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Nick turned.

Morley stood there, gauging Nick openly with that strange look on his face. Nick knew he was picking up on something. He knew Morley could tell Nick knew more than he was saying. Nick didn’t know how to begin to explain anything to the old man in a way that would reassure him, or that would even forward the case.

Nick knew how it would sound. He would sound crazy at best. He would sound guilty at worst––of working with the guy who did this, of somehow pulling off the murders himself and getting back to Wynter’s house before they could knock on his door.

Nothing he was experiencing was normal.

It wasn’t normal for a vampire. It certainly wasn’t normal for a human.

It didn’t help that Nick wasn’t sure how Morley could help, even if the other detective did believe him. Nick didn’t know if the information was useable at all.

Dalejem taught him, a long time ago, that every connection goes two ways.

If that thing was getting into Nick’s head, then Nick should be able to get into his.

He just wasn’t sure how it would do them any good. Not unless they were near enough to act on it… and Nick had a feeling this murderous fuck would never let that happen. Whatever else Nick knew or didn’t know about this “Stranger,” he strongly suspected the other vamp was even more aware of the connection they shared than Nick was.

He might even understand what that connection meant.

Scowling, Nick fought to push the other vamp out of his mind.

More than anything, he wanted to talk to Wynter.

Wynter… or possibly Mal.

They were the only two people alive who might be able to help him with this.

Tai was too young. He didn’t want her involved anyway.

He didn’t want that fucking psycho anywhere near her.

It wasn’t safe, though. It wasn’t safe to talk to Mal. It definitely wasn’t safe to go anywhere near Wynter right now.

It wouldn’t even be safe to call her. Or send a text.

The thought depressed him.

It also made him angry.

They shouldn’t even be here.

This wasn’t their world.

It wasn’t Wynter’s world.

Nick was even more certain of that now than the first time he thought it. Without any evidence, without any way to know whether it wasactuallytrue or not, Nick felt it down to his vampire bones.

Wynter didn’t belong in this dimension.

He needed to solve this damned case.

Then he needed to figure out how to get them all home.

“Yeah.” Nick exhaled, answering Morley belatedly. The breath was pure mannerism, but Nick did it anyway. “Yeah. I’m done.”

CHAPTER14

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