Tucking the address in the book for safekeeping, Brynleigh pulled shadows from within, stepping into the Void with blood dripping down her neck.
The obnoxious,shrill shriek of Ryker’s security alarm greeted Brynleigh when she stepped out of the Void. Of course, he would have the loudest alarm system she’d ever heard. It was like someone was clashing cymbals in her ears. She released her shadows and hurried to the front door.
Brynleigh dumped Jelisette’s book and phone on the nearest surface. Extracting the slip of paper Ryker had given her from her back pocket, she squinted and tried to decipher his terrible handwriting.
Her fingers trembled as she punched in the security code. It took three attempts to shut off the horrid sound. In the wake of the blaring alarm, the silence was deafening. Every heartbeat was a drum; every breath was a shout.
The quiet was too much.
The weight of everything that had happened slammed into Brynleigh like a fucking freight train. Her head, her heart, and her body hurt. It was too much to bear.
She slumped against the wall, grabbing the doorframe to remain upright.
“Fuck.”
Brynleigh had never been in shock, but that seemed to be precisely what was happening. Her head swam, her heart raced, and all her movements were sluggish. This wasn’t bloodlust—she was fully in control. A quick check of her neck confirmed that the wounds had healed.
Sleep.
That’s what she needed.
Brynleigh released the door and pushed herself off of the wall. She checked the locks, because she’d never be caught unaware again, and stumbled towards the bathroom.
Bloody handprints streaked on the wall where she held herself up, but she’d deal with them later. Exhaustion tugged at her, its relentless pull getting stronger with every passing moment.
Elbowing her way into the bathroom, she quickly washed her hands and ran a washcloth over her raw, pink skin.
Once she had removed most of the blood, she stripped and dumped her clothes in the hamper. Locating the laundry facilities would be a job for tomorrow.
Wearing nothing but her underwear, Brynleigh made her way to the last door in the hall. She remembered from her tour that this was Ryker’s room.
She couldn’t imagine how much worse she’d have felt if she’d been forced to return to Waterborn House or that bungalow where she and Ryker had gone after he’d freed her.
At least here, an air of familiarity calmed a part of her.
Brynleigh opened the bedroom door and immediately stopped as Ryker’s scent slammed into her. Thunderstorms and bergamot permeated everything in this space.
She breathed deeply, filling her nose with his comforting, grounding scent. Her trembling slowed, and some of her exhaustion lifted. She knew she shouldn’t snoop, but she couldn’t help herself. Anything to get to know Ryker better.
The room was masculine, which was unsurprising. Navy drapes matched the comforter. A large, empty dog bed sat against the far wall. Two black dressers stood near the door. A king-sized, comfortable-looking bed took up the place of honor. The mattress called to Brynleigh, but she ignored its summons.
Looking at Ryker’s room was one thing, but she couldn’t sleep in his bed and invade his space.
There was a black T-shirt on the ground, though. Likely discarded from the last time Ryker was here, it looked comfortable and worn. She crept into the room and grabbed it.
Bringing the material to her nose, she sniffed.
His scent drowned everything else out. Her heart rate slowed to its normal, turtle-like rate. The trembling was almost non-existent. For a moment, it was as though he was standing right next to her.
Brynleigh didn’t let herself think about what she was doing as she slid the shirt over her head. She didn’t let herself wonder about whether Ryker would be upset she was wearing his things. She couldn’t because she was afraid if she overthought it, she’d take off the shirt.
Right now, she couldn’t imagine anything worse than that.
Content with how the garment fell to mid-thigh, Brynleigh grabbed a pillow and a blanket from the foot of the bed. She was about to leave when she remembered Ryker’s instructions.
“Left nightstand,” she murmured.
The drawer was unlocked and slid open easily.