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“You tried to let it heal on its own.”
“Ordinary people survive burns.”
“Yes, well…” He brushed strands of hair from her face. She’d folded her arms over a pillow and her cheek rested on her stacked hands as she gazed at him. The doctor recommended that she stretch regularly to keep the new layer of skin from healing too tight and this seemed to be a comfortable position for her. “You’re not ordinary, so stop pretending to be.”
A sharp laugh fell from her lips. “I’m not complaining about my ability to quickly heal. The agony level, however, could be reduced by several notches and I’d be happier for it.”
“Yes, there is that.” He recalled the needle incident the night of the assault. “My restraint was put to the test when Schaeffer gave you that shot of morphine, adding to your pain.”
“But you realized it wasn’t his fault.”
“That’s a much easier thing to accept in theory than in reality.”
“I’m sorry,” she said, as her eyes closing. She still slept a lot. “You clearly picked the wrong human to fall in love with.”
He chuckled, despite the tension that coiled in his stomach over having fallen for a mortal—one he had difficulty keeping safe. “No I didn’t.”
She smiled. “There’s something I forgot to tell you.”
“What’s that?” he asked as he stroked her hair.
“I love you too.”
He dropped a soft kiss on her cheek. “Now we’re really screwed.”
Chapter Eleven
Not quite three days slipped by and Christmas drew near.
“Do demons celebrate holidays?” Jade asked Sheena one evening.
Darien had been gone for two nights to deal with military matters he’d been secretive about and Sheena had kept her company. With Jade’s acquiescence, the vampire had brought thick silk drapes to cover the windows of the cottage so she could be there during the day.
The sapphire in the bedroom matched the headboard and duvet, lending even more color and richness to the cozy space. For the living room, Sheena had selected a softer ice blue that made the area light and airy despite the heavy fabric over the glass panes. She had exceptional taste.
Regarding Jade’s question, she said, “Some do. Depends on the occasion. For example, Halloween was always a favorite, pre-war. We could be out and about that night without anyone batting an eye at us.”
“But you look normal,” Jade told her. “Well, with the exception of being insanely beautiful and absolutely flawless.”
She laughed. “I have my flaws, trust me. But immortality does tend to preserve one in a flattering way. For most demons, anyway. The vampires and the shifters. Immortals such as Darien.”
Jade’s heart fluttered. “Now that is perfection personified.”
Sheena scoffed. “Sure, if you like all that brawn and outrageous height. I prefer a little less muscle and someone I can look directly in the eye without standing on tiptoe.”
“Not me,” Jade said with a sigh that sounded dreamy to her ears. “All that strength is intimidating, yes. But sexy as hell.”
Her new friend studied her with a curious look in her emerald eyes. “You like living on the edge, don’t you?”
Jade gave this question serious consideration. Then she said, “When my parents were alive, we had so many adventures. My father was cautious, of course, but he taught my mother and me to defend ourselves, so he worried less about us. That made it possible for us to enjoy short expeditions and try new things. After they died…”
She glanced around the room that had once been theirs. Hers was on the opposite side of the living room, but it didn’t have a fireplace, so she’d moved into this space when she was thirteen. It’d taken her that long to cross the threshold without breaking down in tears.
“I really had to keep everything safe and status quo,” she explained. “I didn’t have the kind of protection my father had offered me, though the slayers have always looked out for me. I suppose I just stopped thinking about anything other than making it through each day without freezing or starving or crying.”
Sheena stared down at the book in her lap. She sat in the chair next to Jade’s bed. “I can’t imagine what it would be like to be human and vulnerable and all on your own at such a young age.”
“Actually,” she said, “I was very lucky. I had a place to live. I already knew how to maintain the house, when to collect kindle and have the water tank filled. How to cook and clean and mend clothes. I also had help from the villagers, of course.”
