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“I meant you,” Bennett said to Vann, bit his lips together and glanced at the others. “You’re not fully healed. We can do this without you.”

“That’s why I brought all of you.” Vann winked with a playfulness that was so much brighter than the last few days. He wasn’t kidding about craving a fight.

Yet Eryn could feel the pinch that impeded each breath he took. The strain in his abdomen with even a light laugh. The weariness from so much lost blood.

The wedding had energized him, but it had been a temporary reprieve.

A chill prickled over Eryn’s skin at the thought. Tisiphone had said something about her feeling Eryn’s pain as her own. “That bitch really did take my soul. She didn’t even share; she just took. Gave me some of her power, yeah, but that wasn’t generosity; she wants her little army of minions. She’s a terrible sister.”

“Cold.” Archer dropped his brow and puzzled a look at Eryn, then at the house. “Spouses won’t die when their partner dies. It hurts, I hear. We’re bonded with our spouses, but not cruelly so.”

Ryan kicked a rock off the road and growled under his breath. “When my aunt tried to destroy the world, I couldn’t even get close to her until these guys had knocked her down a couple notches. That wasn’t even my soul, just blood relative stuff.”

“Demons are weird,” Lana said.

“The Fury of Vengeance. Makes sense.” Bodie was locked and loaded like the others, but in looser clothes. Lana said he might stop in the middle of a fight and start stripping before shifting into a wolf. Apparently, Archer wasn’t jealous, but found it hilarious that it fascinated his wife.

The lights in the main living area and an upstairs room were on, a fire roaring in the hearth.

“Looks like she’s alone.” Quinn lifted her binoculars to scan the property again. “Didn’t want to invite your new sisters, I guess.”

“Trap,” Bennett said with a shrug.

From the shadows, Blayk snickered playfully. “Sniff that out yourself?”

Bennett stalked back and tipped his chin up at the other vampire. “Wait until you get a whiff of wyverns—if there are any left. Nasty shit.”

The full vampire flicked up an ornery smile and winked at Adair.

Eryn had lived with some of the fury’s traits for so long, she forgot how keen her eyesight was. “I feel sorry for them.”

“A few of the furies seemed enthused, but most fought against their order. She’s got them better trained than her wyverns.” Vann moved close to Eryn.

Addicted, she nuzzled close. Eryn smoothed her hands down her hips. Going in unarmed wasn’t her favorite part of the plan, but necessary to maintain the imbalanced trust with Tisiphone.

“I still don’t love the idea of you walking up to the front door right when she’s expecting you.” Lana took the binoculars from Quinn and scowled as she looked over the house.

“Eryn’s ready,” Vann said with frank confidence, then shrugged less confidently. “That house is as secure as my place. We’re not getting in without Tisiphone laying out the welcome mat.”

“So we do like we did with the trolls and piss her off and make her come to us.” Archer took the binoculars next, antsy and impatient as he paced.

“She lives by a code, and she respects when I do the same.” Eryn’s teeth clenched. “It’s the only way I’m going to get close enough to get my soul back.”

“None of us can fly. I’d rather not fight her out in the open.” Bodie glared at the sky again.

The plan was fucked, but they didn’t have many options.

“Why have we been meeting in the wilderness, when we could have shared a bottle of wine and pretended to be civil? I’m easily seduced by fireside wine and sisterly chats, if I’m being honest.” Eryn leaned into Vann and breathed him in again. The sensation was as satisfying as it had been on their wedding night. The way his teammates adored their spouses? It might be a permanent comfort.

“She knows her control over you is tenuous. She needs you to want this.”

Eryn turned in for one more kiss.

A million more wouldn’t be enough.

Vann leaned down. One hand on her low back, warming her entire body. The other loosely on her hip, sensual and affectionate.

The night stilled around them, the others giving them space.