Yutani and Viktor behind us. Angel asked them all in, which I was fine with—I wasn’t capable of playing hostess, but it was nice to feel there were people around who could pull my ass out of the fire. I wasn’t sure whether it was the concussion, or the fight, or the energy of the Reaver, but I was feeling incredibly vulnerable.
“We should probably go home and let you sleep,” Herne said, but I stopped him.
“Can you stay for a while? You and the guys? I’m nervous.”
He frowned. “Of course, love. Here, let me settle you in the recliner. The doctor wants you to prop up for the night.”
Though my concussion was mild, the doctor was worried about me throwing up while I was asleep. So he had recommended sitting up on pillows. It would also keep me from stretching my side too much.
Herne lowered me to the recliner, then motioned to Viktor. “The girls are beat. Can you make a pot of peppermint tea? It will clear their heads and also relax them. No caffeine.”
Viktor headed into the kitchen. Angel curled up on the end of the sofa, rubbing her forehead.
“I have a massive headache,” she said.
“I’ll bet Raven does too,” I muttered. “Will she be okay? Was Kipa there?”
“Yes, he’s there. He’ll keep watch over her,” Herne said. “He’s nervous. Her father’s coming to visit next month and you know…meeting the parents. Phasmoria likes Kipa, but she’s not nearly as protective as I imagine Curikan is.”
“Guess again,” Angel said, smiling at Viktor as he brought in a plate of chocolate chip cookies he had found in the kitchen. He started to hand me one but I shook my head. My side felt like I’d been twisted in knots and I was queasy from the pain.
“What do you mean?”
“Phasmoria is incredibly protective of Raven. She just doesn’t show it. I get the impression that Curikan is a lot more passive-aggressive.” Angel winced. “My shoulders feel like they’ve been pummeled.”
Yutani swung himself behind her. Sitting on the back of the sofa, he straddled her with his legs so he could reach her shoulders and neck. “Let me give you a massage.”
She glanced up at him, a startled look on her face, but when he began to rub her shoulders, she closed her eyes and sighed.
“Oh, that feels so good.”
“I’m good with my hands,” he said, winking at me and laughing.
I laughed back—it felt good to have something to laugh at. But my side thought otherwise, and it spasmed right where the stitches were.
“Damn it, first time tonight I’ve had a chance to smile and my side goes and ruins it.” I shook my head. “Herne, do you know if Reavers are summoned or are they just… Do they randomly form from ghosts in an area? What causes them to come into being?”
“I’m not certain. Raven might be able to tell us, though I don’t think she’d even seen one before this. I’ve dealt with a few throughout my life and they’re usually found in areas of tremendous psychic disturbance. I don’t think they’re actually a creature you can summon, though maybe a necromancer can make one, so to speak.” He was sitting beside me in an armless side chair, stroking my forehead. “Drink your tea—and water. The doctor warned against you getting dehydrated.”
Viktor stood. “I’ll get her a bottle of ice water and a straw.”
“The bendy kind?” I asked.
“Sure, the bendy kind.”
Tears flickered in my eyes and I realized I was seconds away from crying. Everything felt so hopeless and I felt like crap. I gingerly leaned my head against Herne’s arm and closed my eyes. He leaned down and gave me a gentle kiss on the forehead.
Angel’s phone dinged and she picked it up, glancing at the screen. “Crap, it’s DeWayne. I thought I’d managed to shake him.”
DeWayne was DJ’s father. Angel had refused to tell him anything about DJ, even as to whether Mama J. had borne him a son or a daughter. DeWayne was a mooch and out to get his hands on anything he could.
“What do you want?” Angel wasted no time on pleasantries. She paused, listening, then in a seldom-seen fit of anger said, “Get the fuck out of my life. You aren’t even the father. My mother was having an affair and he’s the father of her child. I know this because she told me.”
Another pause and then, “You can believe it or not, but I guarantee you, if you try to make waves,