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My heart aches for the adoration the human woman has for me. Truth be told, I feel the exact same way about her. Have since the moment I hired her. “And I will continue to suffer if anything happens to you.” I reach up and tuck a strand of white hair behind her ear. “You’ve been my family ever since you came to work for me. Please don’t force me to suffer your loss.”
“Darling, you are immortal. Sooner or later, you’re going to lose me.”
Emotion squeezes my heart, but I shove it down. “Let’s make it later.” Wrapping an arm around her shoulders, I guide her toward the kitchen. “You do know that Tarnley heard all of that anyway, right?”
Winnie chuckles. “I suppose you’re right.”
We step into the kitchen, and there he is, leaning against the countertop, red and yellow Honeycrisp apple in hand. “Can you describe him?” he questions, not even bothering to pretend he wasn’t listening to everything we said.
“Dark hair, red eyes, about your height. I’m afraid there was nothing overly distinctive about him. He was young if that helps. Still looked to be on the early side of thirty.”
“I’ll ask around. See if I can figure out who he is and take care of it.”
“Please don’t go through any trouble for me, you two. There are plenty of other issues to deal with.”
“Nothing overly present at the moment,” I tell her. “Eventually, we’ll have to figure out what to do with the councils, but since the dark magic is out of me, we’ve got some time.”
“Besides, you’re family.” Tarnley winks at Winnie then crunches down on the apple. It takes everything to force my gaze away from him. My hunger—desire—it’s all more than I’ve ever experienced, and I wonder how much is due to our bond. Not that I believe it’s all the magic anymore, but rather our real feelings enhanced by the connection we share.
A drop of apple juice drips down from the corner of his mouth and I genuinely consider rushing forward and licking it off of him. That can’t be one hundred percent normal, right? Clearing my throat, I turn back to Winnie. “No more going out. You stay here—in the main house—so I can keep you safe.”
“Nonsense.” She starts unpacking the bag. “I have plants to care for.”
“We can bring your plants here,” Tarnley offers. “But I agree with Bronywyn on this. Unless you want me to go out and behead every vamp in Billings, that’s the deal.”
She turns to him with a mildly horrified expression on her aging face. “You wouldn’t.”
“Oh, I would.” He bites down on the apple again, and I choke back a smile. We both know he wouldn’t go that far, but he would absolutely put one of his men on her as a tail just to make sure she stays safe. “You’re worth the bloodshed.”
“There will be no killing for me.” Winnie opens the fridge to put a half-gallon of buttermilk inside. “I’ll stay here, but you have to keep my plants alive. That’s the deal.” She closes it then retrieves the forgotten French toast casserole from the counter and puts it in the pre-heated oven.
Tarnley winks at me, likely recalling just what made us forget to put it in before. When Winnie straightens again, he smiles at her and pushes off the countertop. “Deal. No dead plants on my watch.” He takes one final bite out of the apple and tosses the core into the compost bin in the corner. “I’m going to run home and get some clothes, but I’ll be back to pick you up firmly at seven.”
“Oh?” Arching an eyebrow, I study him. “And if I’m not available tonight?”
Tarnley wraps an arm around my waist and yanks me against him.
“I’ll just go put this in the bathroom.” Winnie grips a package of toilet paper and quickly leaves the room.
“You scared her away.”
He leans in and growls in my ear, running his nose across my throat. “She likely would have been terrified if she’d walked in on us earlier.”
I shiver, almost wishing he’d blur me upstairs already.
Unfortunately, he doesn’t. “I’ll be back at seven.”
“What if I’m busy?” I repeat. “I do have things to do, you know.”
“You won’t be busy.” His lips find mine, and he kisses me like it will be the last time. It steals my soul; shatters and repairs my heart all at once. “See you at seven, my love.”
“See you at seven,” I repeat as he pulls away and leaves me standing alone in my kitchen.
