I heard the leap in James’ heart rate and had to physically force myself not to gather him into my arms. With great effort I also managed not to look too defensive as I said, “Where then, Baxter’s?”
“That’s not really neutral either,” Trace pointed out. I sagged a bit under the touch of his strong fingers; he was right. Jameshad begun to view Baxter and her house as an extension of here. It would be unreasonable, potentially cruel, to expect him to work through his issues there.
Dalziel shook his head. “My place, of course. The house in Dalston. I envisage us being gone for about three days.”
James’ heart fluttered like a sparrow caught in a net. I gaped at Dalziel.You’re taking my boyfriend away from me? Over my dead body!
32
TRACE
Dalziel got to his feet,took a couple of steps, and got right up into Edwin’s space. His eyes blazed with thrall. “Edwin,sit down. Your fangs have dropped and you’re snarling. You’ll scare James. Think with your brain, not your vampire senses.”
Like an obedient zombie, Edwin sank into the nearest chair with a pained moan and dropped his head into his hands. “I’m sorry, baby,” he whined in James’ direction. “I’m a bit possessive when it comes to you.” I noticed he didn’t apologise to Dalziel, but I wasn’t going to say anything. I felt antsy myself about trusting James to anyone but the two of us, but I knew Dalziel wouldn’t do anything to harm someone who was so important to one of his coven.
James inhaled a shaky breath, then came and knelt by Edwin and laid his head on Edwin’s knee. It was the most proactive action he’d taken for days. “You trust Dalziel, don’t you?” he asked tentatively, as if feeling daring for saying such a thing in front of the senior vampire.
“Of course I do, love.”
“Then I should go.”
Edwin sighed heavily. “Yeah, I know.” He peeked at James through his fingers. “Would you…hold me, before you?—”
“Yes.” James cut across his request and was in Edwin’s lap in a second. He burrowed close, one hand slipping under Edwin’s shirt. Edwin leaned back and his eyelids fluttered shut. I felt my heart expand as I watched them. They were so in love, even if James didn’t fully realise it yet. I ached to be part of that huddle, although I also knew this wasn’t a deliberate exclusion but rather a moment they both needed.
“Gonna miss you.”
“Mmm.” James reverted to his previous almost-silence, but it felt less strained now.
Dalziel suggested we leave the pair alone for a bit. “I presume you will want to feed before James packs,” was his parting shot to Edwin as he gestured for me to precede him.
At Dalziel’s suggestion, I gave him a tour of my garden. He asked a surprising number of pertinent questions about things like yield, soil composition, mineral contents, and even air quality, which surprised me until I remembered he’d been born in an age when he’d likely have been growing his own food. Or been much closer to the production than your average Brit was these days. When he wasn’t being a bossy arse to his offspring — although Edwin had been on the verge of losing his chill — he was excellent company. He had a sharp intellect and a general thirst for knowledge that couldn’t be faked.
Terrance swooped in and came to say hello. He and Dalziel had met before, but it had been a while. I invited Dalziel inside my home while I made myself a drink and Terrance a snack. “I don’t have anything to offer you,” I apologised to Dalziel.
“I wouldn’t expect you to. I fed before I left Lucansburn. I am old enough I can last a few days without any ill effects.” He glanced around. “This is a cosy space.” He paused. “Rather too much silver for my liking, but I understand it’s useful as a witch.”
“It helps James’ Fae side too. I’m very happy with the place. Eddie has been more than generous.” I busied myself tidying the kitchen while he hovered in the doorway.
“The Council values you, both as a person and as a witch. Edwin will of course be compensated for his financial losses regarding his land, although I somehow doubt he will ask for a penny.” I could feel Dalziel’s eyes boring holes through the back of my neck as he spoke. “He’s very fond of you, isn’t he, Dempsey?”
“I think so,” I said as calmly as I could. “Shall we go back through to the sitting room?”
He let me drink in peace, seemingly content to browse my book collection. When I set my mug down, however, his gaze was laser-focused.
“He doesn’t know, does he?”
I met his look without flinching. “Of course he doesn’t. Obviously.”
“How do you expect him to react?”
Curse my inability to keep my pulse at a steady sixty-five, but I had literally everything to lose if the worst happened, so ofcoursethis was a question that would make it skitter like a wild thing. I pinched the bridge of my nose, pushing my fingers into my sockets so hard I saw fireworks behind my eyelids. This wasThe Question.
Fuck you, Dalziel, for pressing on this permanently fresh, most tender of bruises that never healed.
I took my time steadying my breathing as best I could before I met his eyes once more. “I can’t possibly answer that.” I tried desperately to suffocate the need I could feel welling up inside me like a river about to burst its banks. “I’ve not dared hope. Not this time.”
“And James?”
