“The others have been so wrapped up in theirmates and growing families they haven’t detected your increasingwithdrawal from us. And the rest of the brood is too young to be apart of this or to understand. As the only unmated vampire leftamongst our matured siblings, I did notice.”
Last year, Vicky never would have perceivedanything off with him as she would have been too busy hopping fromone party and boyfriend to the next. Her imprisonment had changedher more than he’d realized.
Leaning back in the chair, she crossed herlegs and kicked one in the air as she grinned at him, but there wassomething strained about her smile. “Guess I’m the lone holdout,but I’m okay with that. The single life is how I like to roll.”
“You’re lying.”
“Perhaps, but what difference does beingmated make for me? Unlike you, I’m not about to plunge over thedeep end and into a murderous rampage. I’ll be fine, and Willowwill soon be joining me in the ranks of the gloriously single andmatured.”
He couldn’t picture Willow, the mosttomboyish one of his sisters, reveling in her freedom and maturityas Vicky had.
“You’ll find someone,” he said.
“No, I won’t,” she said with more vehemencethan he’d expected. Then, she smiled again and slapped her hands onthe arms of the chair. “What is my future sister-in-law like?Declan and Saxon have been pretty mum on the details.”
“Have you met someone?” he inquired, not atall fooled by her abrupt change in conversation.
“No.”
She’d said no, but he sensed she lied.
“Vicky—”
“I bet she’s beautiful,” Vicky gushed, andfor a minute he caught a glimpse of the girl she’d once been,pouring over fashion magazines, prattling on about clothes, anddreaming about one day visiting Paris. He hadn’t heard her mentiontraveling in months.
He’d become the most self-centered of hissiblings, he realized with a start. He’d been so obsessed with notfalling over the edge, he’d failed to notice Vicky walking a paththat might end up as destructive as his.
“She is beautiful,” he said, sensing Vickyneeded a distraction of some sort. “And she’s a paramedic.”
“She’s caring too then!”
“I’m here for you, you know. I’ve been a bitlost, but I’ve always been and always will be here for you.”
Vicky stared at him as if she were trying tofind words. Finally, she swallowed and nodded. “You came for me inthat warehouse. I know you’re here for me. And I’m happy for you,but I’d be happier if you spilled some details on this girl! Theothers won’t shut up about how amazing their mates are, and I feellike I’m pulling fangs out over here!”
Aiden walked over and bent down. He slid hishands under Vicky’s arms to lift her. She froze, and for a second,he sensed the same thing in her that had been inside him, arevulsion to touch because she didn’t feel worthy of it. Then, sheeased against him and draped her arms around his neck.
The clean scent of her filled his nose. Hewas relieved to note the faint stench of rot clinging to her sinceher captivity had faded. During her imprisonment, Vicky was starvedto the point where she lost control and killed a human. Because ofthat, she’d born the stain of death on her, but Vicky wasn’t avampire who killed regularly or took pleasure in it, and time hadmostly washed the aroma from her.
“Welcome back, Aiden,” she whispered. “Imissed you.”
“One day, you’ll come back too.”
“Oh, I’m like a cockroach, not even anuclear bomb can keep me down,” she said in a voice that no longerheld a teasing tone.
Behind him, he heard a door open. He turnedas Maggie stepped into the room. The smile slid from her face, andher expression became murderous. If she’d held a crossbow, he knewshe would have shot him.
“I like her already,” Vicky declared andslapped him on his shoulders.
CHAPTER 35
Rage almost choked Maggie when she spottedthe pretty blonde in Aiden’s arms. She was ready to strangle themboth. No! She’d find herself a stake and stab him ineveryone of his extremities, starting with the wandering one between hislegs!
Idiot! Moron for believing anything avampire says!It was a good thing she didn’t walk on thoseclouds anymore because this fall would have broken every bone inher body. Aiden set the small blonde down and stepped towardher.
“Maggie, this is my sister, Vicky.”
Maggie blinked at him as his words graduallypenetrated the haze of red shading her vision and the fury buzzinglike bees in her ears. Then, her gaze returned to the woman whotilted her head to the side while she studied Maggie.
