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Everything clicked into place and my mouth dropped open. “The general sent him to spy on me?”
“Or felt you could use the help,” Julian offered, but by the tight set of his jaw, I doubted he believed that.
“Why does he have it in for me?” I asked. “And why wouldn’t the hiring freeze apply to me?”
Julian sighed—a dramatic statement since I knew vampires didn’t do that. “The general and I do not always see eye to eye. And frankly, I may have misled on the paperwork.”
“You lied?”
“I evaded. I did not mention you are psychic. I simply implied you are a witch because of your family history.”
“But why?” My suspicion and anger turned to confusion as Julian turned his indigo gaze on me in a way that felt like he might have X-ray vision.
“To protect you, Charlotte.”
Chapter Six
Zoe Needs to Stop Setting Me Up
My entire world turned upside down, and I took a moment to focus on my breath. Why was a vampire protecting me? And from what? If the general was dangerous, how was living on the Island safe?
When I didn’t answer, Julian reached a hand out but let it fall on the neutral ground of the center console.
“Why do I need protection from SHADE?” I asked, staring out at the scenery of forest that blurred past.
“Hopefully, you don’t,” Julian said in his rumbly, velvet voice. If I hadn’t still had the charm necklace Zoe gave me, I’d have been worried about him using glamour. “The general and I don’t always agree. I have no doubt he has the best interest of the supernatural community as top priority, but our methods often differ. He’s more of an ends-justify-the-means sort of military man.”
“And what are you?” It was impossible to avoid looking at him for more than a minute. He beat out the tropical scenery for my attention, whether it was a good idea or not.
“I am someone who’s seen and made too many mistakes to believe in absolutes,” Julian said, gaze locked on mine. “And I have much to make up for, so that is how I intend to spend the rest of my eternity.”
I could imagine the things an old vampire had done that caused regret. But the idea that he did regret and was trying to make amends tugged at my heart. I’d always thought once a vampire gave in to the blood lust, their humanity was forfeit—at least the conscience. I’d seen the way the virus altered genetic codes. But maybe that wasn’t part of what the virus changed like I’d thought. I swallowed and cleared my throat.
“Watch the road, Julian.”
With a salacious grin, he turned his attention back to the twisting path before us, and electric tingles of anticipation zipped through me. He was the most attractive man I’d ever met, and I’d attributed that to his predatory nature, but I was softening to the person underneath. Considering we were going to be spending a lot of time together, I might be in danger of developing a real attraction to Julian, and that both frightened and excited me.
I had to nip it in the bud. Not only was he a vampire and my boss, he was likely to arrest me if I got close enough for him to figure out I was the one that created GoDKiller.
Picture Tittwell, I told myself, then shuddered. That worked.
It was only when we arrived at the house, and Julian found he couldn’t go up the driveway, that I realized I hadn’t thought through what I was going to say to Mama and Zoe.
“I am so sorry, Julian,” I said when he stopped as close to the curb as possible. “I’ll talk to them.”
“So long as you don’t hate me, I’ll be fine.” The hand he’d left on the no-man’s-land of the center console lifted and he squeezed my arm.
My stomach fluttered, and I cursed myself for letting his flattery get to me. What if the whole thing was a show, meant to get me to trust him? Damn, my head hurt. But I smiled feebly and got out of the car, waiting until he drove off before squaring my shoulders and heading for the door.
I expected a tirade, but instead, I was greeted with the mouthwatering scent of stew and freshly baked bread. Mom fussed in the kitchen while Zoe set the table, barely acknowledging me when I walked in. I tossed my bag on the sofa and took a seat at the island counter.
Time to bring up the vampire in the room.
“I’m assuming you want an explanation.” I reached for a piece of bread, and Mom smacked my hand.
“That’s for dinner, and yes, that would be lovely after worrying all day.” She pulled the basket out of reach and opened the oven to check on whatever masterpiece she was concocting for dessert.
“For the record, I didn’t mean to worry you or to have you find out like that.” I snatched a carrot off the cutting board without interference.
