, buttercup,” I said, trying to tease a smile out of him.
His lips tipped up at the sides, but it definitely didn’t reach his eyes. When he was done with his cup, I took it from him and set it back down. “So, Lysandro’s been here and gone. He said you have the night completely off.”
His shoulders slumped in relief, and I realized how much tension he’d been carrying since he woke up. “I have an idea.”
His distracted gaze wandered toward me, and I was tempted to ask him what was wrong, but stopped myself. Weren’t we all allowed to have off-days?
He’s spent his life as Ego, the pop star, having tobe onall the time. He’d been better lately, since I’d moved in and his training began, but maybe he just needed a lazy, no-pressure night.
“Why don’t we go into that ridiculous, oversized media room, snuggle into a couple of recliners, and watch movies until dawn?”
He stared at me for a moment, then a smile spread slowly across his face. “Really?” This one reached his beautiful green eyes.
“Yes. You get up and around, and I’ll go get everything set up. But, Ego, first one there gets to pick the movie.” Then I broke for the door at a flat-out run.
As a breeze passed me when I got closer to the theater room, I patted myself on the back. I guess he had training today after all.
Chapter 22
Sky
“What’s going on?”I asked, trying not to sound grumpy as I walked into the kitchen in Chance’s manor with King right behind me. We’d all been together last night at Ego’s place, so I’d been hoping to have some sexy time with my big lug before we went dreamwalking tonight.
“Lysandro called this meeting,” Chance said, handing me a cup of coffee.
My dreams that life could get back to normal were dashed by his words. I thought things had finally righted themselves finding my cousin and knowing he was okay. Sure, there would be an adjustment period to him being a vampire, but that was better than him being dead-dead, like a ghostly spirit dead.
Not that I’d ever say that aloud. I’d never purposely hurt Harry’s, Buck’s, or Stevie’s feelings. At least they were still here, but I preferred my cousin where I could still touch him whenever I wanted.
Chatter from the hallway drew my attention, and Lysandro ushered in a stylish, petite woman with gray hair and a youthful face. I stared hard before realizing I knew her. Jumping up, I pulled her into a hug. “Delaney!”
Ego’s manager, assistant, and all-around Girl-Friday and bestie, squeezed me tightly. “Sky, it’s wonderful to see you.”
“You too! But what are you doing here?” I asked, drawing back.
Her gaze moved to Lysandro. “He thought Ego could use the extra support. I’m here to plot and plan.”
Cassi and Carli came in next with Booker trailing behind them. We’d all had a soft spot for him since King and I first found him in the Dreamveil, so I wasn’t surprised when my boyfriend stood up from the table and rushed over to knock knuckles with him.
They’d also bonded over being biracial, which was pretty cool. I often heard them discussing things that were so commonplace to them, but that I’d never even thought about, not having their lived experience.
With the three of them here, everyone who’d been at the mini-castle was assembled once again, with the exception of Ego and Scotty.
“What’s going on, Lysandro?” I asked, starting to panic.
He squared his shoulders and stood tall. “I was hoping that I was wrong, but Ego’s been sleeping past sunset.”
“Why is that concerning?” Stevie asked. Out of everyone in the room, he would be the most worried about Ego’s circumstances—after me—since his little brother was Ego’s anchor and would be more affected than any of us.
