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Aloud, he spoke softly. He sat up beside of me and his hand stroked my arm quietly. “Of course. There are parts of your human life you need to attend to.”
"I hate this.” I moved to snuggle against his side. "Is it safe for us to leave?"
"It would be no safer if we stayed." Stefan looked at me pointedly, switching to mental talk. "After all, the tracker is dead."
I remembered Adolfo's tracking abilities. He'd been killed in the explosion that had nearly killed Stefan. I went still in his arms, our bond churning from fire to silk. He kissed the top of my head and mentally spoke the words I'd been dreading as he placed me back against the headboard of the bed so he could easily face me. "Your father is likely waiting us out. He will strike when we least expect it. He will choose to attack the weakest link."
The weakest link. Was that how he saw Stefan? Or me? We were one complete being. If one of us were to perish...the other would as well.
Or was it Anna and Nikolaus? My brother’s abilities were dangerous and he was close to bonding to Anna. She'd shown no discernible talent, but killing her would destroy my brother. And then there was sweet Lukas...
"Lukas will be fine. I have taught him everything I know. He knows where to hide and how to do it. We have been hiding for over a hundred years." Stefan rested his chin on the top of my head. "But we will need to change locations. It is no longer safe here."
"Where..." I blurted out, not thinking. My heart sank as I though about leaving this apartment. I’d come to think of it as the first real home I’d had since Garrett had died.
Stefan cut me off with a swift shake of his head and a tap to his temple. "This apartment could be bugged. Nothing but mental talk when it comes to strategic planning."
He'd advised mental talk during Nigel and Amir's strange visit. Nigel seemed uncomfortable as he stood with Amir, his eyes boring into Stefan's as Amir addressed them. Nigel didn't trust Amir. He was obviously trying his best to warn Stefan of something…but what?
Amir was now next door at Lukas' apartment. When we chose to leave, our departure would have to be discreet and quick. There could be no lengthy goodbyes. The more miles we put between us, the better.
"What's happened, Stefan?" I whispered. His shoulders were tense as he stretched across the foot of the bed, sleek and almost cat-like in his movements. It reminded me of those first days together in Bali when I'd tried to deny that I loved him then. But I'd known that very moment...that very first night my heart knew it had found its soul mate.
His eyes flickered up to mine, his handsome face lined with concern. He simply shook his head and rested his cheek against my thigh. On reflex, my fingers shot to smooth through his silky blond hair, attempting to sort through his thoughts. He knew Nigel was hiding something; however, Amir was sticking close to him for a reason. Amir's presence alone muddled Stefan's psychic ability, leaving him only to strategize and speculate. Unless Amir told Stefan his plans, he'd be in the dark.
"I do not know. Something has changed now that Lenora and Adolfo are gone. Power struggles and mistrust are not good bedmates." His voice floated through my mind. He relaxed marginally underneath my touch and I continued to absently stroke his head.
"Then we should stay. See this out." I mused mentally. “I don’t want anyone to suffer because of me.”
Stefan sprang up and kneeled beside me on the bed. His eyes searched mine for the longest time. "No. We need to know what your abilities truly are and the truth. Your uncle's notes may hold the answers. You deserve to know the truth. We deserve to know the truth. I could not live with myself if I kept your heritage from you.”
I licked my lips nervously. My mind slipped back to the odd, detached way Amir's amber eyes had passed over me. He'd been appraising me, attempting to look for obvious changes. Something wasn't sitting right. His impassioned pleas seemed insincere...and rehearsed.
I didn't look away when I voiced my biggest fear. "And if they don't?"
He sighed heavily, but his unblinking gaze never faltered. "Then it does not. Will it change how you feel about me? About us?"
Beautiful bastard. He didn't need to ask me. He was goading me, wanting a reaction. Hoisting an arched eyebrow, I pretended to think about it for a moment or two. I pursed my lips and tapped my chin as if I was really considering the possibilities.
"You. You drive me crazy," he said as his thumbs caressed my cheekbones. He chuckled darkly. "You make me forget reason."
Shooting him a startled look, I ran my hands over the rippled muscles of his stomach. They clenched under my touch and a low moan rumbled in his chest.
"Oh really? Join the club," I sighed, stretching to place a light kiss on the dip between his collarbones. "Does it worry you?"
He wound his fingers through my long hair and pulled my head back, exposing my neck. He placed a combination of tiny nips and soft kisses over my exposed skin. His blazing blue eyes were fierce as they met mine. "Yes. You cloud my judgment. My life centers around you, Josephine. Your safety and your happiness is all that matters now. Yet I do not consider this a weakness. We are stronger together."
I smiled at his deliberate choice of words, knowing they came from his heart. “I love you. It’s important that I talk to Nikolaus.” My fingers dragged over the stubble on his face. “And we need to talk to Anna and Lukas. I guess it’s time to move.”
Stefan nodded in agreement, his handsome face solemn. “Tomorrow.”
Chapter 4 - Line in the Sand
"Do you want to explain why Lukas and Anna are both frantically working the phones next door? What's going on?" Nikolaus asked. He glanced between Stefan and myself for an answer. We were both stone faced, refusing to give anything away.
I knew this wouldn’t be easy with my brother after I’d made the call to see him this morning. I’d anticipated his reaction, carefully planning out my answers. We were cut from the same cloth. We were both difficult, argumentative and stubborn.
Stefan left my side and lowered his large frame in the chair by the window. He didn’t relax; he simply sat and tapped out a nervous rhythm on his thigh as his blue eyes followed my every move. He was giving us our space, yet still close enough to intervene if the questions became too difficult to answer. Honestly, I was on my own. Stefan and I could easily communicate telepathically because of our bond, but he didn’t have that advantage with Nikolaus.
