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“Vann, look, I appreciate you coming to the rescue. Again. But I’m okay. I don’t need—or want—a bodyguard.”

“Eryn, please. I’ve seen awful shit in my career. I’ve pissed off a lot of people. Maybe it was an angry patient breaking into your apartment, or maybe it wasn’t. Maybe you had a fucking awful day at work, or maybe it’s something more. You slept for thirty-six hours. You’re hypothermic. You’re pale. There are a dozen reasons why the break-in was my fault, but I’ve never seen anything like this. You know more than you’re telling me. I can’t fix this if I don’t know everything.”

“I don’t know what—”

“If you’d just trust me enough to fucking talk to me, I could help.”

Eryn stiffened and growled back, “It’s not about trust, so get off your high horse.”

“I’m not on a high horse, I’m… I’m…” He growled again and pushed the engine harder.

“We’re neighbors. Yeah, we’ve got a nice little chemistry experiment going on here. I appreciate that you came for me the other night. That you’re letting us crash at your place—”

“I’m sick of feeling fucking helpless, Eryn. If you’d just tell me—”

“I’ve got enough on my plate right now.” Eryn gripped her hands in her damp hair and tipped her head back. “I don’t need your toxic man-fixing on top of everything.”

Lowering his voice to a crooning calm, Vann said, “I’m sorry, but… fuck. I’m sorry. I wouldn’t trust something this big with someone I just met either. Until we figure this out, just let me do what I do. What I was born to do and what I’m fucking good at. Let me keep you safe. Then, when the threat is over, if you want me gone, I’ll go. I’ll leave you alone.”

Dammit, she couldn’t possibly have more fluid in her tear ducts. The prickly chill welling behind her eyes proved her wrong. She knotted her hands in her lap. It would be over soon.

“And I’m not man-fixing, whatever that is.” He huffed an absurd laugh and shook his head. “I fix things. So does my team. We… fix things.”

Not trusting her voice, she swallowed hard and stared ahead.

“I talked to Lexi.”

Eryn held a tight poker face.

“She didn’t betray your secrets, but I know there’s something neither of you will say. I know you’re both scared, and you think I’ll make this worse.”

Eryn sat up straight. Lexi wouldn’t have said anything. She knew the risks. “What did she say?”

“Not much. Says it’s up to you. Eryn, please. Talk to me.”

With his security system, she doubted even Tisiphone could get inside. It would at least slow her down enough to buy Eryn time to react. Maybe for Vann to hide.

“My team is coming in.”

Jaw set tight, gaze set to burn the road ahead, she almost, in that moment, believed he could help.

Shit, it would be incredible to count on someone else.

Lexi was her rock, her one constant. Lexi cared for the dead because they needed someone to care for them—and she understood death better than anyone. But more… Eryn knew Lexi chose her career because one day, she’d be cleaning up Eryn’s messes.

The realist.

While Eryn clung to the hope that she could kill the fury.

There had been two other furies, and they were long dead. Immortal, but not invulnerable.

“Eryn, look…” Eyes on the road, hand in hers, he sighed with his full torso. “Trust doesn’t come easily—for either of us. Let’s talk. I’ll tell you what I can, and hope you’ll feel comfortable enough to share with me.”

Done crying, done arguing with Vann when she had the fight of her life ahead, she turned to face him. Heat radiated over her hand, up her arm, and filled her veins until she almost felt warm.

As soon as he knew…

“Tomorrow. I’ve had a shitty day, and I’d rather finish that date before… you know?” Exhausted as fuck, but the idea of a few carefree hours with Vann, and she almost didn’t feel like death.