It’s coming, Talon.
What was coming? He had an impression of danger. Warnings of destruction and chaos that would never cease. An end to everything. But were they just dreams or a warning from his beloved?
Only a cruel twist of fate had kept him alive this long after screwing with a vampire and his mate. He’d thought Val had been safely hidden away from all blame when he’d poisoned Riley and her brother.
Until Khent of the Night Bloode had come calling. The creature wanted Val front and center, a target for his own retribution.
Talon shouldn’t worry. Val had grown up to be a powerful necromancer, one who could take care of herself. Against vampires, though?
She’d left late Monday night to meet the vampire by midnight, technically Tuesday. She’d also told Talon to give her some space, which he had, busy with other demands on his time.
He checked his phone, expecting a message or missed call.
Still nothing.
Now worried for her, Talon left his bed, tugged on clean clothes, and noticed the time. Two in the morning an entire day later. Val should have checked in by now. Unless she was sleeping in her own bed.
She wouldn’t be pleased at being woken up, but he didn’t care. His dream had left a weird feeling in his gut.
He passed one of the bear twins on his way down the hall, not surprised to see him. Shifters kept odd hours. This one smiled at him.
He nodded back. “Hyde. Have you seen Val?”
Hyde shrugged those massive shoulders. He and his twin had to be six and a half feet tall. When shifted, they turned into massive grizzlies that gave even Talon pause.
“It’s late,” the guy said in a deep voice. “She’s probably sleeping. Humans do that,” he added with a heavy dose of sarcasm.
Talon glared.
Hyde grinned.
“I like your twin better,” Talon said just to rile the guy.
Hyde laughed at the lie.
Everyone liked Hyde better. Jekyll was a straight-up asshole at the best of times, which confused most people since the fictional character of Jekyll was the nice one, with his evil twin, Hyde, the dickhead.
Moving through the house that felt a lot better now that Val had purged it from the demon stain that once lingered, Talon ignored the shifters arguing over movie tropes in the common area and went up to the second floor, to the last room in the west wing of the home.
Of course Val insisted on her own space. She thought she creeped people out. And okay, maybe she did. But not Talon. And not the majority of the Beast Brigade, a bunch of loners who grouped together, and who’d been saved a few times by their resident necromancer.
Talon thought Val got a bad rap since everyone equated necromancers with evil. Sure, they did some sketchy things. But heck, Talon had never been a saint and never would be.Unfortunately, people viewed death as bad. So by connection, Val had to be bad as well.
He’d never met a more pure-hearted soul. The grief and anger she carried on her narrow shoulders could have made anyone bitter. Gods knew it had turned him into a dick. But Val remained determined, assertive, and caring for those she considered friends and allies.
She’d never once gone out of her way to hurt someone who hadn’t been asking for it.
He too easily remembered her as the sobbing little girl who’d watched her parents die, looking for him to save her when he could barely save himself.
Talon and Val were closer than family. They were practically the same person.
He knocked on her door.
No answer.
He knocked again and opened it.
She wasn’t there.Shit.He rushed back to his room to check his phone once more. No missed calls or texts.
