My stomach drops. It has to be Morgan. The timing is too perfect, too cruel, for it to be anyone else.
For a moment, I debate letting him stand there. Maybe he’ll think no one’s home and leave. But no, he deserves to know. He deserves something, even if it’s just the truth.
I pull the door open, and there he is, clutching a bouquet of red roses like it’s his last lifeline. His suit is impeccable, his hair carefully combed.
His eyes meet mine, and I know immediately he’s seen too much in my expression. He glances down at the roses, and I seethe flicker of hope dim in his gaze. Damn it, Pink. You could have at least smiled, I tell myself.
“Come in,” I say, stepping aside.
He hesitates, but only for a moment. When he moves past me, I can feel his nerves buzzing like static in the air. As we make our way to the kitchen, I steal a glance at him. He’s gripping the flowers too tightly, his knuckles white.
Morgan freezes when he sees Lello, his eyes darting to the crumpled note on the table. The color drains from his face.
“What the fuck is that?” he asks, his voice rough.
Lello jerks upright, snatching the note like it’s a grenade about to go off. His eyes are wide, panicked. “Sorry! Ned said you weren’t to see it! I was supposed to come and tell you.”
The room goes silent except for Lello’s sniffles. I bite my lip, unsure what to do. Morgan looks like he’s about to collapse.
“What does it say?” Morgan croaks.
Lello hesitates, then answers in a shaky voice. “He’s gone. He’s…he’s gone to find a castle to hide in. For a Long Sleep. Ten years.”
The relief that washes over Morgan is so visible it’s almost painful to watch. He even lets out a faint, incredulous laugh. I guess he was expecting something far worse.
But I can’t let him stay in that bubble of hope. Not when the truth is worse than he realizes.
“He still hasn’t been feeding properly,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper. “He’s weak. I…I’m worried he won’t wake up.”
Morgan stiffens, and the relief vanishes from his face. He turns to me, eyes wide, like he’s hoping I’ll take it back. I wish I could.
“Surely he knows what he’s doing?” he asks, though his voice wavers.
I shake my head slowly. “Ned’s…young. For a vampire, I mean. He barely knows anything, and he’s…”
“An idiot?” Morgan finishes for me.
I nod, biting the inside of my cheek. The word is harsh, but it’s not wrong.
“I can take you to him,” Gray’s voice cuts through the room like a knife, making all of us jump.
I whip my head around to find him standing casually in the doorway, as if he’s been here the whole time. I swear, one day this demon is going to give me a heart attack.
“Can you?” Morgan asks, his voice a mix of desperation and disbelief.
Gray nods solemnly. “He’s in France. I can take you through the shadows.”
The color drains from Morgan’s face again, but his jaw sets in determination. “How long will it take?”
Gray lifts a hand and snaps his fingers. The harsh click echoes around the room.
Morgan flinches, and I almost feel sorry for him. Shadow walking doesn’t sound fun, but it’s better than wasting hours getting to an airport. And we don’t have hours.
“Take me!” Morgan says, his voice breaking slightly.
Gray doesn’t hesitate. He grabs Morgan’s suit jacket, and then they’re gone.
I sink into a chair, my hands trembling. The room is silent again, except for Lello’s muffled sobs.
