Caleb POV

 

December 4th 2026

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It’s three a.m.

I haven’t slept in over twenty-four hours.

As if getting sent to my knees after work because the whisper got drastically worse, wasn’t bad enough. Add in we now have some mystery guy texting us. We got Noah confirming he’s said he knew us from school.

But wait, there’s more.

Somewhere around nine p.m., I get a call from Dr. Henson informing me that not only am I on medical leave, but all my brothers are. Why, you ask?

 

My loudmouth brother Marcus not only passed out twice, he ratted the rest of us out on hearing the whisper.

 

And that same loudmouth has gone missing.

 

According to dad, he smashed his phone in the first fall.

 

Dad last saw him at my ER, under medical order to stay.

 

Then Henson sent him home at around the same time we all got informed we can’t work. We waited about an hour.

 

Now I’m walking the streets of Charleston looking for the idiot because he could be passed out somewhere. The cold has worked its way through my clothes, and every few blocks I catch some new smell—old fryer grease, exhaust, wet pavement—none of them Marcus.

 

A six-foot-two tiger man should not be this hard to find. Especially one as loud as he is.

 

I’m coming down Capitol Street. We’d done an initial check, but I hadn’t come down this far. Forgot one restaurant he likes.

 

Doubt they are open now, but I still need to check the area.

 

I see someone locking the front door as I approach.

 

A young blonde I’ve seen there before. Tracy… Lacey… ah, Stacie.

 

I call out to her.

 

She jumps a little. Expected. It’s three a.m. and she’s alone.

 

“Well, shit, Caleb, what are you doing yelling at people this late? Your brother run you out of the house?”

 

I walk up with an apologetic smile.

 

“Sorry about that. Looking for Marcus, you seen him?”

 

She laughs. “Oh yeah I saw him.”

 

“Oh! Is he okay?”

 

She pats me on the shoulder.

 

“He was tipsy as hell and making out with a new regular. They got in an Uber to your place a couple hours ago.”

 

“Oh, thank God… he’s okay. I am going to kill him.”

 

She gives a small smile. “Invite me to the funeral. Meanwhile, I’m beat. Have fun.”

 

I get out my phone and call mom.

 

She answers on the first ring.

 

“You find him?”

 

“Yeah, Mom, call off the dogs. And I’m on Capitol if you want to swing by and get me.”

 

“Is he with you?”

 

“No, he’s home. At least that’s where he’s supposed to be.”

 

“I’ll be right there, I am a couple blocks over. Message the family chat, let everyone know. “

 

She picks me up within minutes.

 

I’ve messaged everyone else. Dad is picking up Noah and Danny from where they were across town. Dad says he informed the authorities that the search might be called off and told them to stand by.

 

We make it to the loft a lot faster than legal, but I’ve learned not to remind Mom about traffic laws when she’s worried.

 

She goes to get out as I do.

 

“Hold on, mom, maybe it’s better I go up. They said he went home with someone. It’s bad enough I’m going to go beat on his door. We don’t need to put him back in high school when you caught him and Angela.”

 

She frowns and looks up to the sixth floor as if she can see him from here. Then sighs.

 

“Alright, but if anything is wrong, tell me immediately. “

 

“Don’t worry, I will. I’ll call you.”

 

I watch her sit back behind the wheel of her minivan before I turn to head in.

 

I’m exhausted but sprinting up the stairs feels faster than the elevator. At least I’m moving.

 

Once inside, I immediately catch old pizza, Marcus, and another unfamiliar scent tangled through the loft. Underneath it all is the unmistakable smell of adult activities.

 

I go directly to his door and knock.

 

I hear a sleepy, irritated “what?!”

 

“You alive?”

 

A pause. “As far as I can tell.”

 

“Okay, good. Enjoy that. You are dead tomorrow.”

 

I text the group chat. “He’s fine. He was sleeping. “

 

Danny messages the group. “Of course he was.”

 

Noah sends, “He better enjoy that rest. I have many words for him.”

 

I reply back after I flop on my bed, disturbing Onyx, who was curled up on it. “Oh I do too. But first, we all sleep. “ Onyx gives me an offended chirp as I displace him. I answer with a tired grumble and close my eyes.

 

I let my eyes close finally.

 

A little later, I’m vaguely aware of the front door and Danny and Noah talking, but then I’m lost to dreams.

 

I hear the whisper. I see her, as always. Standing in that forest, reaching.

