She narrows her eyes at him. "Not quite that literal. It's… environmental. It depends where I am. Natural places feel clean. Alive. But in cities like Phoenix or L.A. it's harder. It's like being scraped raw all the time."
Kayden lets out a low whistle. "Well, it doesn't take supernatural empathy to dislike Phoenix."
I glance at her again. "You feel it here?"
She nods slowly. "Less than most places. There's forest nearby. Water. Quiet. It helps."
"Is it a physical ache?" I ask.
Sage tilts her head slightly, eyes half-lidded from smoke and thought. "It's in my chest. Like anxiety, but not... sharp. Darlene says all nature-bound creatures feel it. Back before industrialization, it came and went. It never quite fades now. But I found three ways to dull it." She lifts the joint. "This helps. And alcohol too."
"Well, that we can provide," Kayden says, lifting his flask in mock salute.
"And the third thing?" I ask, watching her carefully.
She presses her lips together to suppress a smile, but it tugs free anyway. "Did I say three?"
"You did," I reply, voice low.
"Oh."
Kayden pushes himself up on one elbow, a lazy grin tugging at his mouth. "Well, seeing that blush creeping up your neck, I think we can guess the third one. And it just so happens—we're very generous hosts."
Sage grins, lips curving in amusement. "Does that come with the B&B package? Breakfast, bed, and… bonus?"
"We could definitely provide the third 'B,'" Kayden offers.
"I live to serve," I add evenly, watching her reaction.
That gets her. Sage's gaze flicks from him to me, lingering just long enough to make my skin tighten. Her lips part slightly, as if she's going to fire something back, but then a gust of wind blows the joint out. She glances at it and straightens. "I think I'm done for tonight. Big day tomorrow, right? I'll just go downstairs and grab some water—"
Before she can finish, Kayden rises in a blur of motion, scoops her into his arms, and leaps off the roof.
I swear under my breath and jump down after him, landing beside them in a smooth crouch. Her eyes are wide, her breath caught halfway between a curse and disbelief.
"You—"
"What?" Kayden says, all innocence. "Express service to the ground floor. One of the many perks of being with a vampire."
"You're such a—"
"What? Irresistible? Efficient? Ridiculously handsome?"
"An asshole," I finish flatly, stepping in and pulling her out of his arms.
Only he doesn't let go. And suddenly we're frozen there—me with one arm around her waist, Kayden's hand still on her hip. She's in the middle, flush against both of our bodies, her breath hitching.
The heat of her. The scent. The weight of that tension winding tighter with every heartbeat.
"I should… go," she says, but makes no move to do so.
I glance over her shoulder at Kayden. He meets my eyes, expression unreadable for once.
"Yeah. Maybe you should," he says eventually, releasing her first. I do the same.
She steps back quickly, almost like she's afraid she might change her mind, and disappears inside, the screen door creaking behind her.
I turn to my brother, arms crossing automatically. "Didn't you say yesterday you were leaving?"
