Dying to Date(53)

“Remember,” Tarian said as the numbers climbed toward the top floor. “What happens from here on out is not about us.”

“We just have to calm the waters,” she agreed. Even so, she stepped into his arms and inhaled his scent. After the night they’d shared, she couldn’t imagine letting him walk away from her. If she had to fight her father to keep him, she would.

A small ding signaled the end of their journey.

Rolling her shoulders back, she stepped into the tasteful hallway that boasted an apartment at each end.

Just as Tarian predicted, the door to her father’s penthouse was open.

“Thank you,” she whispered to Tarian. “No matter what happens.”

He caught her arm and pressed his lips to hers. “All’s not lost yet, sweetheart.”

Giving him a last smile, she strode through the open door.

Inside was exactly as she’d expected. Lucian paced the length of the living room while Abbey sat curled up on the sofa looking worried.

“Hi,” she called, feeling both uncertainty and longing at the same time.

Both Lucian and Abbey swung toward her. Abbey’s face drained of blood before a wide grin curved her lips.

“Melissa,” she said like a prayer, pushing from her seat.

Lucian was faster. Using vampire speed, he crossed the room to her in an instant.

“You’re safe?” he demanded, looking her up and down.

“I’m fine,” she replied.

“Good.”

She was pulled into a tight hug before she could get out another word. Instead of protesting, she closed her eyes and hugged her father back. How many times since her ordeal began had she wanted to simply wrap her arms around him and listen to him promise that everything would be all right?

It was lucky she didn’t need to breathe or Lucian’s grip would have crushed her. She was only saved when Abbey caught up with them and elbowed Lucian out of the way.

“Abbey, it’s good to—oomph.” Her words were cut off as her friend wrapped her in an equally tight embrace.

“We thought we’d never see you again,” Abbey babbled in her ear. “Those first two days were torture.”

She wrapped her arms carefully around the human and returned the hug. Abbey had not been in her life as long as Lucian, but she’d become equally as dear. Though the woman would one day technically be her stepmother, Melissa had waited decades for a friend like her.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “I would never have left you of my own volition.”

“Precisely,” Lucian said. “Which is why we will crush whoever took you.”

Melissa shook free of Abbey and faced off against her father. “You need to listen to me first.”

“All I need to do is get the relevant details before I contact the council,” he replied. “We’ll bring those who took you to justice.”

“That’s where I come in.” Tarian stepped through the door, hands in his pockets.

Lucian bared his teeth as he lunged for the necromancer.

“No,” Melissa shouted, jumping in front of Tarian. “You will sit and you will listen, Father, or I will march out the door with Tarian.”

“I knew it,” Abbey murmured.

“I can smell the necromancer blood in him,” Lucian growled. “You brought one of his kind into my home.”

“I did,” she agreed. “Because he saved my life, and you need to listen to what he has to say.”

Lucian’s gaze flicked from her to Tarian. “Saved your life how?”

“He wasn’t among the group who kidnapped me.”

“The date—”

“Look,” she said. “Let’s not stand here in the entryway like scrabbling children. At the very least we can talk about this like civilized adults.”

Civilized adults that have been trying to kill each other for most of the millennia, she amended, as she shooed them down the few stairs into the open concept living room. Abbey followed her directions by plopping down into an overstuffed armchair while Lucian stood over her. Given the vampire’s refusal to sit, Tarian also stayed on his feet, moving so the wide windows were at his back.

Melissa sighed, running a hand down her face. “Okay, here’s the deal. Yes, I was kidnapped by necromancers but they are a small faction that do not represent the majority of their kind.” Lucian snorted but she talked over him. “Tarian risked both his life and his family ties to come get me. He snuck me out of the necromancer property and kept us off their radar as we drove home. Right from the start, his only goal was to get me back here, safe and sound.”

“Why?” Lucian demanded. “What was his motive?”