“Tell me about Stephen,” Declan growled, and Riley flinched but didn’t otherwise move. “We do not ‘get sick,’ Shannon. You know this.”
“Yeah, well…when I saw ‘im, he was doin’ a fucking good impression of a corpse. His eyes, mate. They were bloody. Not red,bloody. And he kept sayin’ he was burnin’ up.” Shannon muttered something hat sounded suspiciously like “looney” and then cleared his throat. “Listen, Declan. I don’t know what ya’ got yerself into, but if yer not careful, it’ll be the end of you.”
“I know. Stay out of it from here on in. You understand?” Shannon was one of his only…friends. If he lost that, he’d be truly alone.
“Do my best. You know how to reach me.” With a click, Shannon ended the call, and Riley peered up at him.
“So…I killed another one.” Her voice wobbled, and dammit. Declan wanted nothing more than to comfort her. But what could he offer her? Nothing. Her blood…did something to most other vampires. Something that could end them. And Declan couldn’t understand why he was still able to draw breath.
“Stay with me,acushla. Rest here until tonight. Then, I will make some calls and find out more about Stephen.”
She extricated herself from his embrace, took two steps back, and stumbled. Declan was at her side before she fell, scooping her into his arms and carrying her to his bed.
“You just had my blood. You should not be feeling so weak.” He examined her nails again, relieved they were still a healthy shade of pink. “What is it?”
“I’m just…this is all too much. Vampires. My blood killing them. I don’t understandanyof this. I’m a scientist, Declan.” Her eyes filled with tears, and she swiped at them like they offended her. “I don’t do well without…answers.”
He linked their fingers and brought one of her hands to his lips, kissing away her tears. “I promise you, Riley. I will find the answers you need. But I did not sleep while you were missing, and I fear I will not be much use until I rest. And despite my blood…you are still healing.”
A single nod was all the permission he needed to help her off with her shoes and tuck her under the blankets. But when he pushed to his feet, she grabbed his hand.
“Will you…stay with me?” The desperation in her tone sent a lance through where he thought his soul used to be.
Giving her fingers a reassuring squeeze, he rounded the bed and stretched out as far away from her as he could. “I will stay.”
As long as she did not touch him, he could control his desire. Sleep. But when she scooted closer and wrapped her arm around his waist, arousal sent his cock to attention. He wanted her. More than he had wanted…anythingin his entire vampire existence. But his human was too fragile. Too scared. And if Declan let himself give in, he did not know if he could ever let her go.
