“A connection, if you will. A mystical link we don’t fully understand.” Darian frowned, as if the admission was inexcusable. “Suffice to say, a witch has power over a vampire.”
Cally gave an inward sigh of relief. When he’d first said ‘bond’… too close for comfort.
“All I can do is light up obsidian,” she muttered.
Darian smiled. “That proves you have power, Miss Davis. You bring the power, we bring the knowledge, and together”—his smile widened to a grin, baring his teeth—“we can go hunting.”
It wasn’t difficult for Cally to allow all her concerns and trepidation to rise to the surface. “You’ve just explained in graphic detail how difficult vampires are to kill, and now you want me to risk my life for your Order?”
“You are far too valuable to risk,” Darian said, watching her with something akin to reverence in his eyes. “It will be my honor to keep you safe at all times. However, even far back from the line of fire, you would still be a significant asset.”
“Asset?” Cally echoed, arching a brow.
Darian hesitated, then looked sheepish. It made him seem less the federal agent type and more human. “Too many years using military slang. Forgive me. What I meant is that you would still be a great help, and”—he paused, his gaze steady as he held hers—“there’s no way I’d let any harm come to you.”
“We still haven’t agreed to anything,” Cally reminded him.
“I want to see your books,” Eve spoke up, her tone firm. “I want to review what you claim you have and see how authentic it is.”
Darian’s lips twitched as though he found Eve entertaining. “How’s your Latin?”
“Not as good as my French,” Cally muttered. She looked at Eve.
“I did a few years at school. Most boring subject ever.”
“And your Gaelic?”
“You’re kidding, right?”
“Well, no matter,” Darian said. “We’ve translated it all into English, but there are nuances in the original texts that may have been valuable.” He crossed to one of the bookshelves, unhesitatingly pulling out a large, leather-bound volume. “Why don’t I show you to your rooms. No doubt you need some time to consider what I’ve told you before we meet with Mr. Alexander for dinner this evening.” He passed the book to Eve. “I’m sure you’ll find this an interesting read.”
Eve clutched it to her chest, as much for its size and weight as its value, and Cally could tell she couldn’t wait to open it.
*
It came as no surprise that the house was a mansion, with two more floors and plenty of large bedrooms.
Cally paused by the large window on the staircase, looking out over the expansive grounds down to a lake in the distance.
“Do you like it?” Darian asked.
“Difficult not to like,” she replied, her voice distant and thoughtful. “It’s beautiful.”
“Yes, it is,” he said simply, then turned away, leading them up to the next floor.
Eve frowned at the window, then turned to Darian. “You’re being less circumspect in what you let us see. Without hoods, I mean.”
Just what I was thinking.
He stopped three steps up. “Well, you’ve been accepted now. Only up to a certain point is it practical to hide what and where we are. Eventually, there has to be trust.”
“We still haven’t agreed to anything,” Cally reminded him, for what felt like the third or fourth time.
Darian didn’t look impressed. “Knowing what you now know, how could you go back to the lives you had before?”
He turned again, carrying on up the stairs. Cally shared a look with Eve, and they followed.
She really wanted to discuss everything they’d seen and heard, but it would be foolish to assume the Order wasn’tmonitoring them every step of the way. They’d agreed as much before they’d even boarded the plane.
