“You’re serious, aren’t you?”

“Yes.” Sierra poured cream over a bowl of raspberries. “My mother has a gift for helping people who have problems with their paranormal senses. She’s done a lot of research. There’s enormous power in music, and she knows how to use it. Call Las Vegas.”

North picked up his phone. “What the hell. It’s not like we’ve got anything to lose.”

He called a number. “Lucas, it’s North. Sierra Raines is with me. She is convinced her mother might be able to stabilize Dad’s aura and maybe buy us some time. Mrs. Raines lives on an island in the San Juans. You can arrange to have her flown to Vegas within a few hours, right?”

“Let me talk to him,” Sierra said.

He handed the phone to her.

“Hello,” Sierra said, wary now. It was one thing to hand out advice to the man who had spent the night in her bed. It was another to find herself dealing with the husband of the powerful director of the Foundation.

“You believe Mrs. Raines might be of some help in this situation?” Lucas said.

“Yes,” Sierra said. “At the very least it’s worth asking her to consult.”

“I agree,” Lucas said. “If you’ll give me her number—”

“I’ll call her and ask her to contact you,” Sierra said.

“Is that your way of telling me your mother won’t be thrilled with the idea of talking to someone from Foundation headquarters?”

“I’m sure you’re aware the Foundation has some serious work to do when it comes to public relations.”

“It’s been five years since we kicked out the Rancourts,” Lucas said. He sounded frustrated. “How long will it take the paranormal community to trust the new management?”

“I have no idea,” Sierra said. “Do you want me to ask my mother to call you or not?”

“Yes, please,” Lucas said. “I would be extremely grateful.”

“I’ll get in touch with her right now,” Sierra said. She realized she almost felt sorry for Lucas Pine. “Don’t worry, I’m sure she’ll speak to you.”

“Thanks,” Lucas said. “By the way, between you and me, how is North holding up?”

Sierra watched North wolf down one of the avocado toasts. “He’s doing fine now that he’s had a good night’s sleep.”

“A good night’s sleep?” Lucas sounded baffled.

“He was sleep deprived,” Sierra said. “If you’ll excuse me, I’ll call my mom and ask her to contact you.”

“Wait, what do you mean when you say North was sleep deprived? We didn’t know he wasn’t sleeping.”

“Goodbye, Mr. Pine.”

She ended the call and handed the phone back to North. She managed to eat a couple of bites of her own breakfast while she placed the call to her mother.

Allegra Raines answered after about three rings. “Sierra? Is something wrong? You don’t usually call at this hour.”

“I’m working a new contract, Mom. Don’t faint. It’s with the Foundation. Here’s the problem: My client’s father has suffered some kind of trauma. He’s awake but almost unresponsive. They’ve got him at Halcyon Manor. The doctors there in Las Vegas have concluded that his aura has been destabilized, but aside from that they are baffled. They haven’t seen anything quite like it. I suggested they ask you to consult.”