“With the drugs or the demons?” Antonio asks.
“I don’t know. Maybe both. Look into it as much as you can,” I tell them. “But be careful. The drugs are being laced with carfentanil and that was what was used on Mabel.”
“Whoa, back up a second,” Leo says. “Carfentanil is like a horse-tranq.”
“More like an elephant,” I tell him. “So yes, it’s effective on vampires. But come on, this isn’t a coincidence.”
“It’s not seeming like one,” Antonio says and I feel so much fucking relief that he’s seeing things logically.
“It’s not, and I can’t help but feel like something bigger is going on here.”
“What are you going to do about it?” Leo asks.
“Figure it out. And then stop it,” I promise. “But I don’t know if I can do it alone.” I look from Antonio to Leo and lean back. “If something is going on that links this new drug problem to demons, it’s an issue for everyone.”
“You’re not wrong,” Antonio agrees.
“And I thought gators on meth in Florida were bad,” Leo quips. “Demons on drugs…yeah, I think that’s worse.”
“So,” I start. “Will you help me?”
Chapter
Ten
My hand hovers over the doorknob, and for the life of me, I can’t get myself to grab it. I’m standing on the front porch, about to walk inside and see what kind of man—or monster—Devon has become. What are the chances he’ll be normal…just with vampire speed and strength? And that he’s not mad at me for not being able to stop Xavier from turning him?
I had my brothers drop me off at the end of the driveway, and I’ve been standing here for a good five minutes already. Jerking my hand back, I let out a heavy sigh and shake my head. I’m about to turn my face up to the sun and relent to avoid going inside altogether when Mabel’s voice comes from the video doorbell.
“Are you locked out? I can unlock the door for you.”
“Hey, Mabel. I’m not. I’m just…enjoying the sun.” I smile, realizing she can see me. “I’ll come in now.”
“Oh, goody! I missed you!”
Taking in a steadying breath, I push open the door and step inside. I don’t usually enter the house from the front, and thelight vanishes behind me as the door closes, sealing me into the dark, vast foyer.
“Wren!” Mabel squeals and moves like a shadow through the dim light, throwing her arms around me. The knot in my chest loosens with her embrace, and I hug her back. A rush of emotions goes through me, and I want so badly to sit down and tell Mabel everything. But I can’t trauma dump, now that I know her backstory on how she became a vampire.
“You saved me!”
“You helped free yourself.”
She pulls back and shakes her head. “You saved me. And you did it without killing anyone.”
I open my mouth only to snap it shut, not sure what to say.
“Maybe that can be our new way,” she whispers. “People don’t have to die.”
“That would be nice.” I slide my hands from her shoulder down to her arms and look at her, face coming into focus as my eyes adjust to the dim light. “You’re okay?”
“I heal pretty fast.”
“Physically, you’re fine, I know. I meant mentally. How are you doing?”
“Okay. That wasn’t fun.”
“No, it wasn’t,” I chuckle and look past her through the dark house. “Where is everybody?”
