“I’ll say,” Bricker muttered.
“And Igor?” Anders asked, glancing down at the man still lying on the ground. Spotting the sunflower sticking out of his chest, Anders scowled, but didn’t pull it out.
“His name is Mickey Green,” Mortimer said. “Ambrose met him in a bar six or seven months ago; liked him, decided he’d make a good flunky, and turned him.” He eyed the sunflower stake sticking out of Igor—or Mickey Green’s—chest and asked, “How long has he been staked?”
“He was staked earlier, but recovering. I put it back in just before you pulled into the driveway,” Anders admitted, reaching for the sunflower stake now.
“We’ll take it out once we have him chained up in the SUV,” Mortimer said, stopping him. “He’s a big guy. It’s safer that way.”
Anders nodded, but said, “I told Leigh I’d clean it for her. Most of the blood washes off, but the wood on the tip is a little stained and needs a bit of sanding.”
“We’ll take care of it back at the house,” Mortimer assured him, and then added, “Speaking of which, I suppose we should get him in the SUV and take him there. We have a nice cell waiting for him next to Ambrose. The two can be neighbors until the council decides what to do with them.”
Anders nodded. “I’ll walk Valerie inside and tell Lucian you’re here. He may want to talk to you.”
He didn’t wait for Mortimer’s response to that, but caught Valerie’s arm and urged her toward the front door. Roxy had lain down in a bit of shade nearby to watch them, but now got up and followed.
Valerie allowed Anders to lead her toward the house, but her mind was racing. He planned to walk her in, tell Lucian about the men being there and then leave her and head back to his own home . . . and she didn’t want that. She wanted—actually, Valerie wasn’t sure what she wanted. She knew what she didn’t want though, and that was to be left here alone without him. But she didn’t know what to do about it. He was determined to give her time to think and make her decision, and—the front door opening distracted her, and Valerie glanced toward it as Lucian stepped out.
“Mortimer and Bricker got some information out of Ambrose,” Anders announced, slowing as the man pulled the door closed. “But I’ll let them tell you about it. They’d be disappointed if I stole their thunder.”
Lucian nodded as he approached, but his eyes slid from Anders to her as he neared. Slowing as he came abreast of them, he scowled at Valerie. “You still haven’t asked?”
He didn’t wait for a response, but simply shook his head and continued on toward the driveway.
“Asked me what?” Anders asked, glancing to her curiously.
Valerie hesitated and then simply spat it out. “Do you love me?”
Anders stilled, his breath leaving him in a long exhale. Then he just stood there staring at her until Valerie began to worry that the answer was no and he didn’t want to admit it.
“If you don’t, just say—” she began anxiously, but never finished because his mouth was suddenly on hers and he was kissing her.
Valerie quickly forgot about Igor, or whether Anders loved her and just about everything else. When he broke the kiss and lifted his head a moment later, she moaned in protest, and then blinked her eyes open when he said, “I love you.”
“You do?” she asked with wonder, a smile curving her lips.
“Of course, I do. You’re perfect. How could I not love you?”
“I’m not perfect,” she said at once.
“You’re perfect for me,” he assured her. “You’re beautiful, sexy, smart, brave . . .” He shook his head. “You’re all I could have wanted and more, Valerie. I’m happy when I’m with you. I love you.”
“Oh,” she sighed and rested her head on his chest, admitting, “Lucian thinks I love you too.”
“Great,” Anders said dryly. “But what do you think?”
Pulling back, she met his gaze and said solemnly, “I think he’s right. I love you too, Anders.”
He closed his eyes briefly, as if savoring the words, then opened them again and asked cautiously, “So you’ll agree to be my life mate?”
“Apparently I already am your life mate,” she said wryly. “But if you mean will I agree to be turned, and marry you, and spend the rest of our very long lives together, than yes. I agree.”
She caught a glimpse of the grin that claimed his face, but then gasped when he scooped her up and started to walk, saying, “Come on, Roxy.”