Page 34 of Let Sleeping Vampires Lie

Raven let out a breath that sounded like a prayer and a surrender all at once. She wiped at her cheeks, leaving streaks of glitter in the process, and rested her forehead against Isra’s again.

“I can’t lose him,” she said, voice cracking.

“Then you won’t,” Isra whispered. “Cass and Con will find the piece. And if Marcus can help, he will.”

Raven pulled back slightly and studied her best friend. “And you? Will you be all right?”

Isra blinked, looking down at his trembling hands. “I… I don’t know.”

“Then we’re here until you are,” she said with conviction.

Isra shook his head. “No. You need sleep. And you need to take care of Rene. I’ll talk to Marcus again later. After the shock settles.”

“You sure?” I asked.

His gaze lifted to mine. “I’m sure. But thank you.”

His voice was soft but clear, the kind of tone that meant he had cried himself into a fragile, temporary calm.

Raven rested a hand on his shoulder. “Whatever happens… you’re not alone.”

Isra gave a tired smile. “I know.”

Con stepped forward then, placing a hand gently on Isra’s forearm. “We will protect all of you. Marcus included, if he deserves it.”

Isra looked at him and nodded. “He does. He made mistakes. Big ones. But he’s not Dimitri.”

I sighed. “No. But his hands aren’t clean either.”

“None of ours are,” Isra replied, a hint of humor flickering weakly. “Especially yours, Cass.”

I let out a breath that might have been a laugh if the moment weren’t so heavy. “Fair enough.”

Isra reached over and rested his hand on mine. “Just find the pieces. Save Rene. Save all of us. After that… I’ll decide what to do with Marcus.”

Raven straightened, wiping her face, then smoothing Isra’s hair in a gesture that reminded me just how long their friendship had endured heartbreaks, triumphs, and every messy thing between.

“I’ll check on Rene,” she whispered.

Isra nodded.

She glanced at me, silently asking if I was ready to leave. My chest was tight, but I nodded back.

We stepped toward the door, Con already reaching for the handle.

Behind us, Isra cleared his throat. “Cass?”

I turned.

He looked exhausted, his gown still sparkling under the dim lights.

“Thank you,” he said quietly. “For helping. For not giving up.”

I nodded. “I won’t. None of us will.”

Raven squeezed his hand, promising silently what she couldn’t put into words.

Then we left the suite, closing the door gently behind us.