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“Sydney?” I said, frowning, hurrying to help her straighten. I smoothed her messy hair back from her cheeks. Bits of ash floated off her. “What happened?”

Her lip trembled but no tears came. She opened her mouth and closed it. I turned to look at Talia who had her lips pursed and stared at the ground. Asher and Jax stood in front of her, glaring.

“What’s going on?” I turned to Tobias who stood near the wall.

“Crimson Nights was burned down.” I returned my attention to the soot covered group.

“It’s not Talia’s fault. We didn’t know where to go and the sun is going to be up soon,” Sydney whispered.

I fixed a glare on Jax. Raising Peter had created a mother hen of me when it came to kids.

“She could have exposed our location to Imogen by coming here,” Jax snapped, angling his glare at them. Talia dropped her head.

“We will leave?—”

“Let’s just stop for a second,” I said, stepping back. “You guys aren’t going anywhere.”

“Pet—” I whipped toward him so fast I gave myself whiplash. Asher shut up. Everyone’s attention focused on me. Other than Sydney and Talia, a lean man stood huddled with three others. A quick scan told me they were all vampires.

“It is close to sunrise. So, instead of kicking your Progeny out, we should probably fix up some rooms.”

“Catalina, having others?—”

I shoved my elbow into Jax’s stomach.

“And you two over there, stop being secretive.”

The back-and-forth between Ren and Tobias toward the corner of the room shut up.

“Where did Baron go?” I scanned for her, but she’d disappeared to make a list. “Baron!” I shouted.

She was the only other person around that knew the layout of the place and knew where all the stuff was.

“You called for me?” Baron’s voice echoed from down the hall. She rounded into the foyer and slowed. “Oh my, visitors.” She grinned.

“Baron, can you get everyone set up in a bedroom?”

A heavy sigh came from one of my vampires, but I ignored them.

“There are no furnishings?—”

“Where are you sleeping?”

She pursed her lips. It was obvious she wasn’t exactly a fan of my suggestion.

“I will figure out something for tonight.” She inclined her head and then turned her brilliant smile over to the group. “If you all follow me to the second floor.”

The four vampires turned to look at Asher questioningly. He met my eyes and then scratched his temple.

“Fine.” He sighed. He turned back to the vampires waiting for his order. “Go. You are not to contact anyone.”

They exhaled simultaneously and scurried to follow Baron, shooting me curious looks as they passed.

“You turned them?” I asked Asher.

He pursed his lips. “Ex lovers?”

He blustered, shaking his head.