 

But she fades.

 

Now I see another woman. This one feels different. We aren’t in the forest anymore. Now we are in some kind of room. She’s not saying anything. She’s not moving at all. I’d think she was a statue if I didn’t see her breathing and blinking. She’s sitting in some ornate chair. In a gown…

 

I can’t focus on her well, but one thing I can see. Half her face is horribly scarred.

 

She fades, and the whisper woman comes back into view. I’m back in the forest.

 

I always hate dreams. You can’t smell or touch anything in them.

 

But, I remember the text.

 

I start screaming.

 

“No!”

 

Again.

 

“No!”

 

Over and over until it feels like the only word I know.

 

The vision of the woman flickers, like she’s part of some kind of broadcast and my screaming is interrupting the signal. I scream even more.

 

I wake up with the end of a scream still echoing off my wall.

 

My hands are twisted in the sheets.

I look over to the clock. It’s six a.m. now.

Almost three hours.

 

Well, I guess at least I don’t have to work.

 

Thanks Marcus.

 

Oh, wait. This is my three-day stretch off.

 

I groan as I put my arm over my eyes.

 

All of us have blackout curtains; we all work weird hours, so I don’t have to worry about the sun.

 

But that dream.

 

I’m used to whisper lady.

 

She has become an expected inhabitant of my head.

 

But this other woman…

 

I could make out light hair It was long. I think.

 

The gown looked like something straight out of a fairytale.

 

Oh, she even had a crown, I think. There was something on her forehead.

 

I grab the notepad Noah insists I keep by my bed. I had stopped taking notes months ago, but finally I have something to write.

 

After I get everything I remember listed, I lay back down, trying to get more sleep.

 

My mind is too full.

 

And apparently my bladder.

 

Groaning yet again I sit up and stretch.

 

I’m not at work, so I can let whatever natural sound wants to come out actually come out. A low, rough groan-rumble rolls out of my chest. Very tired, very grumpy tiger. Yeah, I went through a period in high school where I studied tiger sounds because I wanted to know if we really sounded like them. We do. Uncannily so.

 

I make my way to my bedroom door. And across the hall to the bathroom. I can hear someone in there, of course. How the hell do four people manage to always have a bathroom traffic jam?

 

I walk over to the kitchen to get some coffee going.

 

I’m in the middle of filling the coffee maker when I hear the bathroom open.

 

Marcus’s scent reaches me before I look over—strong enough that my exhausted brain doesn’t question it. “Hope you enjoyed your night. You know we searched Charleston and half of South Charleston for your ass.”

 

I hear the bedroom door shut quickly.

 

Odd, Marcus usually would have responded.

 

Whatever, coffee is going and I need to piss like crazy.

 

Once that’s taken care of I head back out. This time I actually lay eyes on Marcus. He’s walking out of the room in boxers with a big yawn. His tail flicks lazily behind him.

 

When he sees me, he chuffs, and I return it. Wait. He would’ve chuffed when he saw me a minute ago.

 

“Marcus, did you hear me a few minutes ago?”

 

He looks at me, confused.

 

“Nah, I been in my room.”

 

The scent—that wasn’t marcus; that was his date. Well oops.

 

Apparently his date spent enough time against him to fool my nose at six in the morning. I really didn’t need that information.

 

He pushes past me. “Talk in a minute” as he closes the bathroom door.

 

I shrug. Ok, fine. No big deal, person must be shy.

 

Marcus having dates over is pretty common, and we usually give ‘em coffee, Marcus tends to cook for ‘em. Then they are never to be seen again, well, except around town.

 

I go over to Marcus’s door and speak through it.

 

“Hey, sorry. Didn’t realize you weren’t Marcus. I got coffee brewing if you want some.”

 

A voice that sounds off somehow replies, “Oh, thank you.” It sounds like the person is making it higher. Huh, might be a trans woman. Marcus has had a few over, so not unheard of.

 

I go back to the kitchen and pour myself some coffee, leaning against the counter.

 

I am trying to picture the scarred woman again when I see the bedroom door open. They don’t look my way, but down the hall.

 

It’s a guy. Black hair. Beard and mustache.

 

He’s got a bandage on his arm.

 

I stare at it.

 

No fucking way.

 

What the fuck is Lucien Moreau doing in my brother’s bedroom?!

 

I keep calm. I clear my throat.

 

He looks my way. And I see he knows me instantly.

