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With his free hand, he dialed and lifted the phone to his ear.
“Vann? You’re alive,” Lexi said, her relief a rush of energy.
“Wyverns. Yeah. You got that right.”
“Did you… you’re okay? I shouldn’t have said anything. I put you in danger, and fuck, I made it worse.”
He looked down at Eryn. “Lexi, I have to tell you… Eryn’s okay, I think. She’s asleep, safe with me. There was a break-in at your apartment.”
“What? A… what kind of break-in? Burglars, or—”
“I don’t know.” Fuck. He didn’t have a damn clue, but it was absolutely his fault. The timing. “Not human. Whatever it was.”
“Did you see?”
“No. But I heard. A shriek like a banshee, but different.”
The line was dead still.
“Lexi?”
“Eryn’s okay,” Lexi said, repeating what he’d said.
“She’s somewhere between unconscious and asleep. Cold as ice—colder than usual, anyway. I can’t get her to wake up enough to talk to me, but she’s… really cuddly. No injuries that I can find. Her pulse and breathing are steady. I… fuck, Lexi, it’s your call. Do you want me to take her to the hospital? My gut says it’s not something the hospital could help with anyway, that she just needs time and rest… but, fuck, I don’t know. It’s up to you.”
A shiver vibrated over Eryn again. He slid down and held her close.
Lexi hesitated before stuttering over her words. “No. Don’t. Don’t. Don’t take her to the hospital… since she’s… cuddly. Shit.” Lexi’s voice trembled as pitifully as Eryn’s body. “Dammit, Eryn,” she hissed to herself. “Do not take her to the hospital… unless she… well. Unless she starts tanking. They’re still on divert anyway, so you can take better care of her than they could.”
“Don’t go to your apartment. The deadbolt’s broken—my fault. I didn’t want to wait around to grab the key. You can both stay at my place until I can get you out of town. Hell, I can have you both out of here tonight. Get you somewhere safe, or just… far away. This is my fault.”
Lexi didn’t respond.
“You told me to stay out of it, but this is my job. My fucking entire purpose in life. But you were right, and I made it worse. I can fix this, but I can’t risk endangering either of you.”
“If you can convince Eryn to run and hide, I would owe you…” Lexi sighed heavily. “Everything.”
“Maybe something caught Eryn’s scent on me and followed me home. I showered and changed just like you said, but fuck… Do you have someplace you can stay tonight, to keep you distanced from this? With John, maybe? Or I can call one of my colleagues to come get you. Fuck, Lexi, I’m so sorry to have gotten you and Eryn involved in this.”
“Vann, this…” Lexi paused.
Vann waited.
“I need to see Eryn. Stay with her. Call me if anything changes. I’ll be there as soon as I can. But… don’t blame yourself. This wasn’t your fault.”
Wasn’t his fault? How was this not his fault? Dating a demon hunter was dangerous for anyone, but when he’d intentionally poked the bear, and it went after Eryn within hours? This thing was smart, and vicious. “Let me know when you’re on the way.”
“I will. I’ll leave as soon as I can, but maybe I can learn something from the victims that will help. Keep an eye on Eryn.”
At his side, Eryn’s chest rose with a long, trembling breath.
Vann held her close and let sleep absorb him. He reached down to get his laptop, but remembered he’d left it on the kitchen island. He pulled out his phone, but he hated researching on the tiny device.
Still, he needed answers. Scrolling through myth after myth. Any mention of wyverns, banshee relatives… anything, fucking nothing helped. It all swam in his head until nothing made sense.
Eryn was glued to him all night. Breathing clear. Pulse steady. Freezing. Cuddly.
The sun rose with a diffuse, amber light, gradually filling the room. Vann set his phone back on the nightstand and rubbed his free hand over his face. Nothing. A long night of useless scrolling.
