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My phone rang, but I didn’t answer. I didn’t even look down to see who it was. “I don’t want to train today,” I said, not giving Caleb my reason because he didn’t need one to understand my need for a break.

He shifted his body to face me, nuzzling his neck into the pillow. “I wanted to kill every fucking vampire in that club last night after I saw what that piece of shit was going to do.” He shut his eyes tightly, and when he opened them back up, the amber in his eyes was brighter, more vibrant.

“I know.” I placed my hand on his cheek, but as soon as I touched his skin, he shifted to turn away from me and sat up on the bed.

Awesome. I really hurt him this time.

He slid off the mattress and looked down at me, but my head still rested on the pillow.

“I have a few errands to run today,” he said. “Stay as long as you need. I drove you back in my car last night, but I had Sarah’s car towed here.”

“I’ll leave her the keys and order a Lyft to take me home,” I said.

He nodded but wouldn’t look at me again. My heart ached as he walked away. It killed me to see Caleb in this much pain. As I heard the front door shut, my mind immediately drifted to the day I left him alone in front of my house. Everyone had been waiting for me inside.

After I took away my feelings for him, Caleb fell to his knees, his skin digging into the gravel, but he didn’t move. I didn’t feel the need to comfort him or tell him it would be okay. For him, it would never be okay. Nothing I said would have mattered.

My phone rang again, pulling me out of my memory, and this time, I looked down. It was Dorian.

Dorian!

Why the hell is he calling me?We’d agreed he’d never call me, only text messages.

“Hello?” I said, my voice shaky.

“Mercy, it’s Noah.”

My heart rate sped up, and butterflies roiled through my stomach.

“Noah, what’s going on? Why are you calling from Dorian’s phone?” I asked, panicked.

“Dorian’s fine, Mercy. He needs you, though. Can you get to Three Brother’s Tavern after sundown?”

“Of course, I’ll meet him.”

Noah snickered on the other line.

“What?” I asked.

“Dorian’s just really excited to see you.”

I rolled my eyes. “Bye, Noah. Tell him I’ll be there at six.”

I hung up and headed for the shower. After getting ready, I texted Laurie to let her know I’d swing by tomorrow afternoon to help with a few household items and take Cami out.

As I exited the mansion, I glanced at Sarah, who slept peacefully in the downstairs bedroom. She was stronger than most, but I knew she’d need some time to process what had happened and had almost happened at the club.

I sent her a text to call me when she woke up.

_______________

WHEN I ENTEREDLily’s Café, I spotted Bradley sitting at a table toward the back with a book in his hand.

“Hey,” I called. “What’s going on?”

Bradley placed the book on the table and looked over at Lily, who had just finished helping a customer. “After she locks up the shop, we’ll head to Salem Harbor.”

I looked through him as the realization registered with me. We had spread my mother’s ashes over Salem Harbor. I looked down at my phone and eyed the date on my clock.

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