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“I’m sorry,” Julian said, setting me on my feet and zipping over to the doorway. “That was out of line. I meant to comfort you.”

“It’s okay,” I said, hugging myself. “Thank you. You’ve helped alleviate some of the guilt.” Maybe I’d be able to free myself from the mountain I’d been buried under eventually.

“I’m glad,” Julian said, starting toward me and stopping himself abruptly. “It is not your fault that others think in terms of power and pain. We, ah, we should probably get you home. I’m sure your family is concerned about your absence.”

“What time is it?” I asked, suddenly panicking.

“It is nearly midnight. You needed to recover your energy.”

“Shit!” I began flipping back blankets looking for my cell, but Julian calmly laid it and my bag down beside me before I could destroy his room.

At least a dozen missed messages lit up my phone as we sped toward my house. Apparently, Julian lived quite close by, which shouldn’t have surprised me considering it was an island. As we pulled up to the curb, I saw Sam’s texts beneath my mother’s and sister’s, reminding me of our date. Before I could swear again, the werewolf in question ripped the passenger side door off the vamp mobile.

“Sam!” I shouted, stepping out of the car. His muscles bulged, and his eyes glowed silver like liquid moonlight reflecting in the night.

Julian was beside me in a blink, and my mother and sister rushed from the house, the front door left open in their wake.

“Stay behind me,” Julian whispered, trying to get in front but failing because of the wards.

“No.” If Sam was enraged, I was furious. How dare he?

Stepping onto the curb, where Julian couldn’t reach me, I stormed up to the out-of-control wolf and poked him in the chest.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” I demanded.

“Did the vamp hurt you?” Sam growled, but his eyes settled back to gray as he focused on me.

“No!” I shoved my hands on my hips and planted my feet shoulder width apart as I glared up at him. “Julian saved my life, as a matter of fact. You owe him a new car.”

At least Sam had the good sense to look sheepish as he glanced between me and Julian, who seethed at the edge of the wards.

“And that’s another thing,” I said, turning on my family. “Bring those wards down right now. Julian is my boss and my friend, and he is not to be treated this way.”

Zoe’s face paled so much she looked like she’d been turned. My mother straightened and charged up to me, meeting my indignation with her own stubbornness. I’d gotten it from her, but I was in the right here, and I wasn’t backing down.

“And a great influence he is,” she said in such a loud whisper the neighbors could probably hear it. “You disappear for hours, make us think the worst, then you pull up here like it’s no big deal without so much as a phone call?”

“Hard to call when you’re unconscious,” I snarked and immediately regretted it when she flinched. “We ran into some trouble investigating. Thanks to Julian, we escaped. But I had to, um, expend too much energy and passed out.” I finished the last bit, mindful that Sam was present and didn’t need to know about my abilities.

“It was actually Charlotte that saved me,” Julian said from my side.

Zoe stood by Mama, fingertips sparkling with magic. “Is that true?”

“Now you’re lying to help the vampire?” Mama said, voice shrill. “And you’re ready to accept this?” she accused, turning to Zoe.

“Don’t blame Zoe for being reasonable,” I said, taking Mama’s hand, which she quickly yanked away.

“I don’t want to lose my children like I lost my husband,” she said, backing away, eyes darting between us all.

“I’m not lying,” I said, desperate to get her to listen. A strong hand on my shoulder stopped me from chasing her into the house.

“She needs time,” Julian said. “I’m sorry to have caused so much trouble.” He nodded toward my sister.

“Sounds like my sister’s alive because of you,” Zoe said, arms crossed before her. “Even if she saved your ass, you must have returned the favor. Char doesn’t lie. But that doesn’t mean I’m welcoming you in.”

Julian inclined his head once again and, with a pointed look at Sam, who’d hung back a few feet, he returned to his car.

“I’ll see you in the morning?” I called after him.