Silas plopped onto Meredith’s couch. The thing wasn’t much to look at, but its gray cushions were remarkably cozy. He sank two inches, feeling like the padding was swaddling him. He’d removed the backpack with Nickelova’s heart so he could snuggle in properly and propped his feet on the upholstered coffee table. “Twenty minutes and then I have to get back to this case.”

Meredith covered him with a crocheted blanket. “We just theorized that Alex wouldn’t strike until the lunar eclipse. Nickelova isn’t recovered enough to help you yet. She needs time. Selene hasn’t found the ritual yet. She needs time. And Laina and Kyle need time to talk to Grateful and Gerty. That means you, Silas, have time.” She kissed him gently on the cheek. “You need to take care of yourself so that you can be strong for everyone else when the time comes.”

He tipped his head back and closed his eyes. “Twenty minutes.”

“You know the beauty of our relationship?”

“Hmm?”

“Because I’m a mixed breed, I don’t have to do what you say.” The corner of her mouth twitched. “I’m going to go make us sandwiches. When I come back, you’re going to eat and then you’re going to bed.”

Once she left the room, Silas laughed softly. Meredith’s hardheaded nature was one of the things he loved best about her, but this time, she was wrong. Twenty minutes and he’d be good to go.

He leaned his head back again and rested his eyes. He’d just slipped into sleep, or at least he thought he had, when a bright light burned through the cracks in his eyelids. Was he dreaming? He’d fallen asleep on the beach or inside a tanning bed. He’d forgotten his sunglasses.

“Silas?”

He blinked rapidly. “Soleil? What are you doing here?”

“This is the only way I could talk to you.” When he sat up with a start, she pressed a finger to his lips. “You sealed me out of your place. I can’t get through the enchantment anymore. I was hoping I’d find you here eventually.”

“What’s going on?”

“I came to warn you. What you’re doing will end in disaster.”

His face tightened. “Could you be any more cryptic? What are you talking about?”

“I made a terrible mistake.” Her face twisted. “You need to return the heart to me before it’s too late.”

“Not likely.” He snorted derisively. He hooked an arm through the backpack.

She eyed the bag, deducing its contents. “You don’t understand. It’s a trap.” Noise from the kitchen made her glance in that direction. She lowered her voice. “She’s not who you think she is.”

“You are not who I thought you were.”

Soleil pulled back as if he’d slapped her. “I am exactly who you thought I was,” she snapped. “I gave you the heart, and I’m sorry I have to ask for it back. But it’s for your own good. If you ever loved me—”

“Don’t go there, Soleil. That ship has long since sailed. I respect what we had, but it’s over. People’s lives are depending on this. I’m sorry, but no.”

“You don’t understand. If you don’t return the heart, everyone you think you’re saving will be destroyed.”

“How?”

“I’m… not sure. I don’t know.” She shook her head, looking confused and disoriented. Or was it guilt he saw in the way her mouth tightened? Someone had put her up to this. He was sure of it.

“You need to go,” he said. “Now.”

Soleil stared at him for a long moment. “It’s over for you. Permanently over. Even if I gave up what I do and did everything your way, it would be too late.” Slowly, she shook her head back and forth. “You’re in love with Meredith. And you are a one-woman man.” Her eyes opened wide with the realization, and she blinked several times as though she found it difficult to fathom that he’d moved on.

Silas had to consciously force himself to hold eye contact, although he desperately wanted to look away. He didn’t want to see the hurt in her eyes. “Yes. I’m in love with Meredith.” It was the first time he’d said it out loud. Why hadn’t he said it to Meredith?

“I’ll never understand how limited your love is, to only be capable of one lover at a time.” Soleil tilted her head as she examined him. “It’s more than that, though. You don’t trust me like you once did. Not since Ryker.” Light beaded in the corner of her eye, and it took Silas a moment to realize she was crying, literally shedding sunlight.

“I’m sorry if I hurt you. I think you have reasons for doing what you’re doing, but I can’t trust you on this. I need the heart a little while longer.”

She brushed a tear away. “I’m happy to hear you’ve moved on. It gives me closure.”

“Is that the real reason you’re here? Closure?”

“No.” She shook her head vehemently. “I’m here to save your life. You have no idea what you’re dealing with.”

“Then tell me. Tell me the truth. Do you know something about what Alex is planning?”

She turned, rubbing her temples. “I can’t. I don’t know why. All I know is I was tricked into giving you that heart, and I was tricked for a reason.” She grabbed one strap of the backpack and tried to pull it from his grip. “You must give it back.”

Silas held firm. “There is no way I’m giving this to you. Not without a better explanation. Hell, even with a better explanation.” A bad feeling was gathering in his chest. “Does this have to do with the lunar eclipse?”

She pulled harder on the backpack until they were engaged in a full-out tug-of-war. When it was clear Silas had her outmuscled, Soleil’s usual sunny glow morphed. “This is for your own good!”

The heat she was putting off increased from a gentle ray of sunshine to what Silas imagined the inside of an oven might feel like. His skin reddened. His hands started to blister. The smell of burning hair tinged the air. He had no choice but to close his eyes and turn his face away. He released the backpack, shaking with pain as he flipped over the back of the couch to escape her scalding heat.

“I’m sorry,” she cried.

“Not as sorry as I am.” Meredith stood in the kitchen doorway, her gun drawn.

Soleil turned toward the light of the window, her form dulling at the edges as she blended and faded into her preferred mode of travel.

Pop. Pop. Pop. The bullets plowed into Soleil’s chest, sending showers of sunlight that left cigarette-sized burns in the couch and rug before fizzling out. And then her light faded, and she stared, shivering toward the ceiling.

“Bet you weren’t expecting me to have iron bullets, bitch.” Meredith marched to Soleil’s side and yanked the scorched backpack from her hands. Then, with one look at Silas, she pulled her phone from her back pocket. “I need an ambulance… Two victims... Fae and werewolf… Yes. 336 Maple Grove...”

Why was she looking at him like that? And why couldn’t he feel his hands? His charred, skinless hands. He leaned his head back against the carpet and closed his eyes.