 

I lift the coffee cup as my tail gives away just how mad I am, flicking against the cabinet with solid thuds.

 

“Morning, how’s the arm?”

 

He gives a nervous smile and holds it out. “Oh, still good. You did a good job on those stitches.”

 

It’s at this moment Marcus comes back out.

 

“Wait, Caleb stitched ya? Small world.”

 

I look to Marcus, then pointedly at Lucien.

 

“Oh, it’s even smaller when people deliberately run into people, isn’t that right, Mr. Moreau?”

 

Before Lucien can answer Marcus speaks up.

 

“Caleb, we met at a restaurant; he’s a regular while he’s staying over at the hotel on the boulevard.”

 

I look to marcus. “He tell you why he’s in town?”

 

Lucien looks like he’s reconsidering every decision that brought him into this kitchen. Good.

 

Marcus shrugs. “He’s a chef or somethin’, that’s how he got cut.”

 

I sip my coffee and look to Lucien.

 

“Funny. You told me you were a journalist. So what is it?”

 

Lucien tries to turn on the charm. “A journalist can be a chef…”

 

Marcus, who shares my hatred of reporters. His eyes are narrowing as I see the gears working. Even his ears give him away, breaking their usual human appearance as they flatten closer to his head. I add, “He said he was investigating the murders. Came into the ER, asking for a male nurse. I was the only one on shift.”

 

Marcus’s tail is mirroring mine now as he says, “Lucien, did you know I go to that restaurant often?”

 

Lucien pauses then sighs, a pleading look in his eyes that seems to not fit his face. “I knew, yes, but Marcus, all I wanted was information. This…” He motions between them. “This was not part of the plan. For fuck’s sake, I have a girlfriend.”

 

Oh…

 

Oh Marcus is not going to like that.

 

And he proves it.

 

“You telling me I just helped you cheat? Didn’t think to mention that at any point during the night? You asked me if I was single…”

 

Lucien is trying to become part of the drywall.

 

Then it hits.

 

It’s not bad enough to drop us, but I see something. Lucien closes his eyes as the cycle begins.

 

Then she reaches the final word.

 

Obey.

 

Lucien says it with her.

 

Something shifts behind his grey eyes afterward, like a switch turning back on.

 

Well shit…

 

Marcus speaks first: “You hear her?”

 

Lucien looks very confused. “Wait, you hear her?”

 

I roll my eyes. “Okay, it’s established; we all hear her.”

 

Lucien looks to me. “All of you?”

 

I nod. “Six months ago?”

 

Lucien is obviously calculating something in his head, then nods. “Oui, yes. It began then… What is it?”

 

Then we hear Noah as he steps out, putting a shirt on. “As best we can tell, it’s some kind of recording. It never changes. Though apparently we’ve added pain and passing out…at least Marcus has passed out.”

 

Lucien looks bewildered.

 

Marcus still looks pissed, but also very curious now.

 

Lucien speaks up. “Yes, pain started around a week ago… I blacked out for several minutes yesterday, but woke up standing.”

 

I am watching Lucien intently now. I set my coffee down and step closer to him. I can be pissed at him later. Right now, that isn’t normal.

 

Danny steps out of his room and takes in everyone: Marcus in his boxers, Lucien fully dressed—including shoes—Noah and me still in yesterday’s clothes, though I think Noah found a fresh shirt. He finally says “Ok, good. We have everyone plus one. And it looks like we need to talk even more now.”

 

I look to Marcus, “Want to maybe get dressed?”

 

He glances down at himself, then shrugs “I’m decent.” Making his way to the couch.

 

I look back over at Lucien, who is looking to the door. I move to gently guide him to the living room. “Trust me, buddy, it’s better you just get this over with, you do not want to piss him off more.”

 

He has a pained look on his face, but moves with me, taking a chair across the room from Marcus, who is glaring at him, tail flicking his displeasure. I sit down next to Marcus, Noah next to me. And Danny takes the other chair that sits near the couch.

 

Danny looks to Lucien. “Okay, first, who the hell are you? I only caught parts of that whole exchange.”

 

Marcus speaks up, “Name is Lucien Moreau, apparently some French reporter investigating murders, and fucken people to get his scoops.”

 

Lucien winces, then says, “That is not at all who or what I am. Well, okay, Lucien is truly my name, but I am not a journalist. Or a chef…”

 

Noah’s information-gathering mode kicks in. “Then what are you?”

