“Hi.” Dessie held out a hand. “I’m human,” she said lamely before Garrett’s sister could sniff her.
Janie chuckled. “So I’ve heard.” She looked up, way up, into her brother’s face. “We finished furnishing the place just yesterday since you were headed home. If you don’t like anything, just let me know.”
“I love it all.” Garrett’s smile seemed more relaxed than it had the entire time Dessie had known him. “I missed you, Janie Belle.” He leaned down and pressed a kiss to the top of his sister’s head.
Dessie’s heart thumped. While Garrett might be an immortal and a killer, he had a sweet side that tore right through all the defenses she was trying to build around her heart.
Garrett looked behind Janie to the closet. “I don’t suppose my niece is in there?”
The vampire had a niece? Dessie craned her neck to look inside the closet.
“No. Hope is working in the computer center conducting research for you, I believe.” Janie’s gaze clouded.
“What’s wrong?” Garrett asked.
Janie shrugged. “Nothing. I mean, I think it’s nothing. She has another cold, and it turned into an ear infection.”
Garrett’s expression darkened. “Seriously? I thought we were done with the childhood illnesses that she shouldn’t have in the first place.”
Now that was just cute. “Is there something wrong with her ears?” Dessie asked.
Garrett drew himself up. “No. It’s a long story, but Hope is the only female alive with vampire blood in her, and yet she contracts human illnesses. We can’t figure it out.”
That was odd. “How old is she?” Perhaps if the girl was still a toddler, she would outgrow the problem.
“Twenty-one in three days,” Janie said. “We’re having a ball and combining it with a Realm symposium. It’s not like we should miss an opportunity to conduct business instead of having fun.” She rolled her eyes.
Dessie jolted. “You have a twenty-one-year-old daughter?” The woman, who had no wrinkles, appeared to be in her late twenties.
Janie grinned. “Yes. Mating an immortal has a couple of benefits, even if one does have to deal with a humongous male demon ego with a side of over-the-top dominance. But whatevs.”
Dessie loved her. Of course she’d adore Garrett’s sister. Why couldn’t Janie be a mean hag whom Dessie wanted to escape? No. She had to be lovely and funny, and Dessie would only have a week or so to get to know her. Once again, her fatal diagnosis brought an ache to her chest that would never completely dissipate. “I’m looking forward to meeting her.”
Janie patted her arm. “She’s very curious to meet you as well. Garrett has never brought a female home. I mean, a woman home.”
That should not ignite a flame of happy heat in Dessie’s body. Yet it did, and she couldn’t help grinning back at Garrett’s sister. “I’m very happy I was able to meet you, Janie.” The more interesting people she racked up, the more she felt she’d at least lived this life a little bit.
Janie sobered. “Ditto. Also, we do have the best doctors in the entire world. If there’s any way to help you, Aunt Emma will figure it out. I promise.” She winced. “In fact, I have a message for you two. Em would like to conduct more tests on Dessie as soon as you’ve settled in, just to make sure she has everything. I’m assisting her. We’re very good.” She focused on her brother again. “Mom and Dad had to run to Seattle to help the wolves with something but will be back first thing in the morning. So get settled in, relax, and get ready.”
Garrett’s sigh moved his entire chest.
* * * *
Following an afternoon of watching Dessie go through medical test after medical test without one complaint, Garrett had had enough. Not only did the woman not complain, she joked with Emma and asked questions the entire time. It was as if she wanted to learn as much as possible before she died.
He wouldn’t have it. None of it. His family was the most powerful one on the planet, and they had the best medical personnel. This one little human was not going to die.
“Stop frowning.” Dessie grasped his forearm as they walked past the log homes from the medical center. “It’s okay, Garrett.”
None of this was okay. “We’re going to figure out a way to get that thing out of your head.” His gaze automatically scanned the forest on the other side of the road for any threats. It was nearly impossible to infiltrate their property, but he wasn’t going to let anything happen to her on his watch.
For the first time, he wondered if he could let her go. Once she was cured—and she would be cured—what exactly was his plan? His chest ached, and he rubbed it with his free hand.
There was no way he could be falling for a human who’d only live for eighty more years or so.
If they cured her.
They had to cure her.
