Page 68 of Bound By Blood
He didn’t cater toothers, but she was right, she had earned this, and if she’d beenanyone else, he wouldn’t have tried to stand in her way. But shewas the only one he knew with her ability, and….
Saber dragged ahand through his hair and tugged at it as he admitted he didn’twant her to get hurt. If something happened to her, he would losehis shit, and he couldn’t let that happen.
But he couldn’tmake her stay. She was a grown woman who made her own choices; ifshe decided to run headlong into trouble, then so be it. Who was heto stop her?
He scowled as hearrived at the top of the stairs. He’d looked for her but hadn’tseen her outside her place today.
She’d passed infront of the windows, her silhouetted form occasionally appearingbefore vanishing again. He had no idea what she was doing up there…other than making him crazy with her presence.
The woman hadbecome a monster he couldn’t shake, an insidious thing that hadburrowed beneath his skin and into his veins. There was only oneway to rid himself of her: he had to fuck out his infatuation.
Something heplanned to do soon.
And once hefinished, he could move on and return to a normal life. Sheaffected him more than any other woman he’d ever known, but thatwould end soon.
He crossed theback porch to the sliding glass doors across from him. He knockedloudly on the door and strained to hear anything beyond. At first,he saw and heard no sign of her, but then her soft footstepsapproached the door.
She materializedbehind the glass, her face ethereal and beautiful as her handrested on the lock. One of her hands remained out of view; hesuspected it held a weapon, but he wasn’t afraid.
She’d surprisedhim last night, but that was because he was lost in his desire forher. He wouldn’t let her catch him off guard again.
The door slidopen, and her strong ocean scent, mixed with the fires of herforge, poured out. Something inside him stirred in response, and hecouldn’t stop himself from inhaling deeply.
Over her shoulder,he spotted thick wood beams running across the white ceiling.Seashells, starfish, and sand dollars hung from those beams. Herbed, set against the far wall, was neatly made. She hadn’t beensleeping, but the TV wasn’t on.
Then, in thecorner, he spotted a blue armchair with a fish and seashellspattern. Like many of those strewn throughout the house, a colorfulblanket was draped over the back of it.
Beside the chairsat a roll of paper and a couple of pencils. She must have stillbeen working on designing her parents’ memorial.
Her kitchenconsisted of a few wooden cabinets, a fridge, and a microwave, butvampires didn’t need much more. The studio was a large, open spaceand reflected her personality while exuding an air of calm.
His gaze settledon her again, and the chaos inside him stilled. He stood there,enjoying the pressure easing from his chest while he breathed easyfor the first time in hours.
And his inabilityto breathe had nothing to do with his battered balls. He nowrealized it was because he was away fromher.
What thefuck?He should turn around and walk away from her, but hisfeet wouldn’t move.
That’s becauseyou need the sword, he reminded himself. It was more than that,but he refused to acknowledge whatever it was.
“I’m going to huntfor Savages,” he stated. “You can either be in the car or not. Itleaves in ten minutes.”
Caro eyed himwarily, but he didn’t seem to harbor any lingering resentment overwhat she’d done. Or at least he didn’t look like he was here tokill her.
Her hand tightenedon the silver dagger she held behind her back. If he’d decided hewas going to murder her after what happened, he would have comesooner, but she still wouldn’t answer the door without aweapon.
The daggerwouldn’t kill him, but it would help fend him off if he decided tocontinue what they started last night. He would get her back,somehow, she didn’t doubt it, but he wouldn’t murder her.
He might try tokiss her again, and she couldn’t allow that. They’d had too muchback and forth for another kiss to end well.
“How do you have acar?” she demanded.
Saber dangled aset of keys before her. “It took me forever to find their hidingspot… on a peg in the kitchen, next to the garage door, where threecars are parked.”
Caro scowled athim. She’d taken the work van to the store, but her mom’s, dad’s,andhercar remained in the garage. It hadn’t occurred toher to secure the keys for them.
As she studied thekeys he held, she winced when she saw they were the keys to herHonda CR-V. Those giant fingers should not be near her bright blue,much-loved vehicle.
She tried tosnatch the keys from him, but he jerked his hand back, lifted hisindex finger, and waved it in her face as he admonished her.“Uh-uh.”
