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Lexi stuttered as she spat out her words. “I think it’s a sign, or at least some overdue good luck, having a security guy for a neighbor. Think about it. He’s a total badass. Those friends who helped him move in? I bet they’re security friends of his. We could use the help. I… I know the risks as well as you do, but… maybe it’s time we got help.”

“Endanger Vann and his friends? Fuck that. I’m not adding to the death toll, and I’m certainly not giving her anything—or anyone—more to use against me.”

“You’re starting to piss me off. I’m in this with you. I don’t have the… whatever it is that the fury gave you, but I have a brain. Unlike my dumbshit sister who’s literally dancing with death. Ask. For. Help. Talk to him and be fucking honest. Tell him everything. He’s a smart guy, and he’ll—”

“No. No way. Tisiphone bragged about how she took vengeance on her sister’s lover.”

“I’ll be home as soon as I can.”

“I’m sorry.”

“No, don’t… no, actually, wait. What exactly did Tisiphone say about her sisters?”

“Like I said, she didn’t have much to say about Alecto, but she was so odd about Magaera. I almost wonder if her vengeance was so foul that she took it out on Magaera and her lover, and it wasn’t… I don’t know. I think Magaera and her lover betrayed Tisiphone, maybe even tried to kill her, so, hey, maybe that fury wasn’t so horrible. I’m guessing.”

“Yeah, that, but what about the others? Not her biological sisters, but the sisters she made, like you?”

“That many were disappointments. Some didn’t survive. Some had major psychological damage.”

“Many and some and some. So does that mean she kept some of her sisters around? And how can we find them?”

“Shit. I don’t know. I guess I hadn’t… I hadn’t thought of that. Why?”

Lexi sighed with loving humor. “Oh, Eryn, I love you and your main character syndrome.”

“What? I don’t have main character syndrome.”

“Oh, oh dear sister, yes, you do.”

Eryn puffed her breath hard enough to push the hair back from her face. “Unlike when Captain America gets the shit beaten out of him, I can’t do this all day. I’m fucking tired. If I have main character syndrome, I think I deserve more superpowers.”

Lexi’s laugh softened. “Well, Cap, I have some bad news for you. Or maybe good news?”

“Good news only. I’m not in the mood for bad news.”

“Keep your shirt on. It might be nothing.” Keys started clicking in the background. “You rest up. I’ve got work to do, and I hope to bring home news of some sort on the sister front.”

“You’re the only sister I have and the only one I want.”

“Sleep tight. I’ll let you know what I find. But I’ve got a hunch.”

Each blink was heavier than the last. Eryn didn’t bother snapping them open again. “Okay. Love you.”

“Love you, too. Now rest up and stay close to Vann.”

Eryn released a long sigh, her eyes heavy and sleep threatening to come whether she was ready or not. “I’m too tired to go anywhere right now anyway.”

She ended the call and set the phone back on the nightstand. She mustered enough energy to slip back under the blankets.

The bathroom door opened, and Vann strolled out. Strutted. Something. If anyone in this room was flashing main character energy, it was Vann. Not even Captain America walked that hot.

He lowered to sit next to her, and brushed her hair back from her face. “Did Lexi convince you?”

“I’m not leaving, and she knows it.”

He bit his lips together and scowled into the distance. She couldn’t tell if he was ready to cry or to kill something. “I’ll put all my other jobs on hold. I’ll be your private security guard. While you’re at work, you’ll have beefed-up security around the hospital. When you’re not at work, you’re with me.”

“Bet I can’t afford your rates,” she teased.