I’ve been a fool.
So what if he knew he wasn’t good enough for her? The year of pining after her was more than enough to consider his payment to the universe made. He would take what he wanted, and in exchange he would give his witch the world.
* * *
That night, he inspected the work in the garden. His shoulders were tense, his eyes narrowed on every bootprint in the dirt, every little trace of the strangers. He fuckinghatedthat there were unknown people coming and going through his anchor’s space.
“They worked fast,” Atticus informed him, nodding to the thin, beautifully designed lamp posts that had been installed at regular intervals around the garden.
Harlan crossed the distance to the greenhouse. Putting a possessive hand on one of the glass panels, he growled, “Not fast enough.”
His protégé didn’t need to ask what had him so riled up. “Michael was with her all day. None of the workers even spoke to her.”
“Good.” His fingers skated down the cool, uneven glass. “I would prefer if they didn’t look at her, either.”
Atticus crossed his arms and arched a brow. “How bad is this going to get, boss?”
Harlan sent the bodyguard he’d practically raised a narrow-eyed look. “What are you talking about?”
“Miss North. Are you going to actually do something about her, or are you going to keep torturing yourself?”
He flicked a fang with his tongue, annoyed by his protégé’s attitude. “Since when are you allowed to question me, boy?”
“Since the day you taught me how to use a bolt gun,” Atticus grunted. “Answer my question, boss. You can’t keep going on like this. If you do, you’ll either do something you’ll regret or be forced to send her away.”
Harlan lifted his lip, snarling without much heat, before he ran his fingers through his loose hair. “I’m keeping her.”
Atticus arched one red brow. “Are you, now? How are you planning on making that happen?”
“You don’t think I know how to seduce a woman? I’m a hundred years your senior.” He stalked away from the greenhouse and shouldered past his most loyal companion.
Of course, Atticus fell into step behind him. “Exactly. How long has it been since you pursued anyone? What’s your plan of attack here?”
He had absolutely no intention of admitting how long it had been since he sought out companionship, fleeting though it always was. Taking an anchor had never been something he considered before. There was too much risk to their lives, and he’d never wanted someone enough to make it worth the trouble.
But it’s been two years since someone came after me. The Families are moving on. I don’t have to worry so much about her safety.
Even if he did, Harlan wasn’t sure he would be able to keep himself away from her.
Ignoring the question, he announced, “I’m going to give her a gift so she knows my intentions.”
And because my instincts are driving me fucking crazy.
If he didn’t provide her with something soon, he was fairly certain he would combust.
Atticus’s tone, lightly teasing before, lowered into something more cautious, “What kind of gift?”
“I don’t know. A diamond bracelet or a car or something.” Harlan ground his molars as he inspected the tiny lights the workers had installed in each step of the bisected staircase.If they chipped even one brick, I’m going to start ripping throats out.
“Ah,maybe something smaller would get your point across.”
He lifted his head to glare at his companion. “Why would I do that? My anchor should have the very best things this world offers. If she wants diamonds, shegetsdiamonds.”
“Right, sure, of course.” Atticus rubbed the back of his neck, his expression pinched with discomfort. The tattoos on his hand, a gaping vampiric skull, looked particularly ghoulish in the warm light of the lamps. “But does shewantthose things from you right now?”
He waved the question away. “She doesn’t know what she wants because I haven’t declared my intentions yet.”
“You assigned her a personal guard today, boss. I’m pretty sure she’s going to get the picture soon, if she hasn’t already. A gift like that might scare her off.” Tucking his hands into the pockets of his black cargo pants, he offered, “Why not forgo the gifts for now and instead ask her to do something with you? You know, date and shit.”
