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I slide out of the SUV, Sera’s purse in hand, and shut the door.

The car drives off as I stare at Kyrin, snow falling around us like a frigid reminder of the weather to come. “She could’ve seen him.”

“I don’t think he cares,” Kyrin replies.

“Is that a good thing or a bad thing?”

Kyrin shrugs. “I don’t know, but let’s get inside before we turn to popsicles and never find out.”

Once inside the warmth of Ironwood, I shake off the snow and hand Stanley Sera’s purse for safekeeping.

“The weather is supposed to worsen tomorrow. I think we’re going to get snowed in over the next few days,” Kyrin says.

“Are we stocked and ready for something like that?”

“Yeah, and Stanley had a massive order of wood delivered, in case we lose power. We have the propane tank full, so we can run the stove.”

I nod. “Alright, then. Let whatever comes, come.”

I’m sliding into bed when I hear the first whimper from Sera.

Sighing and looking down at my state of undress, I still march out of the room and down the hall.

I beat Lucien here; that’s a first.

Peeling back her covers, I slide beneath them and tuck her into me.

She startles, her eyes flying open. “Elias?” Her words are slurred, and her eyes are bloodshot.

“It’s me. You’re safe. Go to sleep.”

“This isn’t appropriate,” she murmurs, settling into my side as I pull my arm around her.

“No one has to know.”

Lucien enters the room and sits at the foot of the bed with a grin.

“Only your demons will know,” I add. “Sleep.”

22

TALKING TO SPIRITS

LUCIEN

Sitting on the end of the bed, I watch the menacing shadows curl over the ceiling.

Elias’s snores cover the light ones dragging out of Seraphine’s intoxicated body. It would be endearing if I hadn’t been focused on ensuring Elias an uninterrupted night in an estate I know loves when someone’s guard’s down.

“Not tonight,” I growl, standing and facing shadows that used to scare me to death when I was younger. “Get out.”

Like tree branches against the crown molding, they peel back, shrinking into the paint and squealing.

Elias shifts in the bed as the door opens.

A cane thunks through the room.

I sigh, get off the end of the bed, and slink toward the fissure.