Page 53 of A Clash of Moonlight

“I don’t want my own pack!” She pivoted away again. “I wanted a real place in my father’s.”

He did not miss the past tense in her last sentence.

“Then you will have a place in mine. My vampires would be your clan. Your family.”

She shook her head. “It won’t work.”

“A coven-backed contract has protected The Rain’s void of magic for centuries. It protects Sarah and Derrick and Kennedy. It would protect us.” His voice remained calm, monotone almost, but he could feel her slipping away. Had he misjudged how much she wanted him? That was something he so very rarely did. Perhaps it was another indication he had lost his mind.

Finally, she stopped pacing. Stared at him. “Arcuro wouldn’t allow it.”

That faint spark of hope returned. He dared not breathe for fear of extinguishing it. She did not want to be responsible for his death. He understood that even as he was willing to trade his life for more time with her. “Arcuro has weaknesses.”

Her brow furrowed. “What does that mean?”

It felt like a stake was pressing against his heart, but he followed the idea that had sparked in his mind. “Weaknesses can be exploited.”

“You want to kill him?”

“A scion does not kill his master.” He chose the words carefully. His instinct to protect his master was as strong as a wolf’s instinct to protect an alpha. That was why he had never tried to kill Arcuro before. But if he was not the one who ended the vampire, if he made a mistake and allowed Lehr or one of his wolves to slip past him? Maybe he and Nora could both live. Maybe they could both be free.

“Then what is this conversation, Jared?”

“This…” He stopped. Smiled.

Her eyes narrowed. “What?”

“That is the first time you have spoken my name.”

She opened her mouth to say something. Closed it. “Well, I didn’t scream it, so I’m still winning the bet.”

His smile widened. He held a hand out toward her. She eyed it as if he had dipped it in poison.

“I want to hear it again,” he said.

“I can’t sleep with you. I’m meeting—”

He eradicated the distance between them, pulling her into his arms. “I promised no sex. That does not mean you cannot have release.”

“Jared.”

His name again. His smile would not leave his face. What a strange impairment.

He kissed her throat. “Come with me.” He took her hand and guided her through his sanctuary.

19

“We were in the middle of a conversation.” For some incomprehensible reason, Nora allowed Jared to steer her through his home.

“I am listening,” he said.

“You were talking about Arcuro’s weaknesses.”

He made a noncommittal noise.

“Jared.”

“Nora.” That smile still curved his lips. She had a maddening desire to kiss it.