Faith reached for a glass of water. “Be careful what you wish for. These guys get a little intense, and you’ve always had a bit of wanderlust. That’ll change.”
Grace smiled. “You’re in love with Ronan, and that makes a difference. I’ll wander all I want.”
Faith lost her amusement. “No, you won’t. Make sure you understand who he is. What he is.”
“He’s a demon-vampire hybrid,” Grace said. “I already know what he is.”
“Grace, you’re from this century. Never forget that he isn’t.” Faith wet her lips and moved to stare out the window at the snow falling softly around the secured cabin. “They seem all tough and unemotional, but when those emotions are tapped, they blow hurricane force.”
Adare barely had emotions. “You’re happy though, right, Faith?”
Faith turned and smiled, her whole face lighting up. “Definitely. Ronan is everything.” Contentment looked good on her.
“I’m glad.” Grace didn’t want to discuss sex any longer. “I never heard the results of today’s blood tests.” No doubt Adare had built lots of antibodies. He was immortal, after all.
Faith turned and busied herself with reorganizing supplies that were already organized.
Grace stopped moving. “Faith?”
Her sister turned around, her lips set in a stubborn line. “I’m sure Adare will be fine.”
Oh, no. Grace slumped against the counter. “There was no change? My cells still killed his?”
“No, your cells kind of swallowed his. Not killed,” Faith said, grimacing. “We don’t know what it means. But I think you should mate him, and Adare knows the risks. It’s his decision to make.”
Adare popped his head in. “Grace? Do you have a minute?”
Faith turned away.
Grace hopped off the counter and pushed her sister in the arm before approaching the kitchen doorway. Well, so much for having sex with the hard-bodied badass. She’d tried to have faith in the process, but so far, it wasn’t looking good. “Sure. What’s up?”
He took her hand. “I’ll show you.”
Was that supposed to sound dirty? Or was her mind just in the gutter? “Okay.” Curious, she followed him through the main room to the hidden stairwell, climbing down as they had before. They reached the cavernous underground room, and she nodded at Benny and Ronan, who were studying a map over at the far table.
Adare drew her around the consoles to another doorway, pushing it open and leaning in to flip a light switch.
She gasped as she moved inside. “You made me a darkroom.” She looked around. He’d set up the wet side and the dry side perfectly, and there was even a running sink. A huge fan was mounted against the exterior wall for ventilation. She took in the three trays and tongs as well as the chemicals stored on the shelf above them, including neatly labeled hydroquinone and sodium hydroxide. Her chest swelled, and surprising tears pricked the backs of her eyes. “It’s perfect.”
“Good.” He stepped back. “I had it installed after we left the other day, after I saw the Pentax you lug around.” He turned and pointed to the nearest desktop computer. “That one is yours for editing digital pictures.”
“Thank you.” Her throat was clogged, but she turned and slid her palm over the hard ridges of his bicep. “This is really nice of you.” She didn’t know what to say. So she levered herself onto her toes and kissed him beneath his whiskered jaw.
He grinned. “I figured you’d like this more than diamonds.”
“Always.” Her hands itched to get in there and start developing some of the film she’d taken lately.
He gave her a gentle nudge. “You have a couple of hours before supper. Why don’t you break in the room? I’ll fetch your bag from upstairs.”
“Wait.” She stepped away from him. “I can’t do it, Adare. I just can’t.” She’d been fooling herself, thinking he was immortal and would survive whatever they did. “Emma said your antibodies haven’t changed from taking my blood. I can’t save my life by risking yours.” Even though her limbs were heavier than they’d ever been, and a peculiar darkness kept edging in from the far reaches of her vision, the facts were the facts.
“Grace,” he murmured. “We are mating. I’ll be fine.”
She could play dumb and accept his words, even though science said otherwise. Or she could face things head-on and take control of her destiny…and his. “No.”
He sighed. “The queen admitted she didn’t know or understand the Seven, the Keys, or the effect of your blood on mine in a Petri dish.”
Grace nodded vigorously. “Exactly. She doesn’t know. Why would you risk your life on an uncertainty?”
