Blue touched his hand and blinked. She seemed out of breath, but maybe it was from walking the stairs.
“What would I do without my Blue?” he finally said, breaking the awkward silence.
She heaved a sigh and patted his hand. “Develop a sleep disorder. That’s what.”
He chuckled, stepping back. “You are much too good for this team.”
Her smile withered, and her thick eyebrows drew together. “I hope that doesn’t mean you’re letting me go. This is where I want to be. This is where I belong.”
“Of course you belong here.” He continued his descent. “But someday you will outgrow this job. I would not hold you or anyone back.”
“And willyououtgrow this job?” she asked from behind.
He thought back to what Lenore had mentioned. Was he capable of more? Was his past holding him back? His heart told him no, but she was so convincing. “Perhaps,” he said quietly.
When they reached the bottom landing, she blocked the doorway. “Then I want to go wherever you go. Promise you’ll always have a place for me, Viktor. My life had no purpose until I found you. Keystone, I mean. You’re the heart of Keystone. Even if you just need security, I’m your woman.”
Blue left her tribe after a tragedy, but he didn’t know the details. He only knew that she had no one left, and that was enough. It was better that those he selected didn’t have ties to family. It made the job easier.
He lifted her chin with the crook of his finger. “I hope that you will always have a seat at my table. But we cannot always choose what the fates have decided.”
“And if they want us to live in this realm, are we supposed to sit back and do nothing?”
“Nyet. But choice is a tricky word. Sometimes we think we have a choice, but we do not.”
“Are you… are you choosing Lenore? Or is she choosing you?”
He lowered his arm. “I have made no choice.”
She stroked her bottom lip, averting her eyes. “I bet she could get you a seat on the higher authority. And she’s rich. And beautiful. But…”
“Finish.”
Blue gave him a guarded look. “Can a Vampire make your wolf sing?” she asked softly.
“Why do you ask me such things?”
“Because you didn’t claim her at the party. You didn’t make your intentions public even when Sparrow asked. Why not? Isn’t that what you do when you choose someone? When they’re your life mate?”
Viktor wanted to say that life mates were a myth, but he’d seen it among his old pack. There was a special bond—a connection between mated couples that couldn’t be explained. He knew in his heart he could never be life mates with a Vampire, but did it matter? He wasn’t searching for love. Companionship was enough. Lenore was soft with him. She listened. She indulged in all his storytelling, always had a good bottle of alcohol on hand, and made him feel important.
Blue’s cheeks bloomed red, and she backed away from the door to open it. “Viktor, I apologize. I didn’t mean to insult you. I overstepped my boundaries. It’s been a long night. Forget I said anything.”
As Viktor walked behind her, he realized hecouldn’tforget it. When Sparrow called out for any suitors, Viktor didn’t cower because he was afraid; he just wasn’t entirely certain of his intentions with Lenore. Not enough to make a public declaration that he was courting her with the purpose of mating. She was everything a man desired: confident, influential, intelligent, beautiful, and wealthy. She’d pointed out many times how they made a powerful match. Their relationship kept him up at night. Lenore couldn’t comprehend the personal sacrifices he made for his people—for the organization. There was a greater purpose, and that had a cost.
Viktor wondered if by being with Lenore, he had already taken too much for himself in the universe. Maybe that was why this curse had befallen them. After all, he was responsible for the death of his family.
But he would be damned if he watched it happen again.
CHAPTER8
After waking from a two-hour nap, I noticed a cup of coffee next to my bed. This hotel didn’t have a coffee machine, so Christian must have gone out. Though I couldn’t taste it, I loved that he’d done it for me anyhow. I picked up the dagger beside it and admired the blade. There was no way we could have gotten away with murdering Lenore, but knowing that didn’t remove the sting of regret.
The best part about being undead? Perfect morning hair. Everything bounced right back the way it was. Maybe this wasn’t so bad. Except for the no sex and no food part.
When I didn’t find Christian in the hall, I knocked on Lenore’s door.
“Raven. Please come in.” Lenore moved aside.
