"Snooping through my private things, exactly how I remembered you." He took the Bible from me and tossed it back on the shelf.

"I never pegged you for the religious type." I started to sit on the bed and thought better of it, considering who'd just left.

Cyrus gave me a withering glance, as if to say, Oh, grow up. He folded the mattress and replaced the cushions while I waited. "Maybe you've misjudged me. Again."

"I prefer to think you constantly surprise me." I shrugged. "I didn't mean anything by it."

He sighed heavily as he tossed two throw pillows onto the couch. "She wanted me to read it."

Of course. Cyrus's lost love, the other human hostage of the Fangs. "Oh."

"Don't we feel the tiniest bit insensitive now?" He flashed me a smile that was clearly meant to cover his lingering touchiness about the girl he'd called Mouse.

Changing the subject held the promise of alleviating this awkwardness. And I handled Cyrus a lot better when I was being a hard-ass and not a friend. "What was Dahlia here for?"

"Sex." He dropped onto the couch and leaned against the cushions. "So I hope you weren't looking for some. My mortal body is exhausted. And sore."

"I don't need to hear it." I held up my hand. "I know she had a major hard-on for you before, but she was trying to become a vampire. Why would she want you now? You're just a grocery store clerk."

"Yes, make a joke, Carrie. You were always so funny." His inflection implied the word was used meant ironically.

I held up my hands in mock defenselessness. "Hey, you were the one who was supposed to be getting information. And I'm sorry, you can't possibly be buying it with sex. She's a vampire now. She could have anyone she wants."

"I was getting information. What little she'll give me," he grumbled. "I used to be one of the most powerful of our kind, now I'm just…" He let the statement die with a groan of disgust.

I sat down next to him. "Well, what do you know?"

"Apparently, Jacob is still working toward his demented goal of godhood. And he has an ally." Cyrus raised an eyebrow. "Anything you haven't heard before?"

I shook my head. "He's working with the Oracle. That we knew. She's been speaking through Bella."

How much should I tell Cyrus about the situation? Too much of his former nature had returned. Was it possible he played both sides?

As if he could read my mind, he leaned forward and put a hand on my knee. I jumped at the contact, and expected to see a smug grin spread across his face, but he remained deadly serious. "Carrie, do you think I want my father to succeed in this?"