I crawl out of bed from between Zeph and Roscoe’s sleeping bodies, removing Ro’s clingy fingers and grabbing some freshclothes, slathering on some deodorant and shoving my feet into my boots.
It seems we’ve been playing musical beds while I was sleeping. I’m pretty sure I fell asleep with just Roscoe and my vampire, but Dante is nowhere to be seen, and Zeph rolls into the space I just vacated. Ro snuggles up against him, making a sleepy sound and patting Z’s ass.
Zeph awakens and shoves his hand off with a muffled curse against the pillow. “Told you before, man. Keep your grabby hands to yourself.”
“Peachy butt,” Ro mutters back, still mostly asleep. “Bet you’d like it if Silver took a bite.” He peers around with squinted eyes and spots me watching, a grin breaking out across his face. “Hey, why’re you up? Get back here for snuggles.”
“Can’t. Sorry. Go back to sleep, both of you.”
I open the door and head into the living room. As much as I’d love to climb back into bed for a long cuddle, I can’t ignore Ember.
It might make me an idiot, but I can’t ignore any of my family if they need me.
I find the kitchen buzzing with activity, despite it being a barely acceptable time to be awake. To my surprise, Dante is still here. I figured he’d have snuck out at first light.
Instead, he’s on the couch with Seb on one side and Hanna on the other.
They’re... watching cartoons and eating cereal.
Not something I ever expected to see.
When he spots me, Dante pauses with a spoon halfway to his mouth, like I’ve just caught him taking a shit in the street. It’s a weird contrast. Hanna and Seb are in their pajamas and both look bedheady and puffy-eyed. Meanwhile, Dante’s in his shirt and slacks from yesterday, looking perfectly put togetheralthough he has his sock-clad feet kicked up on the coffee table in front of him.
Seeing him here like this, so relaxed and at home, sends a wave of warmth through me and I find myself smiling at him.
Then I remember why I’m up and dressed so early and my joy dims.
“Morning,” Hanna says, waving her spoon in greeting.
“I need to get going. Not surewhere,but I’m gonna figure it out,” I say.
Hanna yawns and squints at me. “What are you jabbering about? How come you’ve got your boots on?”
Ugh, I don’t know how to explain this without upsetting her. And it’s far too early for Hanna to be yelling.
“Ember. He contacted me a few minutes ago. Said he needs help.”
“Of course he did,” she scoffs.
I shake my head and try to muddle through my thoughts. I don’t know how to explain the feeling it gave me orhowhe sounded so... off. Strange.
“He sounded weird,” I say. It might not be the most eloquent way to put it, but it’s accurate enough.
“Like he’s been used as a personal blood bank a few too many times?”
“No. Like semi coherent. He said he was cold. And now he’s not answering me.” I try again to get through to him, but there’s nothing. It’s the same feeling I get when someone’s unconscious or sleeping and there’s nothing but a blank void.
I haven’t got this far in life, survived this long, by ignoring my gut. And right now, it’s screaming at me that something’s wrong.
“I just... I don’t know if it’s the vamps stepping up their game, or if it’s something else.”
“They might have gotten pissed off with his moaning and laziness and kicked him out,” Hanna says. “Maybe drained him just to shut him up.”
I stride over and flick her in the back of the head. When she twists around and sees my unamused expression, she just shrugs and rubs her head.
“Not helpful, Hanna. Will you tell the others where I am when they wake up?”
“You’re thinking of going alone?” She gets to her feet, displaying the milk stain all down the front of her oversized t-shirt. “That’s not happening. I’m gonna come with you and no way is Rook gonna be happy if we don’t wake him.”