 

Lucien seems to consider for a moment. Danny says firmly, “No lies, I am not in the mood to keep Marcus from murdering someone today.”

 

Lucien sighs, “I am, in a way, a man people hire for jobs they do not wish to do themselves. My investigation has eaten most of my life, though Maria and I still perform jobs for the higher-ups when requested.”

 

A low growl rolls out of Marcus before he asks, “What kind of jobs?”

 

Lucien shrugs. “I am an information gatherer. I know how to get it any way I can.”

 

He winces as he says it. And Marcus huffs. “Yeah, I can see that.”

 

Noah cuts in. “So what is the organization you work for? Did they send you here?”

 

“No, no, the organization does not care where I am as long as the internet exists. My expertise is in accessing information via technology. Though also gathering the things people do not write down is where the puzzle pieces fit together.”

 

Noah takes off his glasses and pinches the bridge of his nose. “OK, name of the organization?”

 

“That I do not know. They are quite careful in keeping trails sparse and disconnected. They are the ones who want to know things. The rest of the world is not privy to their secrets.”

 

Noah puts his glasses back on; I can see him formulating his next line of questioning. “How do they pay you?”

 

“They deposit it into a bank account.”

 

“What name is on the account sending it? There has to be something.”

 

“It changes each time, usually under some celebrity name, but with little differences. Just yesterday I was paid by Maralyn Monrue.”

 

Noah’s mouth tightens. Apparently that answer made sense to him, which is not reassuring.

 

Marcus speaks up. “What the hell some shadow company want with our family?”

 

His ears still haven’t fully relaxed.

 

Lucien leans forward in the chair, his head in his hands. “They want nothing to do with you, actually. They have been demanding I cease my digging. It is strange. The moment I said I was coming to Charleston they have been trying to pull me out.” He pauses. I see the way his hands clench.

 

For the first time since we sat down, Lucien doesn’t look evasive. He looks tired.

 

Then he says. “But my Willow died six years ago tied to a fucking statue…”

 

Every one of us goes still.

 

Well, almost every one.

 

Noah looks somehow even more focused.

 

Marcus practically spits, “Fucken statues…”

 

Lucien continues. “Her wounds would not have killed her had someone found her soon enough. But she had told me, “Killian needs me at the office…” She would work with him all night sometimes; they had a game release coming...” I can see he’s holding back tears at this point.

 

My coffee suddenly smells too strong. For half a second I’m not in the loft anymore. Vanessa is kissing me goodnight. She had to go check on her mother. She had sent an odd text. Her mother said she had lost her phone that day. We found her later…

 

My fingers tighten around the mug until the heat starts to hurt. I loosen them.

 

Noah speaks up. “And Killian was cleared?”

 

Lucien laughs an empty, soulless sound. “They put him in some kind of box. The police walked into his office, a mechanism triggered, and he popped up like some sick toy. A gun made his brains into art… the killer was kind enough to leave us a blank canvas to preserve it.”

 

None of us have words.

 

The refrigerator hums behind us.

 

We knew the person—or people—behind ours were sick. The baby was proof of that… and now, we see their work somewhere else.

 

Finally Danny speaks. He is hunched over at the edge of the chair. But he looks up to Lucien. Somehow his ice-blue eyes look even more chilling than they usually do. His tail has gone completely still. “The police have any leads at all?”

 

Lucien laughs again, tears still threatening to spill. “The detective on the case—the one who triggered Killian’s trap—they found her just a day later. Well, they found evidence of her. The amount of blood loss…”

 

Noah finishes for him, “Incompatible with survival.”

 

Lucien only nods.

 

Then he swallows hard and says, “Your people do not fit one key piece to Willow and Killian and the others I have found…”

 

Danny cuts in. “Fuck, there’s more?”

 

Oh, we have angry Danny now; I haven’t heard that man cuss in quite a while.

 

Lucien nods. “All over the world, apparently. Dozens.”

 

Nobody moves for a second.

 

“But there’s one key difference. You had bodies to bury. I never got to properly bury Willow. She was stolen. “

 

Noah sounds distant. “Tara was too. I saw that in the report. There was an investigation, but nothing conclusive.”

 

Marcus huffs. “So the fucker ain’t happy even after they kill ‘em? Gotta take ‘em too?”

 

Someone’s phone dings; Noah reaches for his. “It’s him again.”

