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Brianna took Yolen into her kitchen. She made herself a cup of tea, but knowing her man well, she handed him a bottle of The Long Tooth’s home-brewed. She kept glancing at the vampire, whose eyes glowed with newly acquired power. “You’re a mastyr now.” She thought clarification on all fronts might help because the night’s bizarre events threatened to completely overwhelm her.
He nodded. “I am.”
“Did you do this for me? Did you become a mastyr on my account, I mean?” She dipped a bag of cinnamon tea in the steaming water, plunging it slowly.
His lips curved. “It just seemed like the right thing to do.”
She put her hand to her chest and his gaze followed. He frowned, “Are you feeling laden again?”
“Of course. It’s been almost a week.” She couldn’t believe she was a blood rose but it explained so much, especially that her heart was so heavy in her chest these days. She remembered reading an interview about Mastyr Gerrod’s blood rose, Abigail, and how she’d described her blood as ‘lumpish’.
Brianna thought the description spot on.
She sat down on a stool at her white marble island, shaking her head and still working the tea bag. “I pushed you hard because I was a blood rose. I can see that now.”
“I don’t want you to feel guilty because you did the right thing. I needed the push.”
She lifted her gaze to his. “I feel really bad about this, Yolen. That I pressured you so much.”
He reached across the marble island and covered her hand with his own. “We can’t always choose what we need from another person. And I apologize for digging my heels in like a mule, refusing to see beyond my own view of things. I had our relationship in this tidy little box by trying to keep you safe. But because that box could have cost me everything that I cherish, I’ll live with a chill in my heart for a long time.”
“How did you figure it out? I mean you knew I was a blood rose, earlier when you called, didn’t you?”
“I did.”
“But how? What tipped you off?”
“It was the strangest thing, but I’d been working the case, trying to solve the mystery of who the latest drug lord was, when I realized one name kept coming up: Keynes. And when he started pursuing you, I had this bad feel he was after something beyond what a typical male will chase a woman for. Somehow, all those pieces tumbled into place because for a mastyr of ambition, to discover a blood rose right under his nose, how could he resist? You would have fulfilled so much for him.”
“Because the bonding process enhances power, doesn’t it?”
“Yes.”
“Keynes spoke of ruling Cameron and eventually Bergisson.”
“When did he say that?”
“Just before he took me out of my house.”
“Then I really was just in time.”
“You were. So, why do you suppose he suddenly moved his plans up? Why did he get to my house before you?”
“I think I know why. Do you remember what you did when I came to your house this morning? When you said good-bye to me?”
She nodded. “I sort of fell against you.”
“And hugged me, remember? Well, I suspect Keynes was still hanging around, and saw you do that. So, rather than take a chance, he went after you, bringing along his wraith-pair for good measure.”
“I still can’t believe that Keynes could be that bad. Or that I could have gone with him as easily as breathing.” She shook her head once more. “I couldn’t keep away from him. It was so bizarre and unnerving. I can’t begin to imagine what would have happened to me.”
She finally let go of the teabag but only to bury her face in her hands.
He rounded the island. “And I’m trying not to think about it as well.” He pulled her off her stool and into his arms. “I love you more than life itself and I’m sorry my stubborn streak got us into this much trouble.”
She petted his face. “I just wish I’d had a clue what was going on. I feel like I completely mishandled everything, but especially you. I was unkind to you. I’m so sorry.”
He kissed her forehead, her cheek, then her lips. “You’re never unkind to me. Even while you were trying to break up, you never yelled. You gave me plenty of warnings and opportunities. You have nothing to blame yourself for.”
