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Chapter 21

Kenton. So he’d run right to her after Lawrence had spoken to him, asking his former enemy to take over the Zach Walsh investigation and keep Toni protected.

He hadn’t been close enough to hear his conversation with Toni, but Lawrence had sensed his presence as he walked toward Curiosities. Their tentative truce had held all summer, and despite himself, Lawrence grudgingly liked—even respected—the former earl. But he would not allow him to intervene in this . . .

For seven hundred years, he had devoted himself to the cause of protecting the Cheld, only to abandon it for his own selfish purposes.

For the love of a woman.

As he opened the door of the shop, Lawrence’s throat tightened at the thought of what he had to do. Last night, Toni had looked downright sexy as hell. This morning, she looked innocent. Vulnerable. The sight of that vulnerability cut him like a broadsword.

“Morning,” he said.

“Morning.”

Her tone told him that she knew. Or guessed at least. It wouldn’t make this easier.

Lawrence picked up a notepad from the counter. “These new?”

“Yep,” she said hesitantly. “But you didn’t come here to take inventory.”

He placed the notepad back on the counter. To fill the silence, she blurted, “We learned something strange about the break-in.”

Lawrence’s brows drew together.

“My uncle realized it, actually. Birdie’s acquaintance, Annabel, the one who had heard of the Cheld before . . . she’s actually Zach’s grandmother.”

He had the same reaction as her and Alessandra.

“I don’t like that,” he said.

“Neither do we,” she said.

Then, more silence.

“Was Kenton here?”

She didn’t move from her stool, but as he got closer to the counter, the smell of coconut and vanilla drew him in.

“Yes,” she said, watching him carefully.

“What did he tell you?” Lawrence had gone to Kenton last night after Laria’s call. The other vampire knew what he planned to do.

“It doesn’t matter,” she said. “What matters is your expression right now. Something’s obviously wrong, and I’d like to know what it is.”

So she didn’t know everything. Lawrence walked around the counter and stood directly beside her. Taking both of her hands, he got straight to the point.

“The Cheld they chased. He’s the one who nearly killed Laria.” He squeezed her hands. “We don’t know whether or not he’s with the Sect, but it was a trap. He’d actually awakened years ago. It took Torr’s intervention to keep him from staking her, and they’ve been chasing him ever since. Or more accurately, they have been chasing each other. The only reason she finally called was to tell me not to expect them in Stone Haven any time soon.”

“Why?”

A dullness settled into his chest. An emptiness seven centuries in the making.

“She doesn’t want to lead them here.”

“Oh.” She released his hands, then said it again. “Oh.” The second time it was sadder, more resigned.

She understood. Her empty stare confirmed it.