“This better be important,” Rachel grumbled as she answered.“Because I went back to bed an hour ago.I’d barely fallen asleep when this phone started ringing.”
Vale grimaced.“You know I wouldn’t be calling you at three in the morning if it wasn’t important.”
That got her attention.“Are you okay?Is Cyril?”
“We’re both fine,” Cyril told her, leaning toward the coffee table where Vale had placed his phone.
Rachel sucked in a breath.“Are you sure?How areyou?”
“I’ve been better.”Cyril hesitated.“The dreams are changing, Rachel.I don’t think it’s normal, but right now, what it is or isn’t is the least of my problems.I’m seeing people die as it’s happening.”
There was a pause before Rachel answered.“You mean you’re not seeing the past?”
“Not anymore.The first time it happened, it was a past death, but not these times.When the dreams start, I know these people are still alive.There’s nothing I can do to help them.”
“I’m really sorry.”
“Me, too.”
“What can I do for you, then?How can I help?”
Vale cleared his throat.“We were reading through the email one of the victims sent Cyril.She mentions a woman, Iris Bellamy.From what Cyril told me, that woman is an extremely well-known necromancer, so much so that he thought she might be a legend rather than a real person.Diana, the last victim, met her, though.We need to know where.”
“Everything I’ve heard about Iris was so fantastical,” Cyril explained.“It sounded like too much for one person, you know?I kinda thought that it was the experiences of several people put together, or maybe that people changed things every time they told the story.If Diana met her, though, it means she’s real.”
“If she is, I’ll find her,” Rachel promised.“Can you forward me the email Diana sent you?”
“I’ll email you everything we have on her and Marcus,” Vale promised.
“I’ll get on it right away.”
“You should go to bed first,” Cyril said.“In fact, we shouldn’t have called you this late.It could have waited.”
“I’ll go back to bed only if you do,” Rachel said.
Vale could’ve kissed her.He could tell that Cyril didn’t want to go to bed, probably thinking he wouldn’t fall back asleep, but he was exhausted.Vale was sure hewouldfall asleep eventually.He understood why Cyril was wary, though.It seemed like every time he closed his eyes lately, he dreamed of someone dying.
Cyril grimaced, but he nodded, even though Rachel couldn’t see him.“Fine.I’ll go to bed.”
“Good.We’ll both get some sleep, and I’ll call you tomorrow morning.I know you want to help, but you won’t be able to do anything if you’re exhausted.”
“Good night, Rachel,” Vale said as he reached over to hang up.
For a moment, he and Cyril stayed silent.It was a bit heavy, so Vale was happy for the distraction when he heard the clickety sound of Oscar coming toward them.He wasn’t surprised to see him climb into Cyril’s lap, or to see Cyril relax.As weird as the pet was, Vale was grateful for him.Oscar helped Cyril in a way that even Vale couldn’t, and he’d sacrificed his own life for Cyril.Vale would always be grateful for that, which was why he didn’t argue when Cyril got to his feet and took Oscar to bed.The thing would probably sleep between them, wrapped in Cyril’s arms, and Vale would have to accept it.
He would, and he’d do so with a smile on his face because Oscar made Cyril feel safe.He helped him relax.He helped Vale keep an eye on Cyril and make sure he was okay.Just for that, Vale was willing to share his bed with him.
Whatever was going on with Oscar, Vale suspected it had something to do with the way Cyril’s abilities were changing.Oscar had been impacted, but that hadn’t changed his loyalty and his love for Cyril.That was all Vale cared about.
If Cyril was happy cuddling a bunch of bones while he slept, Vale wasn’t going to stop him.
Chapter Five
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“IT DOESN’T USUALLYtake me two days to track down a person,” Rachel declared when Vale answered the phone.
He couldn’t say she was wrong.Usually, when he asked her to find someone, she did so in a couple of hours, maybe half a day if it was complicated.
