I'm so over my head, it’s not even funny.
And right now, I feel like I’m out of the loop entirely. It’s as though the end of the world has stopped in time and I didn’t even notice.
“They found Silver’s brother this morning,” Seb says.
His wording has me freezing in place. “Which brother? And what do you mean by theyfoundhim? Found him where?”
“You should definitely check your cell phone,” he says.
“Shit. Ro and Zeph have gone down there, too?” I ask, frantically checking my pockets for my phone, plucking it out of my pajama pockets.
“Everybody is.”
As I read the exchange of over twenty missed messages and a bunch of missed calls, I can see why Seb didn’t outright explain the situation.
It’s weird as hell.
And horrifying.
Guilt, my current constant companion, writhes in my gut, licking through my veins. Fuck. I should have been with Silver when she discovered him.
I was supposed to be making things up to Silver, and what have I done?
I’ve avoided her for weeks, like a coward. Throwing myself into work so I don’t have to see her face when she realizes how badly I’m failing at keeping control.
Work has taken over my brain and I’m pretty sure I’ve fucked up my chances of ever getting closer to her.
I wonder how much of the mess in the district was orchestrated. A distraction to split our attention.
A distraction that’s worked too well.
This is my worst nightmare. Everything is falling apart and I’ve been about as productive in fixing things as a paper shoe is at damming a torrent of water.
“I need to get down there.”
Seb rolls his eyes. “Yes, dummy. You do.”
I’m filled with purpose as I stride back into my bedroom and pull on some clothes before shoving on my shoes and skidding into the living room. Seb is putting on his coat and I come up short.
“What are you doing, bud?”
“I’m coming too,” he announces. “I was only sticking around here to tell you what’s happening.”
I scan him carefully. “Are you sure you’re feeling up to it?”
I can’t remember the last time he left the building. Which fills me with another surge of guilt. Fuck. I suck at being his guardian, too. He should be regularly heading outside, getting fresh air and all that, seeing other people. Maybe even making friends his own age.
“I’m feeling pretty good at the minute, bro,” he tells me. “Dante gave me some of his blood this morning.”
That pulls me up short. “He didwhat?”
“He let me suckle on his vamp’s teat,” Seb replies drily.
“He. Did. What?”
“Just kidding,” he snorts. “I guess he was feeling guilty or something. I shared my cereal with him and he shared his blood. No big deal. Plus, Luna’s working on this potion that’s going to help. I’m feeling pretty good right now.”
Fuck. I’ve missed even more than I realized.
