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“I’m different around her,” I say. I want to say more, but the right words elude me.

“Do you get butterflies in your stomach?” he asks.

“You know how I hate physical touch, right?” I say. “For some reason, I don’t mind touching her.”

His eyebrows fly up. “You guys hooked up?”

“Something like that,” I say, thinking back to the night she came to my bedroom. I could have had her then. I almost did.

“Unbelievable,” Alaric says, reaching for the bowl of butter pecan ice cream. He stabs a spoon into it. “I can’t even get a hug, but you don’t mind showing affection to someone you met a month ago.”

I bite the inside of my cheek. He’s reacting exactly how I knew he would.

“She’s still so much of an enigma to me,” I say. “I don’t know what she wants from me.”

“Not everyone has an evil agenda, Klaus,” he says.

“Why on earth would she be going through Sera’s diary?” I ask.

“Maybe she feels the same way about you,” he says. “She might think you’re an enigma too.”

The very thought of that makes me feel all warm inside. I hate this.

“You’re eating my ice cream,” I comment.

“You were letting it melt.” He shrugs, finishing the last bite.

I check my watch. The private jet is already waiting for us.

“We should leave,” I say.

“Sure.” Alaric stands. “Aren’t you going to say goodbye to the kids?”

“I don’t want to disturb them,” I say.

Alaric purses his lips, biting back his words.

He doesn’t get it.

The kids have always loved him. They enjoy his company. I can’t help but feel a twinge of jealousy every time I see their faces light up in his presence. I can’t help but compare it to how they always walk on eggshells around me.

When I open my bedroom door, I see Emma walking down the corridor. Her steps slow as we look at each other.

“I’ll wait outside,” Alaric says.

I nod, but I don’t take my eyes off the girl.

Witchery. That could be the only explanation for the way I feel about this girl. It’s the only reason I obsess over every breath she takes. It’s why I want to hear every thought that passes through her pretty little head.

“You’re heading out for the evening?” she asks, taking in my black suit jacket.

I don’t know if I imagine it, but her eyes seem to flare as she awaits my reply.

“I’ll be gone for a few days,” I say.

“Days?” She raises her eyebrows. “Where are you going?”

“That’s none of your concern,” I say.