He walked toward me slowly, almost hesitantly, as if he was trying to control the urge to explode. His body vibrated with tension—with anger. Those eyes were like staring into the unlit pits of hell.
I deserved every ounce of his anger. What I’d done had killed Mary, beautiful, sweet Mary. I shook with guilt, with grief, but I raised my chin as I stepped forward to meet him. I would not be afraid of the man I loved. I would not think the worst of him. I wanted him to know I only wanted to love him.
Ethan cursed, darting his eyes to Michael. Michael held up his palm—wait.
“Karson,” I whispered.
Karson’s shoulders slumped and his head dropped as if all the energy had drained from him. He made a low, deep sobbing sound in his chest, and in less than a heartbeat he had me in his arms.
“I didn’t mean to, I didn’t mean to, I’m so sorry.” All the pent-up emotion rushed out and I burst into tears as I wrapped my arms around his neck.
One arm cradled my back, the other my shoulders. His head sagged against mine. “It’s not your fault,” he whispered. “It’s not your fault.”
I closed my water-soaked eyes and urged every ounce of warmth and love I had in my heart into him.I love you so much.
I love you,the gods know how I love you, I heard him say in my head.
Shocked, I pulled back a little, but his hand swept through my hair and pulled my head back to rest on his chest.
After some time, we parted reluctantly. His eyes were no longer black, nor hazel as they usually were, but a mixture, like leaves drinking in the night.
I wiped at the tears on my face and looked around. Josh had his arm slung around Georgie’s shoulders. Rodney was pouring drinks by the bar, Ethan and Michael next to him.
“Where is Monique?” Karson asked, his voice rough.
“Questioning witches and vampires with Kenneth,” Michael answered. “She’s overcome with grief and is upset with what has transpired. You can’t blame her, any more than we can blame anyone else for this whole sordid mess. It is all Sarah’s doing. If you want to blame anyone, turn your anger to her.”
Karson spun on his heel to look at Michael with a snarl, his fangs flashing. “I blame both of them, and Sarah will suffer a fate that will make her wish she had never been born.”
Michael and Ethan shared quick, nervous glances.
Panic surged in a hot rush through my entire body. He didn’t verbalise what he’d do to Monique, but from the anxiety on both Ethan and Michael’s faces, it wouldn’t be pleasant.
I swallowed hard. “Whatever fate you decide for Monique, then I must out of fairness be given the same.” Karson’seyes shot to me. “You’re the king of vampires, Karson. If you spare me, a witch, and punish one of your own for the same indiscretion, then you’ll lose the respect of your people, and worse, gain haters from those who like Monique.”
Karson didn’t answer, didn’t flinch, he merely stared at me. Everyone just stared at me. Was he considering punishing me too? For the first time, my stomach squirmed uncomfortably. I might have just dug my own grave, jumped in, and sealed the coffin shut.
Rodney opened a top cupboard and reached for a bottle of whiskey. “She is correct.”
“Not helping,” Ethan muttered out of the corner of his mouth.
My eyes hooked to Rodney. Inexplicably, I wanted to move closer to him. I could feel the pull of safety beckoning. If anyone could protect me, it would be him. The biggest monster in the room. Second biggest.
Not that he would.
I fought against the urge to go closer, keeping my feet pressed firm to the floor. Rodney shrugged as he snapped the cupboard shut and turned back. I took in his cold gray eyes and the urge to go to him broke. That was fucking weird.
“I don’t think there’s any need to punish anyone.” Josh’s arm fell from Georgie’s shoulders. “There’s no greater pain than losing someone you love.” His voice choked with emotion. “We’ve all been punished enough.”
Georgie nodded, her hand trembling as she took a tissue from her pocket and blew her nose.
“We have all lost so much—our gentle matriarch is gone.” Michael splayed his hands and stepped up to address us as if he was speaking from a lectern. “It is time now, more than ever, for us to come together. Because family, whether it be by blood or choice, is all we have. Mary would not want us to fight.”
We all stilled. There was barely a dry eye in the room as his words landed on the truth. She would want us to come together. She would want us to love and support each other, and while ever we did, her kindness, the unity she encouraged, a piece of Mary remained alive.
Karson turned to me. “I need to speak to you in private.” His voice came out raw and choking. “May I?”
I nodded. He swept me into his arms and we arrived in the bedroom moments later. He lowered me to my feet and moved out onto the balcony, staring across the yard, eyes hollow. Mary’s blood stained his neck and shirt like a hellish painting. I followed him out and stood beside him. Fresh air whipped over my body. Shivering, I wrapped my arms around my chest.
