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“My best friend is already dead,” I retorted. “Maggie too. I couldn’t protect either of them.”

“There wasnae anything you could do.”Almost absently, Nicholas stroked a soft circle on the back of my hand with his fingertip. I calmed instantly at the tiniest contact, but pulled my hand away.You can’t.

“At least we can learn something from this.” I kept my voice carefully level, avoiding Nicholas's questioning look. “If whoever’s behind it is still making prank phone calls, they don’t know how much we know. Yet.”

I watched Nicholas, his brow furrowed. This close, I could see he had the lightest dusting of freckles across the bridge of his nose. It seemed at odds with his nature, since hecould never see the sunlight.

“Aye, but how long will we be ahead o’ them?” he muttered. I didn’t have an answer.

“We need to think carefully.” Adam handed me a chunky earthenware mug. “This woman must be someone we know – she had too many details to be a mere stranger.”

He was right. There was no way a stranger would target two old, powerful vampires without doing their research – and as Tom had proven, it was pretty hard to dig stuff up on people like Isabel and Nicholas. Which meant she’d gotten her information from somewhere closer to home.

“Tom and I can keep looking, now we’ve got a bit more to go on,” I offered, pleased I could do something proactive for a change. I took a sip of my coffee. It was delicious. Adam had been holding out on me.

“Tom has quite enough to contend with,” Isabel interjected. “His recovery must take precedence. I shall return with you to check on him.”

“What happened to Tom?” Adam asked.

Isabel explained briefly, but my mind was on Nicholas, who seemed distant and subdued. I was sure there was something he wasn’t saying, though I shouldn’t be able to read his face so easily – I barely knew him.

“Shall we go, Erin?” Isabel asked, breaking into my musings from the doorway.

I didn’t want to. This was the first time I’d had them all in a room together, and some honest discussion had actually happened. There had to be more to talk about, surely? But I’dpromised Tom I’d update him, and Isabel was right about leaving him alone. I needed to be more honest.

Grudgingly, I said goodbye to Adam – who assured me he’d do what he could – and followed Isabel outside. After a minute, Nicholas came after us, and the three of us stood awkwardly together in the doorway.

“Izzie, could you—?” he asked, his face uncertain.

Isabel took in the two of us, shrugged, and went back in, closing the door behind her.

I crossed my arms against the chilly night air, staring at my boots. The stars were hidden behind thick clouds, leaving us in the deep shadow of the manor.

Now we were alone, I wasn’t sure what to say. Before I knew it, he was inches away, the fine white linen of his shirt rippling as he stepped closer, rubbing my arms through my coat to get some warmth into them. The cold didn’t seem to affect him at all, but I was instantly on fire at the proximity.

“I’m sorry ye have to deal wi’ all this,” he murmured, his hands stilling on my arms. A ghost of his usual playful smile crossed his face. “It’s no the way I wanted us to meet.”

I pursed my lips, not quite understanding, but he continued, his voice low and intimate.

“Tis hard for me to imagine what must be going through your mind.” His fingers traced down my sleeves. “It’s been a long time since anyone dared threaten the people I care about. The feelin’ is… unpleasant.”

“It’s not often I’m this far out of my depth, either. We have that much in common,” I smiled. “But I still have hope—”

“Aye, I dinnae doubt it. I can see a fierce determination in ye, on that count.” The corner of his mouth turned up in a grin as he looked down at me.

“What I’m trying to say is…” He tilted his head, his golden-flecked emerald eyes dancing as they held mine. “You’re drivin’ me mad, love. Each time you’re near, my control slips a wee bit more,” he whispered. “I find myself carin’ less and less about holdin’ back, and I—

“I cannae lose you.” The playful expression faded into something darker, untamed, as he towered over me, the broad span of his shoulders blocking out the night behind him. His voice dropped to a rough growl that sent heat coursing through me. “Almost four hundred years I’ve dreamed o’ you, and now…” He paused, gripping my arms so tightly I couldn’t help but look at him, my pulse racing beneath his fingers. “I winnae let you come to harm.”

The force behind his words sent electricity down my spine, his conviction awakening something unknown. I wanted to protest that I could protect myself, but it wasn’t about protection anymore – or at least, not entirely. His honesty stirred at the darkness inside of me I tried so hard to push down, and I knew, then, that it was powerful enough to match his own… But I couldn’t voice it. I knew I shouldn’t, that whatever this was between us… wasn’t allowed. No matter how it might feel.

“I know,” I said finally. My breath made soft clouds in the air between us, though his made none, reminding me once again that he wasn’t human. “I just don’t understand why.”

He didn’t take his eyes from me, and I waited for an answer.

“I’m no so sure myself. All I know is… you’reit, for me.” He traced the curve of my cheek with his thumb, cupping my face in his palm, and my breath caught in my throat.“My soul’s been a-waitin’ for you since before I kent what immortality even meant.” His voice grew tight. “And now you’re here, testing every ounce o’ control I’ve managed to scrape back o’er the years.”

“What do you mean, waiting?”