Page 44 of Bitten Vampire

Valdarr leans closer—he towers over Jay by at least eight inches—and murmurs something too soft for me to catch.

Whatever he says drains the colour from Jay’s face.

“Come,” Valdarr says, turning to me with effortless grace. “Let me walk you to your car.”

He takes my elbow and guides me back to the path. We walk in silence.

I glance up at him. “What did you say to him?”

“Nothing important.”

I falter. “I—I don’t understand how you are here, in daylight, actually standing in the sun.”

He wears a ring I have not seen before, a large ruby that hums with magic. Perhaps it is what keeps him safe from the sun.

“I’m a gifted old vampire,” he replies, as though that explains everything. He pauses, raises a gentle hand, and brushes his thumb along my neck, just beneath my jaw, directly over my pulse. His brows knit. “What I don’t understand… is why you are awake andbreathing. I can hear your heartbeat.”

I swallow.Shit, I forgot about that.I shouldoffer him some truth. “I don’t know why I was turned, or how. I’m a vampire at night and… this during the day.” I shrug, leaving certain details unspoken. “I have no explanation.”

“I will help you discover what happened to you if you will do me a small favour. Keep your daytime humanity secret. Don’t trust anyone; no one is safe.”

I nod, ease out of his touch and resume walking. We remain quiet.

At the car he lifts the keys from my hand and opens the driver’s door.

I hesitate. “You are not going to… take me?”

“No. I won’t take you anywhere you do not wish to go.”

My throat tightens. “Why did you come?”

“I’m your clan. I’m yours. And if we are honest, I’ve known where you were since the moment you ran from the safe house.”

Oh.“You have people watching me?”

“Yes. You’re a member of my clan living in the Human Sector, and we have protocols to follow.”

My heart sinks. Oh no—Baylor, House…

“Don’t panic,” he says, offering a reassuring smile. “I’m not coming after you, your dog or your magical house. I’m glad you are somewhere safe.”

He glances down, then back at me. “I learnt about the wedding from a background check. I came to ensure you were all right. I hadn’t intended to interfere, but I couldn’t allow his hands on you. You looked frightened.”

“Thank you. I appreciate your help.”

“Always.”

He leans in again to hand back the keys, and when hekisses my cheek this time, his lips brush perilously close to the corner of my mouth.

“Happy birthday. I will be seeing you soon, sunshine.”

Dazed, I slide into the car. He closes the door with quiet finality.

He let me go.

Helet me go, and he kept me safe.

I’m not wild about the idea of being followed by vampire servants… but right now? I can’twaitto tell House what happened at the wedding.