 

Oh right, the other mystery currently occupying our lives, the guy from our past who seems intent on remaining a mystery.

 

Danny looks over. “What does he want now? Finally decide to be useful?”

 

Noah looks it over. His brows furrow. “He says he just needs a little more time. New complication he didn’t account for.”

 

Danny suddenly stands, his white-furred tail flicking anxiously, and grabs Noah’s phone. He walks over to Lucien and offers it.

 

“Okay, complication, be useful. Figure out who the hell this is.”

 

Noah finds his voice. “You have a phone too, Danny. Mine does not have to be the sacrifice.”

 

Lucien is looking at the phone he has taken from Danny. “I need all your phones, and anything you know about this person.”

 

Marcus speaks up. “Mine’s dead. But what the hell are we talking about now? Who is texting?”

 

The contrast feels absurd: Marcus sitting there nearly naked and covered in stripes while I’m still wearing yesterday’s jeans.

 

I move so I can look into his eyes, an annoyed look on my face.

 

“Oh yeah, Marcus, remember how you disappeared yesterday? Not only were we worried about you, but we also had something to talk about.”

 

Marcus is quiet for a moment then looks genuinely sorry. “Oh… I just thought you’d be pissed I told on us.”

 

Danny speaks up. “Oh, we are very pissed about that too. But we understand the reasoning.”

 

Noah stands and reaches into Danny’s pocket, prompting a “Hey!” from Danny, but ignores him as he retrieves Danny’s phone and offers it to Lucien. Noah then says to Marcus “Next time, inform us before you go blowing family secrets?”

 

Lucien looks to me and holds out his hand. “I presume you have been contacted too?”

 

Sighing, I get my phone out of my pocket. “Yeah, he actually told me how to resist the whisper. And I think I saw him yesterday, before I went to my knees.”

 

Lucien lights up at that and sits straighter. “Now that is even better than a number someone could spoof.”

 

Noah speaks up. “Especially since he claims to have gone to school with us. Can’t be too many guys fitting the description.”

 

Lucien reaches towards Marcus, pulls back, then reaches again. “Your phone- the screen may be broken, but I can get its data. I’ll even make a backup for your own use.”

 

Marcus glares at him but then moves to stand.

 

“Fine, but don’t go looking too close at the pictures on it.”

 

I can’t help myself.

 

“Marcus, I am pretty sure he got the live demo; he doesn’t need pictures.”

 

Marcus is walking to his room. “Shut up, Caleb.”

 

I call out. “Put on some damn pants!”

 

I hear his voice a little more muffled. “Nope, just because you told me to.”

 

I roll my eyes. “Marcus you are such an ass.”

 

Lucien just looks at me, seeming unsure exactly what kind of reaction is permitted.

 

A bit ago, I was ready to finish the job that knife almost did to his arm. Now… he has become quite the complication. But maybe the source of some answers.

 

Noah has gone to his room, probably to gather what notes he’s taken. That man keeps notebook companies in business.

 

Danny is studying Lucien. He’s not angry, really, but there’s caution. His tail has that slow sway we get when we’re on edge.

 

Marcus comes back. Not in boxers now—a damn pair of briefs. At least they’re black.

 

I look him up and down, then meet his eyes. He’s looking at me as he hands Lucien the broken phone.

 

“Those aren’t pants.”

 

He grins.

 

“You should be a detective. You are very observant.”

 

Danny speaks up. “You two, not now. We are kind of in the middle of something.”

 

Noah speaks up, looking at his smartwatch. ”If the new rotation stays consistent, we have about a minute before the next wave. Everyone sit down in case…”

 

I take my spot back on the couch. Danny lowers into a squat right where he’s standing, ready to get himself to the floor if he needs to. Noah takes the chair Danny abandoned.

 

Marcus stays standing.

 

Of course he does.

 

Lucien is already seated in his chair, but he puts the phones on the side table and grips the arms.

Somehow, knowing it’s coming does kind of make it worse.

 

My tail curls tight against my leg before the pain even starts.

 

Blinding pain shoots behind my eyes. I mean to think no, but I scream it instead.

 

“No!”

 

And keep screaming it.

 

Somewhere under my own screaming, I hear a rough feline sound from one of my brothers. I can’t tell which one.

 

I force my eyes open enough to look at the others.

 

Danny is curled on the floor.

 

Noah is gripping his head while sitting.

 

Lucien seems oddly composed.

