Aurie said, "That was probably childish of me."

I covered a smile as Zyr's partner pointed at the table with mouth agape, fumbling for words. Tegan finally managed, "How did you do that?"

The detective glared at our friendly ghost. "I didn't. I think you better sit down, Tegan. We need to talk," he said. An hour later, our guest sat next to him on the couch. I sprawled on the floor with my back against the wall and Aurie's head in my lap. I stroked her hair, not caring that it was weird to the normie.

"You know none of this makes sense, right?" Tegan said for the umpteenth time.

"Yeah, I know, Tegan," Zyr sighed.

"You know why, right? Because—"

He cut her off, saying, "If you believe in Overlay City, a disembodied Soul isn't much of a stretch. I need you on standby to get Mys and Aurie out of here if trouble shows up tomorrow. From there, we play it by ear. Can you commit to that?"

"Sure, sure! I've got some time-off to spare, but Mys should be in charge of keeping up with...Aurie...since I can't see her."

"Thank you." Zyr visibly relaxed. "Were you able to find everything okay at my place?"

"Yep. Brought the duffle bag from under that trap door in your closet, and I grabbed the box with everything we have on the Cyprian case. Everything's in the car. It's a burner car, and I also bought burner phones. Take the battery out of yours now."

"Perfect! You've thought of everything. I'll bring in your bags in a moment. Let me show you the loft. This isn't the Ritz, but there's a bed up there. Want to take a walk-through?" he asked.

Zyr led his partner up the stairs. Behind his back, the redhead gave him an adoring look. My Empathy picked up on the history he tried to pretend didn't exist. The detective was over her, but Tegan was nowhere near done with him. Such an outstanding amount of yearning poured off her. It was almost like she was obsessed.

"Are they together?" Aurie asked. I shook my head as my eyes followed them into the loft. "What are her intentions?"

"To be of service," I murmured.

"But she wants him. She's so pretty. Ugh! I've never been insecure in my life. What the hell is going on with me? My unfinished business doesn't need this," she groaned.

"You're falling for him," I deduced. Moments later Zyr and Tegan descended the stairs and exited the cabin, chatting with the synergy of two people who had known each other a long time. They ignored us, which was fine by me. Almost. I blew out a breath and admitted, "We both are."

Aurie faced me. "What are we gonna do about it?" she asked.

"Make the most of whatever time we have left."

I felt her deflate. The energy seeped right out of her. The sense of peace she had exuded earlier wasn't as settled now. She was right. Her feelings for Zyr were affecting her unfinished business. I dove my fingers through her hair and soothingly scratched her scalp.

"Do you believe in reincarnation, Mys?" she asked, eyes closed.

I stared at her wistful expression for a beat. "I don't know. I'd like to think if we miss the opportunity to do things in one lifetime, we get a second chance in the next."

She sat up with me, shoulder to shoulder. "I'm not sure if I'd want a second chance. This Afterlife has been hell." She laughed.

Zyr returned with several suitcases and Tegan on his heels. "There's hot and cold water in the bathroom," he said over his shoulder. "You're welcome to whatever's in the kitchen, too. Perhaps tomorrow one of us can make a store run while the other starts on the case file."

"Sounds like a plan. I can make preliminary contact with the victims over the phone to limit who sees us coming and going," said Tegan. "Are you sure no one else knows about this place?"

"Not aside from my brothers," he answered.

"Let's keep it that way," she replied.

"What about Kittie?" I piped up.

"Do you think it's smart to risk her coming here?" asked the redhead. Without waiting for my response, the two of them disappeared to the loft again, and I heard her say she was exhausted. She asked Zyr where he would sleep. He said the sofa was a fold-out. I bit the inside of my cheek.

"If I had to live another lifetime," I exhaled, "I'd want to meet you before it was too late."

It was the dead of the night, but I couldn't sleep in the unfamiliar bed. I sat on the backstep watching Aurie dance around the banked fire. She didn't need rest. I thought of Zyr on the cozy fold-out and Tegan in the loft probably with one eye open to make sure we stayed in our proper places.

I had sensed her envy when she called me the "pretty little thing from the pub." After that, it had been nothing but projected cravings for sex, sex, sex with Zyr. I rolled my eyes so hard my head ached.

Aurie smiled at me. Her attention shifted to someone behind me, and the expression turned wry. I glanced to find Zyr in the open doorframe, shirtless with pajama bottoms barely clinging to his hips as if eager to be removed. My body responded. Damn. I turned away.

"What are you doing up?" His husky voice was heavy with sleep, and he absently sifted his fingers through my hair. At his touch, full-body chills wracked me. I moaned his name in admonishment. "Don't," he huffed.

"Don't what?"

"Say my name like that."

"Pfft! I'm sure your partner will keep you on the straight and narrow," I snorted.

Aurie's tantalizing bare thigh flashed beneath the kimono as she moved closer to the porch to join the conversation. Zyr stared. "What," she challenged. "Am I under-dressed? Some of us didn't pack enough for a three-week stay."

He blew out an exasperated breath. "Alright, what's up with the Tegan-hate?"

"Who's hating?" we asked at the same time.

"Look, she's on our side. I need you guys to keep our team together because I can't do it on my own. I haven't had the best self-discipline lately."

"Aww, sorry to hear that," Aurie said without a hint of remorse.

"Is this a game to you? Do you want to see me lose control?" he snapped.

Desire cut through me. I couldn't tell if it was his or hers or mine or some combination of all three. I shifted to ease the ache of lust, and I noticed Zyr's burning eyes. In the dark, the yellow fire was brighter than ever. Yes, I wanted him to lose control, but this wasn't a game. Nor was it business as usual. Aurie had asked how I got over the feelings. Truth was, I had never felt this way, and I was beginning to think there was no getting over it.

"Go back to bed, Detective," I muttered.

He threw up his hands. "You know what. Come with me."

"What about Tegan?" I asked drolly.

"What about the truck?"

"What about it?" I rebuffed.

"Grab some blankets and meet me there."

Aurie scrunched her nose as if contemplating the offer. "Much as I'd love to weakly succumb like some dick-whipped heroine, no. Tonight, I realized I don't even know if you're single, and I really like to know more about the people I sleep with. You and Mys have this unmistakable connection, but where do I fit? Maybe I need more than a climax."

"Since we're keeping it one hundred, what more do we have to offer each other, Aurie?" Zyr stepped off the porch and met her unwavering stare.

"You were the one who said there are things that outlast the grave," she retorted.

"Yeah, like 'heartache.'"

She hugged herself, shaking her head. "Or like 'respect.' Just because I'm dead doesn't mean I want to be treated like your cheap thrill, Detective."

"You're not. I respect you enough not to make promises I can't keep when I'm falling apart bit by bit."

"Falling apart? So am I!" Aurie wailed.

"Then you of all people," he said through gritted teeth, "understand why I can't give you more."

"No, I don't, Zyr. Because I'm offering you my broken pieces, too," she said. My jaw dropped at her impromptu admission. When I glanced at the detective, however, I felt a heaviness in the pit of my stomach.

"I never asked for that from either of you," he replied.