“I’m sure you misheard,” I said quietly.
“No, I didn’t.” He swept his thumb over the top of my hand. There was a desperation in his voice when he spoke next. “Please tell me he doesn’t hurt you.”
I sighed, exhausted from cold and lack of sleep. “No, of course not. I’m tired, I need to sleep, Tom.”
Tom’s look was one of love and it lingered on my face. A lump worked its way up my throat. He let go of my hand. “Okay, get some sleep, I’ll be back in the morning to check on you.” I didn’t respond. I couldn’t speak over the plum that had worked its way to my throat. “I’ll see you tomorrow then,” he said softly.
I laid down, turning my head toward the window, watching the rain streak down. The door opened and closed. Then it opened again. I turned my head back. Karson hovered just inside the room, his expression flat and unreadable.
“I suppose you heard.”
He nodded. “Chris does not concern me . . . sleep, Amelia.”
I didn’t need telling twice. I closed my eyes and slept.
Chapter 72
Please Stay
When I woke it was almost midday. I was aware of murmured voices coming from downstairs. The scuttle of feet walking across the floorboards. A laugh I knew belonged to Georgie. Where she was, no doubt Jodie and BJ would be too. I groaned, I didn’t want to face anyone today, my embarrassment outweighed their concern. The sun shone brightly through the open curtains. I stretched out my arms and legs, they creaked stiffly. I got up slowly. Everything ached—legs, back, bones.
I threw on a long sleeve top and jeans then stared at my reflection in the bathroom mirror. The face staring back at me was ghost-like— pale and gaunt—my eyes seemed dimmer than their usual shade, as if the cold had sucked the life right out of them. I brushed my teeth, rinsed my face, slipped on my ring and, reluctantly, headed downstairs.
The first person I saw was Karson. He stood off to the side of the crackling fire, lit even though the day was relatively warm. Our eyes locked. His expression was unreadable. My heart pinged.
The others were all seated.
“Morning, Bear Grylls . . . Ethan run his eyes up and down me. “You look terrible.”
They all turned to look.
“Thanks, Ethan.” I felt terrible. My legs moved as if the bones were frozen. I was weak and tired to the point of exhaustion. I held the rail for support as I descended the stairs. My knees grated, my hips were stiff and my thigh muscles quaked and gave way. I gasped and clutched at the rail tightly.
Karson sat his drink down and strode forward, like he was going to carry me down the stairs. I held up a hand in a stop signal. He paused, his brow flickering and stepped back.
When I reached the bottom of the stairs. Jodie, Georgie, and BJ rushed forward throwing their arms around me in a group hug. I grimaced, tolerated it for a long moment and then pulled back.
“Aims, I’m glad you’re alright,” Jodie said, still clutching my arm.
Georgie sent a half smile, tears bubbling in her eyes.“I told you running was bad for you.”
BJ gave me a look of sympathy.
I glanced at Karson again. Words sat perched on the tip of my tongue, like a river of ice ready to crack.
He said he was sorry. He must want me back. He must want to work it out. Of course, he would, I reaffirmed. The time we’d had together was perfect.
And yet, there was no warmth on his face.
And yet, he hadn’t climbed into bed with me last night.
And yet, I was still a witch, and he was still a vampire.
I was intensely aware all eyes were on the two of us. I clenched my hands together to stop them from shaking. Not from cold, but from a thousand butterflies flapping inside.
“Come sit, I made soup.” Ethan leapt to his feet and headed to the kitchen.
Jodie’s eyes lingered behind him. “He’s hot and he cooks.”
