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Gene sucked in a breath as Trevor swore.

“But I healed her,” he protested, suddenly livid at the unfairness of life. Why shouldn’t Lily have a full life like anyone else?

“Beastie didn’t mean your plan didn’t work, Blane. Only that the Fates haven’t gotten wind of Lily’s recovery and mapped out a future for her yet,” Damian said in a kind voice. Nicer than he needed to be since Trev was practically yelling at his daughter. Thankfully, the Aether read intent, and his wasn’t to harm Sabrina. Otherwise, he’d be dead already.

“Gotcha.” Still out of sorts, Trev ran his hands through his hair. The desire to escape was building inside him, and he needed to get away. “Okay, since all of you are here to watch over Soleil, I think I’ll go take that nap, after all.”

Damian’s tone was highly amused as he said, “Pleasant dreams.”

CHAPTER13

With all the mayhem, both Trevor and Soleil felt we should honor tradition and skip Chapter 13. One can never be too careful, and they’re going to need all the luck they possess to discover the threat to Soleil’s life.

MightI suggest a bathroom break and a restocking of snack supplies for the remainder of this story?

CHAPTER14

As soon as Trevor was alone, he peeled off his blood-soaked clothes and jumped in the shower. Under the scalding deluge, he could think clearly again. One thing was for sure, someone had it out for Soleil. The first incident could be brushed off as an accident or a drunk, if one were inclined to lean that way. But the second attack would’ve riddled her body with bullets had she been an ordinary mortal.

He had a mystery to solve, then he could get the fuck out of Soleil’s life and on with his own. It was necessary for his emotional stability to get it done quickly. Every minute spent in her company endeared her to him a little more, and he couldn’t risk his heart. Couldn’t risk hers, either.

“Trevor?”

Her voice echoed in his head, and he wanted to weep at how uncertain she sounded.

“Yeah, Dalli. I’m here. Sorry for the thought dump. I assumed you were sleeping and didn’t block you.”

“You’re not responsible for me. Please don’t stick around out of any heroic need to save the day.”

“Why the hell would you say something like that?”His frustration with the situation ratcheted up five notches.

“Because it’s true.”

Turning, he saw her on the other side of the glass enclosure. With her arms folded across her stomach, she appeared unsure of her welcome. Trevor didn’t try to hide his nakedness. She’d seen it all in their hot-as-fuck fantasy, and she had to know that if she entered the bathroom while the water was running, she was likely to stumble upon him in the buff.

“You shouldn’t be here, Dalli.” He grew hard under her steady stare, and she wasn’t even looking down, merely meeting his searching gaze.

“Every minute endears you to me a little more, too,” she confessed.

He closed his eyes and hung his head. How the hell did he fight against something they both wanted? Even if it was for her own good in the long run, he was only human. He didn’t possess a superman strength, allowing him to hold her at a distance.

Trevor jerked when her arms encircled him, but he didn’t lift his lids or pull away. The press of her naked breasts on his chest was pure heaven, and he could stay in that moment forever.

“This will lead nowhere,” he warned. “Your heart is too precious to risk on someone like me.”

“Duly noted.”

He met her sweet chocolaty eyes and couldn’t look away. Her expression shifted the instant she realized he was putty in her hands, and the quiet confidence she exuded defeated his stubborn need to protect her from his eventual departure from her life.

“Why can’t you be the strong one?” he whispered achingly. “I could accept no.”

Soleil tenderly trailed her fingers along his jaw, maintaining eye contact. “A fulfilling life is about the sum total of our experiences, Trevor. I want that. There’s a madman after me—and yes, I agree with your reasoning on that front—and I could die tomorrow.”

His denial rose up swift and fierce, but she held up a hand to forestall him.

“It’s the truth, and we both know it. Why not live for today? Why worry about a future we have no control over? Ten years. One year. One day. What matters is right now.” She smiled, and he was lost. “I want whatever time we can have, and I promise I won’t regret a single second of it when you walk away.”

“That’s the problem, Dalli. I’m not sure I can anymore.” His voice was severe, but it didn’t deter her. He didn’t want it to. Whatever she had planned when she stepped into his bathroom, he hoped she’d see it through to the end.