Carson smoothed Fang's fur down from where Vane had tugged at it. "She's married to a Greek demigod and is a licensed psychologist. She's the only one I know who might reach him."
Vane grabbed Fang's head and angled it so that Fang was staring blankly at him. "Look at me, Fang! Damn it, don't do this. I need you lucid. We can't stay here. Do you hear me? You have to wake up so that we can fight."
Carson pulled his hands away again. "I don't think more violence is the answer. Let him rest tonight. Maybe he'll be better by the morning."
Dev and Alain came forward. "You want us to move him?"
Carson shook his head. "I think it best if he stays where he is for the time being. But I'm sure Vane would like a more comfortable place to spend the night."
Aimee put her hand on Vane's shoulder. "Go on and get a hot shower and rest for a bit. I'll stay here with Fang until you get back."
Vane hesitated. "I don't know."
She patted his arm and smiled. "It's okay, Vane. I'll call you if something changes. I promise."
He nodded glumly. The agony in his hazel eyes was haunting. She wished to the gods that she knew some way to ease the pain there, but there was nothing she could do for him except bring Fang back and right now that looked to be impossible.
Sighing, he pushed himself away and followed Dev and Alain from the room. Colt stayed behind with her while Carson returned to his desk to do paperwork.
Aimee pulled a blanket out of the closet to wrap it around Fang. She ran her hand through his soft fur, stroking it as tenderly as she could.
"I'm right here, Fang," she whispered. "Whenever you're ready to face the world again, you won't be alone. Vane is here and we're here. For you."
If the words reached him, she had no clue. He didn't even blink.
She looked up and caught Colt's gaze.
His gaze was empty and chilling. "I know that stupor he's in. It's the same one I had when my sister was killed."
"I remember," she said, thinking back to the night when Colt had shown up at their door after he and his sister had left them for a year. Their mother had been an Arcadian bearswan . . . her father's baby sister.
Colt and his sister had been born here. And alone he'd returned to them.
Family was family, and they had welcomed him back and kept him safe. He was like a brother to her too.
The funny thing was, whenever he called them cousins or cuz, people thought it an endearment. They had no idea they really were cousins.
Aimee jerked her chin toward the door. "Why don't you go on and rest. I'll be fine in here with him."
"You sure?"
She nodded. "Carson will be just outside."
"If you need anything . . ."
"I know. Thanks."
Aimee waited until she was alone with Fang. Leaning over, she put her face against his neck and held him close. "Wherever you are, Fang, you need to come back to us."
Fang jerked as he heard a soft voice whispering to him. "Aimee!" he called out.
No one answered. There was darkness all around him. It hung thick and heavy like icicles, freezing him as he trudged through dismal water that seemed to cling to his body. His teeth chattering, he had his arms wrapped around himself.
"Vane!"
Still there was no answer. Was he dead?
Was this hell?