“He can talk and remember everything,” Dawn said. “It’s impressive, but he’s not the same. Daylan’s brilliant, but now all his decisions are based on fear.”
She said it like it’s such an embarrassment. Disgraceful. I straightened in my seat, trying to make sure my voice didn’t sound as deflated as my lungs had become.
“He barely takes my calls or responds to emails anymore,” Dawn finished.
“So, where does that leave us?” Iscratched my eyebrow; remnants of today’s brow pencil caught underneath my nails. “Do we not call him?”
I could respect the space he needed. It was common courtesy among hunters to leave one another the hell alone if we expressed the need to step away.
On the other hand, Daylan was one of only three demon experts. And he was the only one in the country right now. Since the other two were on active jobs, it’d be impractical to hope and pray they’d find time to lend much-needed brainpower.
“Oh, we’re calling,” Dawn promised. “But there’s no guarantee he’ll answer or be willing to help. He’s on quite the individualist kick, last I heard.”
“Better to take the shot and miss,” I said.
“Exactly,” Dawn agreed. “You guys bunker down as far away from the active site as you can.”
“Already done,” December promised.
“Perfect. Don’t go back until we figure out how to proceed,” Dawn said. “I’m going to call Daylan. I’ll pass on your info if he answers. If he doesn’t respond in twenty-four hours, I’ll call you all back, and we’ll switch gears. Plan B will be to contact an elder from the Guild. There may not be any other demon experts, but—no offense—there are hunters with far more expertise than you four who will be better equipped to handle it.”
“And what about you guys?” Nico’s forehead creased. “Can you come out?”
“We’ve got a case.” Eve’s tone was dry and clipped.
“People who really need us here,” Opal added in a softer tone. “Sorry, guys.”
“Not even one of you?” December chewed on a pen cap. “For just a day. It’d really help us…you know, feel better.”
Safer. Braver. More hopeful because I hadn’t fostered the security that could withstand this burning unknown.
“You all have time.” Dawn sounded sure. “There hasn’t been a possession, correct?”
“Correct.” I barely opened my mouth, images of the thing next to Octavia at the gravesite bouncing through my mind.
“Then there’s no need for physical reinforcements. Hold things down until we get some answers,” she said. “It’s what you signed up for.”
The inn hadplenty of vacancies for the night. But instead of booking rooms like Octavia and Wilson, we thought it best to camp out in the RV.
“It’s difficult to talk freely in places like this. We’re trying to keep up the friend story for you,” I told Octavia when she asked about our room assignments. “We work longer hours when a case gets this…intense. So, it’s best we have our privacy.”
Octavia had gotten her brother settled before going to her room. She’d asked me to follow her, so there I stood in her doorway, fighting against the urge to cross the threshold and make myself comfortable on the bed. I wanted to check the dark corners and sleep with my arms around her for protection.
“I’ll have your next payment deposited tomorrow.” Octavia leaned on the other side of the doorframe. Candles from the hallway whispered willowy shadows across her cheeks. “I’m sorry it’s late.”
“It’s just a day.” I folded my arms over my chest, making fists to avoid reaching for her hands. “And you were very busy.”
She tried to smile but couldn’t manage more than a grimace.
“You did well,” I said. “Back at the house. At the grave.”
“I wanted to leave it all.” Her gaze locked on her feet. “Just abandon the ranch and…go back to running.”
“My kind of running?”
That earned me a small smile. “No, my parents’ kind.”
“And what use would that be?”
