“Not that big of a deal. No apology necessary, I just wanted to explain.”
Behind me, Caesar adjusted himself, muttering something and holding me tighter.
Ace stroked a hand down the side of my face. “It’s your birthday now. Happy birthday, beautiful.”
I looked at the clock in the corner. He was right. It was 12:01 in the morning. It was, in fact, my birthday. “Thank you.”
He gently kissed my lips again. “I like the strange attachment.”
“Me too.”
Ace’s eyes started to close a little bit. “I’m not falling asleep. Just resting my eyes.”
I had to try hard not to laugh. He was completely falling asleep. Maybe all of the not worrying—and I didn’t believe that for a second—was catching up with him. I was glad his father had been a little different. At least one of us should have a half-decent parent.
He was out cold seconds later. When these guys went to bed, they really knocked out. Seconds turned to minutes, and soon, my own head was fuzzy enough to push away all the things I should be sitting up thinking about. I closed my eyes.
I dreamed about the stars. I walked through dark woods. The winter stole away the leaves, and I could actually see stars above my head. It was cold, but I couldn’t feel it. That was a real benefit of being what I was—I didn’t feel the cold anymore.
“Wait,” Rowan called to me. “Don’t go without me. It’s not safe, and you know it. They could be anywhere. If they get you, they’ll do terrible things.”
I swung around to look at him. “Well, they can try. I’m not so easy to get. You know that.”
He was older than he should be. Why did I think he should look younger? “You’re not indestructible, my love. None of us are.”
“I think you know what would happen if they got you.” Caesar was next to me. Where had he come from? “I couldn’t survive it. None of us could, so be careful. Please don’t go in there without me.”
“Without any of us,” Ace whispered. “We love you. If you’re gone, we’ll be just like the rest of them.”
“Not me,” Tanner answered. “Because I won’t be anymore.”
“So the point here, darling” —Griffin grinned at me. They officially surrounded me— “is don’t go wandering into the woods where the enemy could get you. Drain you. Take you from us. Don’t make us the monsters the world thinks we are.”
I dramatically sighed. “Then let’s all go look at the stars.”
Eleven
“Maci.” Rowan’s voice called to me as he shook me. I roused, dizziness overtaking me. What is going on? I looked around. I was outside, right by the edge of the woods.
“I just wanted to see the stars. We can all go.” Hadn’t we just discussed this?
He held me against him, breathing hard. He looked young again. What was going on?
“You’re sleepwalking.” He let out an audible breath. “I almost… You’re okay. Come in. Come on. You’re okay.” He said that twice.
I didn’t understand. “What?”
“Come on. I’ve got you.” He put his arm around me, leading me from the edge of the woods. The door to his house flung open and all of them were there, the other four staring at us as he walked me back inside.
My head was foggy. I looked back over my shoulder. I really, really wanted to go see the stars in those woods. It seemed really important.
“This way,” Rowan whispered. “Don’t fight me. Back to bed where you’re safe. Come on.”
“How did she get out here without you two waking up?” Tanner addressed Ace and Caesar. “You had her in bed with you.”
Caesar ran a hand through his hair, distress written all over his face. “I don’t know. I was really out of it. I sort of felt her leave, but I thought maybe she was going to the bathroom.”
“I didn’t notice at all.” Ace touched my arm when I passed. “Didn’t know a thing until Rowan shouted. I’m sorry.”
Griffin stepped toward me, his arm coming around the other side of me to help me walk. “I don’t think she’s really awake yet. Look at her eyes, glassy. Unfocused. She’s asleep.”
I wasn’t, really, but he was right. I wasn’t exactly awake, either. I…I didn’t really know what was going on.
Tanner strolled over and picked me up in his arms, essentially taking me from the other two. “If she’s not awake, then we don’t want her walking, not even with help. Let’s get her back into bed where she’s safe. Come on. And I’ll keep her with me if you guys don’t think you can keep her safe. It’s fine. I’m a much lighter sleeper. I’ll feel it if she gets up.”
“No, it’s fine.” Caesar shook his head. “Now that I know this is a possibility, I’ll wake up if she does. I’ve got it.”
Tanner laid me down on the bed. What was happening? Hadn’t we all just decided to go into the woods together?
“What is happening?” I asked him as he smoothed the hair off my forehead.
“You’re having a really weird dream. We’ll talk about it in the morning.” He kissed my shoulder, where my shirt hung down a little bit. “You can go back to sleep. Close those eyes. No more wandering to the woods.”
I took a deep breath. “I’m… This isn’t normal.”
Caesar climbed in next to me a second before Ace did, who drew the blanket back over us. “It was a long day. You learned some very weird, upsetting things. You got bit yesterday. I’m sure it’s all related. Just rest now. Come on. And thank you, Rowan, for waking up. For chasing her outside, for somehow knowing to do that.”
Ace kissed my neck. “You’re okay now.”
“I’m just glad I woke up. I woke up, and I knew that she wasn’t in the house.” Rowan let out a breath. “But she’s back. Everything is fine now.”
It was. Except I still hadn’t gotten to see the stars.
I woke up feeling like hell. My head hurt, my joints ached, and I groaned. Caesar rolled over and turned off my phone, stopping the alarm. Ace pretty much pinned me to the bed, with most of his body weight on top of me, by way of his leg slung over me like a vise that was not going to let me up. He hadn’t budged, and his eyes were still closed. I was face down on my stomach. Lifting my head was a lot of effort.
Caesar tugged on the end of my braid. “Wish you didn’t have to get up, but you do. And I’m going to cook you breakfast before you go.”
“What happened last night?”
He shook his head. “I don’t know. About three hours ago, you took off out of the house, fast asleep. Heading for the woods. Rowan caught you. It was really a scene. Do you usually sleepwalk?” He played with my hair. It was soothing. I had to be careful, or I was going to go back to sleep.
“I never have. Not that I know of.”
Ace rolled off me, groaning. “How is it already morning?”
I sat up. “Well apparently, I had you guys up all night, so that’s why you’re so tired. I’m so sorry.”