Page 27 of Nightfall


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My gratitude toward the hunter would be delayed until I had some real answers. Until then, I chose to be surly toward him.

“Didn’t know you were going to meet us here,” Declan said.

“Me neither,” Jackson replied. “But Dr. Reynolds called me in to take care of a little matter downstairs. First, though, I’m supposed to personally escort you both down to his examining room so you can...well, do whatever it is you have to do today.”

His words were light, but even I could tell that there was something that was keeping Jackson from being his regular, sparkly alpha douchebag self today.

“Problem?” Declan asked as Jackson punched in the code and, when the doors opened, we got into the elevator.

“No. Nothing. Just business.” He turned his attention to the digital floor numbers above the doors that showed our descent.

Yes, he seemed off today, not that I was an expert on the varying moods of Jackson Gale, vampire hunter. Maybe he was pissed about my rejection yesterday. I doubted it. I didn’t get the impression he was actually serious about me in a romantic way. He just wanted to get laid by a woman he perceived as horny enough to say yes, and had been a bit surprised and annoyed when she’d said no. Nothing personal.

I thought about what had happened between me and Declan last night. While it had been rather satisfying, it was also entirelyunsatisfying, which is why I said what I had to him. Sex wasn’t just the means to an orgasm for me—although it was a lovely gift with purchase. I needed to have the emotion to back it up. When I held Declan’s gaze, I wanted to see my desire reflected back at me—the kind of desire I had seen when he’d gone cold turkey off his original serum. Otherwise, the one-sided sex experiment was fun and more than enough to get me off, but ultimately hollow.

Once I was cured, my blood cleansed, and with no real reason to stay with Declan any longer, I worried that I’d never see him again. I’d go back to my regular life—my succession of unfulfilling jobs, socializing with friends and coworkers, visits with my sister and my nieces, random dates with entirely normal men—men a lot like the unscarred, non-dhampyr version of Declan in my dream—and maybe that would be that.

And maybe, one day, I’d forget about him entirely.

However, the thought that he wouldn’t be close by, watching over me, made me feel something I could only describe as grief. Grief for a man who’d come into my life unexpectedly and might just disappear as quickly as he’d arrived.

CHAPTEREIGHT

On the elevator,I stayed close to Declan, nearly, but not quite, touching him. He was motivated by wanting to help me get better. So was I. I think I might have followed someone into the very depths of hell to get my blood cleaned out. The thought of the potential pain that was to come frightened me, but that fear wasn’t enough to stop me from moving forward.

We got off the elevator and moved down the hallway to Dr. Reynolds’ examining room where we’d been yesterday. Jackson spoke briefly with Dr. Reynolds at the doorway, and I caught only a bit of what he said.

“I need to see her.”

“Soon, I promise,” Dr. Reynolds replied. “There’s work for you downstairs. Go, now.”

Jackson turned to face us, his expression grim. “I’ll see you later.”

“What’s wrong?” Declan asked.

It seemed as if Jackson was about to say something, but then he closed his mouth. “Nothing at all. Good luck in there,” he said.

Then he gave us a curt nod before he disappeared down the hall.

I shared a confused look with Declan.

“What was that all about?” I asked.

“No idea,” Declan replied.

“Please, Jill, come in,” Dr. Reynolds said. “It’s good to see you again.”

“You too,” I replied as I entered the room tentatively. Other than the sparse furnishings of the stainless steel table and metal chair, there were cupboards on the walls, a sink, and a filing cabinet.

Dr. Reynolds’s smile froze at the edges at the sight of Declan.

“Mr. Reyes,” he said curtly. “I’m glad you’re here today.”

“Dr. Reynolds,” Declan replied. “I know we had our problems yesterday, but thank you for getting back to us so quickly. Your help with Jill is greatly appreciated. I hope you know that.”

“It’s entirely my honor,” the doctor said with a nod, and his gaze moved toward the open door. “My assistant will be joining us today. Please, try not to be alarmed.”

I didn’t have to wonder about what he meant by that for long. Another man entered the room—he had dark red hair and was wearing a white lab coat. His skin was very pale, his cheeks gaunt. As his lips parted slightly, I could see the edge of his fangs.

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