Page 26 of Dark Embrace

When he was done, he wiped the blood from his lips and went to kneel by Layla’s side. Sheflinchedaway.

She cried out in protest as he lifted her in his arms, she was light but his heart was heavy. He had miscalculated and he suspected that this foray would not end as he had planned. He carried her to her home, to her bed, and when he set her down he asked, “Do you wanttolive?”

“Not like that. Not like you.” She scrabbled back, as far from him as she could. But he expected that. She had held herself stiff in his arms, trembling and sobbing the entirewayhome.

“Where is the woman who said, ‘I want to live, whatever the cost, I wanttolive’?”

She came up on her knees, her hair tumbling over her shoulders, her skin white, traced with blue veins, her eyes burning and wild. “She would rather die than be like you. You are amonster.”

“I am.” A foolish monster who had dared hope he could create a monstrouscompanion.

She looked at him now with only terror and revulsion. Gone was the clever wit andlaughter.

Gone washishope.

“Getout.Go!”

He went withoutlookingback.

She died not long after. He was not there for her passing or her burial. But he had paid a man to report back and so he knew that she had not been alone, for she had a brother who loved her as Kjell had loved his sisters so verylongago.

Killian was glad she had not beenalone.

11

Sarah staredat Killian where he stood under the street lamp. Had he followed her? Had he been the one stalking her—hunting her—in the dimalleys?

Her pursuer had been behind her, yet Killian had arrived here before her, an unlikely outcome if he was the man who had chased her—unless he had taken to the skies and flown like a bat. His breathing was slow and even while her lungs sucked in great gasps of air, her heart pounding a frantic rhythm thanks to her flight through the poorly litstreets.

“What are you doing here?” The question she had meant to speak in ringing tones came out shaky and weak. “What are you doing here?” she asked again, strident now, her breath blowing white beforeherlips.

His brows drew down as he straightened, lifting his shoulder fromthepost.

“Do not come closer,” she said, holding her cudgelbeforeher.

He stilled. His head was uncovered. Her gaze dropped to his hands, searching for a low-crowned hat like the one her pursuer had worn. But his hands were empty, his skin bare. He did not wear gloves, though the wind was bitter. Her pursuer had worn gloves; she was certainofit.

“Do you have a hat? Gloves?” shedemanded.

“Sarah,” he said, his brow furrowed in concern as he took a step toward her. Not Miss Lowell.Sarah.The way he said her name in his warm-chocolate voice made her hearttwitch.

She held up one hand, palm forward. Again, he stilled. “Do you?” sheasked.

“No. I have neither hat norgloves.”

She exhaled, forcing her shoulders down, unclenching her fists. She studied his face and her emotions danced from fear to elation. Because Killian was here, waiting for her, staring down at her with unwaveringintensity.

Then anger crashed in a wave, dampening her terror and panic and unreasoning joy. Anger at Killian, though she could not say why. Anger at the man who stalked her. Anger at herself, at her circumstance, at the way her heart lifted simply because Killianwashere.

She did not know herself in that instant. She was notthisgirl.

“What is it?” he asked, lifting one hand as though reaching for hers, then dropping it back to his side before he made contact. She yearned for that contact even as she drew back toavoidit.

“I was—” she glanced over her shoulder, almost expecting a second man to materialize behind her, one with black gloves and a black hat. When she saw no one there, she turned to face him once more “—followed. Someone followed me from King’s College. A man. Tall. Garbed in black. He wore a low crowned hat. He chased me through St.Giles.”

“Chased you?” Killian’s gaze flicked along the empty street and something in his expression gave her pause. She glanced back, but the street behind her wasempty.

“It was not the first time,” Sarah said. “He follows me all the time but this is the first he has come so close. He knew my name. He said my name. At least…I think it was my name.” She pressed her lips together, stilling the flow ofwords.