Page 54 of Dark Embrace

He made a soft sound. “I understand. But I will not lie to you or pretend my kind is other than what we are.Predators.”

Sarah nodded. “I know.” She paused. “The public manner of the killings…do they concern you because they could reveal the existence ofvampires?”

“Even small children suspect that monsters exist. But suspicion is far different than certainty,” Killian said. “I cannot leave him free to dart about and kill indiscriminately, leavingproofthat monsters exist. Therein lies a path to horror, for vampires and humans alike. There are not so many of my kind. I have gone for centuries without encountering another. But stir the terror that lurks inside the human heart and they will begin to see monsters where none exist. They will turn on their neighbors, accuse the innocent, breed fear and mistrust and kill each other. That I cannotallow.”

“So you willfindhim.”

“Had he chosen to remove the bodies, or hide the cause of their deaths, that would be a differentmatter.”

“Will you kill him?” Something about that thought disturbed her, though she could notsaywhy.

“You dislike the idea,” Killian said, head tipped tooneside.

“I don’t know why, but I do,” Sarah replied. “He frightened me, but never harmedme,and…”

“And?”

“I…” How to explain? “I once thought there was something familiarabouthim…”

“I have no desire to kill him. And I would like some answers. Who he is. Who made him. Why he claims King’s College as his hunting ground.” He took her hand and kissed her palm. “Why hefollowsyou.”

“Is there danger, Killian?Toyou?”

“No.” She heard the smile in his voice as he replied. “He is newly made, and I... well, Iamnot.”

“I can help,” she said, and rushed on as he started to speak, intending, she was certain, to argue. “He will not know that I no longer work at King’s College. He will expect me to walk home this evening to Coptic Street, and that is exactly what Iwilldo.”

Her heart thudded as she waited for his reply, waited to see if he would see the value ofherplan.

A slow smile curved his lips, and he curled his fingers around her nape and drew her close for ahardkiss.

“A brilliant plan. You will walk to Coptic Street—” he cast her a sidelong look through his lashes “—and I will follow in yourshadow.”

In that moment, she was both pleased that he valued her proposition, that he saw the importance of her participation, and faintly uneasy by the menace she sensed lurking just beneath thesurface.

He shifted so his lips moved against her ear as he whispered, “I am what I am, Sarah. No matter how civilized, how controlled the veneer, beneath it all, I am the hunter, the monster, thefiend.”

18

That night,Sarah walked slowly past the graveyard, searching for some hint of the man who stalked her. The place was silent and still. No shadow, no sound, no movement. He was not there. She was a little surprised, for she had been so certain he would come. But there was still time. He might yet show himself at any point along theroute.

He did not. Not that night or the next or the oneafterthat.

Each night, Sarah slept in Killian’s bed while he went to King’s College and worked with the patients. Her days were spent in his laboratory, a wonderful space that spanned the entire top floor of his home. He had taken her there when she woke the firstmorning.

“I will not allow your talents to go to waste,” he had said. “If there is aught you need that is not here, you have merely to tellmeso.”

And Sarah had immersed herself in work, free to indulge her interests andaptitude.

On the fourth night, Sarah waited by the doors of King’s College until Elinor emerged. “Sarah,” her friend cried and rushed to her side to throw her arms around her. “Are you well?” Elinor grasped her by the shoulders and drew back to examine her face. Before Sarah could speak, Elinor gave a muffled laugh. “Oh, you look well. More than well. Dare I say,happy?”

Sarah smiled. “I am well andhappy.”

Elinor’s dimples appeared as she grinned. “Mr. Thayne told me you were well and safe. But I’m glad to see it formyself.”

A ball of warmth spread through Sarah’s heart. She had not asked Killian to reassure Elinor, yet he had done so. Such a Killian thingtodo.

The two women stood talking for a few moments, and with Sarah’s assurance that she would call on Elinor one day soon, they separated, Elinor going in one direction, Sarah in theother.