“Don’t let anyone in,” I rasp. “No one. I told her she’d be safe with you. Keep her there until I get there.”
There’s a pause. “Do you want to talk to her?”
“Yes.” The word rips out of me.
Muffled voices. Shuffling. My chest cracks open with each second that passes.
“T-Trey?” Her voice is small, broken. Like wind through a cracked window.
I press the phone so hard to my ear it hurts. “Sera.” My throat closes around the word.
“Yeah, it’s me. I’m here.”
A shaky inhale. I hear her swallow. I can almost feel the way she curls into herself. “I… I didn’t know where else to go.” It’s like my soul’s been wrung out and shoved back in my chest, the rush of her voice ripping straight through me.
God.
My knees give out and I drop onto the edge of the couch, head bowed, gripping the phone in a death grip. “You did theright thing. You hear me? You’re safe now. With Dean and Clay—you can trust them.”
Silence, then the faintest whisper. “Are you… are you coming?”
I squeeze my eyes shut. “Yeah. I’m already on my way. Nothing’s gonna stop me, you got that? Just… hold on a little longer, are you okay? Are you hurt?”
A breath catches in her throat.
The line shifts, Dean’s voice back in. “We’ll keep her warm. She’s exhausted. You get here as fast as you can.”
“Don’t let her out of your sight,” I snap, harsher than I mean. My hand shakes. “I’ll be there.”
I hang up before he can answer. My body’s already moving.
Logan looks up first. He and Chace are going through lyrics to a new song. Sam’s leaning against the counter, arms crossed, and Mac’s curled up with a mug of coffee.
Every head rises when they see my face.
Logan sets his pen down slowly. “What happened?”
“It’s her.” My voice scrapes raw. “Seraphina. She’s in Portland. At Rosewood. She—she found her way there.”
The silence cuts deep.
Mac is the first to move. Her mug clinks down, eyes wide, soft. She knows what Rosewood means—what it meant to her.
Chace mutters, “Holy shit,” dragging a hand through his hair. He tries for a grin, but it dies halfway. “Guess she figured you were worth the trip, man.”
Sam shakes his head, blunt. “I dunno, seems a little sus.”
“I don’t care.” My words slice through the air, sharp, wild. “I have to go.”
Logan’s jaw tightens, his eyes flickering with quiet warning. “Don’t go in blind, Trey.”
“I’m not.” I sling my bag over my shoulder, chest burning. “I just need to make sure she’s okay.”
I’m grateful for ourget-the-hell-out-nowpack, always ready in case life decides to explode again. Clothes, documents, essentials. It’s not been there long, maybe a week, but nights like this make me grateful for the habit.
Mac steps forward, crossing the room. She presses her hand over mine. “She must really trust you.” Her voice is barely a whisper. “Be careful.”
I swallow hard and nod. Words are useless right now.
