Page 30

I Get a Personal Trainer

I stopped short when I caught sight of Julian’s face. For a moment, I flashed back to my younger self and the face of the vampire that had bitten my father. It was the same glowing red eyes, no whites, no other color, the veins dark and protruding from the neck, and the fangs extended, glinting with venom as his lips curled back.

My heart forgot to beat as I took in the sight, something in me snapping in two. I trusted you, I said silently. But the second he saw my face, his melted back into the Julian I knew, anguish all I could see in his vivid irises.

I hadn’t even noticed Daphne standing there, palms against his chest until she glanced back at me, shock all over her beautiful face. Who in their right mind would lay hands on a vampire in that mode?

It all probably took ten seconds, but it felt like an eternity until Daphne dropped her arms and Julian zoomed over to my trembling self. As he reached out for me, I stepped back, unsure how to process it all. His face turned paler, if that was possible.

“I’m so sorry, Charlotte,” he whispered, palms held out before him like I was an animal he may frighten away.

Was that what I was to him? An animal? Prey?

Daphne approached slowly and slid between us, setting a hand on my shoulder. Her bright green and pink aura swept over me, and I instantly felt comforted. She smelled like roses, I noticed as I studied her. She could have given Marilyn Monroe a run for her title as blond bombshell, and I couldn’t decide if I was jealous or excited to be in her presence.

“I’m Daphne,” she said in her breathy voice. “It’s nice to finally meet the woman Julian’s so protective of.”

“Protective?” I glanced back at Julian, whose head was down, fingers pressed to his forehead and shoulders slumped like he was in physical pain.

That’s when it clicked. He hadn’t been about to attack me. He’d been incensed because he’d overheard the general threaten me. Daphne must have been holding him back with her aura and whatever powers she had.

“Oh my gods, Julian.” I reached out and pried one of his hands from his head, making him look at me. “I’m the one who’s sorry. You wanted to defend me.”

“I lost control. It was unacceptable,” Julian said. “I understand why you were frightened.” He didn’t say more because he knew I wouldn’t want Daphne to overhear my history.

“Let’s forgive each other and move on,” I said. “But try to remember that getting yourself in a bad situation won’t help me. Okay?”

Julian smiled, and my chest warmed. That was more dangerous than the heat in my belly, but I didn’t have time to think too hard about either at that moment.

“Hi Daphne,” I said, holding out my hand. “What a way to meet.”

She giggled and it sounded like bells tinkling. She had to be fae, but what type, I had no idea. I’d never met one in more than passing before, and all I knew was they were supposed to be tricksters. But it didn’t seem to fit in Daphne’s case. She’d stepped in the way of a vampire to try and save him and gently let me know what had happened. Maybe the rumors were wrong, just like my assumptions about all vampires seemed to be wrong.

“What do you do on the base? It looks like you and I are the only non-soldier types here,” I said, leaving out Tittwell.

“Observant,” she said. “I do combat training. I’m a consultant, technically, but the basement is my domain.”

“Combat training? Wow. I can’t imagine.” Thank goodness I was a scientist.

“You’ll be starting tomorrow morning at six. Can’t wait to show you around!” Daphne gave a little wiggle of her fingers and strode into the elevator that had appeared behind her.

“Wait. What?” I spun on Julian.

“If you want to be able to join me in the field, then you have to be trained for it.”

I opened my mouth to argue but snapped it closed again. He was right. I wanted this. I’d asked for it. And if I was going to take on an entire nest beside a single vamp and have a hope of saving Lydia, I’d have to be ready.

“Okay,” I said, bobbing my head. “I got this.”

“Let’s get you to the lab.” Julian steered me into the lift that had reappeared.

“We should talk about our plan—” I started.

“Dinner this evening,” Julian said, staring hard at the doors.

“Um, I’m sorry?”

He looked at me, and my body responded like one of Pavlov’s dogs. I swallowed hard, knowing I couldn’t possibly say no. My hand went to my chest where I pressed the charm I wore into my skin. But whatever power he had over me, it wasn’t glamour, because it took everything I had to stay put and not gravitate toward him like an asteroid caught in his orbit.