“Of course. He was a damn good fighter and an even better friend. Greene didn’t deserve to go out that way.” He sighed. “None of the ones who were killed before you got here did.”

A knot filled in my throat as I turned back to the window, unsure what I could say or if anything other than I’m sorry could be said. I went to chew on my fingernail but stopped when I remembered my hands were caked with zombie blood. “We were right there, no more than thirty minutes ago. That part of town was virtually empty, and we didn’t sense anything other than the demon. If we had, or had known what we were looking for...”

“But you didn’t know,” Dez finished. “You’re in the dark as much as we are, and I don’t mean that as a criticism. Whatever this thing is, it’s clever. It waited until you and Zayne had moved on.”

I nodded as unease unfolded in the pit of my stomach, spreading like a poisonous weed. The Harbinger wasn’t just clever. I had a sinking suspicion that, even though we had no idea who or what it was, it knew exactly who and what Zayne and I were.

My entire body jerked upright as I gulped in air, blood pounding so fast, I could hear the rushing in my ears as disorientation swept through me. It took me a moment to realize I’d fallen asleep after showering.

Dammit, I hadn’t meant to pass out. I wanted to be up when Zayne returned. I had no idea how long I’d been asleep or if Zayne—

“Trinity!” Peanut’s ghostly face was suddenly mere inches from mine, illuminated by the glow of the bedside lamp I’d left on.

“Jesus,” I sputtered, pressing my hand against my chest. “Why would you do that?”

“Trin—”

“Sometimes I think you’re trying to give me a heart attack.” I twisted away from Peanut, irritation buzzing through my veins like a nest of hornets as my eyes adjusted. I realized that the bedroom door I’d left open so that I could hear Zayne return was closed, meaning Zayne most likely had returned and closed it, because I seriously doubted Peanut would’ve done that. “Peanut, I’m being serious. The next time you do this—”

“Listen to me, Trin, there’s—”

“—I’m going to exorcise your ass right into the afterlife,” I snapped. “It’s not okay, Peanut. Not at all.”

“I wasn’t watching you sleep or trying to scare you!” Peanut flickered.

“Whatever,” I muttered and reached for my phone to check the time.

“Listen to me!” Peanut shouted so loudly that if he could be heard by other people, he would’ve woken up half the apartment building.

I’d never heard him yell before. Ever. I focused on him, really looked at him, and for a ghost, he looked freaked-out. “What?”