the door. “Keep your phone on you,” I reminded him, “and if nothing happens, come find me at dawn.”
“Got it.” He practically skipped on his way outside.
Beau looked at me again. “If you’re willing, Miss Lex, I’d like you to stay with Odessa until Becca arrives in the morning.”
That surprised me. “Do you still think Odessa is in danger?”
He shook his head. “I don’t know. But she and the Horsemen are the people I care about, and it wouldn’t take much research for someone to figure that out. There’s always the chance they might use her to get to me.” He looked so worried that I almost wanted to pat his arm. “I’ve texted Becca Rhodes, but she is unable to arrive before 8:00 a.m.”
I nodded and stood up. “I’ll make sure she’s safe.”
“Thank you,” he said, looking relieved. “When the crystals arrive, make sure Odessa and Becca both have one. It would do Odessa no good to survive a bomb and then die because Becca was no longer able to protect her.
“I need to return to the search,” he said distractedly. “And then, if there’s time, I’d like to go visit some of the other locations where the Unsettled have pooled. I want to make sure there aren’t more than three bombs out there.”
“Do you want me to come with you?” I asked, steeling myself for the answer. I didn’t know if I could handle being around that many ghosts. I would probably have to stop at the hotel to pick up my old obsidian, but in that case I’d still have to drive through part of Atlanta without it.
But Beau shook his head. I tried to hide my relief. “Milburn and your werewolf are both watching the property at the moment, so perhaps you could get a few hours of sleep. If you take the couch in Odessa’s parlor, you’ll still be between her and any danger.”
“I’ll stay here, but I can stay awake,” I told Beau. After Becca arrived, I could run to the hotel for the obsidian. I’d get some sleep then.
“There’s no need—” he began, but just then, Whitney Finch started down the stairs, yawning into her fist.
“Oh, hey,” she said when she saw us congregated in the foyer. “I was just about to head home. It’s late.”
“You are welcome to stay over, as usual,” Beau said courteously.
“Thanks, Mr. Calhoun, but I have a nine o’clock class tomorrow,” Whitney replied. “And my mom said I should get out of everybody’s hair so you guys can work.”
“All right,” Beau said, stepping aside so she could get by. “Milburn will walk you to your car. Have a good evening, Whitney.” He nodded at the other vampire, who hurried to open the door for the girl.
To me, Beau added, “As I was saying, now is a good time to rest.”
“I’m okay,” I said.
“I’m sure that wrist must be troubling you.” His eyes twinkled a little as he added, “I believe we have some ice packs in the freezer from when Deimos has gotten fresh with Odessa. You could take a couple of them upstairs and at least sit down for a bit.”
I was trying to fight a yawn just at the thought of sleeping. If I sat down on a couch, I was going to pass out.
And then I was probably going to start screaming. Even in all this chaos, I hadn’t forgotten the nightmares. My exhaustion wouldn’t let me.
While I was hesitating, Beau added, “You’re most valuable to me during the time between dawn and Becca’s arrival. You’ll be better able to keep an eye on things then if you rest now.”
Shit, he was going to make this hard. “I, um, sometimes call out in my sleep,” I admitted, unable to meet Beau’s eyes. “I don’t want to disturb everyone or cause a panic for nothing.”
There was a pause, and when I forced myself to look up, Beau’s eyes were kind. “That’s quite all right, Miss Lex,” he said gently. “Odessa’s bedroom is soundproofed, and this property is full of ex-soldiers. No one here will judge you if you have nightmares.”
I sighed, but there was a time to be tough, and a time to take the goddamned sleep. “You’ll wake me before dawn?”
He gave a little half bow. “Of course.”
I went upstairs and said goodnight to a tired-looking Odessa, who handed me a brand-new toothbrush and toothpaste. “I’ve got loads for when my girlfriends stay over,” she said when I thanked her. “I’m turning in too.”