Jared took a sip of the wine Laila had left on the side table for him. Its refined notes of black cherry and subtle tobacco blended with the lingering taste of Deagan’s blood. The potent mix did not distract from the bitterness in Deagan’s aura, however. Deagan thought Jared a fool for divulging the presence of the wolves to Nora and an even bigger fool for rushing off to her home and losing track of dawn.
He was not entirely wrong on the last point, but his opinion would take a sharper dive when he learned James was bringing Nora to the lake house.
“The wolves will not be a problem,” he assured his friend.
Deagan smoothed out his wrinkle-free shirt and reached for the black longcoat he had draped over the ottoman. “And when did Nora tell you that? Before or after you—”
“Careful,” Jared warned.
Deagan pressed his lips together, then faced him, taking the time to button up the coat like it was a suit of armor. In a way, it was. The ridiculous clothing and Deagan’s often trivial chatter shielded him from deeper inquiries. People tended to brush him off as shallow and unimportant.
Deagan fastened the last button, maintaining his stare and his silence.
Jared took his time with another sip of wine, then he waved his fingers in Deagan’s direction. “Speak freely.”
“Don’t you want the wolves to be a problem?” he asked.
Jared set his glass aside. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, isn’t this fiasco your aim? To enrage the pack to the point that Lehr ignores the stalemate with Arcuro and sends his wolves to slaughter you? When Lehr learns about the two you killed, he will not be pleased, especially if he learns about it from his daughter.” Deagan paused, waiting for some kind of response, which Jared did not give. “She’ll have to explain how she came about the information.” Another hesitation. “She’s done well avoiding the pack until now. It won’t last.”
Face impassive, Jared watched his scion draw in an uneasy breath. Lick his lips. He was holding something back. That was atypical for the vampire.
“You rushed off this morning, my lord, like you wanted it to last.”
A peculiar twinge circled Jared’s heart. That was exactly what he wanted, for Nora to become a permanent part of his existence. It was a fragile dream that he could see shattered in so many ways. He should not hope for it, but he did.
He had not hoped for anything in so very long.
“My plans may have changed,” Jared said.
Deagan did not move, did not blink, did not even breathe for a remarkably long time. Then, all at once, the air whooshed from his lungs and he collapsed onto the couch. “You’re in love with her. Thank God! I didn’t know how I was going to pull you out of this epic pit of despair.”
The cheer in his scion’s voice caused his eyes to narrow.
Deagan smiled at his annoyance and crossed an ankle over his knee. “Of course, the wolf comes with a new set of problems—a terrible attitude, for one—but we may be able to make this work. There have been vampire and wolf unions before.”
He had to force his hands to remain relaxed when they wanted to fidget. He almost felt… vulnerable. He should not, especially not with Deagan.
“There have been a few,” Jared replied evenly. “And in all cases, both wolf and vampire were weak.”
Deagan’s wave said Pshaw. Details. “Shall I escort her in?”
Jared blinked, not only because he was surprised his scion could sense her already but also because he seemed at ease with the fact that she was there, stepping into their sanctuary.
“No more unsolicited advice?” he asked.
“She gives you a reason to live,” Deagan said. “I cannot protest that.”
Jared took a sip of his wine. Set the glass aside.
Deagan’s mouth tipped into a small smile. “One would almost think my opinion matters.”
“One might think that.” Jared rose, took a step toward the sitting room’s exit, then paused. He turned back toward his friend. “It is not your job to pull me out of my despair.”
“I know,” Deagan said. “Go, my lord. I will make sure you have your privacy.”
His lake house estate appeared to be a simple two-bedroom home on the surface. Beneath it, he had built a small labyrinth of caverns and tunnels. It was nothing compared to Arcuro’s compound, but Jared wanted seclusion and quiet. He did not surround himself with his vampires like his master did, and he did not permit younglings to be near him. Few knew the location existed, assuming as Nora did that he stayed with Arcuro, gorging himself on blood and sex and violence.