 

And fucking Marcus is on the ground.

 

By the time obey cycles, the pain has lessened. I don’t know if my screaming worked, but it did at least not make it worse. Now for a way to do that in public…

 

Once I can properly think again, I rush to Marcus.

 

The idiot was standing beside the couch, so of course he managed to hit something on the way down.

 

I turn him over and, yep, there’s a scrape along his temple and a faint bruise already starting.

 

Good job, Marcus.

 

I try to wake him, he stirs. Good.

 

I look over at the others. Danny is making his way up off the floor, Noah is watching me and Marcus.

 

Lucien…

 

Danny notices him too.

 

“Hey!” He snaps his fingers in front of Lucien.

 

Lucien is staring into the distance.

 

He’s blinking, but it’s slow.

 

He’s upright. Eyes open. Breathing normally. But whatever is looking through those grey eyes isn’t paying attention to the room.

 

Danny moves to shake his shoulder.

 

Lucien moves with the shaking like dead weight. Then he suddenly goes slack for half a second and blinks hard, like someone just switched him back on.

 

“What? He looks to Danny. “When did you get over here?”

 

Then Lucien does something very odd. He mumbles to himself.

 

“Not now; it is not the time for your bullshit.”

 

Then looks back at Danny. “I blacked out again, didn’t I?”

 

Danny looks concerned, reaches for a penlight that isn’t on his chest, then looks around the room. Noah produces a penlight from his pocket and hands it to him.

 

I turn back to Marcus, who is groaning.

 

“You with me?”

 

He’s a little disoriented but replies, “Okay, maybe I should’ve sat down.”

 

I roll my eyes and check him over. Danny passes me the penlight without a word.

 

After we have checked both our unexpected patients, we look to each other.

 

“Marcus will live. No signs of anything serious, though his ego might have a scrape along with his head.”

 

Marcus gets himself to his feet. “Marcus can hear you.”

 

Danny starts giving his report without looking at Marcus. “Lucien seems fine…” Marcus flicks his tail across the back of Danny’s head while he’s still kneeling beside Lucien. Danny continues. “No sign of why he zoned out. But I’m not a doctor, I’d really want him seen by someone that knows brains.” Marcus whacks him again because apparently he woke up and decided to be even more of an ass.

 

Danny looks to Lucien. “Do shadow organizations provide insurance?”

 

Lucien shrugs. “They pay enough that I can afford a basic plan.”

 

Danny nods. Tail incoming. Danny catches it. Says nothing to Marcus. “Then we really need to get you seen.”

 

“Danny, give me my tail back.”

 

Danny tugs at his tail some. “You know the rules. If you want to keep your tail, you keep it to yourself.”

 

Marcus gives it an experimental tug. Danny doesn’t even look at him.

 

Marcus groans. “Alright fine, I promise not to hit you with my tail.”

 

Danny keeps holding. “Marcus…”

 

Marcus reminds me of when we were kids as he exaggerates his sigh. “I promise not to hit anyone with my tail.” Danny lets go.

 

“Please actually go get some pants; you should escort your boyfriend to the ER.”

 

I see something complicated go across Marcus’s face, then he growls. “He ain’t my boyfriend. “

 

Lucien barely moves, but I catch the flinch.

 

Did Marcus not explain his rule?

 

Marcus continues. “Besides, he can call his damn girlfriend to get him.”

 

Noah speaks up. “I’d prefer someone who knows the situation to be near him. Does she know?”

 

Lucien shakes his head. “Not all of it. I… try to keep her out of my messes.”

 

Marcus huffs and heads to his room. “Give me five, and someone needs to get me a new phone.”

 

Lucien looks to his side. “I need to gather this information; I don’t have time for doctors. “

 

Danny, as always, stays firm. “We will get you what you need as you wait. You might be there a while.”

 

Lucien sighs but nods. “Fine, I will call Maria and see if she can perhaps meet one of you with my gear.”

 

Noah looks to Danny. “Can Sammy maybe give you a ride?”

 

Danny considers then says “Yeah, I’ll call her. We can get Lucien and Marcus to the hospital in the same trip.”

 

Lucien looks pained. “As much as I appreciate the offer, perhaps it is best I call a ride myself.”

 

Danny has grabbed his phone off the table. “We would be meeting you anyway; why waste the money? Also, can you grab the data and let us have these back?”

