Page 51
Steel squealed and crashed to the ground, loud enough to wake the dead.
Mid-stride, without slowing, he turned right, jumped over a pile of shoes, and dashed down the hall in three quick strides.
The sight sucked the last scrap of oxygen from his lungs. His heart plummeted to his feet.
On the bed.
Blankets thrown on the floor.
Her body clenched in a fetal position in the middle of the bed.
Her complexion was ashen.
She shivered violently.
Alive.
Night air swirled in the room.
Vann checked out the window. Nothing. Good, but it might not be gone.
He scooped Eryn from the bed and cradled her in his arms. Dazed and cold as ice, she melted into him. She nuzzled her nose into his neck, her breath steady against his skin.
The subtle, intentional movement calmed his pulse.
With Eryn secure in his arms—his sword loose in one hand and fucking useless if he had to fight while holding Eryn like this—he moved down the hall to Lexi’s room and nudged open the door. Empty. Thank fucking christ, she must still be at work.
He guarded his movements down the stairs and across the driveway, careful not to jostle Eryn. Inside, he dropped his sword and slapped a hand on the alarm to secure the house.
He carried her into his room and gently laid her on the bed.
Her shivers slowed, but her eyes were closed. Gaunt. Shocky.
“Eryn?” he asked gently.
No bleeding, no bruising. No sign of physical injury.
It sure as hell didn’t look like she’d been expecting anyone. In nothing but black cotton panties and a ratty med school shirt with the sleeves cut off.
“Eryn. Talk to me.” He pulled the blankets up to her chest and sat at her side. Whatever had come for her was gone. The odd sensation of uneasiness that haunted him faded. “Hey,” he murmured, delicately palming her cheek.
At his touch, she leaned in, the movement subtle, but reassuring.
“Eryn?”
Her eyes fluttered, but she didn’t wake. Not fine, but… his instincts screamed that this wasn’t a typical human ailment. The shriek. Humans wouldn’t know what to do with this… whatever this was.
He shifted to grab his phone from the bedside table. Fuck. Call 911 or… she shifted closer and clung to him.
Breath rushed from his lungs, relief setting his pulse stumbling. She was coherent enough to follow him.
He slid closer and leaned against the wall behind his bed.
Eryn’s arm shook from the effort, but she wrapped an arm around his waist and buried her face in his side.
He wrapped one arm around her to warm her. He gritted his jaw tight, glared up at the dark ceiling, and gently stroked her side.
Hours. He’d gone after the wyverns hours ago.
