“I’m here, Sly. Well, not really. I’m astral projecting. My body is still alive and well in Malvant’s place. Can you see me?”
He shook his head. “I can’t see you, but I can hear you.”
“Can you hear Chad, or just me?”
“Just you.”
“Are you sure? Chad, say something.”
“Something.”
“Did you hear him? What did he say?”
Sly shrugged. “I don’t know. I didn’t hear him. But I can hear you! Are you all right, darling?”
“Yes, but I came to warn you. Donotgo after Malvant. It’s a trap.”
“That’s what Gwyneth said. Are you all right, though? Will you be okay until we get there?”
“Yes. He has me locked in another room.”She glanced past him to Gwyneth, slowly coming to, in Nathan’s arms.“Please tell Gwyneth I’m alive. I think she got the wrong impression from Chad’s poorly worded greeting.”
“Sure, blame me. That’s what I get for trying to be nice.”
Sly held up one hand. “I’ll tell her.” He wandered back to Gwyneth and Nathan. “Are you okay, Gwyneth?”
“A course I’m not okay. My cousin’s a ghost! That means she’s—”
“Alive,” Sly interrupted. “She’s astral projecting.”
“Is that what Chad told y’all?”
“No, I can’t hear Chad at all. I can only hear Morgaine.”
“Really?” Gwyneth scrambled to her feet. “You can hear her in Astral form?”
When he nodded, she hugged him. “Oh, my! I’m so grateful to hear that. Not just that she’s alive, but that you are her beloved.”
He cocked his head. “What are you talking about?”
Gwyneth chuckled. “A beloved is a vampire’s one true love. Listen to me, tellin’ you about vampire lore.”
“Hey, you probably know more than I do. Everything I’ve learned has been by trial and error. So how do you know she’s my beloved? Because I can hear her?”
“Yup. It’s called telepathy. Ya’ll are lucky. Some vamps never find their beloved—ever, and that’s a long, long time to go without true love. I think that’s what makes most of them so cranky.”
Sly scratched his head. “Okay… Morgaine, are you hearing this?”
She couldn’t respond. A lump had lodged in her throat. This was heady stuff. Sure, she knew she loved him, but she wasn’t sure he loved her. Oh, she’d hoped, but he’d never told her so. Now, she knew.
“Morgaine?” Panic filled his eyes.
“I’m here.”She sniffed.
“Are you crying? What’s wrong?”
She didn’t answer. At last Chad said,“For cryin’ out loud. She’s a woman. Does she need a reason?”
“Shut-up, Chad. I—I guess I just hoped to hear it from you, Sly, not my cousin.”