 

Lucien nods, seeming to accept he’s not getting out of meeting another person connected to us. “Yes, once I have my gear, I can make copies, and you will have your phones.”

 

Danny nods as I hear Sammy answering. He walks off to the side but I hear him.

 

“Hey, babe, I got a favor to ask… I don’t need money, just a ride to a couple places.”

 

I look over to Noah, who is looking through his notebooks. He glances at Lucien. “Detective Olivia Weber. She’s the one who went missing.”

 

Lucien seems interested then, standing to go over to him.

 

“Yes, that was her.”

 

Noah continues. “I obviously don’t have the details you have, but I remember what the press released because of how gruesome it was. The statue is what caught my attention, then I learned of Detective Weber.”

 

I go back over to the kitchen, snagging my phone as I go. I have a few minutes before I have to surrender it.

 

The coffee’s gone lukewarm, but I drink some anyway.

 

In all the chaos, I didn’t talk to Nebula.

 

I get the message up and hesitate. What the hell do I say?

 

Oh, my brothers and I have been hearing things for months. Weird guy from the ER fucked Marcus but also knows about the murders I never told you about.

 

Yeah. Better go with:

 

“Hey sweetie, sorry I wasn’t online, long ass night. Love you.”

 

It’s not her usual time to be awake. Just missed her really.

 

But then I see her typing.

 

“There you are! I missed you. Are you ok?”

 

“Yeah, I’m fine. Got some stuff going on. But I’ll message when I can.”

 

“Can you voice? I really miss you.”

 

I glance over to Danny. He’s saying,

 

“Sure, babe, we can do that. I promise I’ll keep Marcus in line.”

 

Noah and Lucien are leaned over notebooks. Marcus is doing whatever he’s doing.

 

They are good without me a bit.

 

I head to my room and type.

 

“Sitting at my desk now.” I gently relocate Mochi from my chair.

 

The familiar call sound is chiming as I get my headset on.

 

I answer and notice something. Her cam is activated. We’ve never video chatted before. She always said she was shy.

 

I don’t look closely in case she didn’t mean to. “Hey sweetie, your cam is on.”

 

She giggles, “Can you see me?”

 

I finally look at the screen closely.

 

Oh.

 

She’s beautiful.

 

She’s got her dark hair in twin braids that fall down her chest. Her shirt is cute and pink, cut just low enough for me to notice she’s quite blessed in that department. She looks soft and sweet. Her skin is light, and I see her brown eyes practically sparkling behind cute glasses. Oh, she looks kind of like me. She’s never mentioned Asian heritage.

 

“Yeah…I see you. You are gorgeous. “

 

“Aww, thank you. Can I see you?”

 

I consider what I’m wearing, one of my random graphic tees. Who knows what my hair looks like. The red mess I call hair is so damn curly I can never keep it smooth. I turn on my cam.

 

“Oh, there’s my handsome guy. Oh wow, you really do have stripes?”

 

Her smile gets wider, and a quiet chuff slips out of me before I can stop it.

 

I laugh and smile, leaning a little to show my neck better. “Sure do. But Nebs, what’s changed?”

 

She giggles again. “I’ve been working super hard, and I lost a hundred pounds. So now I’m at least closer to pretty for you.”

 

Oh.

 

“Nebs, you are beautiful, and I love you for a hell of a lot more than a number on a scale. I would’ve loved you exactly the same before you lost the weight.”

 

“You always talk about how close you watch your health. I didn’t think you’d want someone like me.”

 

“Sweetie, I watch my own health. My brothers do what they do, and I still love ‘em. I want you happy in your skin.”

 

Her smile is shy. Oh wow, I want to see it more and more.

 

“Thank you.” She looks at her screen more. “You look exhausted. Should I let you go? I just had planned today to show you…”

 

I settle more in my chair, adjusting my cam. “You have me as long as you want me.”

 

“Oh wow… what was that by your legs?”

 

Oh, right. My tail. I’ve told her about it. But I am pretty sure she thought I was joking. I flick it intentionally so she can see. “I told you, Nebs, you have a tiger for a boyfriend.”

 

She giggles more. I’ve always loved her giggles, but oh, seeing how her cheeks move and her eyes light up, yeah, I just got the Nebula upgrade package and I am quite happy.

 

“Oh, Crim, you are amazing. “

 

Her name for me. Crimson Guardian is the screen name I’ve had for ages.

 

“You are Nebs. So amazing and sweet.”

 

There’s her giggle again. God, I love it.

