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***
Later that night, Arman and Levka escorted Caitlin to her room, though Levka was still pretty groggy.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to relieve you sometime tonight?” Arman asked.
“I’ll be all right.”
“You fell asleep during the movie. Caitlin asked you twice about your trip to Martinique tomorrow, and you never answered her.”
“Check on me about three in the morning.”
Arman nodded.
“And make sure Ruric doesn’t sleepwalk again. The sock trick does wonders, except wait until he’s asleep before you tie him or you’re liable to suffer a black eye.”
Arman laughed. “Later.”
As tired as Levka was, he knew he should have Arman watch over the girls. But some primitive part of him didn’t want Caitlin spending the night with another vampire, even if he was his good friend. He’d only felt the same primal possessiveness over one other girl, Cassandra, and he knew beyond a doubt Caitlin was meant to be his. Yet he knew it couldn’t be.
By the time he settled onto the couch, the girls had already gone to bed. With the injuries Vlad had sustained at Arman and Stasio’s teeth, he wouldn’t be fully healed until tomorrow. Even so, it was best to be vigilant, Levka reminded himself.
In the middle of the night, he woke to hear Caitlin speaking telepathically, “Go away, Vlad. I’m not inviting you in, so quit asking. It must be what? Two in the morning?”
Levka held his breath, wishing that he could hear Vlad’s telepathic communication. Then to his surprise, Vlad granted him his wish.
“Did you know Levka’s watching over you right this very minute? Ever on the alert, not wishing to lose you to me?”
“You’re certifiable, you know?” Caitlin responded.
“He will not be as much of a gentleman as me. So take care when you get up in the morning. He will be watching every move you make.”
Not every move, Levka thought. But keeping his eyes off Caitlin proved a challenge. Still, Levka couldn’t help berating himself for falling asleep sometime during the night. What if Caitlin’s telepathic communication hadn’t woken him? What if in a moment of weakness she had let Vlad in?
“Go away!” Caitlin said to Vlad.
“Goodnight, dearest Caitlin.”
The telepathic communication ceased for a time, then Vlad said, “Goodnight, Levka. You won’t be able to watch her always.”
Levka sensed Vlad moved away from the door. He called to Arman, “Are you awake enough to relieve me?”
“I’ll be there as soon as I dress.”
Within a few minutes, Arman was standing before the sofa. “Get your rest. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“I’ll return at six.”
Arman smiled, all knowing.
Yeah, no way would Levka let any other vampire watch his siren when she got up in the morning, even if her usual routine was to dress in the bathroom. What if she changed her habit this morning?
***
Caitlin tossed in her bed for the umpteenth time. She couldn’t get Vlad’s words out of her head. Levka was watching her every move in the stateroom. Right. Vlad was nuts. Yet despite knowing this, she couldn’t get to sleep, waiting to hear more of his insane communication.
Before she had truly slept much at all, her alarm rang. Bleary-eyed, she stared at the clock. Hadn’t she just gone to bed?
She slapped off the alarm and headed to the bathroom before Sleeping Beauty beat her to it.
