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I turn to him, my voice sharp. “Then why didn’t he stop? If he knew you were watching?”

“Because that’s the kind of guy who doesn’t care,” Eloise interjects, her tone unusually sober. “He’s not trying to win you over, Blake. He’s trying to win. Period.”

“I don’t get it,” I say, frustrated. “What does he want me to do? Date him? Apologize for not being interested?” I blanch, thinking about the note with the first gift of coffee and flowers. About forgiving me for the night before. My horror must be obvious when I meet Malachi’s eyes, because in a fraction of a second, he’s kneeling in front of me, broad hands gripping my thighs.

“Tell me.” His voice is deep with command.

“The night after we—” I gulp, refusing to look at either Kasar or Eloise, my face burning, “you know. That morning, there was coffee and flowers left on my doorstep, but there was a note.”

“What did it say?” Eloise asks, her voice cotton-covered steel of support. Malachi’s eyes are still locked in on mine, the grip of his hands never flagging.

“It said that the night before was forgiven. I thought you had written it. But it had to have been him.” Nausea wraps around my backbone as I realize Kit had to have been there. Somehow he had known what Malachi and I had done. Disgust crawls over my skin at the idea that a stranger could have watched what we had done in the living room.

Malachi growls, and I flinch. The deep rumble cuts off immediately, and my vampire takes a step back. I miss his grounding presence already and want to demand he come back.

“You’ve increased security?” Eloise’s tone is sharp, commanding. My head whips towards her. She looks different than when we first walked in. In the place of the teasing lady is a woman sitting as if made out of iron, her expression one of fierce command. For me, a stranger she just met.

Kasar nods, and I huff a laugh from my nose, getting her attention. “I demanded to know everything because of him apparently putting guards in front of my house and installing a security system all without talking to me about it first.”

The side of her mouth inches up in a wry, understanding smile. “You’re new to vampires, but let me tell you something: they’re not good at boundaries when it comes to their mates. Once one of the Nightshades’ inner circle have decided that you’re theirs to protect, there isn’t anything they won’t do. If Kit is still alive, that means Malachi is exercising extreme restraint. I never wanted to know how many people Ambrose and them killed the night we confronted Michael. But that’s a whole other story.”

I try to process her words, but all I can keep coming back to is the word mate. Is that what I am to Malachi? He said I was his but... mate? I know enough about supernatural creatures to know that it’s not a casual term. I try to meet Malachi’s eyes, but he moves back to his desk, looking everywhere except at me.

“Kasar, I want him picked up the moment a soldier finds him,” he orders, like Eloise hadn’t just dropped a bomb into my psyche. “He hasn’t been seen since the break-in, but I don’t think he’s giving up.”

“This is...” I trail off, unable to find the right word. Bigger? Worse? Realer than I was ready to admit?

Eloise leans forward, forearms braced on her knees. “This level of behavior? He’s not going to stop because you ignore him or finally tell him off. Guys like that—they don’t hear no. They hear a challenge.”

I glance between her and Malachi. “So what, I’m just supposed to wait around hoping he gets bored?”

“No,” Kasar says, tone flat. “You’re supposed to keep living your life while we make sure he never gets close enough to try again.”

Malachi cuts a look Kasar’s way, like he might’ve preferred that message come with a little more finesse. But I appreciate the honesty.

Still, it’s not enough to stop the rising frustration in my chest. I breathe out a shaky exhale. “Then what’s the plan? Because hiding forever isn’t it.”

“We’ve already increased surveillance at The Place,” Malachi says. “You’ll continue to be escorted to and from the penthouse. Any packages delivered go through screening. Your house will remain under guard until I say otherwise.”

“So you expect me to just smile and pretend like this isn’t happening? Like someone isn’t out there thinking I belong to him?”

“No.” His eyes flash gold again, and it’s not anger this time—it’s something darker. Protective. Possessive. “I expect you to keep living. Because you do belong—to yourself. Not to him. And I’ll tear the city apart before letting him do shit.”

I swallow hard, my pulse thrumming in my ears.

Eloise nods approvingly. “See? Alpha vampire mode. Called it.”

Kasar looks at her, deadpan. “You’re not helping.”

“I’m always helping,” she mutters, but leans back again.

Malachi reaches across the desk, and I’m moving my hand to him before I realize it. His grip is solid, grounding. “I won’t let him touch you. Either of you. You have my word.”

For now, that has to be enough.

ChapterTwenty-Seven

BLAKE