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He nodded slowly. “Me, too. But I’m guessing you have something on your mind other than our relationship.”
Back to reality.
“I’m sensing you’re needed in my spellroom. I know it doesn’t make sense, at least it doesn’t to me, but I think you might be able to help me access the future.”
He was on his feet and moving in her direction before she’d finished her thought. Her throat grew tight all over again. She’d spoken a handful of words about what she needed and he was right there for her, ready to help.
How was she not supposed to fall in love with him?
Her heart warmed all over again as he drew close. She liked so much about Vaughn already, but his willingness to support her witchness meant a great deal. She knew how much he hated and feared her kind. The dark covens routinely trapped vampires with their spells, then killed them.
Yet here was Vaughn, trusting her and supporting her.
The moment he drew within three feet of her, the carousel moving within her mind stopped and the future was right there. She felt dizzy and would have fallen, but he caught her arms with his hands and held her upright.
“What’s wrong?”
How could she explain? “Nothing. When you touched me, I finally had access to the future. I just don’t know why you’re having this kind of effect on me.”
“Are you saying you couldn’t do it on your own?”
“That’s right. Earlier, when I put all the ingredients into a potion for getting a look into the future, very little happened, not even when I opened myself up to my witch power. But when I came out here, the power increased incrementally each time I got closer to you. In fact, both Stormy and Toby encouraged me in your direction. For whatever reason, Vaughn, you’re connected to my abilities. Will you join me in my spellroom?”
He’d never looked more serious. “Of course. Whatever you need.”
~ ~ ~
Every vampire part of Vaughn resisted Emma’s request. Power vibrated in the air around her with more of those small bursts of electricity, though she didn’t seem to notice. And the closer he drew to her spellroom, the stronger the instinct rose to get away from her witchness.
When he reached the threshold, his feet refused to budge. He even looked down at them.
Emma turned back in his direction, her gaze sliding to his feet as well. “What’s wrong? Why are you still standing in the hall?”
“I’m a vampire, remember? My instincts tell me I’m walking into hell.”
She opened her mouth to speak, then closed it. She took a deep breath. “Remember when you bit me?”
Why was she asking that? “Yes. Of course.”
“You held me in thrall. You could have killed me. But I trusted you. Right now, I need you to trust me that I would never hurt you.”
He shook his head, fists on hips. “This isn’t personal, Em.”
His gaze fell to her hands, to the tips of her index and middle fingers. One touch to the temple of his forehead or to the base of his neck, a single jolt of power, and he’d be dead.
When he didn’t move, she drew close and planted her hands on his arms. “I need you in here. I can’t do this without you, and believe me, if there was any other way, I’d do it.”
Her touch sang with energy, but instead of recoiling, a strong sensation filled his chest. It felt strangely like a bond he already had with her, though amplified when her witchy power began to rise. After a moment, he realized something else was in play as well. He was experiencing not just Emma’s witch energy but her determination to do some good. The shift in focus away from her killing potential to what drove her right now, shoved his instincts into the background.
“Vaughn, all I care about is taking Loghry down.”
His lips curved. “I love that about you.” Without thinking, he moved inside her spellroom, then responded to a different kind of instinct and took her in his arms.
He kissed her hard, letting her know how much he respected her. She uttered a small cry as she wrapped her arms around his neck. He could feel she was on her tip-toes. She wasn’t short for a woman, probably five-ten, but he was damn tall at six-six.
When her lips parted, he deepened the kiss, thrusting his tongue inside. She responded with a moan and pressed her body up against his. She glided her hips back and forth in an effort to feel his arousal. He helped her out by moving one of his hands, grabbing her bottom and pressing her up against him.
He drew back just enough to meet her gaze. “Is that what you want?”
