Rhys ushered Savannah into his SUV and shot me one more heated look before he climbed in and drove away. I chuckled quietly as I recalled Savannah’s words about her fiancé coming around. That male would never forgive me and I couldn’t blame him. As far as he was concerned, I’d put his woman in danger. If I were in his shoes, I would have killed the man who kidnapped my woman and handed her to my enemies.
The fact that he had yet to try said a lot about the strength of his will. Or his love for Savannah.
I slid back into my truck and cast my eyes back to the coffee shop. I could see through the wide front windows. Ava was now behind the counter, talking to the male shifter she hired. My skin prickled when I saw the way he was looking at her. He wanted her and it took every ounce of my willpower not to go inside and rip out his throat with my fangs.
The only thing that stopped me was Ava’s body language. She clearly wasn’t interested in him and it showed. If I could see it, then the werewolf could see it as well. Her obvious disinterest would deter any pursuit he might consider. At least for now.
Fighting my instincts, I relaxed back into the seat and prepared myself for a long evening.
I followed Avahome from a safe distance. She had to know that I was there. She was an intelligent woman and powerful witch. She would have spells, wards, charms, and any other magical tool she could conjure up as protection.
She also had eyes and was observant of her surroundings. As long as she was alert, she would see my truck easily.
Though I understood that, I didn’t care. The instinct to protect her overrode any logic I possessed.
I slid to a stop a few blocks from her house and watched as she unlocked the front door and slipped inside. I waited to see if her lights would come on. When they didn’t, I tensed and reached for the door handle.
Before I could touch it, the door flew open to reveal a blonde witch with flashing purple eyes.
“Stalking is illegal in this state. You know that, right?” she hissed.
I moved to step out of the truck, but she lifted a hand and an unseen force pushed me back into the seat.
“I’m not stalking you,” I answered.
Her eyebrows lifted. “Oh, really?” she asked, her voice dripping with skepticism. “Then what would you call it when a vampire follows a woman everywhere she goes?”
“Protection,” I replied curtly. “You don’t know Rhiannon. Not like I do. You don’t understand the way her mind works or what she’s capable of.”
Ava scowled and the magic holding me lifted. “And you have that knowledge because you were her errand boy for over a century.”
I grit my teeth at the reminder of how stupid and single-minded I’d been. There was no way to defend myself. I’d allowed myself to remain in willful ignorance for far too long. I hadn’t acknowledged the monster I’d aligned myself with because I wanted what she offered me more than I cared about the people she might hurt. I was selfish and weak.
“Yes, I was,” I admitted, climbing out of the truck and standing in front of Ava. “But not any longer. I’ve made many mistakes over the centuries and I have blood on my hands.” I leaned closer, some perverse part of me enjoying the way her eyes flared as she held her ground. Her magic sparked along my skin, a pleasurable sting that lifted the hair on my arms. “But I’ll be damned if your blood will stain my skin as well.”
Ava refused to back down, staring up at me defiantly. “I can take care of myself,” she replied.
I nodded. “I know. I’m doing this because I don’t want blood on your hands as well.”
Her beautiful, gem-like eyes narrowed, the irises glowing from the magic she’d spooled around her. “Short of using dark magic on you, will I be able to stop you?”
I shook my head, my gaze never leaving hers.
Suddenly, she sighed and the power swirling around us faded away. My skin tingled from the abrupt departure and I watched as the light behind her eyes dimmed.
“Fine. Then stop following me around like a weirdo. If you’re going to watch me, come into the shop and pay for a damn cup of coffee and a pastry. The least you could do is support my business.”
Against my will, the corner of my mouth jerked as I fought a smile. “Understood.”
“And don’t stay out here all night. I can feel your hulking presence and it makes me twitchy. Once I’m inside it would take the magical equivalent of a nuclear bomb to break through my protection spell. I’ll be perfectly safe if you leave.”
Fighting to keep my expression solemn, I nodded.
“See you tomorrow.”
With that, she stepped back and marched down the sidewalk to her house. Once she was inside, I did as she asked and drove away, my heart lighter than it had been in hundreds of years.
