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Thanks. I’ll be there after I shower.
He shut down the communication and stared up at the finely crafted wood ceiling of Willow’s bedroom treehouse, Hank’s original work. He still couldn’t believe he was here, in Willow’s home, having made love to her repeatedly.
Whatever the night had been, however, his mind reverted to his duties as Mastyr of Ashleaf, especially the need to make sure that not one more half-breed fell victim to The Society. And with Zane here, he could begin the process of moving at-risk families to Swanicott Island.
With full-dark almost on him, his need to get back to his Vampire Guard built within him like a mounting pressure inside his chest. He shaved and showered, then brushed his long hair out, pulling it back in the woven Guardsman clasp. He hoped to hell that Zane’s black ops force had been able to track Axton down. Malik no longer cared what kind of repercussions resulted from arresting Axton. With a growing concern that he might be in league with the Ancient Fae, Malik had no other choice.
And right now, he longed to be heading out in pursuit of Axton, rather than waiting here with Willow.
By the time he sat down to breakfast with her, he’d made up his mind to get back to his Vampire Guard.
“Malik, what’s going on? I can feel that you’re about ready to jump out of your skin.”
He met her gaze. “I’m sorry, Willow, but I have to get back to work.”
She leaned forward slightly. “Of course, and I have no problem with that. It might even help.”
At that, he poured milk on his oatmeal. “Why’s that?” He frowned at her. She had dark circles beneath her eyes. “Are you okay?”
She rubbed her forehead. “I’ve got a headache this evening, and I’m having trouble focusing.”
“Didn’t you sleep last night?”
“Not much. I kept waking up with that same sense of having left something undone, but for the life of me I can’t figure out what it was.” She added a few raisins and brown sugar to her cereal.
He’d never been that tight with any of the fae, so maybe headaches on occasion came with the job description. Although, with all that she’d been through, no wonder she hadn’t slept very well.
But he also thought he needed to address at least one critical issue and to finally come clean about her father’s death. “Listen, there’s something I need to talk over with you, Willow. I hope that’s okay.”
She looked up at him, wincing slightly and rubbing her temple once more. “Yes, please. Tell me anything you want. I mean that.”
For a moment, however, he couldn’t speak, couldn’t quite bring himself to say what needed to be said, because he really liked Willow. In fact, he liked everything about her.
But he squared his shoulders anyway. “First, I’m not inclined to complete the bond with you. At least not now. I have too damn much on my plate.”
She let out a heavy huff of air. “I am so with you. I mean, I’ve loved having you in my bed and what we experienced in the pool together was amazing. But the Ashleaf Colony has to come first. I owe that to the memory of my parents and to every life born under my watch.”
They shared the same level of obligation so that once again he hesitated. Part of him felt an overwhelming
need to stick close. But the other part demanded he get back to his men and to the larger concerns of his realm. “If our circumstances had been different,” he offered.
She rested her chin in the palm of her hand. “I know. I’d totally go out with you if I was just a regular fae.”
“And I’d ask you out if I weren’t Mastyr of Ashleaf.” But his conscience once more prompted him to make a clean breast of things. “But I’m not sure you’d say yes if you knew everything.”
At that, she lifted her head and eased back against her chair, dropping her hands into her lap. “What do you mean?”
Now his head started to hurt. “There’s something else that must be said. Something I have to tell you about the night your father died.”
She grew very still. Her hazel eyes widened.
“Shit, I don’t even know how to say this. I’ve hated that this moment would come, but maybe it’s for the best.”
“Malik, I have the worst feeling—”
“As you should.” He took the horrible plunge. “I was the one who killed your father that night.”
Her fingers went to her lips. “Oh, Malik, no. Not you. Anyone but you.” Tears filled her eyes.