 

I continue. “So what have you been up to today?”

 

I see her watching the screen; her eyes are moving in time with my tail. I playfully flick it for her, earning a smile. “Oh, I’ve been working on some drawings. I have a few people who bought commissions. “

 

I keep asking little questions as she happily tells me about her day, her art. I’m fascinated watching her. The way she pushes her glasses back up on her nose. How she bounces her shoulders and tilts her head as she talks.

 

Seeing her makes her so much more real. I have spent all this time looking at her avatars. In a way I told myself it was safer that way. But now… oh I wish I was sitting there next to her.

 

I hear Marcus call out. “Caleb, we are leaving!”

 

I mute my mic a sec and call out. “Be safe!” Then back to her.

 

“Sorry, sweetie…”

 

“Oh, it’s fine. How is Marcus? I haven’t heard him in a while.”

 

I laugh a little. “Oh, going on too many dates as always. “

 

One too many, at least. I am sure he is regretting last night.

 

“Aww, I hope he settles down sometime. He seems nice.”

 

Our conversation drifts around to random topics; she’s always easy to talk to.

 

The Whisper interrupts us enough times that I eventually realize hours have passed.

 

I suddenly hear Nebula calling to me a bit more loudly.

 

“Crim, baby. You are adorable when you sleep, but I worry your neck is going to get sore like that. “

 

I chuckle and wipe the drool that had collected at the corner of my mouth. “Oh, sorry. How long was I out?”

 

She giggles. “About fifteen minutes.” Kinda imagining what it would be like laying next to you.”

 

“Aww sweetie. I think Reaper might be a little jealous at that.”

 

“He’s got his girlfriend who comes to see him.”

 

Reaper. Online, her brother. Real life, her husband of five years. He and I have gamed together for years. He introduced us. Was the reason I was even brave enough to ask her to be mine. He’s been nudging me to propose in the game too.

 

I look at her for a long moment, then say. “You really want me in person? I shed when I’m nervous. “

 

“Baby, I have four cats and a really good vacuum.”

 

I grin.

 

“Ooh, teeth too?”

 

Oh, this whole time I hadn’t shown her.

 

“Yeah, not as pronounced as a real tiger, but sharp all the same.”

 

Her grin has a lot behind it.

 

“Oooh…” She places a finger cutely on her lips as she’s thinking. “Very much looking forward to feeling those.”

 

My tail gives one hard flick behind me before I can stop it.

 

I am suddenly a bit more awake, and clear my throat.

 

“You behave or I’m getting a flight to Colorado tonight. “

 

Oh, that giggle again. “Mmm, you promise? Because I would love a live demo of that purr. “

 

I realize then that, oh, I am very much purring.

 

I lean closer to the camera and say low. “I very much wish I wasn’t exhausted, because I very much want to give you another kind of demo.”

 

Before I know it, that cute shirt is suddenly not covering what it’s designed to cover.

 

Oh yep. Definitely blessed.

 

Oh, and she added in a wiggle.

 

“Nebs, you are going to kill me…”

 

“Aww Crim, you’d die with a smile though. “

 

I seriously consider whether my body could survive pushing this flirting where it wants to go.

 

One part of me has opinions.

 

But the rest of me is screaming: “We need sleep.”

 

I look into the camera so she gets to feel me looking directly at her. “Baby, you are beyond hot. And the next time I get the chance, I am going to show you how you affect me. For now, I think I do need sleep. “

 

She finally pulls her shirt back down. But I am quite sure my mind is going to save the memories of the previous view.

 

“I’ll hold you to that. And remember, you aren’t the only one who can travel.”

 

Oh, she’s right… and she knows my address, as I know hers. We send care packages filled with snacks and little things we want to give each other.

 

“We can talk about that later, when I’m thinking more clearly. Love you, sweetie. I’ll message when I can, okay? I should be awake around the usual time.”

 

“Love you, Crim. See you in your dreams.”

 

The call ends, and I lean back in my chair. A sigh comes out of me, somehow both content and frustrated.

 

Only I could manage to drastically advance my relationship, learn there are serial killers operating worldwide, and find out some French guy hears the Whisper too—all in the same morning.

 

I pull off my dirty shirt and pants too. Boxers are perfectly fine for sleeping; hell, apparently great for family crisis meetings too.

 

I crash into bed, my last thoughts on just how blessed my girlfriend is—and me by extension.