The first thing Isabelle noticed after Dylan disappeared was the silence.
Not the peaceful kind.
The stunned, hollow quiet left behind after something violent.
Apartment 307 looked like a storm had passed through it.
The piano lay tipped on its side.
Glass from the shattered lamp glittered across the floor like tiny knives. The easel had collapsed, her painting half-crushed beneath the wooden frame. Cold night air slipped through the cracked window, carrying the distant sounds of Brooklyn traffic.
And in the middle of it all—
Adrian Laurent was kneeling on the floor.
His ghostly form flickered like a broken signal.
“Adrian!” Isabelle dropped beside him.
Her hand instinctively reached for his shoulder.
It passed straight through.
The familiar cold sting shot through her palm.
“Damn it,” she whispered.
She hated that she couldn’t touch him.
Adrian exhaled slowly, bracing one translucent hand against the floor.
“I will recover.”
His voice sounded weaker than before.
The silver glow that had surrounded him earlier had faded to a faint shimmer.
Isabelle frowned.
“Recover?”
“You witnessed what happened.”
She gestured helplessly.
“Yeah, but you’re a ghost! Aren’t ghosts supposed to be… invincible or something?”
Adrian let out a quiet, humorless laugh.
“If only.”
He lifted his head, gray eyes shadowed with something darker than pain.
“Spiritual existence still obeys certain laws.”
Her chest tightened.
“And Dylan broke those laws?”
Adrian hesitated.
Then he nodded.
“Yes.”
Isabelle sat back on her heels.
The weight of the night settled heavily over her shoulders.
Three hours ago she’d been complaining about art block.
Now her boyfriend had turned out to be some supernatural predator hunting her ghost roommate.
Great.
Fantastic.
New York really was full of surprises.
She dragged a hand down her face.
“Okay.”
Her voice trembled slightly.
“Let’s start with the obvious question.”
Adrian looked at her.
“What exactly is Dylan?”
Adrian didn’t answer immediately.
His gaze drifted toward the dark window.
As if searching the night for something.
“Not human,” he said finally.
“Yeah, I figured that part out.”
Isabelle crossed her arms.
“So what is he?”
Adrian’s jaw tightened.
“A Devourer.”
The word sounded ancient.
Heavy.
Unnatural.
“Sounds friendly,” Isabelle muttered.
Adrian looked back at her.
“There are beings that feed on spiritual energy.”
“Like vampires?”
“Something like that.”
His voice turned colder.
“But older.”
Isabelle’s stomach twisted.
“And they eat ghosts?”
“Not only ghosts.”
Her pulse spiked.
“What do you mean not only—”
“Souls.”
The room seemed to shrink.
“They consume souls,” Adrian said quietly.
“Especially strong ones.”
The memory of Dylan’s eyes flashing with hunger flashed through Isabelle’s mind.
Her throat tightened.
“And yours is… strong.”
Adrian didn’t respond.
That was answer enough.
Isabelle stood up slowly, pacing through the wrecked living room.
“You knew he was dangerous.”
“Yes.”
“And you still let me date him for three years?!”
Her voice cracked.
Adrian’s expression darkened with guilt.
“I did not know he was connected to you until tonight.”
She stopped pacing.
“What?”
“I sensed his presence recently.”
Adrian’s eyes met hers.
“Devourers hide themselves well.”
A bitter laugh escaped her.
“Well he hid it pretty damn well from me.”
Three years.
Three years of memories replayed in her mind.
Dinner dates.
Movie nights.
Late-night talks about dreams and future plans.
All lies.
Her chest burned.
“I feel stupid.”
Adrian’s voice softened.
“You are not.”
“I trusted him.”
“That is not stupidity.”
His gaze held hers.
“It is humanity.”
The quiet sincerity in his voice made something inside her loosen slightly.
Isabelle exhaled slowly.
“Still sucks.”
“Yes.”
Silence settled between them again.
Then—
Adrian’s body flickered violently.
He sucked in a sharp breath.
Isabelle immediately stepped closer.
“What’s wrong?”
His hand clenched into a fist.
“His attack…”
The glow around him dimmed further.
“…damaged my anchor.”
Her heart skipped.
“Your what?”
“My connection to this world.”
Cold fear slid down her spine.
“What happens if that breaks?”
Adrian didn’t answer.
He didn’t need to.
The look in his eyes said everything.
“You disappear.”
The words came out as a whisper.
Adrian looked away.
“That is one possible outcome.”
Isabelle felt panic bloom in her chest.
“No.”
Her voice rose.
“No, absolutely not.”
He blinked at her.
“You just showed up in my life twenty-four hours ago. You don’t get to vanish already.”
Despite everything—
The corner of Adrian’s mouth twitched.
“You are surprisingly stubborn.”
“Occupational hazard.”
She pointed at the mess around them.
“Also you owe me a new piano.”
That actually made him laugh.
Soft.