“Sorcha will be protected,” Dav assured the Count, who nodded again, and I was sure I saw relief in the powerful vampire’s eyes.
He walked over and laid a hand on Dav’s shoulder.
“Thank you.”
Dav swallowed. “No thanks necessary. Just get that bastard.”
Bal looked down at me. “I promise.”
The three males strode away, leaving Dav and me together.
“ThatwasVictor, wasn’t it?” Dav pulled me into his arms and held me tightly.
I wrapped my arms around him. “Yeah. He had an English accent, but it was definitely him. I’d know his voice anywhere.”
He grunted, but didn’t move. We stayed like that, wrapped in each other. Dav’s scent filled my nostrils, and I let myself relax into my mate. I was safe here.
“If Bal’s hunting him, we won’t need to worry about revenge. He’ll be dead before the moon rises again tomorrow.”
“Will he?” I wasn’t going to feel bad for hoping that was true. I’d known Victor was cruel, but the level of cruelty I’d just heard on that video sickened me.
“Yep, or as good as—Bal’s prisoner.”
I hugged my mate tightly. “Good.” But nerves fizzed in my belly at the thought that Bal might bring Viktor back to the castle.
A crash of pans and a screeched expletive echoed deep in the castle.
Dav’s chuckle mirrored my own. “She’s burnt or dropped the dinner again.”
“Yep, we’d better go and make sure she’s still in one piece.”
Hand in hand we sauntered down to the kitchen.
Sorcha darted a look at us as we entered before she quickly lowered her gaze, dropping to her knees to pick up the mess of cooked pasta off the floor.
“Do you need help?” asked Davlov, his voice coolly professional.
I squeezed his hand hard in warning. The poor girl seemed more anxious than ever. Probably because Bal had just left. I’d have to tell my mate not to mess with her so much. I recognised the signs of previous abuse, and though she tried not to show it, she was wary in Dav’s presence. He would never hurt her, but she needed time to believe that. He shrugged at me, but relaxed his features a bit.
“N-no, I-I’m fine, Davlov,” she stammered. “I just…the stupid pan’s really heavy.”
“Well, let me know if you do.”
I rolled my eyes and detached my hand from Dav’s, dropping to my knees. “Did you hurt yourself?”
“No,” she whispered, biting her bottom lip.
“Good. Let’s get this cleaned up then.”
Smiling at her, I helped scoop up the pasta, shrugging when she gave me an unsure look. “It’s okay. You can trust us, Sorcha. The Count might not be here, but you aren’t alone. Let us know if you need anything. Okay?”
She nodded, looking a little less flustered. When the mess was cleaned up, we both stood.
“Thanks,” she said, with a small smile.
“You’re welcome. Remember, come and find us if you need anything.”
“I will.”
