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I place a kiss to the top of her head, breathing her in. Lavender. Perfection.
After a while, our breathing calms and we’re sitting in contented silence. “I heard Seattle was productive.”
She sits up excitedly. “It was. I think we’ve had a breakthrough.” She jumps in, filling me in on a lot of what Law already told me, but I don’t stop her. Her enthusiasm is everything. “How was your meeting?” she asks, and I groan.
“Not as exciting as your trip. Do we have to talk about it?”
She frowns. “We don’t, but I’d really like to know what happened. Did you come to any conclusions about Count Dupré?”
“No. It’s a delicate matter. The Council has heard that he’s been imprisoned and they demanded answers, but I couldn’t give them any.”
“Why?” she asks, and I give her anisn’t it obviouslook.
“If I allow him to speak to the Council, the journal and legend will be revealed. For any of the Council who didn’t already know about it, they will now, and it’ll only make it more dangerous for you.”
“You can’t keep the man locked up until that’s solved. He really didn’t do anything wrong.”
“He tried to kill you and covered it up, Marina. I’d hardly say he didn’t do anything wrong.”
“I haven’t forgotten that part, Julian,” she bites. “I’m just saying his motives were pure to your family. I can’t fault him for how he feels about humans. Not many vampires value human life the way you do.”
I take a deep breath, trying to allow her words to sink in. I know she’s right. Addy said the same thing. She pleaded for her father to be freed the entire time Marina was away. I’ve never denied Adèle Dupré a thing, until now. He knows too much about the legend and that makes him dangerous.
“Julian, I see those cogs working. Tell me what you’re thinking.”
I look at Marina and all the protective instincts tighten around my neck like a noose. The need to keep her safe is so intense it threatens to pull me under.
“He knows too much. And now he knows you mean something to me. He’ll piece that together, Marina, and you won’t be safe.”
She gives me a tight-lipped smile. “You can’t hide me away forever. Someone is going to find out who I am, andwhatI am. We need all the allies we can get.”
“You think you can trust Dupré?”
“I trust Addy, and she says we can trust him.” She places her hand on my heart. “We need him, Julian.”
“The auction’s been moved up.”
“When?” she asks, a newfound terror underlying her tone.
“Two days,” I groan, not wanting to talk about this right now, but knowing Marina is going to push for more answers.
“We have some preparations to make.”
“That, my love, has already been taken care of. I’ve called in some reinforcements.”
“Who?”
“Shante and a few of her sisters are going to join. They’re going to attempt to set up a perimeter so nobody can escape. We’re going to try to get them all, Marina.”
She smiles. “I know you will.”
My chest inflates with her complete confidence in me. I only hope that things go as planned. It’s likely that Marcellus is expecting this, but with the amount of help I’ve enlisted, I hope he’ll be outnumbered.
“Katina has insisted she come to confront Ratilda.” I continue, trying to get everything out so we can move back to enjoying each other. My eyes widen at Marina’s sudden distress. “What’s wrong?”
“What if something happens to her, Julian?” Marina’s voice rises in panic.
I place a kiss on the top of her head. “That’s her decision to make. It’s important to her, and I don’t think we should interfere.”
