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“A knife?”

Turning it this way and that she observes the silver metal crafted to perfection.

“Whoa. That’s freaking sharp.” Celine marvels at it.

Delicately poking the edge, I teeter between wanting to rip her finger away from it, so she doesn’t come to harm and hoping she nicks herself, so I’ll be able to smell her delicious blood.

“What’s this for?” she asks.

I tug her closer to me by her belt loops and she puts the knife away before resting her hands against my pecs. She fiddles with the silver chain resting on my chest, and I press my forehead to hers.

“With everything going on lately I want you to be as prepared as possible. I know you’re perfectly capable of taking care of yourself, but I can’t see you hurt.” The subtle caramel highlights in her hair shine in the remaining sunlight streaking through the window. “It would destroy me.”

“I’ll be careful. Thank you for the gift.” Celine plants a small kiss on my cheek. “It’s a beautiful knife.”

“The hilt was hand carved,” I explain. “I chose the butterflies because you’re beautiful, but deadly, and I thought your knife should match.”

She laughs softly. “Thank you, again.”

We stand there like that for a while as I bask in the contact and simply breathe her in.

She probably doesn’t realize it, but there will never come a time when I tire of her. She is the single, most important thing, in my immortal life.

CHAPTER 33

CELINE

“You want to go back to the club? The one where a woman was supposedly kidnapped and killed?” Ava waves her ceramic mug at me with a deadpan stare. “You who doesn’t even enjoy clubbing?”

It’s the weekend and I invited her over to the apartment to hang out. Things with Spencer haven’t been going well since she’s not positive what she wants to do. Spencer hasn’t committed to the new job yet either, but I can tell they’ve both made up their minds and just don’t want to say it.

“I’m not going there to have a good time.” I wrap my fingers around my own mug. “I’m going to check things out.” I give a small shrug. “I’m still fighting a nagging feeling something’s up with that place.” I implore her with my eyes to indulge me. I need her help. The more eyes the better.

“If you’re doing that, I’m coming this time!” Zavier shouts from the bedroom.

I roll my eyes, and Ava hides a chuckle behind her sip of coffee. He refused to leave the apartment when Ava came over, but he compromised by staying in his bedroom with the door shut for “privacy.” Load of shit if you ask me now that I knowvampires have strong hearing, but Ava’s none the wiser so that’s what really matters.

“If you’re coming”—I call back, raising my voice even though it’s unnecessary— “then that means you need to help me. That means eyes open and ears listening.”

“Not a problem, dear,” he sing-songs through the door.

“I’m always down for some sleuthing.” Her frame droops a little and her rose gold hair shields her face from my view. “It’s over with Spencer and me.”

I shake my head, jolted by the sudden change in topic. “What?” I blurt, reaching over to place my hand over hers.

Ava sniffles and smiles through watery eyes. “It was a mutual decision. Heartbreaking but mature all the same. I’ll always love him, and I wish nothing but the best for him but we both wanted different things and couldn’t get past it. I didn’t want to hold him back, but I also didn’t want to leave my life behind, you know?”

“Aw, I’m so sorry, Aves.”

Her sweet perfume hits me when I pull her in for a hug. I’m not a huge hugger but she is, and I know she needs it right now.

“I should’ve put a shot of vodka in our coffee,” I throw out, and I’m rewarded with a laugh. “Not too late for it.” Inching toward the refrigerator I pull out the bottle and she nods.

I startle when Ava suddenly shouts. “Zavier get your fine ass out here!”

He appears before us in a tumble of crimson hair. Rocking a black hoodie and somehow making it sexy as hell he holds Midnight stretched across his shoulders. The cat looks perfectly content, yet when he makes eye contact with me, he hisses. Still no progress there for me.

“You rang for me and my emotional support pussy?” He strokes Midnight’s tail like an evil villain waiting expectantly in their chair.