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Blood pooled in the corner of Eryn’s mouth. She smiled through gritted teeth. “Vann’s not just a demon hunter. He’s also a security expert.”

She wrenched away from Tisiphone and moved to stand with Vann.

“What did you do?” Tisiphone growled, fire sparking in her dark eyes.

Vann leaned into Eryn. “We would have invited you to the wedding, but we don’t like you.”

Blood poured from Tisiphone’s wounds.

Vann lifted his chin with bloody arrogance. He was ready to collapse, but he held on. “Want her soul? You’ll have to take mine, too.”

Eryn braced Vann against her side. “I already have a sister, and she’s happy for me.”

“Sisters,” Quinn corrected, and looked over her bloodied twin swords. “No soul-sucking required. No strings attached.”

“A few brothers, too.” Bodie shifted from the wolf and pulled on a pair of jeans. “Eryn is welcome in my pack.”

“She has another dad, now, too,” Hale said from the open door, stepping into the room. Tension boiled, ready to burst, but he walked straight to his son, and braced Vann’s other side.

Vann shivered between them. Caked in sweat and blood.

He needed rest, but he wouldn’t stop.

Chest filling and releasing with furious huffs, Tisiphone opened her mouth. Blood trickled down her chin. She opened her mouth to scream.

Eryn left Vann in his father’s care, and smacked both her hands on Tisiphone’s cheeks.

Ice coated her veins.

Tears flooded her vision at the unnatural deed, but fuck, she didn’t want to die.

Vann hobbled closer behind her and touched his hand on her low back. So close to death, so many times, because of her. Hardly able to stand, but he stood with her when she was ready to crumble. “I love you.”

She unleashed the monster inside her.

Tisiphone walled her off. Held Eryn’s soul close to her own, a hostage.

“Give it back.” Eryn sobbed and clutched onto the sense of her own self, but Tisiphone was stronger.

Something else floated to the surface. Distracted, the fury couldn’t hold it all while she bled out, exhausted, while Eryn blasted at her.

Bright, beautiful souls begged for release. Lonely and wounded.

The human she’d drained had been simple. A light flavor. That taste of Bennett had been like solving a puzzle, with a nuanced, but unified taste.

This was a feast. Dozens of souls just like hers.

Eryn followed her instincts. Maybe she couldn’t get herself back, but she wasn’t leaving empty-handed. Outside, those injured and fighting to resist… they deserved better than vengeance.

One by one, she unlocked each prison gate.

The fury inside her tried to capture them, but she shook it off. Clung to what was left of her humanity, and released them. She sent each drifting into the air, hoping the furies outside could recover theirs.

But there were more. The poor souls of the countless dead. Eryn reached to free them as well, but they didn’t respond. Their bodies too long dead.

Tisiphone’s clammy skin was ice cold. Her eyes glazed over. Weak.

Nearly there.