Eilidh
“Dude.Howdid you use upallthe fricking salt?” I ask Chaldis as I emerge from the root cellar about an hour later. “Ijustbought ten pounds two weeks ago.” I realized we were almost out when I went to prep the steaks and let them sit out with salt on them, just to realize—
“For the salt-encrusted salmon I prepared last week. You said yourself it was divine.”
Word. That salmonwasheavenly. Melted in my mouth likebutter. “How’d it not end up on the shopping list,hmm?” I arch an eyebrow at him the way I saw Corbin do.
He looks playfully abashed. “Perhaps…because I forgot to write it there?”
I roll my eyes at him. “That means a trip into town. I’ll check your PO Box while I’m there.”
“I’m sorry, Eilidh.” Yes, I told the guys my real name. Neimus said I can trust Chaldis and Corbin not to tell anyone. I’m “Hayley” to everyone in town and at the ranch.
Close enough.
I’m tired of running. I’m heartsick and missing Dexter. I miss Garrett and Amber and Selene and even Lucius and his men.
I miss the club’s slutty household humans, and I miss the horny Fight Club shifters who always tried to get me to go out with them when I had to run errands for someone and met there to discuss the deets.
I miss Tucson.
I miss the desert.
I miss my life.
And yet, this comfortable, safe landing pad, this welcomed retreat, hasn’t been all bad. I hate Alaska theidea, and the reasonwhyI’m here, not Chaldis, or his home, or our long talks, or the quiet introspection I’ve had here, or even the land itself.
I do, however, hate the mosquitoes the size of fricking fruit bats this place has.
I’m about to leave—I always drive his Land Rover, because my Toyota is safely parked inside the enclosed attached garage to keep it hidden—when the house phone rings.
I answer. “Bianchi residence.”
The caller sniffles. “Hey, Eilidh. Is Master awake?”
My heart sinks at Corbin’s quiet, tearful tone. I know exactly what it signals, especially since he slipped and called Chaldis that. Usually, he asks for him by first name. “Oh, sweetie. I’m so sorry. Hold on.” If I didn’t know their dynamic already, that would’ve clenched it.
But when I turn, Chaldis is already standing there, reaching for the phone, a blank expression on his face.
I step out to the deck to give them privacy, even though I can still hear nearly every word both of them say. Curse my super hearing and the lack of city noises to cover their conversation.
If I hadn’t been certain about their love before, I am now, from the tender words Chaldis uses to try to console his broken-hearted lover. Corbin can barely speak and spends most of the call crying.
Once they end their conversation, I return inside to find Chaldis standing there, hands in his pockets and staring at the phone.
“I’m sorry.”
He nods, finally running a hand through his brown hair. It’s a little shaggier than he usually wears it, because Corbin always cuts it for him. I offered to try, but he wanted to wait.
I guess that was another clue—there are things Corbin does for him that Chaldis gently refuses my offers to do. It’stheirthings.
I can’t blame him.
This is why I can never agree with Garrett when he calls them leeches. Sure, some of them…well,suck, but then there are vampires like Neimus, Dex, and Chaldis, and even Lucius at his good times. And Selene. They’re not all murdering assholes without consciences. This is exactly one of the reasons why Lucius has instituted among his sired a ban on siring without his permission.
I should head to the store, but I wait, sensing Chaldis needs to talk.
Finally, he tips his head back, staring at the ceiling, and I spot the tears he’s trying to blink away. “Ihatethis,” he whispers. “Ihatethat I cannotbethere for him when he needs me so much right now.” He sighs. “This is why I know your Dexter must be missing you.”
