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I focus, stretching out my senses and breathing through my nose in search of any scent, but I smell nothing. Feel nothing.
“I think they’re gone,” I say, “but Erik’s right. Let’s get out of here.”
We leave the room, and my gaze searches every nook and cranny of the sanctuary as we pass through the large hall. All of the pews are empty, and I can’t see anyone lurking in the shadows. I don’t feel anything, either, and I let myself relax a little as we walk through the front doors.
Whoever was here is gone, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t somewhere close. Watching. Waiting.
And I really need to find out why.
39
SEVEN TIMES
It’s a quiet ride back to the manor, and once we arrive, Steph gives me a tight hug before wandering off with Erik. Taking my hand without a word, Jesse leads me toward the staircase. I stop when we reach the base, tugging Jesse’s hand to pull him to a stop, too.
“I’ve taken up all your time today. If you need to go attend to some business, I’ll be fine by myself.”
He starts shaking his head before I even finish. “Nothing is more important than you, Eden. Nothing.”
With that, he takes to the stairs, pulling me along with him. Despite my offer, a deep sense of relief washes over me. He’s not going to leave me to stew over everything alone.
As we walk into our bedroom, we both keep moving by tacit agreement, heading straight into the bathroom where Jesse closes the door behind us. Heaving a sigh now that we have complete privacy, I brace my hands against the counter and hop up, perching on the edge.
Jesse moves in between my knees, curving his strong arms around me. I lean into him, wrapping my arms and legs around his torso and clinging tightly to the comfort he provides.
“Who do you think it could be?” I mumble into his chest after a long moment of silence.
“I don’t know,” he admits, tightening his grip on me, “but we will figure it out.”
My mind races as I try to come up with viable suspects. Steph’s biological family comes to mind first, but Malediction, Shannon, and anyone who helped them are all dead. Fuck, are ghosts real? No. That’s ridiculous.
Of course, it wasn’t that long ago that the idea of real vampires and witches seemed ridiculous, too.
“Are ghosts real?” I murmur, and Jesse barks out a laugh.
“I don’t think so. At least, I’ve never come into contact with one.” He leans back so he can meet my gaze. “Where did that come from?”
I shrug. “Just thinking of possible suspects, and Malediction and his crew popped into my head.”
He cocks his head. “If it were the spirits of Steph’s family, wouldn’t she be the one sensing their presence and not you?”
“You’re probably right,” I groan, pulling him back into me.
“We will figure this out,” he whispers into my hair. “And if someone is trying to hurt you, they will pay for their efforts.”
I let his words sink in for a minute, but something about them doesn’t feel right. Biting my lip, I search my gut for a moment more, then shake my head against Jesse’s chest.
“I think you might’ve been right before. I think they might actually be trying to help me, somehow. Hell, maybe Steph was right, too, and my knowing what the prophecy entails somehow…activates it.”
As the words pass my lips, something settles in my gut. A feeling of rightness that is undeniable. I don’t know if Steph’s theory is correct, or if there’s another, more sinister reason, but the person or persons responsible for preventing me from asking the question at the meeting were trying to help.
Of that, I have zero doubt.
The epiphany has all the tension draining from me, and sensing it, Jesse hugs me a bit tighter. The feel of his body against mine has my mind wandering in a completely different direction, and I welcome the distraction from my troubles. Tightening my legs around his waist, I lift my hips to rub my core against him.
A quiet moan rumbles from his chest, and he dips his head, pressing his open mouth to my neck. His hands find the hem of my shirt, and he pulls back slightly before whipping it over my head. His fingers snap open the clasp of my bra with deft precision. I shrug my shoulders to help as he pulls the straps down my arms, and the second my breasts are revealed, he leans in to suck one pert nipple between his lips.
At the first flick of his tongue, my mind goes blank. All my thoughts and troubles blow away, leaving nothing but pleasure in their wake.
