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“Just curious.”

“Twenty-two.”

“So not much older than me.” And everyone knew boys matured slower than girls. “That explains why you’re so emotionally stunted.”

His eyes narrowed. “It does?”

“Well, vampires don’t age after they’re changed. I mean you could still pass for twenty-two. Maybe you don’t mature emotionally either.”

“I’m emotionally mature.”

She snorted, but didn’t answer, just let a small smile play across her lips.

His mouth tightened, then he shook his head. He sat down opposite her, stretched out his long legs. “So tell me about this spell you cast. How long will it last?”

“I have no clue. I told you—I’m not supposed to do magic yet. I’m not supposed to even know spells. It just sort of…popped out.”

“Which means you have no idea how to reverse it?”

“None whatsoever.” She sighed. “On the bright side, you don’t have to worry about me trailing around after you like a love-sick witch.”

A smile flickered across his face. She had an idea he liked the thought. “Why is that?”

“Because there’s a good chance that my life is forfeit.”

“What?”

“The Earth magic always has a price. Something this big…usually a life. Maybe sometime, I’ll tell you the story of how my sister Gina became a vampire.”

He jumped to his feet. “Who will kill you? How?”

“I’ll probably be expected to sacrifice myself. Restore the balance.” Maybe that’s what she needed to do now. Maybe that was what would bring the world and Christmas back into being. But she didn’t want to die. And she certainly didn’t want to kill herself. Though she would find the strength if she had to because—as Regan always said—they had great power and great responsibilities.

“Don’t you dare kill yourself.”

Aw, he sounded as though he cared. Maybe now was not the time to suggest that Lachlan’s life might also be forfeit. She put down the rest of her sandwich, no longer hungry. Had she dragged Lachlan down with her? Saved his life, only to have him die as a consequence. Except he was already dead. Her head hurt.

He paced the room, casting her an occasional dark glance. He clearly wasn’t happy. But then he was supposed to protect her—Darius would no doubt be pissed. He’d failed.

Finally, he came to a halt in front of her, hands thrust in his pockets. He was so big. His shoulders broad, the muscles of his arms bulging. But with not an ounce of fat, his belly lean, almost concave. Her gaze skimmed over the bulge in his pants, down to is bare feet, long narrow toes. Finally, she traced the route back up and found him watching her out of half-closed eyes.

“I’m hungry,” he growled.

“Oh.” She shifted on the chair as heat spread through her, settling low down in her body. She pressed her thighs together. “There’s peanut butter in the kitchen. It’s good.”

He gave a slow smile, then leaned down. Not touching her anywhere, just resting his hands on the arms of her chair, caging her in. “I don’t want peanut butter.”

She could feel his cool breath shivering against her hot skin. Her whole body was on fire. “Hey, if this is because you think I’m going to die and so won’t get the chance to be clingy. It’s not a done deal. One more orgasm, and I could getveryclingy. I’m needy remember.”

“Right now, so am I.”

He lowered his head, kissed the side of her throat, and she sensed it down to her toes. A warm wetness flooded between her thighs, and he breathed in deeply as though he could smell her desire. Sonotcool. His tongue licked her skin, a slow stroke across her pulse point, and she was suddenly conscious of her blood thumping in her veins. The thud of her heart.

This could never go anywhere, but did that matter?

The world had stopped, her life was likely forfeit. It wouldn’t matter if he walked away, it might even make things easier. Her head tipped back to give him access and he gave a low chuckle.

He scooped her up in his arms. But as they tightened around her, she felt that faint flickering, like something tapping at her brain. Her vision dimmed, and the present faded to nothing…