Chapter 12

Twelve

There's a clatter of a pan in the kitchen and it jolts me awake.

"Sorry," Joshua whispers from behind me. "Johnny wanted to get a head start."

The smell wafting into us tells me whatever he's making will let me gladly forgive any sins.

Thomas' head is next to mine, while his feet are the other direction, and he watches me through sleepy eyes. "Did you sleep well?"

I nod. "I think the pillow helped with that."

But they don't look particularly happy. "Did I try to go somewhere last night?"

"You didn't fight to get away from us, but you probably would have walked out that door again if we'd let you."

"This doesn't feel like a very Merry Christmas right now, does it?" I hold out my hands, and Chase helps me to standing. "We'll get it figured out. Soon."

I don't ask them not to worry.

I pull more books, letting Joshua inspect the newest hidden shelves I've revealed. And I finally find something useful.

"She used the rebirth of the sun to amplify herself… that's how she's been able to do as much as she has." The sabbat, her blood ties… "Maybe I should have killed her vampire when I had the chance?"

"You didn't need that blood on your hands. And who knows? She might have brought him back with her if you had."

I look up and can't stop myself from narrowing my eyes at Thomas.

His response is a sheepish smile before he holds up one of the books. "I've been reading your cast offs."

I'm not mad. I'll probably need all the help he can give me.