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“Forget him and what he said.” Dominic tilted my head up to meet my eyes. “You’re safe and I will keep you that way,” he promised.

I nodded in agreement, but couldn’t shake the nagging fear that the worst had yet to happen. A tug on my hand propelled me forward as we walked away from the bodies. Within minutes, we came across my backpack where I’d dropped it and I glanced back ruefully.

“I didn’t get very far,” I noted, fully aware if Dominic hadn’t come along they might have succeeded in dragging me away.

“You tried. That’s what’s important.”

“I couldn’t fight them off,” I said, the words bitter on my tongue as I remembered the futility of my efforts.

“You shouldn’t have had too,” Dominic rumbled, the anger in his voice directed at himself.

“We thought they’d given up. It was my mistake,” I shook my head, upset. “And all I did was put you at risk too.”

“No, it was bound to happen eventually,” he denied, letting out a sigh. “This has been building for years. You happened to be the catalyst. They would have never given up trying to take you.”

“Is it wrong that I’m glad they’re dead?”

He squeezed the hand he hadn’t let go of and shook his head. “No, they terrorized you. They deserved what they got.”

“I wish I could have fought them off, done more,” I admitted, hating how helpless I felt.

“You couldn’t have,” Dominic stated bluntly. I glanced up at him in curiosity, and he shrugged. “You couldn’t have fought them off. You couldn’t have beat them. Not even Justin. No more than you could fight me. We’re too strong. Stronger than normal,” he added carefully, respecting my choice to remain ignorant.

“So there’s nothing I could do if one of them comes after me again?”

“A gun,” he answered baldly. “And zero hesitation.” He stopped and faced me. “Promise me, if you are ever in that position you’ll take the shot. No hesitation. You’ll have one chance and one chance only. Use it.”

His golden eyes were serious as he stared down at me, and I wondered if I could do it.

If I could kill someone.

He answered for me as he read my expression.

“You can. You would have today if you’d had the chance. There’s strength in you, Jess. A power you haven’t tapped into. A will to survive no matter the consequences.”

“You can’t read my mind, can you?” I asked, only half joking. He smiled, but it didn’t ease the intensity of his gaze.

“No, but your face is expressive enough,” he replied as he started walking again. He kept his strides in check so I didn’t have to struggle to keep up. “What will you tell your father?”

“I don’t know,” I replied, not having thought that far ahead. I reached up to my face, knowing there would be a massive bruise. “It’ll be hard to hide a black eye.”

“You should be fine. Your face at least. I can’t promise the rest of your body won’t feel the effects of today.” Dominic smiled at my surprised glance. “Stay alert for symptoms of concussion. Our saliva is potent but not a miracle.”

“I’m grateful I won’t have to explain a black eye,” I answered quietly, my finger tracing the spot, still surprised by the lack of pain. The edge of my hairline was damp and my nose wrinkled in disgust. “I’ll need to wash my hair.”

“Small price to pay,” Dominic replied, his gaze reflecting his relief that there were no other causalities.

“So, I’m safe now?”

He didn’t answer immediately and I halted, our linked fingers drawing taut before he came to a stop too. Seeing his torn expression, I waited.

“For now,” he finally answered, his expression not encouraging. “What happened here – ” he broke off as his eyes closed, hiding the warm golden color from me. “There will be consequences.”

“What kind of consequences?” I asked, already mentally cursing myself for my curiosity.

“None you need to worry about,” he replied dismissively and I fought the urge to argue. He had a point. I’d expressed my desire to remain ignorant and even if that had started to change, I wasn’t sure I was ready for everything knowing would entail.

Moments later, we reached the edge of the woods and the motel came into sight.

“You’ll be fine from here,” Dominic informed me. “Stay home tonight.” His gaze searched the area around the motel as he released my hand, keeping a safe distance between us now that we were back in the real world. “I don’t want to see you hurt in an act of retaliation.”

“I don’t want you hurt either,” I blurted out, surprising us both with the emotion in my voice. “I mean, I don’t want you to get hurt on my behalf.”

“You have no say over that.” His grin was marginally less terrifying than normal, but only because I was so recently acquainted with what true terror felt like. “You’re an innocent in all of this. An unfortunate victim of circumstance.”