She swallowed hard but finally nodded.
In an effort to assure her she was safe, Eclipse led her through the main part of the house, introduced her to Phillip and Jeffrey, theheurospcurrently preparing the morning meal. Both males seemed overly pleased that they had anotheramsouelotin residence, their shoulders firming as they watched her, gearing up to fulfill her every wish.
After they’d completed their pleasantries, Eclipse led Orianna up the steps into the sunroom, then out onto the back patio before he realized thedhiramade it impossible for her to see anything.
“So can you see through this … what did you call it?”
“Dhira. And yes.” But she couldn’t because she was making a beeline for the pool.
Tugging on her hand, he redirected her back into the house, where it was safe.
“So a no on outside,” Orianna muttered.
“We’ll try downstairs,” he told her as he made his way to the stairs leading belowground.
The good news was, she wasn’t attempting to run out of the house; however, she was scanning every inch as though taking stock of the exits should they be necessary.
“Eclipse.”
The voice came from behind him, so he paused on the stairs, peered up. Reidar was standing at the top, watching him closely.
“Give me a minute,” he told theladeare.
Reidar nodded.
When he made his way into the bar room, he found Malak and Raksa standing in the far corner. Based on their rushed whispers, they were arguing.
“I need the room,” he informed them.
Malak’s blue eyes hardened before he offered an understanding nod. Without a word, the two males marched for the stairs leading up to the main house.
“Who are all those people?” Orianna asked when they were alone. “Soldiers?”
“Yes, but they’re also my family,” he said because it was the easiest explanation. “Have a seat.”
As though considering her options, Orianna peered around the room before moving toward the bar. She perched on the stool he’d motioned her to while he headed around behind the bar.
“Want a drink?”
“I don’t suppose you have Mountain Dew,” she said with the first smile he’d seen since they had left the Dungeon.
He bent down and opened the mini fridge they kept stocked with everything from water to beer. The thing was full of Coke, 7-Up, and A&W, but it was the work of a blink for the Mountain Dew to appear. Eclipse grabbed a can, stood tall, and took one of the crystal glasses from the rack. He added a couple of ice cubes, poured half the soda into the glass before passing it over to her.
Orianna was staring at him, her brow furrowed.
“What’s on your mind?”
“Why do you really wear the sunglasses?”
Not only could Eclipse not lie to her because she was hisamsouelot, he didn’t want to. As far as he was concerned, there was no reason to sidestep the truth. Considering all she’d witnessed—him killing the human, the vampires at the club—he felt as though she could handle the truth.
With a sigh, he removed the glasses and held her gaze.
Orianna’s pretty blue eyes widened. “Your eyes … they’re glowing.”
Yep. They were.
“Why?”
