“Yes,” Charlotte said, dragging out the word.
Henry ended the call.
I flew up the stairs and rushed into Charlotte’s room. She sat on the edge of her bed, the insomnia medication in one hand and her phone in the other.
“Charlotte!” I barked, reaching her side in one stride.
She blinked, then shook her head like she meant to clear it. Her brow furrowed as she stared up at me. “Beck?”
“Yeah,” I rasped, going to one knee beside her. “I’m here, sweetheart.”
For a moment, confusion reigned in her eyes. Then she blinked again, and the expression cleared. “I just spoke to Dr. Henry.” She drew a deep breath. “He says he’s coming to Anchorage, but I promise I didn’t ask him to?—”
“I know,” I said, gripping her thigh. I kept my hold gentle as I searched her face. Did she know she’d been manipulated? Was Henry in her head even now?
Worry covered her features. “He didn’t say anything about coming to Bear Cove. Maybe I can convince him to stay in Anchorage.”
“It’ll be okay,” I said because I didn’t dare say anything else.
She gave me a doubtful look. “You’re not upset?”
“I could never get upset with you.”
That earned me a smile. “I’m not sure I believe that.”
“It’s true,” I said.
Her phone dinged. She looked at the screen, and some of the color in her cheeks faded. “He’s arriving tomorrow evening. His flight lands at 6 p.m.”
I bit back the urge to say we wouldn’t meet him. That I’d put her on the first plane out of Alaska in the opposite direction. But my conversation with Everett lingered in my mind. Henry wanted something from Bear Cove, and he was going to a lot of trouble to get it. If I told Charlotte she was being manipulated by a master vampire, Henry might order her to take her own life.
“Luckily I still have my rental car” she said, setting the phone aside. “I’ll pick him up.”
“I’ll take you.”
She hesitated. “You will?”
There was no way in hell I was letting Charlotte anywhere near a master vampire alone. But I forced what I hoped was a teasing smile. “I’ll have to check my schedule, but I think I’m pretty open.”
She smiled, the expression sweet and grateful. “Thanks. I was kind of hoping you’d offer.”
God, she was gorgeous. And I would rip Henry limb from limb before I let the vampire hurt her. Reaching up, I nudged her glasses higher on her nose.
“It’s my pleasure, sweetheart.”
Pink tinged her cheekbones. She shifted on the bed, and the pill bottle rattled in her hand.
My desire died a swift death as I looked at it. “Don’t take that medication anymore.”
She followed my gaze. “But… Dr. Henry said?—”
“You’ve been sleeping fine without them, right?” Summoning lightheartedness I didn’t feel, I slid my hand higher on her thigh. “Except for a few heated interruptions.”
Now, her face flamed. She bit her lip, her white teeth pressing into plump pink. “That’s true.”
Rising, I took the bottle from her and put it on the nightstand. Then I went back to the bed and tugged her to her feet. My heart hammered against my ribs as I cupped her cheek.
“Do you want to be with me?” I asked. “Here, in Bear Cove?”
