As soon as the door clicks shut behind her, Lyre looks up from her phone.
"What are the chances your boyfriend's gotten himself kidnapped by the local pack?"
A laugh bubbles out of me. "Caine? Getting kidnapped?" The absurdity of it makes me laugh harder. "Maybe if they're dragons in disguise."
But Lyre doesn't join in. Her slitted eyes narrow further.
My laughter dies in my throat. "Wait. You're not joking."
"I wouldn't say I'm genuinely concerned." She taps her phone against her palm as she glances out the window. "More... cataloging unusual happenings."
My heart does a nauseating somersault. "What unusual happenings? Is he okay?"
"Well, until an hour ago, he was incessantly messaging me for updates. Now it's radio silence. I watched him leave with one of the local shifters. It's a small pack, so it shouldn't be a problem even if they act up, but…"
"I'm sure he's fine." The brief flare of worry disappears. It's Caine we're talking about. The Lycan King. The local pack doesn't stand a chance.
Lyre points her phone at me. "Confirming: it's okay for me to stop worrying about him, right?"
I can't help but laugh. She looks ridiculous, arching her brow as if she needs my permission. "Sure. You're free to ignore all worries about his possible kidnapping."
"Okay," she says, sounding as if she's warning me. "I'm washing my hands of it from this point on."
"Yeah, yeah, I get it." My lips keep twitching as she lets out a long breath.
Then she slides the sleek black device into her back pocket, her shoulders easing a little. "Okay. With that done, I'm afraid I need to run a few errands again."
I blink. "Again?"
"A girl's got needs, Grace. Specifically…" She pauses, tilting her head. "Let's say I have connections to check in with."
She reveals herself in fragments, each piece offered like a gift when the time is right. It better be worth it. Her cryptic rainbow personality isn't getting old, but… Yeah, no. It's getting old.
She steps closer, scanning my face with her unsettling perception. "I don't have to go if you'd rather I stay."
It's been so long since anyone's prioritized my comfort over their own agenda. First Caine breaking his own rules to protect me, now Lyre ready to postpone her plans if I need her. It's enough to make a girl swoon.
Though, I guess I already did.
"Go," I wave my hand toward the door. "I'm fine. Better than fine."
I'm lying. My limbs feel like I've run a hundred marathons, and my brain is a little heavy after our conversation. A friend's presence isn't going to fix any of it, though.
A nap might.
Too bad this pillow is flatter than a folded sweatshirt. And it crinkles. So annoying.
"You sure? You don't look fine."
"I'm sleepy, so I'm just going to pass out while you're gone. It won't be very fun to stick around."
Lyre studies me for a moment longer, then nods. "Okay. But if you need me—"
"I'll call. Promise." She's got my phone on the cabinet by my bed, charging so it doesn't die on me. Nothing fancy, an old device she had, but it works. And, in her words, she doesn't have to worry about me getting lost like a child—because I can call her.
It would be mildly insulting if it wasn't so… true.
"I won't be gone long." She hesitates at the door, her hand on the knob. "Don't do anything crazy when I'm not here."
