Ifelt the energy of the vampire before I saw it.
“Trust me.” My voice came out like a growl as I crossed the yard toward the house, my hand falling to the invisible blade on my side. “You don’t want to fuck with me tonight.”
“Harsh words for a girl who can barely walk.” Ethan stepped into the light.
My heart clutched at the sight of him. I didn’t want him to see me like this, my face swollen and red from crying. I didn’t want him to hear my sobs. I didn’t want him to be appalled by my weakness.
I wrapped my arms around my body and rasped, “What are you doing here?”
He hesitated, suddenly looking unsure. “I needed to make sure you were alright,” he said gently.
I sucked in a deep breath, gathering my strength and weaving it all around my heart. Maybe not like the iron-clad plate of armor that I’d hoped for, more like a sheet of ice. “I’m fine. Stay back, I’m bleeding.”
His eyes drank in my face. “You don’t look fine.”
I gave him a wide berth as I moved past him. He followed me up the stairs and paused outside the door.
“Um. Can I come in?” His voice feathered over the stiff muscles of my shoulders as I crossed the living area.
I didn’t look back. I could say no and he’d spend the night outside or go home, and I’d be alone to deal with my grief. That was what I wanted, wasn’t it?
He was here. He came to make sure I was alright. I had cried; there were no more tears left.
I nodded. “Come in.” I heard him let out a breath.
I went to the kitchen, turned on the cold tap, poured a glass of water, and gulped it down. Then put my palms under, turning the water pale red. I rubbed at my skin, removing the blood and dirt.
He hovered by the end of the bench, watching my every move like he thought I was about to fall apart in front of him. “I smelled your blood a mile away. It doesn’t bother me anymore,” he said quietly.
“How did you find me?”
“Monique uses the same realtor as Karson—it wasn’t that hard.” He paused as he studied my face, looking unsure again. “But I can leave if you want to me to?”
My muscles flagged and began to shake as an ache took root in my bones. Every part of me hurt. The bottom of my feet stung and ached. My leg muscles were so heavy and weak I wanted to drop. My lungs felt like I was trying to breathe through a hot pipe, coated in soot. My head throbbed with every beat of my cracked heart. I thought I wanted to be alone, but the truth was, I was glad my friend came. I was so glad, tears blurred my vision. My fingers shook as I tried to pick at tiny pebbles stuck in cuts on my palms.
“Let me,” he said, his tone gentle, almost as if he read my mind. He could read the minds of humans easily, and sometimes he read mine, but it was when I wore the ring or when I was feeling vulnerable, like now …
He took my hand gently in his. I didn’t look at him. I couldn’t look him in the eye, afraid if I did, I’d burst into tears. Instead, I watched as his fingernail sharpened into a claw. With the steadiness of a surgeon, he picked out a tiny pebble.
“You should breathe or you’re going to pass out,” he said.
“I’m breathing.” I drew in a breath.
He finished with that hand and swapped to the other.
“Thank you,” I said when he was done and turned off the tap.
“Do you want me to run you a bath and warm you up?”
I shook my head and stared at the floor.
“Amy, do you want me to go?”
There was something so unsteady in his tone that I raised my head and met his blue eyes, which were brimming with worry. That was the problem when strength was a plate of ice—I could feel it cracking, one precarious place at a time. I couldn’t speak over the lump jamming my neck. I shook my head.
Ethan made a sound of anguish in the back of his throat and then pulled me into his arms and held me against his chest. His hands cradled my back, my head. And I melted, melted like ice in the sun into his embrace. His sweet scent of cotton candy, with a tinge of wood and crisp mountain air sank into my nostrils, soothing my heart, soothing my soul.
He held me without words, like he knew there was nothing he could say. Like he knew I didn’t need words. Like he knew I just needed him.
