By Thomas' estimations—and a quick google when his estimations didn't fill anyone with much confidence—the sunset would be in just over an hour's time. Spencer watched from an armchair as Carson paced, his nostrils flaring and his hands clenched into fists at his side as he muttered to himself about overrunning the deadline. August was still giving instructions to Heather, who had agreed to stay in the house while the sale was put through. The deeds were already being transferred into her name, and August had promised her a healthy cut of the profits. They had been shut in upstairs for over an hour, and Carson wasn't the only one getting antsy to get moving.

Priya had been out and had backed the van up as close as it would come before Carson had helped her load two single mattresses into the back. Apparently there had been some agreement that driving for longer was a better idea than heading straight to an airport. Spencer hadn't asked why. He was sure he already knew. There would be too many questions if they showed up to airport security with him looking like death and Edeline with a bullet hole in her leg. Better to drive and at least let him heal enough. One injured person in a party was one thing, when half of them were walking wounded, it raised suspicions.

"Kaleb won't wait," Carson started up again. "We need to go."

"There's no full moon," Priya argued. "You really think he would attack now?"

Carson wheeled around to her.

"I'm surprised he's not here already," he said, waving a hand towards the door. "Barricading the exits and setting this whole house ablaze."

Rolling her eyes, Priya marched into the kitchen and away from Carson's bad mood.

Spencer could understand Carson's worry. Personally, he was worried about what would happen if they didn't leave before sunset. As much as the werewolf alpha wanted Carson dead, it was nothing to how he would feel about Spencer. He had killed the man's son, after all. Carson had been involved, but it hadn't been him to do the deed.

Leaning onto the arm of the chair, Spencer looked down at Edeline, sat cross-legged on the floor beside him. Her eyes were closed, her face slightly upturned towards the ceiling. She looked like she were meditating.

"Trying to hear the thoughts of God?" he asked.

Edeline smiled.

"I hear some may call him God on occasion," she muttered, cracking one eye open and peering at him.

Spencer flicked a finger against her shoulder.

"I may bar you from my thoughts," he said before looking up at the ceiling himself. "Are they almost done?"

"Almost."

"Okay." Spencer edged himself towards the front of the chair. "Then let's get this part over with."

Edeline's calm was gone. Her eyes snapped fully open and she twisted to look at him.

"Are you sure you don't want William to carry you?"

"I'm feeling better," Spencer said.

"Liar."

He glared at her.

"Barred!" he threatened. His glare softened and turned pleading. "Don't tell August."

Crossing her finger in an X over her heart, Edeline jumped to her feet and took hold of his hands, helping pull him up from his seat. Without being asked, Thomas appeared from nowhere and wrapped an arm around Spencer's waist, holding him.

"Don't, Tom," Spencer said. "No point in you burning too."

"I can at least help you to the door," he said.

"Prop me up?"

"Exactly."

Once beside the door, Edeline opened it a crack and ensured that the path was clear. Thomas was replaced by Carson, and a thick blanket thrown over their heads. With his arms wrapped around Edeline and Carson's shoulders, Spencer nodded.

Thomas hid behind the door and pulled it wide. Light flooded into the hallway, and Spencer already felt the sting of a burn, even through his clothes. He hissed, gritting his teeth to brace himself against the pain. Edeline picked up on it immediately and urged Carson into moving quickly.

They hobbled out onto the doorstep, each step bringing a searing pain through his body. Despite his assurances, Spencer was beginning to seriously regret his choice to move without August or William's help. Getting down the stairs was nothing to trying to pull himself up into the van, letting out a cry as sitting down on the edge of the van moved his trouser leg and his skin was bared to the sun. No amount of shuffling would make it go any faster, and after a moment, Carson jumped up into the van, grabbed Spencer under the arms, and hauled him unceremoniously into the shadows.

"You could take the morphine," Edeline offered.

Spencer shook his head and rolled onto his side, cocooning himself in the blankets, ready for the drive. He covered his nose and mouth with the blanket, but it didn't do much to block out the stench of bleach.

It seemed they had really planned for a long drive. A cool box was filled with blood bags, and a couple of linen bags were bursting with snacks and drinks. Pillows and blankets had been thrown in against the wall shared with the van cab. There was even a small pile of books and a tablet in a plastic bag in the corner. On closer inspection, Spencer saw that they were medical books, and he found he wasn't surprised that Thomas cared more for nourishing his brain than his body.

William was the next to join him in the back of the van some ten minutes later. He looked more cheerful than Spencer had seen him in a long time, and when Spencer followed his gaze, it was to find Priya standing in the doorway, leaning on the frame as she checked her phone.

Standing just within the shadows, Thomas hugged Heather tightly and muttered something to her. She smiled, pinched his cheek in a manner reminiscent of an overly cheerful aunt, and pushed him towards the door. Thomas adjusted the blanket over his head, took one last glance around the hallway, and made his mad dash to the van. He moved quickly, and Spencer noticed that, in his absence, Thomas had really taken to his vampire life.

August took longer, holding a hushed and hurried conversation with Heather. He passed her a wallet, which she pocketed, and kissed her forehead. There was no fussing over August on her part, but Spencer watched from his bundle of blankets as she said goodbye to him in what could only be considered respect.

Finally joining them in the back of the van, August took a seat beside Spencer's head and shoulders. With a gentle strength, he moved Spencer's pillow onto his lap before propping a pillow behind his own back.

Priya, Carson, and Edeline had agreed that they would travel in the front for the first half of the night, and then they would swap over. After sunrise, it would be their responsibility to drive until sunset, and the vampires would take the night shift.

Heather waved at them from inside the house, and Spencer wrangled his arm out from within the blankets to return it. She blew a kiss, and was gone as Priya closed the front door.

The bags with their belongings were loaded with careless efficiency at the back end of the van, a gap just wide enough for them to get out when they stopped. Carson disappeared around the side of the van, and within moments, the engine rumbled into life.

"Are you sure you'll be okay back here?" Priya asked.

"We'll be fine," William assured her. "Go."

She nodded and held up her phone, grinning at him.

Edeline was the last by the back doors. She looked in and sighed, smiling like she'd agreed with herself on something.

"A good family to have," she said. "I'm glad I chose it."

Without another word, she closed the two back doors, plunging them into darkness.

None of them minded it. They were used to the dark.

In fact, Spencer was sure that, if asked, they would say they preferred it.

AUTHOR'S NOTE

Y'all ready for this? *cue 90's sports movie music here* You all know the song I'm talking about.

Are you ready to say goodbye? 

Chele