His head jerked to the side once in a half shake. “No, that is not possible. I am here to protect you at all times. You must never be out of my sight.”
Pausing to take a deep breath and temper my tone again, I spoke to him as if he were a child. “But we’re safe in here, just like I was in the bathroom. No one’s going to come in here.”
He pointed at the two-stories-high windows. “Those are entry points. The threat is there. Therefore, I stay.” End of discussion, clearly.
I heaved a sigh of frustration, knowing I would never win this argument. “Fine … can you at least step over there? By the window? So you’re not climbing on top of me? So I don’t have to see you staring at me?”
He blinked.
“Go stand over there!”
His neck turned mechanically as he glanced at the window and back at me, as if visually measuring the space. Finally, he walked over and sidled in behind the heavy silver-mauve drapery until all but his shoes were invisible.
I struggled to contain my grin. Turning back, I gave Max a knowing “get out” glare, silently promising I’d be nicer to him from now on.
Don’t have to convince me! I hear Santa delivered some Christmas goodies for me. He trotted off to the door and opened it with his giant maw.
Finally. I was alone with Caden.
Well, sort of. Not alone enough for what I wanted but … I threw myself at him, slipping my hands around him, nuzzling into his neck. “I can’t wait until this is all over,” I whispered in his ear.
“The feeling’s mutual,” he whispered, his hands sliding down the length of my rib cage to rest on my hips, pulling my body against his. “Damn it, Evie …” Strong fingers wrapped around my lower back, an index finger running along the waist band of my jeans. My breath caught. I closed my eyes, reveling as I felt his hands steal beneath my sweater and edge up along my spine, soaking up the warmth radiating from him. He was the one I was meant to be with. Why couldn’t the Fates just realize that and stop trying to keep us apart?
“Here,” Caden whispered suddenly, reaching up to grasp my hand and bring it down to his side. He placed something long and cool into my palm. A gorgeous diamond-jeweled dagger with an ivory handle. “I figured you were probably done with traditional jewelry.”
“It’s beautiful.” My other arm slid off Caden’s shoulder to handle the dagger with care, slipping the blade from its soft leather sheath. It was six inches long and thin. Dainty, though I could tell by the curve of the blade that it was anything but. This would carve through flesh—human or vampire, it mattered not.
“When did you get this?” I carefully sheathed it, visions of accidently disemboweling myself cautioning my movements.
Caden shrugged. “I’ve been out once or twice.”
“Thank you,” I whispered, studying its weight in my palm. “It’s beautiful … and dangerous.”
“Like you,” he chuckled softly, his lips pressing against my brow.
His joke, light and harmless in intention, drilled into my soul with its accuracy. My body stiffened in response.
“I’m sorry, Evie … not funny.” He pulled my body far enough away that he could see my face.
I sighed. “No, you’re right. Any day now, one little poke of my fingertip and you’re all dead.”
“No, you don’t know that.”
“Really, Caden? Who’s being naïve now?”
That exquisite mouth of his opened to speak—likely to argue—but stopped abruptly and he settled on biting his bottom lip as he paused to think. “It won’t happen. Sofie will stop it.” He traced my wounded lip with his fingertip and promised, “Everything will be okay again soon. Sofie will fix the spell, your lip will heal, and Bishop will eventually learn the truth.”
“I really want to believe you, Caden.” But I knew better. I didn’t believe it. He didn’t believe it, either. The tiniest shift behind the curtain refreshed my memory of just how dire the situation had become. “And then what? With lurky lurker hiding behind the curtains over there …” I mumbled, bitterness curling my nostrils. “He’s like herpes. He’s for life.”
Wraith took that as he cue to step out because the curtains ruffled and reflective blue eyes peeked out at me like glowing coins. Heaving an exaggerated sigh, I walked over to my nightstand and pulled the red satchel from the top drawer.
“I hope you like it,” I said, handing Caden his gift. “I did almost die getting it for you, you know.”
“Are we taking turns making tasteless jokes now?” Caden grumbled as he took it from me. “You shouldn’t have …”