I ran my fingers over his wet hair.
“I won’t make that mistake again,” he said, dropping the last of the dirty washcloths on the pile. “You got any mistakes that you won’t repeat?”
I replayed the night before, going over every move I’d made from the moment Aunt Halle had called the house phone. From picking my weapons to the feel of Seamus’s blood squelching between my fingers.
“No,” I replied, swallowing back my tears. “No, I don’t.”
I’d done everything in my power. I’d prepared well with the time I had available. I’d called in help. I’d used my training to the best of my ability. I’d ignored the fear and the exhaustion. I’d kept going even when everything hurt.
Daniel smiled and rose. “Come on, let’s get you something to wear.”
Getting a T-shirt on without moving my arm was a bit of a pain, and Daniel’s sweats were way too big in the waist, but we made it work. I’d just sat down to watch him dress, and I was marveling at the way his ass flexed as he moved, when a disembodied voice came through an intercom on the wall, making me jump in surprise.
“Hey, Danny,” Beau called. “Arthur just landed, if you want to be there.”
Daniel strode to the wall and pushed a button. “Be there in a few minutes,” he answered.
Ignoring the twinge in my hip, I pushed myself to my feet as he pulled on a pair of jeans.
He looked at me in surprise.
I could see the thoughts racing through his expression. He didn’t want me to go to that meeting. He wanted to tell me to stay in bed and rest. Contemplated how he could cajole me into doing it. Wondered if it was worth the fight if I didn’t comply.
I nearly smiled when acceptance made his shoulders slump just a little.
“I deserve to be there,” I said, holding his gaze. “You know I do.”
“Fine, but I’m carrying you down there,” he said as he turned away to grab a shirt. “You shouldn’t even be out of bed.”
“Deal,” I replied, hiding my smile.
“You need socks,” he mumbled to himself.
I was completely bundled up, from a zip-front hoodie to hiking socks on my feet, when Danny carried me downstairs to the kitchen. I wanted to hold my back straight so I looked a little more like a queen and a little less like a waif that he’d just saved, but I didn’t have it in me. Instead, I let my head rest on his shoulder, the scent of his skin soothing me. I was so fucking tired, and if it had been anything else happening, I would’ve happily waved goodbye as he left without me.
Daniel’s brothers and parents were in the kitchen along with Dalton, my dad, and a Vampire I’d never met before.
He was of slight build and wore a pair of wire-rimmed glasses. His hair was neatly combed, and his shoulders and back were straight in a way that screamedmilitary. Even in dark trousers and a deep blue sweater, he still gave the impression that he was wearing a uniform.
“Daniel,” he greeted, barely glancing at me.
“Arthur,” Daniel replied curtly. He carefully lowered me to my feet.
“And your mate,” Arthur said kindly, almost congratulatory.
“Don’t even look at her,” Daniel barked. “She doesn’t exist for you.”
“Arne,” Erik chastised.
“Can you blame him?” Uncle Dalton drawled, leaning against the wall. I let out a breath of relief when everyone’s attention left us. I grabbed Daniel’s hand and gave it a squeeze of reassurance. “Mates are dropping like flies the moment you hear about them.”
“I assure you I have nothing to do with the Vampires and mates that are being targeted,” Arthur replied stiffly. “I am doing the best that I can with the resources available to me.”
The entire room burst into angry chatter.
“Enough,” Erik bellowed, silencing the room. “This will get us nowhere. Chance, Beau, bring Adamson to the back patio. I’ll not have that motherfucker in my house.”
Daniel’s brothers left to get the Vampire while we all shuffled outside to the back patio. I shouldn’t have been impressed by the manicured lawn and perfectly placed trees and shrubs, considering the inside of the house, but I was. The property I’d grown up on was so different from Daniel’s family estate. It would take ten landscapers and a year to make it look anything near what Daniel’s parents had going on. Shit, they’d probably have to bulldoze it all and start from scratch.
