Page 19 of Illusory

Morgan Sinclair?

What in the ever-loving hell wasMorgandoing calling me at seven o’clock in the morning?

My stomach soured as I realized she’d most likely just heard about what happened to Trace—or possibly seen it in one of her visions—and was probably calling to chew my ass out about it.

Yeah,no. I was going to take a pass on that one.

I hit the ‘ignore call’ button and then tossed the phone onto the bed beside me, laying there silently for a few moments before finally forcing myself to get up and out of bed. What I really wanted to do was duck under the covers and sleep for another four hundred years, but I already knew I wouldn’t be able to fall back asleep now that my mind was awake and spooling through the millions of things I needed to get done in preparation for the real-life nightmares hurdling toward me at breakneck speeds.

After quickly brushing my teeth and then dressing, I mademy way downstairs to find Tessa, Jaqueline, and Gabriel already in the kitchen discussing my new training schedule. At least that was what it sounded like from the bits and pieces I’d overheard in the corridor.

“Not happening,” said Tessa in her autocratic, this-isn’t-a-democracy voice. “I’llhandle combat.Youworry about demon vanquishing. You’re better at it than me anyway.”

“You’re only saying that because you hate doing it—not because it’s what’s best,” argued Gabriel, his tone unimpressed and matter-of-factly.

“Okay. And?”

“And at least have the guts to own up to—”

“Guts?” snapped Tessa before he could finish his statement.

I cleared my throat from the doorway, my eyebrows raised at the three of them standing around the kitchen island with a half dozen books spread out before them, as though they were getting ready to resurrect the dead.

You know,again.

“Do you people even sleep?” I grumbled, irritated by just the sight of them and all their morning peppiness.

“We’ll sleep when this is over,” answered Tessa and then pointed over to the coffee pot. “Grab a cup and get over here. We have a lot to cover today.”

Oh, joy. Nothing like starting the day with a drill sergeant from hell.

I dragged my ass all the way to the coffee pot andveryleisurely fixed myself a cup of coffee, sweetening and stirring like I had all the time in the world, just to tick her off, before finally turning around to face them.

Exhaling the last of my resistance, I met their eyes and blinked. “Alright. I have my coffee. What’s up?”

“Before we get into all this,” said Tessa, gesturing to theclusterfuck of ancient relics spread out in front of her. “We actually have a little bit of good news to share first.”

I waited, uninspired.

“…and some bad news.”

“Naturally.” I rolled my eyes, having already known it was coming.

“Which one do you want to hear first?” she asked speedily as Gabriel rubbed the side of his neck and then crossed his arms. Clearly, he already knew her morning pop quiz wasn’t going to go over well with me.

“What difference does it make? I’m sure it’s all going to suck either way,” I bit out sourly and then took a sip of my coffee.

Tessa’s face scrunched up like I’d just thrown a dog turd at her head. “I think this will probably go better if we wait until you’re fully caffeinated,” she decided and then forced out a nervous smile. “Give you a chance to wake up first and whatnot.”

“Oh, how gracious of you,” I said with an exaggerated bow. “Would you be so kindly as to allow me some seating accommodation to rest my aching ass as well?”

“Alright, point taken,” she said and rolled her eyes at my theatrics.

I took another sip of my much-needed coffee and then turned my attention to Gabriel, needing to ask him the question that had been gnawing at me since the moment I’d opened my eyes. “How did it go with Trace last night?”

The look on his face told me everything I needed to know before he even answered.

“We had a rough start, but that’s to be expected,” he said, nodding into it as if to convince me that it wasn’t as bad as his tired eyes were making it out to be. “The bloodlust is at its peak right now, but he’s strong. He’ll get there. He just needstime to—”

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