I sit up so abruptly that Eli is forced to release me and back away.
“The fuck is wrong with you now?”
In a flash, I get up, my bare feet sinking into the carpet as I grab my phone.
The moment I click on Ava’s contact, Eli appears behind me emanating Lucifer’s dark energy, his voice lowering to that edge again. “This is why I don’t like Lan sometimes, you know.”
“Shut up.” I shoo him away, but he remains there, waiting, watching, his attention no different than a hawk’s.
Creighton:Is Annika with you?
I could’ve texted Cecily or Glyn, but they’re not as obsessed with their phones as Ava is.
Sure enough, the reply is immediate.
Ava:OMG. Did you just text me? Who are you and why have you kidnapped our Cray Cray?
Creighton:Answer the question, is Annika there?
Ava:Jesus. Slow down, no hi, how are you? Or maybe an attempt to answer my previous dozen texts that you left on Read. I’m wounded, you know. Beg me and I might consider answering.
I feel my brother’s demeanor turning rigid behind me. Worst part is that Ava meant it about the begging. I have no doubt that she’d be cheeky just for the fun of it.
So I go for the jugular.
Creighton:Eli is reading this conversation as we speak. Answer my question.
The dots appear and disappear a few times before her reply comes.
Ava:Anni had to spend the night at her brother’s mansion.
My hand tightens around my phone as my whole body stiffens. I dial Annika’s number and place it to my ear, listening to the long, haunting rings.
No reply.
Fuck.
Yes, she usually goes to bed early for ‘beauty sleep’ or what-the-fuck-ever, but this is too early.
I throw on my hoodie, put on the first shoes I see, and storm out.
“You’re welcome!” Eli shouts behind my back, but I’m already jogging down the stairs.
I call Annika again, but it goes to voicemail.
“Hi, this is Annika. Leave a message and I’ll call you back ASAP.”
The more times I get her voicemail, the more my temperature rises.
I hop into my car and drive out of the property at high speed, then dial my cousin.
He picks up almost immediately. “Weren’t you in your Sleeping Beauty phase?”
“Where are you?”
“Currently watching a live show of a wildfire that’s eating the Heathens like holy water. May all their sins trap them in hell for eternity. Amen.”
“There’s fire?”