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The funeral. Steph’s sobs.
An eerie feeling in my gut.
I stiffen as the memories pause, and my mind focuses on that singular moment.
“What’s wrong?” Jesse asks, feeling the tension rolling off me.
Pushing my torso up, I brace my hands against the mattress to hold myself above him as our eyes meet.
“With everything that happened, I totally forgot,” I breathe.
“Forgot what?” he asks, concern etched across his features.
I lick my lips. “Right before the necklace grew hot, and I was thrown into the vision, I felt something. Something in my gut.”
“What did you feel?” he asks.
“Someone was watching me,” I whisper. “And not in the ‘Hey, there’s a witch-vampire hybrid at a witch’s funeral’ kind of way. It felt deeper. More meaningful. I don’t really know how to explain it, but it was like whoever was watching me wasn’t supposed to be there.”
He pulls me back down and holds me tightly against him, saying, “I won’t let anyone hurt you.”
I nod against his chest, knowing he’s speaking the truth, but as I think about it, I realize I never felt like I was in any danger. Like whoever was watching me wasn’t there to hurt me in any way.
They were just simply…watching.
And I intend to find out who it was.
And why.
32
GOING HOME AGAIN
Jesse’s phone rang before the sun came up this morning, and now we’re packing our bags once again. The vampires have been existing in peace and staying out of trouble while their king has been away for the last few weeks, but some issues have come up that need his personal attention.
A human crying to the press that a vampire bit her without consent while the vampire in question denies the allegations. He says the woman seduced him and begged him to bite her, but when her husband somehow found out about the tryst, she cried foul and insisted she was attacked.
There has also been an alleged sighting of a werewolf slinking around some dark back alley in Hollywood. The ones Malediction brought with him to attack us are still living on the grounds at Belloy Manor, but those are under my control. The Grundelier coven created the beasts, and as a witch of that bloodline, they serve me and follow my orders. A rogue beast, one I haven’t exerted my dominance over, could be a major problem for the local vampires.
The wolves are our only true predator.
Jesse assured me he’d be fine going back alone to handle the problems. That I should stay and help Steph with her grief and all the paperwork and decisions that loom over her in the wake of Bernadette’s death.
But the thought of letting him go, of having the entire country between us for who knows how long left a searing pain in my chest that I know wouldn’t ease with time. No. I’m going with my mate.
Besides, if there really is a lone wolf traipsing around Los Angeles, I need to be the one to deal with it. I’m the only one who can…short of killing it, that is.
Erik is talking to Steph now about our imminent departure, and Jesse’s on the phone trying to reserve a private plane for the journey while Leif packs his bags for him. I tried to assure the blond vampire I could do that, but he insisted, saying he needed to feel useful.
Our wide gazes meet as Jesse spits out a low curse and ends his call. We both turn to face my mate, who’s frowning as his eyes lift from the screen of his phone to meet mine.
“We’re going to have to fly commercial. There are no private planes available in Atlanta. We can fly to Savannah or Birmingham and charter a plane there, or we can just book a flight to L.A. in first class.”
I give him a soft smile as I move forward and wrap my arms around his waist. “First class sounds good to me.”
“Are you sure?” he asks, pulling back to meet my gaze.
“I’m sure,” I say, then squeeze him before letting go and taking a step back. “Besides, before I met you, I’d only ever flown coach. First class sounds great.”
