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Talon waited until I was under the covers again, then stowed the duffel bag in the closet and settled on the armchair.
I eyed him. “What are you doing?”
“Making sure you sleep.”
“What if I don’t want you to?”
He stared back, unblinking.
“Whatever. Suit yourself.” I rolled onto my side, giving him my back.
I thought I was too churned up to sleep, but I was wrong. I was out within minutes.
Right before I dropped off, I thought I felt Talon brush a hand down my face from my forehead to my chin, soothing me in a way he knew I liked. “Sleep, now. Everything’s going to be all right.”
But I might’ve dreamed that part.
4
Talon
I settled onto the chair, watching Eden sleep.
I’d meant what I’d told her. She was mine now. I was a possessive SOB, and she wasn’t just the woman I couldn’t get enough of, she was the mother of my spawn.
Yeah, I was taking advantage of the circumstances to have more involvement in everything about her, and the Talon who remembered what it was like to be human and desperate felt guilty—but the vampire? It was coldly satisfied.
I hadn’t wanted to allow Eden to leave in the first place. If I’d had my way, I’d have kept her with me on Lilith Island even after her contract was up. But she was so young. She’d made it clear she couldn’t wait to escape the island and small-town life. She’d saved almost everything she made as a thrall to finance her big move.
I’d figured I’d give her a few years to get it out of her system, then go after her. I’d even told myself I’d have given her a choice, although when it came down to it, I’m not sure I would’ve.
Eden muttered something scared and broken. I was instantly on my feet.
“Easy.” I feathered my fingertips over her downy cheek. “It’s just a bad dream. You’re safe.”
“No…” Her heart rapped out a panicked beat. She moved her head back and forth on the pillow. “Please, don’t…”
My gut squeezed. I’d wanted the upper hand. Wanted her punished.
Lilith knew, she deserved it.
It shouldn’t bother me that she was frightened, upset. But it did, damn her anyway.
I gripped her chin. “Eden. Look at me.” When she did, dazed and afraid, I captured her gaze and put a compulsion on her. “Sleep. You’re safe. You will sleep deeply, without dreams.”
Her breath shuddered in.
“Sleep,” I repeated, low and firm.
With a sigh, she curled into a ball and was out.
I stared down at her, every muscle in my body strung tight, a germ of an idea teasing me.
I wanted her safe, yeah.
I also wanted to own her, to guarantee she never left again. Having her off-island had gutted me. I’d been obsessed with getting her back.
That was unacceptable. I was a syndicate lieutenant now, and Brien was still establishing himself as the new primus. He needed my full attention.
